Your Ascendant (or Rising Sign) reveals the ways in which you present yourself to others, as well as the ways in which you immediately respond to the world around you. As such, it describes the ways in which we project ourselves out into the environment as well as the kinds of experiences we need to have in order to make life meaningful.

The combination of Sun, Moon and Ascendant describe what you want (Sun), what you need (Moon), and the style in which you will go about getting it (Ascendant).

Planetary ruler: Mercury

Planetary Power Stone: Green Tourmaline

With Virgo rising, you are likely to approach the world via mental analysis, and the need for organization. You are likley to have experiences which tend toward critical discernment, self-criticism, and the need to find practical outlets for your skills, talents and abilities. Typically humble and at times self-effacing, you can more concerned with being useful than being recognized. There is a need to be productive - to be of service somehow - and your chosen career field will often be the arena in which you come to experience these lessons.

You are likely to be practical, capable and dexterous, and can easily draw upon these skills. You may be very good with facts, figures and details. You may also be quite self-critical because of early childhood experiences, and need to learn to identify and appreciate your talents.

You are usually willing to assist and be of service to others, being hardworking, conscientious and studious. Nonetheless, you are likely to be a bit on hard on yourself, with a tendency to worry. If you do not perform your tasks to your own standards of perfection you can be very self-critical, and the recriminations may go on for days. Your tendency to worry may undermine your nervous system, and changes, especially at work can take a heavy toll. You like to know your place, and know that a systematic plan is in place. Cleanliness and order are often very important, as is the need to be systematic. The use of the mind, as well as the practical expression of mental energy, is most important.

You are likely to be very practical and able, yet on the way to finding, or sorting, out who you are, you may need to overcome a crippling lack of self-confidence. Virgo rising is often associated with a tendency to self-censor and self-criticize that can be debilitating. You may inwardly question and criticize every move that you make, leading to chronic levels of anxiety, and even chronic illness if the effects on the nervous system are not eased.

Those born with Virgo rising often have delicate constitutions, and care must be taken of the physical body. Your health, digestion and everyday processes are easily affected by negative thoughts and emotions. You may also tend to retreat from conflict and debate, for you may distrust your mental processes. This amplifies and deepens your tendency to self-doubt, and you would do well to learn more abut how penetrating you can be by daring to exercise your fine mental and critical faculties, and testing your insights out with other people. Learning to praise, rather than criticize, your own attributes is a great step forward, and developing a sense of purpose through being of assistance to others removes any residual feelings of being ‘imperfect’.

You may have a tendency to be fussy, and inclined to worry, but you are able to give much love and security if you are able to create a secure and stable environment in your life where your natural talents have an outlet. In this way, your sense of discernment, practicality and willingness to serve can rise to the fore, adding purpose and fulfillment to your life. Virgo is associated with the proper assimilation of experience. You do this through trial and analysis, through discernment and discrimination. This is very similar to what occurs with the metabolic processes within the body, in that what is not useful or necessary must be discerned, filtered and eliminated from the psyche. Use the processes of metabolism and digestion as metaphors for your approach to life, and learn to see any imbalances within your own system as symptomatic of an imbalance in how you are assimilating your life experiences.

You may be very particular about food, but this is because of your natural sensitivity to these processes. Learn to listen to your body and take care of your health, but watch out for tendencies to worry about the health as a substitute for something better to do! Taking care of your health is a natural outlet, and you will benefit greatly by incorporating a healthy diet and natural therapies that assist well-being into your everyday experiences. Regular practices such as yoga and meditation that synthesize mind and body are especially beneficial for you.

There may be tendencies toward rigidity, and a need to control outcomes, based on an innate fear of chaos or lack of order. You can learn to relax this side of your personality through the input of other people, who teach the lessons of flow, and trusting in the processes of life itself.

In essence, you are a highly practical and careful individual who can offer many talents to those you assist and serve. Recognize this in yourself and you will also be able to enjoy the benefits of your labours that others already enjoy!