What is a rising sign, and how do you find yours?

A window open at night, an astrolabe and armillary sphere on the sill, the starry sky and the sea outside — Brand image

In short

Your rising sign is the sign on the eastern horizon when you were born. To find it you need your birth date, time and place; the more exact the time, the better.

How is it different from your sun sign?

When people ask "what's your sign?", they usually mean your sun sign. In astrology it's often used to talk about what a person cares about and their sense of self; the rising sign is often used to talk about how you come across, first impressions, and how you handle unfamiliar situations.

These are astrology's ways of explaining things. They don't mean everyone with the same sign has the same personality.

How to look it up

Have your date and time of birth ready. You can check your birth record first.
Have the city where you were born ready.
Enter the details on a birth chart website and look for "rising", Ascendant or ASC.

The rising sign changes with time and place. If your birth time is uncertain, especially near the boundary between two signs, you may get different results.

Can I have a tarot reading if I don't know my birth time?

Yes. Pentacles Studio's one-on-one tarot readings don't need any birth data. On this site's 78 Types tool, you can choose "not sure of my rising sign" and try it with your sun sign.

Where do the 78 Types pairings come from?

The tool treats your sun and rising signs as an unordered pair. Including same-sign pairs, there are 78 combinations, matched in order to the 78 tarot cards. It's a playful correspondence designed by the studio, not a fixed rule of traditional astrology; here, sun Leo with Virgo rising gives the same type as sun Virgo with Leo rising.

If you'd like to read the monthly forecasts, I suggest leading with your rising sign and following with your sun sign. How to read the monthly forecasts is here.

Further reading: Quick guide to all 78 tarot cards · Guide to the tarot horoscopes

Common questions

Does your rising sign change with age?

The rising sign in your birth chart depends on the time and place of your birth, so it doesn't change with age.

If I don't know my birth time, can I use my sun sign instead of my rising sign?

The tool lets you try it with your sun sign for fun, but that isn't the same as finding your rising sign.

To ask about your own situation, start with the readings and prices.

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