Points & axes

Ascendant

The ascendant is the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment you were born. It shapes your first, instinctive reaction to the world and how others perceive you at first glance.

It marks the start of the 1st House and is one of the chart's four main points (alongside the descendant, MC and IC). Working it out needs an accurate birth time — even a few minutes' difference can shift the ascendant into another sign.

The ascendant often differs from the sun sign, which is why two people who share a sun sign can come across completely differently at first meeting.