Rising sign is not something that ‘kicks in after you have turned 30’ (believe it or not, I’ve heard this too many times to count) or something only other people can see and you are not aware of it. It is always present, it’s your skin that, unlike snakes, you can not shed. When you meet new people, it is the first thing they see. If you have planets conjuct your Rising, they also show immediately. Rising sign does not describe physical appearance only, that depends A LOT on your genetics. But there is certain mannerism of each Rising sign that is different from the other. We all have physical traits of our Rising sign, even if they aren’t too prominent because of some other influences (aspects to your rising, outer planets in the first house etc)

ARIES RISING: They are very ‘in your face’ and can come off as rude sometimes. They like things that revolve around them, in that respect they are much like children. Can seem (and really be) uninterested in topics that do not concern them directly and generally speaking most of the time they pay attention only if the topic of conversation is somehow about them. They can have prominent heads and/or foreheads and they are normally very honest and upfront.

TAURUS RISING: The neck, the voice! They tend to slow things down, can’t be rushed and speak in the same manner. They are generally seen as attractive, they enjoy comfort and like to be surrounded with useful things. They are very sensual and like to touch and smell things. All the Taurus Rising people I know personally have a great, melodic voice, even if they can’t sing (and almost all of those I know can)

GEMINI RISING: They talk with their hands and tend to look younger than their peers. Can be really loud and somehow people always notice them (they are 50% adorable, 50% annoying as fuck) Their talks have no filter, they’ll just say whatever off the top of their head or, alternatively, make people awkward with their silence if they need to think about something (you can literally hear Geminis think, it’s common for all the Gemini placements). They can talk with literally anyone and are generally popular with friends.

CANCER RISING: They can have ‘love handles’ or effortlessly flat/six-pack stomach. Their weight might fluctuate a lot throughout life and they tend to retain water and often feel ‘bloated’, even if they aren’t. Cancer Rising have watery eyes, no matter the size or colour. They are seen as soft and caring and people are generally surprised when they get to know them better and their other placements come to the surface! Not that they are not caring, it’s just that their softness is rarely a weakness, as it may be perceived.

LEO RISING: You must have heard it before, but Leo risings do have noticeable hair. Even if it isn’t thick and mane-like, it’s still something they pay attention to. They really care what people think of them, even if they hide it well. They can respond to criticism in a dramatic way, but they are generally lovable and warm, and small children are especially drawn to them. They can express themselves in quite a dramatic way and are born entertainers.

VIRGO RISING: They like correcting people, but are not mean, they just want you to improve and have the urge to teach you something. Although they are often very smart, they’ll put themselves down a lot. You may feel judged around them, the way they speak is clear and very much to the point. Their attention to details can be bothersome at times, because there is no thing, no matter how small, that they won’t like to analyze.

LIBRA RISING: Society darlings. They ooze charm and it’s unstoppable. They often have dimples when they smile and there is just something cool about them. Libra Rising is never ‘in your face’, but if they want to convince you to do something, they will and you won’t know what hit you. They’ll probably agree a lot with whoever they’re talking to, so they can be perceived as manipulative, although their priority is peace and harmony around them.

SCORPIO RISING: When they speak, it can sound dramatic, severe sometimes, definitely intimidating. They can be either hilariously funny or bitterly sarcastic, often both. You can feel their mood and they can really make you uncomfortable. It’s because they’ll rarely show immediately what’s inside them, no matter how hurt or even happy they are. They must always be in control and if their inner storm is brewing, it turns into a scary expression on their face.

SAGITTARIUS RISING: They can have strong legs and/or butt and talk loudly, with exaggeration. They might sound as if they’re bragging about the adventures in their life (whatever they consider to be adventurous). Silly and goofy, they are at the same time wise and philosophical. If you don’t have a sense of humor, which is something they have in abundance and appreciate in other people, they’ll be gone and won’t lie about that.

CAPRICORN RISING: The older they get, the more confident they are. Reliable and won’t waste your time so you might as well not waste theirs. Their  manner of speech is steady, they don’t like to ‘beautify’ things for the sake of conversation, but are surprisingly open when it comes to their personal struggles - as well as achievements. If you have something meaningful to say, they’ll definitely listen and don’t like to be bothered with the trivial.

AQUARIUS RISING: Their appearance is unique and they might want to point that out. Generally friendly and nice but you can feel the distance until you really get to know them better. Can have long legs and arms and egg-shaped skulls, or oval faces. Intelligent and free-spirited, they’ll try all the possible new and inventive approaches to any situation. Many Aquarius Risings I’ve met in my life had hands and feet that were always cold, although they rarely complained about being cold.