First House

The sign on the cusp* of the first house is called the Ascendant or Rising Sign and shows how others view us initially. Along with the Sun and the Moon it is one of the three most important parts of a natal chart. One way to think of the Ascendant is that it's like the sunrise of your chart. The sign on the Ascendant is the sign that was rising at the time you were born.

Some astrologers refer to the cusp of the first house as the mask we show to others. This is an accurate description of the way that the sign operates here. It is essentially the face we show to others and how we present ourselves to the world.

Because the Ascendant is so important to interpretation of a chart it has it's own glyph. The glyph for the Rising Sign is

The 1st House represents our physical self. Our characteristics, appearance and gestures. It also signifies vitality, health (also the 6th house) and stamina. This is the house of beginnings.

*Cusp is the word used to describe the lines that divide the circle of your chart into houses.