The Ascendant is basically the zodiac sign
that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment you
were born - hence the other term for this point "Rising
Sign".
As this point is calculated for the moment
you were born it is very important that you have the correct
time of birth recorded for use when calculating the Ascendant
and the rest of the birth chart.
As just mentioned, the Ascendant is calculated
using the moment you were born and because of this, symbolically
this point represents your environment, physical health,
family life and general atmosphere that you were born into.
This can also be extended into the physical
body that you are born into at the time of your birth. Further
extending this theme, as the individual grows and develops
into an adult the symbolism presented by the Ascendant shows
how new situations and the "birth" of new phases of life
are approached.
To explain this further I'll use an example.
Let's say that "Charlie's" birth process of long, difficult
and dangerous and that naturally his life was in danger
at the time of his birth.
This first situation of life may have sensitized
him to the danger that is involved with starting something
new, in his first experience of becoming a physical individual.
As he grows older and faces new situations and people Charlie
may find that he has difficulty in letting go of people
and situations, perhaps because unconsciously he fears the
"danger" of taking the first steps to a new beginning.
Psychologically speaking, the Ascendant indicates
the type of persona (a term used by Jung) an individual
has created for dealing with the world and others in general.
In other words our Ascendant is the 'mask' we wear when
having to deal with new situations, people and the world
in general. Physically it can describe what a person looks
like as well as the type of health issues an individual
may face at some point in their lives.
Extending this further, the Ascendant can
also describe the physical environment surrounding the individual.
I look at the Ascendant as representing who
we have to be to get what we want (Sun) and need (Moon).
If you have any more questions... please
contact me!
