The rising sign is our front door to the world. Author Eileen Grimes calls it "a portal through which energy must funnel outwards." It's so much a part of us that it's often hard to see ourselves. In my twenties, it use to baffle me to be described as "ethereal, dreamy," 'cause that's not how I saw myself at all. Of course, it was the Pisces rising that they saw as the outer package. The rising sign determines all the first house particulars like personality, experiences of childhood, appearance and behavior. It's the outer layer, but its edges blur into the energies of the Sun, Moon and other planets.

Here's Eileen on her own rising sign: "I’m a Pisces, and that sign is generally gentle and passive. The Leo rising has helped me become more gregarious and social. Without it, I’d probably be a wallflower and intensely shy. I recently looked at a lot of pictures of me growing up, and found that I was “posing” in most of them. Showing off, and getting dressed up, and also having a really pronounced mane. I was also expected to “perform” in front of visitors. And, there was ballet at 5 years of age, first piano recital at 6 years old, and every year after until I was 12. Singing lessons at 17 for many years. Choir performing groups, as well as professional stage performing most of my life. It almost sounds like a performer’s resume... or in this case, a Leo rising’s life."

In this article, Eileen explains why rising signs (also known as the ascendant) are a big deal in the birth chart. And she offers insights on the early experience, and physical traits for each particular rising sign.