The Ascendant: Your Rising Sign

by Jodie Forrest

Balance how you look with who you are by learning more about your astrological Ascendant, or Rising Sign. How do you face the world? Are you centered? Are you poised? How well do you handle blind dates and job interviews? Your astrological Ascendant, the sign rising in the east at your birth, is the face you wear in the world, your social self, your astrological "clothing". Your Ascendant is just as important in your birth chart as your Sun and Moon. How well do you really understand it?

Join astrologer and novelist Jodie Forrest as she examines the Ascendant through the lenses of the arts, psychology, relationships, evolutionary astrology and metaphysics. Beginners or professional astrologers will deepen their knowledge of the rising sign. You will discover:
•How your Rising Sign relates to first impressions.
•How your Rising Sign works in relationships.
•How your Rising Sign relates to your Sun and Moon signs.
•Understanding your Ascendant’s ruler.
•Understanding aspects to your natal Ascendant.
•Understanding dynamic events like transits, progressions, and solar arcs to your Ascendant.
•Rectification tips for the Ascendant.
•Detailed cookbook with descriptions for each Ascendant sign and ruling planet.

Genres: Astrology

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3½ stars] This is an introductory book, probably best suited for advanced beginning astrology students, especially the cookbook section that makes up the second half. Both beginners and more advanced students may learn something from the first half of the book, though, in which Forrest discusses the Ascendant in general, comparing it to Jung's concept of the persona and to acting, as well as seeing it in terms of personal style. She includes several suggestions for astrologers on using the charts in their collections to study how people use their Ascendants. Forrest writes from an psychological and evolutionary point of view, but she does talk about how the Ascendant can work in the physical world: appearance, the body, and health. This wouldn't be suitable as a student's first astrology book, since Forrest assumes the reader knows the basics of chart interpretation, but it would be a solid guide for students wanting to study the Ascendant in more detail.

[Haley Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear, thorough, easy-to-understand book on the Ascendant. One of the best I've read on the subject.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess that the cover image of this book--that of a beautiful woman holding up a mask--led me to expect a fluffy work aimed at the mass audience, but what I got was an in-depth and imaginative treatment of the Ascendant of the horoscope suitable for practicing astrologers and serious students.

Approaching from the angle of "evolutionary astrology"--that is, the view that we are all in a long process of self-development through many incarnations--the author treats the Ascendant as a key indicator in showing what our life plan is for our current tour of duty on Earth. She makes the material both vivid and fun by using the imagery of the possible costumes, vehicles, and terrain that corresponds with each sign. For example, for my own Ascendant in Libra:

This person has come into the world wearing the mask of the Artist, Lover, Counselor, or Peacemaker. Other images . . . include the Negotiator, Diplomat, Aesthetic One or Moderator. Less than optimal manifestations . . . might include the Fence-Sitter, Codependent One, Conflict-Avoider, or Indecisive One.

There follow 9 pages of detailed description of the behavior, issues, and personal style of someone with this Ascendant. I think it's very accurate.

Considering the importance of the rising sign in the horoscope (a word that itself originally referred to the Ascendant), there is not a lot of material out there for the student of astrology. So this is an excellent and very useful resource.

[Ellen Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book! Lots of information on the Ascendant and how we show ourselves to the world as well as, how we view the world!