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How to Find Your Ascendant Sign

Annie, longtime astrology and co-owner of astrology information site Cafe Astrology, says, "The Ascendant (or rising sign) is often considered the mask one wears when meeting others. Perhaps it is most aptly thought of as the automatic responses to one's environment." Without the ascendant, astrology can seem like it doesn't fit or makes no sense. By reading both the ascending sign and Sun sign horoscopes, one can get a better idea of upcoming events and character than by reading just the Sun sign alone.

Things You'll Need

Precise time and location of birth from birth certificate or other credible documentation

Instructions

- 1
  Locate your birth time and date on a birth certificate or other official document. For a truly precise reading, this information absolutely must be reliable and correct. If there's any question about authenticity, find a parent or sibling that can verify the information. Otherwise, the only route to find the ascendant is through an expensive process called rectification, which requires an experienced astrologer and a good amount of cash.
- 2
  Visit a leading astrology site to get a precisely calculated ascendant. Reputable sites include Astrology on the Web, Tarot.com and Cafe Astrology. For those who are very curious about the inner workings of astrology, Astrodienst supplies free charts and information. However, this site can be overwhelming to a beginner, so use this site as a last resort.
- 3
  Read the resulting chart information for the ascendant. It'll usually be listed on the chart underneath the Sun sign (i.e. Sun sign: Taurus, Ascendant: Gemini). The information may also be listed after the abbreviation for ascendant, which is Asc.
- 4
  Find your birth time in on an ascendant chart. Astrology on the Web states, "[The Ascendant] changes every two hours, approximately. Even twins born as little as five minutes apart could have different ascendants, which would make a real difference in their horoscopes and so in their personalities." Locate your birth sign and then follow the rows down to your approximate time of birth to find your likely ascendant sign.

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