Rising Sign Revisited
The brilliant French seventeenth century astrologer, Jean-Baptiste Morin de Villefranche, considered the ascendant to be the most important point in chart delineation. Many modern astrologers acknowledge the rising sign’s significance, but in chart analysis they want to quickly move to planet placement. Lets review the value of the ascendant .
First it is important to always keep in mind that unlike the Sun and Moon which are physical objects, the ascendant is “only” a point, significantly the point in the sign that was on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. This placement sets the house degrees and planetary positions within the chart. Since the ascendant changes one degree every four minutes, it is of greatest importance to have an accurate birth-time to give accurate delineations. Assessing the rising sign and its planetary ruler is the first step in discovering the underpinnings of the psychology of client.
The ascendant is similar to the idea of the dramatic mask used in ancient Roman and Greek theater where the actors spoke literally through a mask to express their character or personae to the audience. One might well consider the ascendant as an outward expression of a client’s “first presenting character” in their theater of life. It is the outer face or mask presented to those they meet and encounter. This actor has a script from the ego, a role for the audience, yet behind the mask is a deeper layer of personality whose true nature is initially hidden. It is through study of the ascendant’s relationship to the natal chart which reveals the more complex inner working of an individual’s psyche and the journey to discover an authentic self.
The task of the astrologer is to bring a client to an understanding of their mask and its implications to the psychology of initial personality presentation in the immediate and extended social environments. This is usually created by the tension of the ego’s drive for approval and acceptance juxtaposed to the response received from the greater world of social interaction. Everyone wants to put their best face forward, it is frustrating. Sometimes the ascendant may not adequately express, but really obfuscate a client’s true nature — possibly a result of natal planetary configurations or the evolution in time by transits or progressions to the natal chart.
Understanding the ascendant and interpreting its nuances begins with a thorough, systematic analysis, starting with it’s planetary ruler now called the chart ruler This designation is not surprising when we remember that “horoscope” means map of the hour of birth. It is at this point where the whole adventure of life begins. Many schools of astrology say that the soul enters the body when it is truly separated from the womb and breathes its first breath. Thus it is not too much to say the ascendant and ruling planet provide clues as to the soul’s karma in this life.
Jean-Baptiste Morin de Villefranche stressed the ascendant’s importance: “How the native is first perceived is linked to the ascendant and is paramount. Problems with succeeding in life are linked to the ascendant. Judging (it) is structured exercise.” For the sake of brevity, here is an edited list of his approach to evaluating the ascendant. 1)The sign on the Ascendant and its ruler, 2) Planets in the first house and their rulers 3)Aspects of planets to the Ascendant and their rulers, 4) Aspects of these rulers to others in the chart, 5) Is there a final depositor and its sequential aspect/sign relation with the ruler of the ascendant.
De Villefrance was adamant about this systematic approach. He writes, “Everything can be measured as you go through the horoscope systematically. Analyze and break down its components, then synthesize. Eventually, doing this becomes a habit. Then you gain speed – images merge – you come to reality. Synthesis makes the chart come alive.” Modern astrologers should review these insights to the ascendant and chart synthesis. De Villefranche’s broader, methodical base of interpretive skills will bring more depth and understanding to your practice. We all can learn from his seventeenth century wisdom. He read for kings!