The Ascendant or Rising sign is the name given to the sign on the eastern horizon during the time of birth of an individual. Having Scorpio as your Ascendant means that during your birth, the sign of Scorpio was rising from above the ground, the same way that the Sun rises. People who have Scorpio as their rising sign, have Pluto (Scorpio’s ruling planet) as their overall chart ruler. Before the discovery of planet Pluto, Mars was considered to be the ruler of Scorpio, and even now he is used as the sign’s co-ruler. Thus, you should also be examining the condition of Mars when referring to your Ascendant.
Our Rising Sign is a very important astrological parameter, even though many theories are proposed by different astrologers and astrological systems. Still, most agree that the Ascendant defines our body and physical characteristics, also playing a strong role in the development of our character. This is quite natural, as the 1st house (the Ascendant being on its cusp) is responsible for our ego, self-perception and behavior. We should keep in mind, that when the Ascendant is at the beginning of a sign, the sign’s traits are more potent than when it is placed at its end. When the next sign occupies the biggest part of the 1st house, it naturally gives a lot of its traits to the native’s character and even to his body. If your Ascendant is at the last degrees of a sign, you can consider the next sign as a co-Ascendant. Many people though, experience the next sign to behave as the Rising sign a lot more than the one which is actually rising.
Before we continue with the traits the sign grants, we should mention that depending on the geographical latitude, each sign needs slightly different time to ascend. If we are born near the equator, the differences are hardly visible. Yet, the closer we are born to any of the two poles, the better the differences between signs can be visible. This is also the reason why people born in rather extreme northern or southern latitudes can experience rather strange natal charts, with some houses being huge while some others quite small.
As always, we propose to our readers to use the Placidus system in calculating their houses, because we find it to function better both on our own charts and on the charts of other people that we have analyzed. In the northern hemisphere, Libra is rising rather slowly. When someone is born at 50 degrees Northern latitude, the sign will need two hours and forty minutes to rise fully. At a city placed at 60 degrees Northern latitude, the sign will need around three hours and fifteen minutes. Thus, a person born on the Northern hemisphere has statistically more possibilities to have a Scorpio Ascendant, when the average time a sign needs to Ascend is two hours.
As we already mentioned, individuals with a Scorpio Ascendant will have Pluto as their chart ruler. The planet of death and transformation will be very important in their lives, and also strongly connected with their physical body, vitality and appearance. Mars, as the old ruler of the sign, will have his part of influence too. Their body and self will be affected not only by transits of planets through their Ascendant, but also by transits to Pluto (and Mars). In addition, natal aspects of other planets to the chart ruler, while also its location in a particular house, will play a strong role. People with Scorpio rising, must take care to empower their Pluto and Mars in healthy ways, as their functions will always have a positive or negative effect overall on their chart, touching all their life areas.
Having Scorpio as your Ascendant feels like having Pluto in your 1st house. The native has a seductive look, and a highly sexual body. The eyes are piercing and hide promises, full of mystery and lust. The nose can frequently be crooked, and the eyebrows may be representing some nightly bird. The overall appearance of the face is usually quite powerful, and could be more easily described as dangerous than sweet.
The native’s body is usually slim and seeps eroticism, making others feel attracted to them quite easily. The muscles are well-shaped and the overall condition of the body appears to be athletic, even if the individual is not exercising. Even when a Scorpio Ascendant person is not beautiful, he still has those dark erotic vibes, luring others to become their sexual prey. Especially when the chart owner is a woman, her body can be flexible as a snake, being able to hypnotize others with its “dancing” movements. As Scorpio is a water sign, it will make the overall presence of a Scorpio Ascendant person liquid. People with this natal placement will dance in a seductive way, while also will have good athletic abilities (mostly because of Mars being the co-ruler of Scorpio).
Scorpio Ascendant people have this deadly sex-appeal, both fascinating and frightening, which even if it easily attracts may also make fears rise in other individuals. Even the most dominant signs will sense the creeping anxiety of losing a power battle to a Scorpio Ascendant. One important reason for such reactions is the Scorpio Rising person’s tendency to play their games on a clandestine level, and the general secrecy that surrounds them. Dark hair usually prevails in their appearance, combined with dark or green eyes. In addition, they may frequently choose to wear black clothes, adding power to their deadly look. Women Scorpio Ascendants may use a lot of black eyeliner, to make the eyes even more dangerous.
A Scorpio Rising person will adore feeling his body treated by Plutonian energy. They will enjoy many types of extremes, as Pluto is the planet of death and transformation. As Scorpio is the most sexual sign, such individuals will have a very heightened libido, and their desires will be rather unquenchable. It is not uncommon for them to have dark fantasies and fetishes, involving pain, role-play, domination or restriction as sexual pleasures. One way or the other, they still definitely have the most sexually potent Ascendant that a person can have.
Natives with their Ascendant in Scorpio will be rather suspicious about other people, and will frequently try to discover lies. They like to be in control of their own body, thus can be inclined to neither drink nor consume substances that can fog their mind. They do not appear aggressive, but from the first moment they make others understand that in case they are touched, they will sting. Scorpio Rising people do not like intruders in their personal space, and will give the necessary warnings beforehand. Indeed, they will not sting unless provoked, preferring to have everyone at a safe distance.
They usually develop some kind of paranoia about people and their motives, created by their naturally suspicious character. We should also notice that individuals with a Scorpio Ascendant will be more jealous than other people, while also can develop revengeful behaviors. Passion and love are experienced at a very deep level by such people, and when they get hurt, be sure that they will strike back in some ways. They are very good tacticians and know how to manipulate others. Being a water sign, Scorpio will grant them a very strong intuition, and they really are able to read other people’s eyes (or even minds).
The Scorpio Ascendant body is governed by Pluto, so it may also experience dysfunctions connected and ruled by the sign and the planet. Scorpio rules our reproductive system, sexual organs, bowels, while Pluto is also connected with metabolism and elimination. Thus, difficult transits to such an individual’s Ascendant or natal Pluto can bring problems to the native’s genitals, or affect the other body parts mentioned above.
Always have in mind that any planet present near the Ascendant point will definitely alter both the physical appearance and the characteristics of the native. We could say that in the first 10 degrees of the first house it will have the strongest influence on the Ascendant, while also the last 5 degrees of the 12th house. The planet’s energies blend with the Ascendant ones; we can imagine the sign as a canvas while the planet as the paint that will, in the end, create the unique picture of the individual. Of course, it is possible to have more than one planets (or astrological points/ asteroids) in conjunction with the ascendant – furthermore complicating the big picture. To understand better your body, your Ego and how they function you should analyze all those planetary influences. This is why knowing your Ascendant does not necessarily mean jumping to correct conclusions about your life.
You can use our free natal chart generator, in order to understand better not only your Rising Sign but also any possible planets that are present near it. Also, do not forget to pay attention to your natal Pluto placement, so that you discover the functions of your chart ruler and how it will affect your life and priorities. Finally, do not forget to read the article about natal Pluto in the 1st house, as it has many similarities to having a Scorpio Rising.