The rising sign is the front door to the natal chart. It is the ruler of the 1st house it is what people get when they don’t really know you.  It’s a façade, window dressing in a way. It’s the outer layer, it’s the shell, it’s the mask that protects the Sun sign. Not everyone is worthy of your Sun, maybe you are not comfortable expressing your Sun to everyone. My Gemini colleague always tells me: when you go on dates don’t send your representative. That’s the rising sign, your representative; the Sun is who you are.

In the book “The Rising Sign Your Astrological Mask” Jeanne Avery writes

“The Ascendant is interpreted as indicative of the individual’s personality as well as his appearance. It also indicates the circumstances of childhood”.

“it is the rising sign that indicates an individual’s particular outlook on life”

“The ascendant can act like a wall or a façade that an individual erects around himself”

“It describes the part of the personality that is most easily expressed”

“It is how a person allows others to see him”

I have known this man for years and recently began dating him. And as we grew closer, I thought wow he is not who I thought he was or rather he is different then who I thought he was. I was talking about him to someone and she asked: what do you like about him and I spoke about how polite he is, I am not polite so the energy can be intriguing to me. And he pulls out my chair and opens my door and he can be very chivalrous and strong. He hardly curses, he takes charge in a way …I never have to plan a thing with him. She said oh you like all his Taurus traits. He has Taurus on the rise with a Gemini Sun.

For years I got his Taurus Ascendant, charming I would say nice. He can wear a paper bag and look good. Clothes just fall beautifully on Taurus rising, something about him seems refined and elegant. (Venus traits though more pronounced in Libra)

Then in walked that Gemini Sun

That’s how it works once he became comfortable with me, I got to see more of his natural self. He is funny and quick witted; his mind is vibrant. All those Gemini traits…but you know they can be hard to pin down energetically they aren’t like home body loving Taurus.

This isn’t to say he isn’t still chivalrous; he is and god knows in typical Taurus fashion he seems immovable and can be concerned with appearances. Venus ruled risings can be very much, “but what will the neighbors think”. He has commented on how I don’t care what anyone thinks.

Nope sure don’t. I have Aquarius rising.

I am sure at first, he experienced me as aloof, indifferent, laid back

Oh, how I laugh

My Aquarius rising masks my Cancer Sun

My Cancer Sun likes to be tended to and prefers intense deeply emotional and transformative connections.

Let’s be honest Gemini isn’t about that life and Cancer isn’t about Gemini’s need for exploration or flirting or childlike tendencies

These are 2 radically different Sun Sign/Rising Sign match ups.

This is a case of what you see is not what you get.

Have you ever dated someone who turned out radically different then you thought they were?

Let me know