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 Taurus as your Ascendant means that during your birth, the sign of Taurus was rising from above the ground, the same way that the Sun rises. People who have a Taurus Ascendant, have Venus (Taurus’ ruling planet) as their overall chart ruler.
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, and is 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 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 that is actually rising.
Before we continue with the traits that 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, Taurus is rising rather quickly. When someone is born at 50 degrees Northern latitude, the sign will need one hour and fifteen minutes to rise fully. At a city placed at 60 degrees Northern latitude, the sign will need around fourty-five minutes. Thus, a person born in the Northern hemisphere has statistically fewer possibilities to have a Taurus Ascendant, when the average time a sign needs to ascend is two hours.
As we already mentioned, individuals with Taurus Ascendant will have Venus as their chart ruler. The planet of beauty and love will be very important in their lives, and also strongly connected with their physical body, vitality and appearance. Their body and self will be affected not only by transits of planets through their ascendants, but also by transits to Venus. In addition, natal aspects of other planets to Venus, while also its location in a particular house, will play a strong role. People with Taurus rising, must take care to empower their Venus in healthy ways, as its functions will always have a positive or negative effect overall on their chart, touching all their life areas.
Having Taurus as your Ascendant feels like having Venus in your 1st house. The native’s body is rather slow to react, yet has a very strong stamina. The facial expressions of such people appear slower, gifting them a good poker face. Taurus Ascendant individuals will not rush into reacting; they will automatically stall and process the incoming actions before they react to external parameters. As Taurus is the most fertile and fruitful sign, it tends to not give slender and skinny people. On the contrary, on many occasions, Taurus Rising people will have a fuller figure.
The body of a woman with a Taurus Ascendant will tend to develop as the archetype of the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite. The breasts may be larger than average, and the hips may be wider. Individuals with this rising sign may have a strong and fixed body, representing the stereotypical nature of the animal-sign, which is, of course, the bull. Strong neck, skin thicker than average, big eyes, are just some of the characteristics this Ascendant might gift. In addition, the native’s voice may be deep and warm, rather pleasant to other people’s ears.
A Taurus Rising person will adore feeling his body treated by Venus. Even men who have this Ascendant will enjoy baths, spas, and any other treatment that makes them relax. Their body will love being cared for, no matter if another person does it or the individual himself. As we already mentioned, the natural tendency of Taurus is radically opposite of the one of Aries. Aries people need to move. Taurus people do not need to move.
This is their natural physical condition, and they will, of course, prefer returning to it the sooner they can. Can it bring laziness? Yes, but this does not mean that it will not have any productive side either. Speaking of Venusian treatments, we should not forget to mention what Venus can give to the mind, not only to the body. The same way that a Taurus Ascendant person will enjoy a spa center, he will feel at home at some artistic event. Indeed such individuals love to feed their mind with harmony and pleasure through all types of art, music, and everything that promotes the benefic planet’s energy.
Taurus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house, connected with wealth, possessions and things that we believe we own. People who have their Ascendant in Taurus, will love to be in physical touch with what they own, while also exhibit it on their body. They need to feel that they have money on them, to enhance their subconscious feeling of prosperity. They are attracted by expensive clothes and jewelry, which they will frequently wear to show off – but also to empower their self-confidence. In addition, they can become fetishists with some favorite objects, not wanting to separate them from their bodies. Also, physical touch with money is another necessary ritual that they will usually do; counting coins and banknotes, putting their hands in their pockets are just some of those.
Keep in mind that the last degrees of Taurus contain some malefic fixed stars, with Algol being the most prominent. Algol resides at the 26th degree of Taurus, while the Pleiades at the 29th, even reaching until the 1st degree of Gemini. When someone’s Ascendant falls on these fixed stars, and especially if he has a natal planet in conjunction with them, the otherwise calm nature of Taurus is transformed into something totally different. Algol is famous for his violent nature, hysterical outbreaks and highly feminine energy.
We should not forget that the star is the Medusas’ head, famous for bringing malice and evil. If a person has a tight conjunction of Algol with his Ascendant, his physical body may be drawn towards hurting others. In case you have this placement watch out to consciously discover any darkness hidden inside you, and tame it. The Pleiades, on the other hand, are a small constellation of 7 stars (plus 2 smaller ones) that are connected with tragedy, shame, and problems of the eyesight. The strongest star of the Pleiades is Alcyone, which is located exactly on the cusp of Taurus and Gemini. The Pleiades carry extremely strong feminine energy, which can make someone a drama queen, bring scandals and disgrace, while also give a bad reputation. Of course, being born under these stars rising does not automatically mean that you will carry these traits. Yet, there is a strong predisposition to do so.
The Taurus Ascendant body is governed by Venus, so it may also experience dysfunctions connected and ruled by the sign and the planet. Taurus rules our throat, our neck, our thyroid gland, our larynx and of course our vocal tract. Thus, difficult transits to a Taurus Ascendant or natal Venus can bring a sore throat, problems with their voice and dysfunctions of their thyroid.
Always have in mind that any planet located near the Ascendant point will definitely alter both the physical appearance and the characteristics of the native. We could say that it will have the strongest influence on the Ascendant if placed in the first 10 degrees of the first house, 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 create the unique picture of the individual. Of course, it is possible to have more than one planet (or astrological point/asteroid) in conjunction with the ascendant – furthermore complicating the big picture. To better understand 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 birth chart calculator, 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 Venus 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 Venus in the 1st house, as it has many similarities to having Taurus as your Ascendant.