Sun, Moon, Rising — the Big 3 in Astrology
Astrology isn’t just your Sun Sign — Here’s how to get the most out of your natal chart reading and any monthly horoscope at any given time
I was 18 turning 19 years old when I discovered the Big 3 (Sun, Moon, Rising) in an astrology chart. I was in design school at the time, discovering my visual identity in modeling, photography, fashion, design, and more importantly, innately discovering who I was.
I sought existentialism through religious art, from the aborigines of Australia, to the natives of the Americas — to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.
I explored the likes of John Lennon and his cry for “peace” in the 60s–70s. I explored the sacred teachings of the Buddha. The macabre teenager took a deep dive into death, life after death, and other planes of life — beyond what I could see, touch, feel.
I wanted to know what spirit was. I looked at past lives, astral planes, out-of-body experiences, hypnosis, tarot cards, mind-altercations, ayahuasca and plant medicine, tantra, chakras, shamanism and more.
Yes, I was that kid.
The new age kid. The existential kid.
I read Dante’s Inferno, explored Witchcraft, Paganism, spells, and moon rituals. I explored Islamic art and Judaism, the Kabbalah, the Torah, Emerald Tablets, the Knights Templar, the Rosicrucians, and Freemasonry for my art history class. Above all, I was searching for God, and spirit, and in that search, I was searching for myself. And in all that, somehow, I came across astrology again.
Hello, stranger. I haven’t seen you in a while.
This time, not only did I rediscover astrology, but I also discovered charts. And this was the singular most important discovery of my astrology journey. No longer was I confined to the 12 monthly horoscope column on the back pages of whatever fashion magazine I was reading at the time.
Growing up I had always felt that even though some parts of it were true, I didn’t always resonate with the readings of “Sagittarius” — in this case my Sun sign — when I would peruse through magazine horoscope columns as a teenager. “Fun-loving, adventurous, with the audacity to always be in search of greater horizons”. Sure, I was that, but that wasn’t all.
At times, I felt like I resonated more with the “mysterious and private nature” of Scorpio, the “dreamlike wonder” of Pisces, the “confidence and pride” of Leo, and the “modesty and responsibility” of Virgo too.
The Big 3. Photo by Saurav Mahto
Lo and behold — when I discovered charts, along with my own personal planets and other luminaries, I was shocked, but not surprised. It was serendipitous, like a light bulb had been switched on.
I do have a Virgo Moon. I do have a Mars in Leo. I do have 5 planets in Scorpio. And above all, I do have a major stellium in the 12H that made me a Pisces dominant.
Your horoscope is more than just your Sun sign (Sagittarius, Pisces, Leo etc). You might know of this by its division according to your birthday (eg. born on 22 January makes you an Aquarius, born on 22 October makes you a Libra).
It’s also made of the Big 3 — your Sun, Moon, and Rising sign. Your personal planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, your social planets — Jupiter and Saturn, and your outer planets —Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Today however I will just talk more about the Big 3.
An Illumination Moment. Photo by Juri Noga
Sun, Moon, Rising — What do they mean?
Your Sun sign represents your core self, fundamental identity, and ego. With an ego that could outshine the stars, the Sun is like the eternal spotlight on your life’s stage. What sign it is in determines the flavour it colours the area of life with and how it manifests in the qualities of that planet.
Your Moon sign reveals your emotional and inner world, providing insight into how you process feelings, emotions, and instinctual reactions. The moon is like an internal compass that guides you through life. It paints your inner world with vibrant feelings and instinctual reactions. If the Sun is the glamorous diva, the Moon is the enigmatic artist behind the scenes.
Your Rising sign, (also known as the Ascendant or Chart Ruler), represents your outward persona. It has to do with how you present yourself to people, the impressions you make on others, and even your physical appearance. It also guides how you navigate your immediate surroundings.
The plane — The pilot, the engine, and its wings. Photo by Kaysha
Navigating the Skies
I see it like this — we can draw parallels between the Big 3 and parts of an airplane.
The Rising sign is like the pilot. It takes the helm at the front of the plane, just as the Ascendant represents the first impression we make on others. It’s the first persona we wear and how we navigate our immediate surroundings. The pilot dictates where we go and how we go about doing things.
The Moon plays the role of the engine, functioning at the core and essence of our emotional being. Although it may not be as visible and apparent to others, it is core to our emotional stability and drives our instinctual reactions. We don’t really pay attention to the engine of the plane when we look at one, but it’s there, like the wind beneath our wings, literally.
The Sun symbolizes the wings of the plane. Much like how wings enable an airplane to fly, the Sun represents our identity and ego. It is what we radiate outwardly, visible to everyone. Without a strong sense of self (wings), we may feel lost in our journey of self-discovery. It’s like as if the plane is asking, “Without my wings, who am I?”
Each of the Big 3 play a unique and essential role that forms a bigger picture of who we are. Just as a well-functioning airplane requires all its components to work harmoniously, our birth chart paints a comprehensive picture of who we are and how we navigate life’s journey. The Rising sign sets the tone for our outer persona, the Moon guides our emotional landscape, and the Sun defines our sense of self and purpose.
How do I find my Big 3?
3 Observatories in the Clouds. Photo by Peter Luo
Easy.
Go to any free astrology website (such as astrolabe or astro.com) and generate your chart. Yep, modern astrologers don’t use giant sundials and orreries anymore. They use astrology software, key stuff into a computer, and voila! Astrology in the modern age.
This was the very first time I discovered charts. That light blue background on astrolabe’s free website with the compass, orrery and sundial is forever seared into my young teenage memory.
The key information you need:
Your birthday (eg. 23 August 1989)
Time of birth down to the minute (eg. 2.17pm) (IMPORTANT!) — the reason for birthday and time is just to understand where the planets were at time of birth
Location of birth (eg. Colorado, USA) — the reason for this is to understand locality of the planets from the position observable from Earth (hence the term geocentric astrology)
Think of your natal chart as a snapshot of the sky when you were born. Depending on geographical coordinates, the planets in the sky will be at different positions. And that’s where the Ancient Greek word “horoscope” “hṓra-skopéō” comes from! Horo — meaning sky, scope — meaning to see.
You should get a chart that looks like this.
Freddie Mercury’s chart generated on a paid astrology software — Astro Gold. I am on the Whole Sign system. Yes, I customize my chart in pink because I like it that way.
Here I’m using the chart of Freddie Mercury as an example.
Sun in Virgo, Moon in Sagittarius, and Ascendant in Leo. Hey! He’s very similar to me.
Every software or website will look a bit different stylistically. Whether you’re on the Placidus or Whole Sign system will differ too.
Next I have isolated his Big 3 for clarity — Sun, Moon, Rising.
Freddie’s Big 3 — Sun in Virgo 2H, Moon in Sagittarius 5H, Rising (or Ascendant/Chart Ruler) in Leo.
HOUSE — (the area of life it adds special flavour to)
On the Whole Sign system, Freddie’s Sun is in the 2nd House and Moon is in the 5th House. (I will call them 2H and 5H respectively) This already gives me many clues on how these placements will manifest.
When the Sun is in the 2H, it manifests as someone who places significant emphasis on matters related to personal resources, values, and self-worth. The 2H governs our material belongings, financial security, and the things we hold dear. Sun 2H individuals have a strong focus on building material security and stability in their lives. In Freddie’s case, he is driven (sun = ego) to work hard and accumulate resources to ensure a comfortable and secure future (2H). He takes delight in sensory experiences and the finer things in life.
When the Moon is in the 5H, it manifests as someone whose emotions and inner world are strongly influenced by creativity, self-expression, and a desire for joy and fun. The 5H is associated with childlike wonder, romance, hobbies, and the playful side of life. Evidently, many of his songs sing about trips to the Opera, a day at the Races, riding on a bicycle, listening to the radio, and so on. He would also excel in creative expression, with flair and drama, making him an engaging storyteller and captivating others with his emotional expressions. He would be drawn to artistic endeavours like music, dance, and theatre, as we already know. For Freddie, it was his means of emotional release (moon) and self-expression (5H). He would have a tender, romantic heart, and a deep need for affection and expressing them through grand gestures.
The Ascendant will always be in the 1H. Now let’s move on to signs, aka the flavour in which it colours the planets.
SIGN — (what the flavour is)
Freddie’s Sun is in Virgo, meaning the way he found his core self was to be an efficient, meticulous, and detail-oriented person who excelled at turning chaos into order. He was the ultimate strategist who was able to troubleshoot with a laser-like focus, leaving no puzzle unsolved.
Now don’t forget that his Sun is in the 2H. Coupled with that Virgo flavour, there is practicality, attention to detail (Virgo), and a strong focus on material matters and self-improvement (2H). With Virgo’s analytical and discerning nature (Virgo), he would recognize the value of his innate skills and talents (2H) and take pride (Sun) in his ability to offer valuable services or perform tasks with precision (Virgo). He would be willing to put in the effort to achieve his goals and build a stable foundation for himself.
On the flipside, this placement can lead to self-criticism and perfectionism regarding his achievements and sense of self-worth. He would need to strike a balance between setting high standards and acknowledging his accomplishments.
Next, Freddie’s Moon is in Sagittarius. Like a true free-spirit, those with this placement are on a perpetual quest for truth and wisdom. He would find solace in exploration, be it through travel, learning, or philosophical ponderings. With a fiery passion for life, Sagittarius Moons shoot for the stars and embrace change like a shooting arrow. He would have an optimistic outlook on life that illuminates even the darkest of rooms.
Now don’t forget it’s in the 5H. Coupled with that exuberant Sagittarius flavour, this encapsulates a real “joie de vivre”, or joy and zest for life that can be found in any moment. His heart yearns for connections that transcend borders and boundaries (Sagittarius), embracing the world as his playground of love (5H). He would find emotional fulfillment (Moon) through thrilling escapades and soul-stirring experiences (Sagittarius). His hearts crave freedom and spontaneity (Sagittarius). Romance, fun and adventure (5H) takes on a grand scale for these Moon-Sagittarians, making them the ultimate cosmic thrill-seekers.
Finally, Freddie’s Rising is in Leo. Rising signs represent the way you come across to people when you first meet them (1H). In his case, the stage has been set and all lights, camera, action will be on him, and not only that, he relishes in the spotlight (Leo). A natural born showstopper, his aura radiates with confidence and charisma, captivating all who cross his path (1H). A sunburst of energy, he draws attention effortlessly. His presence is magnetic (Leo), and his first impressions would leave an indelible mark on others. He would be the bright sun that lights up any room he walks into. Leo Risings have a regal air about them, exuding self-assuredness and a touch of theatrical charm. He would not be afraid to express his individuality and showcase his unique talents to the world.
Evidently, we know him of the fabulous Freddie Mercury of Queen today.
ASPECTS —(is a certain house interacting with its neighbours, and in what way? are they getting along or hostile to each other?)
Aspects refer to the geometric angles formed between planets or points in a birth chart. Kinda like a tango dance between each of the planets within a chart. These angles represent the relationships and connections between different energies in the chart. Aspects provide valuable information about how these energies interact and influence each other.
In Freddie’s case, there is a trine aspect (the blue line with a triangle in the middle of it) forming between his Moon in Sag 5H and the Ascendant in Leo 1H.
Luckily for him, trines are harmonious aspects that help with a person’s psychological makeup. They represent ease and positive cooperation between two planets. Think of it like a neighbourhood picnic, where these two planets hang out in the garden together, they get along, willingly share their sandwiches with each other, and have a great time overall.
When there is a trine aspect between Freddie’s Moon and Ascendant, it signifies a harmonious and supportive connection between his emotions (Moon) and his outward personality (Ascendant).
Freddie’s emotional confidence and enthusiasm (Moon Sag 5H) blend seamlessly with his confident and radiant self-presentation (Ascendant in Leo).
This alignment fosters a natural charm and an ability to connect with others on a genuine and heartfelt level. He is likely to be popular and well-liked, as his warm and engaging personality makes others feel at ease in his company.
This beneficial aspect placement enhances his magnetic charisma and allows him to authentically shine in the spotlight of life.
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
How to Get the Most out of Your Chart
So now you know how to find your Big 3 — Sun, Moon, Rising.
Now whenever you come across a monthly horoscope posting, make sure to read not just for your Sun sign but also for your Moon and Rising signs, to get the most out of each reading.
Yep, time to embrace your Big 3 trifecta... you are now going to read for all 3! Each of these signs represents different aspects of your personality and life, so understanding all three can enrich your horoscope reading experience.
Take some time to understand the influence of your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. Again to recap, your Sun sign reflects your core self and identity, the Moon sign represents your emotional inner world, and the Rising sign shows how you present yourself to the world.
Finally, consider keeping a journal (think of it like your time capsule celestial diary) of your horoscope readings and note any related events or feelings that occur in your life.
You might start to see patterns and develop a deeper understanding of the universe, life, and gain better clarity on yourself over time. Serving as a cosmic mirror that reflects on your life experiences, this practice can be a potent tool for self-awareness and personal growth, to conquer all of life’s challenges and mysteries.
