Now we come to another of the essential building blocks of astrology. Every birth chart is divided by four angles – when you look at yours you’ll see them, shown as lines at approximately 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock. The line that runs from around 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock has ASC written on its left end, while the line that runs from around 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock (or thereabouts) has MC written at its top end.
The four angles are important because they rule our self, our relationships, our inner lives and our career.
Locate the angles on your chart.
Now let’s look at each of the four angles in more detail.
Hopefully, you’ve already identified your ascendant (aka your Rising Sign). So what’s it all about? The easiest way to describe your ascendant, which is interchangeably called the Rising Sign, is as the way you come across to people: it’s what they register when they meet you for the first time.
The ascendant is sometimes referred to as ‘the mask’ we wear, which sounds really sinister, but think about it – we do all have a sort of social mask we put on, especially when meeting people for the first time, be it at a party, a work event, or in an interview.
In other words, your Sun sign is your ‘real’ self, whereas your Rising Sign is the ‘face’ you put on or the ‘mask’ you wear. We all do it. So the zodiac sign your Rising Sign is in, is a big thing because you come across very much as that sign. So if you’re Scorpio Rising, you come across as Scorpionic – in other words, rather mysterious. And if you’re Libra Rising, you exude Libran energy so you’re rather charming.
The Rising Sign is also the most personal point on your chart because it’s dictated by the exact time and place and date you were born. So someone born at the same moment in time as you were, but on the other side of the world (or even just a few miles away) will have a totally different Rising Sign to you.
In order to understand how the various Rising Signs present, we need to combine the idea of ‘the way someone comes across’ with the qualities of their Rising Sign. So in very broad terms, we get something like the following descriptions:
Remember, your Rising Sign is the sign on your 1st house – the sign at 9 o’clock on your chart.
Aries Rising: someone who might be likely to barge in. Fiery, and highly spontaneous. Lit up. Enthusiastic.
Taurus Rising: a person who may be quite stubborn. May be heavy-set. Can be lazy. Someone who comes across as natural and often quite content – except when they’re a raging bull!
Gemini Rising: a very talkative person who may appear superficial at times but who really just knows how to keep the conversational wheels greased.
Cancer Rising: someone who serves you food. If female, may have a rather abundant chest. Is warm and homely but can also be quite cutting and bossy.
Leo Rising: may have big hair. Someone who turns heads and can razzle-dazzle. May be rather proud; often the centre of attention.
Virgo Rising: someone with a chaste or modest exterior (which may hide a much wilder side!) A bean counter or a critic; someone who notices the details, and is helpful.
Libra Rising: a person who comes across as harmonious or peaceful. A good negotiator. May be diplomatic. May also be a flatterer who says what others want to hear.
Scorpio Rising: comes across as a mystery. Likes to keep secrets. Has a dark side and knows it. Finds it hard to let people in. Comes across as deep and meaningful.
Sagittarius Rising: the joker in the pack. The person with a permanent grin. Adventurous. May talk a lot of hot air. The student or the law-keeper. A party person.
Capricorn Rising: the serious one – or at least has a serious side. May complain rather a lot. Is quite easily taken seriously. Seems earnest. A good business face.
Aquarius Rising: the person with the bright blue hair – or at least something else about them that seems highly unusual. Crazy eyes! The mad scientist. The wild one. Fun.
Pisces Rising: the dreamer. The person who recites poetry to you. Someone who has their head in the clouds, or appears to. Someone who’s in touch with the mystical side of life.
The Rising Sign is how people perceive us. It’s our personal style. For example, a Capricorn Sun person would be ambitious and reserved, but coupled with a Sagittarius Rising, he or she would be quite carefree, while also working hard to reach his or her Capricorn goals.
Look again at the sign on your ascendant.
My Rising Sign (my ascendant) is in __________________, therefore when I walk into a room, I exude a ____________________ energy!
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that many people don’t like their Rising Sign when they find it out. I suspect that’s because many of us imagine we come across very differently to the way we actually do! You can find out more about your Rising Sign and what it means in the Astrological Cookbook in Chapter 13.
Remember that your Rising Sign (ascendant) is like the front door to your chart. The planet (or planets) that rules your Rising Sign is your overall chart’s ruling planet(s). Once you advance in your astrological studies, you’ll want to take a closer look at your Rising Signs’ ruling planet(s), which are listed below:
Aries Rising: Mars is your ruling planet – read about Mars.
Taurus Rising: Venus is your ruling planet – read about Venus.
Gemini Rising: Mercury is your ruling planet – read about Mercury.
Cancer Rising: the Moon is your ruling planet – read about Moon.
Leo Rising: the Sun is your ruling planet – read about the Sun.
Virgo Rising: Mercury is your ruling planet – read about Mercury.
Libra Rising: Venus is your ruling planet – read about Venus.
Scorpio Rising: Mars and Pluto are your ruling planets – read about them.
Sagittarius Rising: Jupiter is your ruling planet – read about Jupiter.
Capricorn Rising: Saturn is your ruling planet – read about Saturn.
Aquarius Rising: Saturn and Uranus are your ruling planets – read about them.
Pisces Rising: Jupiter and Neptune are your ruling planets – read about them.
This angle can be really interesting to look at because it’s the one that rules the 7th house, aka the Love Zone. A person who has laid-back Sagittarius on his or her descendant will make a very different lover to someone who has, say, intense Scorpio.
Once you know a person’s descendant (or Love Line as I like to call it), you have a much better idea of how and who they are in a relationship. That in itself gives you a good idea of what you can expect from them. This is useful information whether you’re looking at a potential new lover, trying to make things better with your existing partner or even looking at a new friend or colleague.
There are various things you can pick up when you know which sign is on the descendant; for example, someone with Virgo on their descendant is going to be picky, while someone with Leo will want to be adored and he or she will be a generous lover. It can also describe the sort of lovers a person attracts, is attracted to, suits and stays with. For example, someone with Leo on their descendant wants a loud lover that he or she can show off, and someone with Gemini on their descendant could easily end up with a writer, someone who works in communications, or who indeed is a Gemini.
The easy way to work out someone’s descendant or Love Line is to know their Rising Sign. Whatever that is, their Love Line is on the opposite side of the chart. Quite often, the Love Line will describe the person someone is attracted to. So someone with Capricorn on their Love Line could find people in uniform very attractive!
Below is a brief description for each sign on the Love Line (descendant).
Aries descendant: traditionally wild and fiery and passionate. They’re also spontaneous, to the point of being impulsive!
Taurus descendant: sensual and solid and usually pretty reliable. They want someone who will tickle their senses and preferably feed them.
Gemini descendant: they are adaptable, and will keep things both interesting and moving along in their relationships.
Cancer descendant: loving and comforting; however, they can be quite insecure and need a lot of reassurance.
Leo descendant: they want to be adored, even if they’re quite quirky and act as if they don’t need anyone or anything.
Virgo descendant: can be a tad picky; they prefer their partners to be extremely hygienic and often object to manufactured scents.
Libra descendant: these people make great partners. Guided by Venus, they are all about relationships without being clingy. They’re often very big flirts.
Scorpio descendant: intense and passionate, these people want relationships they can throw themselves into.
Sagittarius descendant: these people are harder to pin down! They like someone who lets them do their own thing. They are adventurous and find foreigners attractive.
Capricorn descendant: these people are serious about their relationships. Even so, they may need to work a little harder to be warm and fuzzy if their partner needs it.
Aquarius descendant: these people make slightly aloof and detached lovers. That’s not to say they aren’t ardent, just very pragmatic.
Pisces descendant: these people look to their partner to bring some romance into their life. They can be slightly elusive, in a slippery fish kind of way.
Make a note of the sign on your descendant.
My descendant (my Love Line) is in __________________, therefore when I’m in a relationship, I exude a __________________ energy.
The MC, or Career Line, tells you about a person’s career, their professional life, their ambitions – what they are going to be known for. It speaks of their reputation.
Here’s a brief description of the signs on the Career Line.
Aries on the MC: a career go-getter. Possibly a bit impetuous and can make rather professional moves.
Taurus on the MC: has the potential to do well financially. Looks after resources. Earthy. A reliable worker. Feminine.
Gemini on the MC: happy to do different jobs, to chop and change career direction; anything to do with words should work.
Cancer on the MC: could be a professional or full-time carer; they are caring and kind, if a little bit changeable, emotionally.
Leo on the MC: these people seek some kind of razzamatazz in their work; doing something a bit glamorous really works.
Virgo on the MC: a wonderful and reliable worker who will triple-check the facts and be happy to serve.
Libra on the MC: these people seek balanced careers doing something that’s at the very least palatable, and preferably rather elegant.
Scorpio on the MC: doing research work or anything that requires some kind of digging; anything to do with sex or the occult suits.
Sagittarius on the MC: these people are freer and easier when it comes to their career. Anything to do with travel or publishing suits them really well. The self-employed person.
Capricorn on the MC: an excellent placement because Capricorn is nothing if not ambitious and ready to work hard.
Aquarius on the MC: these are the inventors and scientists; people who push the world forwards or work with technology. Good at self-employment.
Pisces on the MC: the dreamers of the career sphere. They want poetry, art or music in their jobs, if they can get it.
My MC, or Career Line is in _________________, therefore when I’m pursuing my ambitions, I exude a _________________ energy.
The IC, or Home Line, represents the home: it’s also the most private angle on the chart. What follows are some snapshot ideas to get you thinking about all the signs on the IC.
Aries on the IC: your challenge is to maintain harmony and equilibrium at home and with family.
Taurus on the IC: you know how to create a lovely home and a secure family feeling.
Gemini on the IC: you won’t mind moving house/city/country over the course of your lifetime. Your home is a witty place to be!
Cancer on the IC: this is sort of the ‘ideal’, as Cancer is very home-y. Think feathered nest. Protectiveness.
Leo on the IC: you want your home to be a fun – not to mention gorgeous – place to be. You are very generous with family.
Virgo on the IC: your home is neat and tidy and you do all that you can to help your family members out, even if you’re annoyed with them.
Libra on the IC: your home is beautiful and people like to be there because the energy is good. You can’t bear family arguments.
Scorpio on the IC: your home may be dim and dark, with lots of soft lighting and velvet. You’re private and intense about family.
Sagittarius on the IC: home is that place you come back to after you’ve been and done your wandering, cowboy/cowgirl.
Capricorn on the IC: home is organized and probably – and preferably – set somewhere old. There is an authoritarian air about it.
Aquarius on the IC: your personal life may be highly changeable or even chaotic. You love a high-tech home, or at least lots of gadgets and appliances.
Pisces on the IC: it may not always be 100 per cent clear where home is. Your family often inspires you. Your home is your spiritual base.
Make a note of the sign on your MC.
My IC (or Home Line) is in _________________, therefore when I’m at home and with my family, or in my private life, I exude a _________________ energy.
Remember that every sign has an element too, which can influence it (see the information about the elements in Chapter 3). So a Water sign on the MC (or Career Line) would make you more likely to work with water or the emotions. Or at least you would find that satisfying, if you haven’t already worked out how to make it happen.
People with a Fire sign on the MC want excitement at work. People with Earth want something steady, real, visceral and perhaps organic or alternative. People with an Air sign on the MC need mental stimulation. Can you see how it all starts to fit together?
Also note that if you find a planet in your chart that sits right on an angle, it will be a more important planet for you. The planet’s characteristics (and of course the sign the planet and MC are in) lend a ‘flavour’ to that angle. For example, if you have Mars in Leo on your MC, your career or your approach to your career will have a Mars (driven) and Leo (razzle-dazzle) feel to it.
You have now added one more layer to your understanding of a birth chart. Getting to know the four angles is crucial because they can give you an at-a-glance insight into a person when you see their birth chart. Do be aware that the angles need an accurate birth time in order to be accurate themselves.