Part 2

In part 1 we explored how the Sun sign is different than the Rising sign, and what those differences mean. We also took a brief look at how the Sun and Ascendant share some traits. Today we continue the discussion.

As I offered yesterday, our Sun sign shows how we are enlightened, and how we enlighten others. It is the “power plant” of our existence, giving Light to all the other planets representing our “inner Lights,” each with their unique “department of labor.” The signs our planets occupy show the filters through which they express their energy, and the house shows how that energy plays out in our lives.

The Ascendant sign is the sign on the cusp, or beginning, of our first house. It is our Rising sign which shows our self-image and our “window to the world," and gives a reference point for which signs are on the houses of our chart. Regardless of the house system we use, the combination of the Ascendant and Midheaven gives us our orientation to our world.

Important Factors in How the Sun and Ascendant Signs Express

A very important factor in how the Sun or any planet in any sign operates, including the sign on the Ascendant, is which decan (third) of the sign they fall in, as well as the “face” (5 degree segment) of the sign. This gives a sense of the nuances of the sign, and the sub-influences at work. For example, I have a Sun at 12 Aries, which is the Leo decan, giving a Leo flavor to my Light/Life in Aries. However, those with a Sun between 21-30 Aries have it in the Sagittarius decan. There’s a big different in how Leo expresses and how Sagittarius expresses!

Besides which decan of the sign our Sun and Rising fall in, other important factors are the Sabian Symbols of the Sun and Ascendant and their positions in their specific sequences of degrees. Another influence is the sign and decan of the planet(s) ruling the Sun and Ascendant, as well as the aspects to the Sun and Ascendant and their rulers.

Each planet rules two signs in worldly affairs. Mars is of primary importance to anyone with Sun in Aries or Scorpio, as well as those with Aries or Scorpio rising. Venus of primary importance to those with Sun in Taurus or Libra, or Taurus or Libra rising. Mercury important for those with Sun in Gemini or Virgo, as well as Gemini or Virgo rising.

The sign Saturn occupies is of primary importance for those with Sun in Capricorn or Aquarius, or who have Capricorn or Aquarius rising. Jupiter’s sign is of primary importance for those with Sun in Sagittarius or Pisces, and those with Sagittarius or Pisces rising. The Sun and Moon are both important for those with Sun in Cancer or Leo, as well as those with Cancer or Leo rising.

While the planet ruling our Sun, Moon, or any other planet is known as its “dispositor,” the planet governing the sign on a given house cusp is known as “the ruler” of that house. By studying the signs of the various rulers of our houses, we come to see our inner response to the affairs of those areas of life. To get a thorough understanding of the houses, we have to look at the sign on the house, as well as the sign occupied by the ruler of that house, as well as the ruler of any planet that might occupy that house.

A Recap

While the Sun symbolizes how we shine, and the energies related to how we are illuminated and integrate various (planetary) energies in our personal “solar system,” the Ascendant shows us how we view ourselves, others, and all the fields of life that are set by the sign on the Ascendant. That’s the fundamental difference between the two. The Ascendant “fixes” our view, while the Sun illuminates all our life sectors determined by that view in the course of a year. So while the Ascendant yields a certain way of seeing ourselves and all the segments of our reality, the planets each occupy a house within that greater “whole view,” with those planetary functions working out through the various house segments of our reality.

That’s why when we have two or more planets in one or more signs clustered at the top of the chart, those planets in those signs show how others see us since it's what we project to the public, However, our inner view of ourselves is still seen through the lens of the rising sign. Planets at the bottom of our chart show how we are around the home and our families, but we still see ourselves and our world through the rising sign.

In any case, beyond how we view ourselves and our world, and how the world views us and our affairs, we ARE the integrity and shining Light of our Sun sign, focused, filtered, and given flavor through the Moon sign. The Sun is the giver of Light/Life, while our Moon is the package of our personality. We are also all our other planetary functions, each with their specific department of labor. The planets are our inner “Lights” that express through the filters of the signs, and show our inherent bias of those planetary functions within us as they evolve in the outer world of the affairs of life, i.e., the houses.

All that said, I believe it’s very beneficial whenever you’re reading about the Sun in a given sign to read BOTH your Sun sign and rising sign in posted material. And then you can gain even more insights by looking at the signs of the rulers of the Sun and Ascendant. A Sun in Libra with Venus in Scorpio is a far different Light than Sun in Libra with Venus in Leo, and a Leo rising with Sun in Aries is much different than Leo rising with Sun in Capricorn!

As for which is "stronger," each of our energies is strong or weak depending on our momentary focus. The crucial thing to keep in mind is that the signs on whatever house are dependent on where their rulers are, whether natally, progressed, or transiting. These form the complex of energies that infuse our approach to the affairs of the houses.

Anyone can learn a tremendous amount about themselves even if they don't know their time of birth, since a Solar chart (done for sunrise on the birthday) reveals everything there is to know about a Being, even if they're not living their enlightenment to the fullest. Looking at the Solar chart often reveals much that cannot be seen in the Rising sign chart, and works simultaneously with the Rising sign chart. So we actually have two charts working simultaneously; the chart based in our rising sign, and the sunrise chart.

The issue of whether the Rising sign is “more important” than the Sun sign is the wrong question, since these two factors are not an “either-or” but very much a “both-and” proposition! They are both important, in radically different ways. Each has their place and function in our lives. It's all part of the enormously complex systems theory that we call Astrology.

Reprinted on crystalwind.ca with written permission from Robert Wilkinson. Copying this article to other blogs is strictly prohibited. It is copyright protected. 

© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson

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