Astrology feels everywhere these day with apps, books, and even zodiac sign memes that seem to have taken over the interwebs. Perhaps you read your horoscope or identify with a few of the stereotypes of your sign, but others leave you scratching your head. Or maybe you know your Sun, Moon, and Rising Sign (Ascendant) but don’t understand how they come together.
While oversimplified or “pop” astrology can be fun, it rarely takes you beyond the superficial and the depth of your personal astrology chart. I don’t like that a lot of the descriptions that seem to put everyone into 12 zodiac boxes that don’t offer any other personality traits beyond those associated with that sign.
Like other self-awareness measures such as Myer-Briggs, Strengths Finder, Enneagram or Human Design, astrology allows us to bring greater awareness to our unconscious patterns and tendencies. More importantly it offers a more nuanced way of understanding how each play a vital role in how you relate to others and yourself.
In modern, Western we focus on what is called the natal astrology chart or natal chart to gain insight. Essentially it is a planetary snapshot of the moment someone was born and a suspended moment in time that represents different aspects of our personality. As a cosmic map of the soul, it offers clues to our deep emotional needs, strengths, psychological patterns, relationship attachment issues, and how our greatest gifts may manifest in the world.
Rather than focusing on one part of the chart–usually the Sun–uncovering more about your big three (Sun, Moon, Rising) can be a great place to start with your natal chart. I like to think of the chart as multi-layered, with each level offering a deeper understanding of our complexity. Hence why focusing so much on one element seems off balance. Ideally, as we grow in our astrological knowledge we expand into different areas and proficiencies within astrology to help us gain the most personal insight. This can be a lifetime journey, but the Sun, Moon, and Rising are a great place to start!
And the astrological magic unfolds when we understand how these placements work together and how we bounce from one to another daily, hourly, or even in any moment. I experience the Sun, Moon, and Rising as layers of personality and noticing when each one gets activated helps me to better navigate my relationships, work, and even life purpose.
Below is an outline of the way I explain these differences to my clients and the order I see them reveal themselves in myself and others. It’s important to note that if you don’t know your time of birth it will shift the knowledge of the Rising and Moon, but there can still be much information gleaned from the chart without it.
Rising Sign (Ascendant Sign): Persona
Determined by the time and location of birth and what was “rising” in the sky or in the East when we were born. The Rising is the first layer of the chart and represents what we encounter in others and how we might be experienced with first impressions such as our persona. The Rising can be our lens of the world and our initial response in new places or to meeting new people. Often described by astrologers as who we are meant to be, but I disagree, for me the Rising is a skill we have that we can turn on and off. Many of us may become exhausted spending too much time in our Rising because it isn’t our life force– our true life force is found in the Sun.
Sun Sign: Core Essence
This is referred to as your “sign.” Once we feel more comfortable with someone or a particular situation becomes more familiar, our Sun feels safe to shine. Similar to the sun in the sky, our Sun sign represents what we illuminate into the world and who we are when we exude our best self. It’s the fire that burns brightly within you, guiding your aspirations and what lights you up. Sometimes considered our life purpose, I see the Sun sign as offering support for our life purpose and the direction that will most feed our sense of self. The Sun helps us understand our core identity and how we want to be seen–rather than how we see ourselves, which I associate with the moon.
Moon Sign: Emotional Landscape
The Moon sign is the inner most layer of our chart, reserved for those who know us best, and it also represents how we experience ourselves. Particularly when at home alone–or the ways we avoid experiencing being with ourselves. The Moon represents your inner world, your emotional needs, and any emotional defences to feeling discomfort. Like the tides, constantly in flux and influencing how you react and feel on a deeper level, your Moon sign reflects your emotional foundation, how you nurture yourself and others, and your subconscious security needs related to attachment.
Understanding these three pillars of your astrological foundation allows you to gain a deeper understanding of your motivations, reactions, and the way you navigate life. In this way, Astrology can become a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth. After you feel more comfortable exploring the interplay of these, I recommend focusing on the aspects or angles of planets in relationship to your Sun, Moon, and Rising to really delve into your unique astrological blueprint.
Self-studying and exploring popular astrology can be a fantastic way to learn, but we tend to be limited by our own self-objectivity. I.e. You might downplay certain traits or emphasize others, leading to a biased interpretation. Group astrology classes or private sessions with an experienced astrologer are a great way to learn more, invite different interpretations.
Astrology truly is a language filled with symbolism, pattern recognition, and mystery. Like other modalities such as energy medicine and breathwork, astorlogy can be a great life-long tool for spiritual alignment. We are never stuck in a pattern in our chart or destined to struggle with it. Uncovering the desires held within each layer of our chart helps us become a more integrated and whole version of ourselves.
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Rebecca Farrar, aka Wild Witch of the West, is an archetypal astrologer and wild woman living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work has been featured in Elle, Reader’s Digest, Bustle, Astrology.com, and Elite Daily. For more than 13 years, Rebecca has offered soul-centered astrology readings for insight and healing. Her down-to-Earth sessions focus on asteroids, self-care, soul-care, and life purpose. Learn more at www.wildwitchwest.com or follow her on Instagram.
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