What is the Ascendant and 1st House in the birth chart?

House 1 in the birth chart represents the location of the ascendant, so it is known as the House of I and serves to designate which sign appeared on the horizon at the time of birth of a particular person. Like the other houses of the chart, it can be empty or have the presence of planets.

It is worth noting that the 1st house is the only one which deals with matters exclusive to the individual. Therefore it is responsible for determining how one initiates things in life. Therefore it functions as a way of defining the person in the world in terms of his physical body and his most basic personality.

Do you want to know more about the ascendant and the 1st house in your birth chart?

Meaning of the 1st House

Referred to as the House of Self, the 1st house is the only one which speaks of exclusively individual matters and serves to highlight the way people initiate things. Associated with the ascendant, it determines how someone is perceived and how they position themselves in the world. It is also responsible for defining the most basic personality of natives and their essential characteristics.

Want to know more about the 1st house? See below!

The 12 houses of the Astrological Map

The astrological chart is divided into 12 equal spaces, which are called houses in astrology. Each of them has a different theme, ranging from the basic personality of a particular person to the way he or she relates to collective and social issues.

Thus, the position of the signs and planets in these spaces exerts much influence. In addition, for a broader understanding of the issues of each person it is necessary to consider the analysis of the chart as a whole and not only of an isolated house, since they speak only of specific issues.

The ascendant

The ascendant is the sign which appears on the horizon at the moment of birth of a certain person. Therefore, in order for it to be accurately determined, it is necessary to have in hand the date, time and place in which this individual was born. In the astrological chart, the ascendant serves to reveal how someone acts and what their first impulses are.

Moreover, the way the native behaves when he has to face challenges and what sets him in motion are also expressed by the ascendant, which can be any sign of the zodiac.

The beginning of everything

As the 1st house represents the moment of birth of a person, it is considered by astrology to be the beginning of everything. Therefore it serves to highlight a person's first sensations and the way in which they carry out their exchanges with the world. Thus this space of the chart determines how someone is seen by others.

Moreover, the 1st house is directly related to issues such as autonomy, the beginning of new projects and people's reactions. It is considered a very important space in the astrological chart because it carries aspects related to temperament and personality of the native.

Themes from House 1

Among the themes of the 1st house is the identity, vitality and appearance of people, and the way they deal with beginnings and their impressions of the world are also among the subjects of this space of the birth chart, which serves to reinforce its importance for understanding the way a particular person behaves.

Want to know more about the themes of house 1? See below!

Identity

The 1st house is directly connected with questions of identity because it talks about the construction of the personality of a certain person. In this space of the birth chart, natives can still be considered quite mouldable. So what we have is a version which can be modified by a series of influences.

Thus, the sign and planet that occupy this space have importance in how people are perceived and how they choose to show themselves to others, since this is the only space of the chart that speaks exclusively about individuality.

Vitality

As the 1st house represents the first movements a person makes in the world and what motivates him/her to move forward, vitality is a frequent subject in this space of the birth chart. However it is worth pointing out that all this has a very close connection with the first experiences, lived in childhood.

This will serve to shape the manner of taking initiative and also the impression the native can convey to others. As with all matters in this house, it may be more or less favored depending on the sign occupying this space.

Appearance

The appearance of people is also an issue which appears in house 1 of the astrological chart, since this space speaks about issues related to self-esteem and behavior. Therefore, how much a person values his or her appearance is determined by the sign and planet ruling this space.

Much of this goes through individual perception and is directly linked to how the subject perceives himself. Therefore, although it talks about the external appearance of someone, wing 1 has much to do with the inside of people.

New beginnings

The 1st house itself is considered the beginning of everything, so anything started by a person goes through this space of the birth chart, which serves to highlight the way natives relate to these issues and the way they start things.

This space addresses projects and also the motivations of someone to behave the way they do. Therefore, when occupied by a sign that stimulates movement, as is the case of fire signs, it can lead the native to have a more action-oriented personality.

Impression of the world

As the 1st house deals with the individuality and subjectivity of people, the impressions that a particular person has of the world also pass through this space. So your way of seeing the experiences you live, the people you live with and the universe around you will be strongly marked by the 1st house.

Another factor that favors this is the fact that this space of the birth chart receives much influence from the experiences lived during childhood, which represent precisely this first contact between internal and external.

Physical characteristics

Appearance is one of the themes dealt with by house 1 and therefore this space also serves to dictate someone's physical characteristics. As the face is the first thing that is perceived in a person, house 1 especially shapes the shape of people's head and face, being responsible for governing these parts of the body.

Therefore, the idea of identity construction, although it happens a lot inside people, also goes beyond this when the subject is house 1 and highlights, in a broad sense, how a native is perceived by the people around him.

Planets in house 1

The planets positioned in the first and last houses of the birth chart, respectively 1 and 12, can be considered some of the most important. This is because they have the power to modify the characteristics of the ascending sign. Therefore, they can change the way someone behaves and perceives himself.

Want to know more about the influence of each planet in the 1st house? See more about this in the next section of the article!

Sun in 1st House

The Sun's position in the 1st house is extremely favorable for natives, so people who have this configuration in their birth chart have no problem attracting attention and like to do so. They are always smiling and have an easy time making friends, which is very positive since they value their social life.

In general, they are people of striking appearance who manage to shine regardless of the environment they occupy. Their beauty can cross entire generations, as it happened with Grace Kelly, an actress who counted on this positioning.

Moon in 1st House

The presence of the Moon in the 1st house reveals people who are almost always able to appeal to the emotional side. Thus they are able to touch others in a deep and meaningful way. Another aspect that stands out regarding the astrological positioning is the question of instinct, which will be quite accentuated in natives.

However, it is worth noting that instability will also be a constant presence in the lives of these people. If they know how to channel their sensitivity well, they may end up profiting from it and excel in artistic areas such as acting. However, nothing prevents them from doing well in innovative fields such as technology.

Mercury in 1st House

When Mercury is positioned in the 1st house, this serves to reveal people who have a slim body and sometimes appear to be younger than they really are. This is also because of their personality, which retains this characteristic by the way they communicate and are constantly looking for ways to update themselves.

Thus, natives with this placement in the birth chart are people who look for ways to stay active and are always engaging in activities they find interesting, especially if they are communication-oriented.

Mars in 1st House

The presence of Mars in the 1st house serves to reveal spontaneous natives, so these people are always ready to attract attention and like to have all eyes turned towards them. Sometimes this can happen even without them making many movements in this direction, since people with Mars in the 1st house are active and are guided by their senses.

Natives with this astrological placement are people who have a lot of energy and need to find a way to spend it. Otherwise, they have the feeling that they will end up exploding because of the accumulation.

Venus in 1st House

Venus is a planet associated with beauty. Therefore, many people who have this planet positioned in the first house are usually remembered for their physical appearance and are those who draw attention at first for this characteristic. However, this is not their only means of prominence.

In general, they can also stand out for their personalities, which are considered magnetic by the people around them, being almost irresistible most of the time. So, no matter which of the two aspects is more accentuated in those who have Venus in the 1st house, this native will manage to attract attention.

Jupiter in 1st House

Greatness is the destiny of people who have Jupiter in the 1st house and this happens in a very broad sense, even physically. This happens because the planet in question has the power to increase anything that has contact with it.

It is possible to affirm that people with this astrological position give a lot of importance to their physical well-being. Besides, they love to stay active and enjoy adventures. They can end up risking their own life in the process. So they need to take some care in this sense and also with their body as they are prone to overweight.

Saturn in 1st House

Saturn in the 1st house serves to highlight people of slender figure. This physical characteristic stands out a lot, but it is not the only point of the native that draws the attention of others. So people who have this astrological positioning also stand out by the formal tone they adopt in conversation, so they can be perceived as rigid.

Therefore they generally have no difficulty in gaining the respect of others, something which is quite characteristic of Saturn. Moreover, he is a person who honours the promises he makes to others.

Uranium in House 1

When Uranus is present in the 1st house, there is always an unexpected element in people's personalities. This can also reverberate in their appearance and it is precisely this element which will make the native be remembered by others. In any case, this native will not go unnoticed, both by his or her behaviour and physical form.

They are people with very strong energy and always have surprising attitudes. They have a natural tendency to rebellion and usually fight for social causes they believe in because they want the world to be a better place for everyone.

Neptune in 1st House

People with Neptune in the 1st house are seen as very mutable, so they always adapt to the environments they pass through. They have no difficulty in molding themselves to what the environment asks of them, and this is not something they force to happen, but a very intuitive process.

Therefore, it is not a rational ability and something that the native chooses to do, it is a purely intuitive process. In addition, an aspect that deserves to be highlighted is the fact that these people can become nostalgic quickly and are remembered for their aura of glamour that harks back to the past.

Pluto in 1st house

The presence of Pluto in the 1st house reveals people who have very close contact with their sexuality and can be perceived as real sex symbols. Even without trying to do so, their sensuality is something which stands out and attracts the attention of those around them.

However it is worth pointing out that this is not always connected to beauty, but to a magnetism without much explanation and that is very attractive. Therefore people who have Pluto in the first house are usually remembered for this characteristic.

Ascendant in each sign

The ascendant is the sign which appears on the horizon at the moment of birth of a particular person. It is responsible for determining the most basic aspects of one's personality, as well as highlighting the way one reacts when faced with challenges. Thus, it dictates the first impression one has of the world and also the impression one conveys.

Want to know more about this? Here are some details about the ascendant in each sign!

Ascendant in Aries

In general, people who have Ascendant in Aries are very sincere. This happens both by choice and by the inability of the native to contain this trait. In addition, they tend to be independent and learn a lot on their own. Since they are not afraid to take risks, they are seen as courageous.

Therefore, they can be intimidating to get along with at first. People who have the ascendant in Aries need to find ways to stay balanced and to conserve patience because they can be quite explosive. They should also be careful about what they are capable of doing for their goals.

Taurus Ascendant

The Taurus Ascendant makes the native a calmer and more peaceful person. This is because they can be very angry, but will take time to show it and find it difficult to express feelings of this nature because they find them so difficult to deal with.

They are people who act cautiously and don't like to explode because they consider it a form of exposure. They are also practical and like to understand their tasks before they start executing them. They are usually very suspicious of the people around them and may end up meddling where they haven't been called.

Ascendant in Gemini

Good humor is an outstanding characteristic of people with Gemini ascendant, who always seem to have a joke on the tip of their tongue in any kind of situation. This can even arise in more serious moments, giving the impression that the native is someone inconvenient. However, for him this only makes everything funnier.

In general, they are seen as nice people and talk a lot, so they don't usually listen much to what others say. They don't like to talk about more serious topics and avoid their emotions. They are great at getting away from issues they don't consider convenient.

Ascendant in Cancer

The Ascendant in Cancer reveals natives who are devoted to welcoming and caring. This is their main characteristic in life and this even reverberates in their appearance, since these people usually have a kind look and are perceived as sweet by others.

In order to pursue their dreams or even have a deeper contact with people, they need to feel safe. Otherwise, they close themselves in their shell. Also, as they are family-oriented, they need to give a more personal touch in all their spaces, including their work.

Ascendant in Leo

To attract attention is the destiny of people born with the ascendant in Leo. They are noticed in any space, whether they want to or not, which happens due to their own brilliance. Thus, they may have more discreet personalities, but they will not be able to keep themselves oblivious and avoid admiring glances.

Another outstanding characteristic of these natives is their sense of leadership, which comes quite naturally and contributes even more to their being admired by others. Therefore, it is only a matter of time for natives to become a standout.

Ascendant in Virgo

The sign of Virgo is associated with organization and those who count with this ascendant do not escape this rule. In general, they have a very clean and minimalist appearance. Everything in it is perfectly calculated and they do not like excesses, so they need to be clear about all the details of their life to ensure that it does not get out of control.

However, it is worth pointing out that this does not mean that natives are really organized, but they need some order to be able to function well. They like to have a routine and can not leave the place without it.

Ascendant in Libra

The ascendant in Libra reveals natives who are always in search of harmony and balance for their lives and choices. However, they find it very difficult to make decisions because everything has a positive and negative side, so they can always see what are the main advantages of what they would be giving up after choosing.

They value beauty very much and are usually very well-dressed people. They have a suitable outfit for every occasion and are always appropriate for the events they attend. They hate confrontations on important issues, but they know they can't avoid them for long.

Ascendant in Scorpio

The sign of Scorpio is naturally mysterious and people with this Ascendant inherit this characteristic. Therefore, to really know them is quite a complex task, especially because they like to keep a low profile. In this way, they can seem a little arrogant and emotionally distant.

They like to do deep searches and are always after some mystery that has attracted their attention. They can be excellent at discovering other people's secrets, especially if they have a way of using the internet for their research. They also do well studying more mystical subjects.

Ascendant in Sagittarius

The ascendant in Sagittarius reveals natives who need to be careful with their ways. They have the feeling that they are always open to new possibilities and to live experiences. Therefore, they are people who are naturally motivated and feel inspired by life. In addition, they are very receptive to the new.

Another outstanding characteristic of this Ascendant is their spontaneity. However, they need to be careful about their lack of delicacy because the way they communicate can end up hurting others. They also need to be careful not to expose other people's secrets unintentionally.

Ascendant in Capricorn

Those with the Ascendant in Capricorn have a more serious air. In general, these people are perceived by others as straightforward and like to keep their reputations intact. In view of this, they may end up worrying more than they should about the image they convey to others.

When the native with this position decides to dedicate himself to some project, he really gives himself completely and usually does much more than is expected. They may end up occupying high positions in their companies and when this happens, they put themselves in a position to be an example to others.

Ascendant in Aquarius

Aquarius is a sign which appears in the birth chart to break any conservatism, especially when it is someone's ascendant. It is a very unpredictable astrological sign which does not follow any kind of formula. When it comes to love, this becomes even more important.

People with Ascendant in Aquarius are attracted to strangeness and to that which is distant from what they are used to living with. They are very open to what is different and tend to question anything. However, they find it very difficult to deal with their emotions.

Ascendant in Pisces

Those who have the ascendant in Pisces feel the need to have a more poetic life. They like to lose themselves in ideas and share their dreams with others. In general, their physical aspects reflect this, especially their eyes which are usually deep and have a dreamy aspect.

They are also people who like to help and have a very altruistic side. They are very spiritual and like to have experiences which they consider transcendental. They need space to philosophize and to enjoy quiet moments which recharge their strength.

Is it possible to have no planet in the 1st house?

There are 12 houses of the zodiac and only 10 planets. Therefore, there will always be houses that are not occupied by planets. Although many people believe that this is a problem, in reality, it does not have any kind of concrete impact on the life of the native.

In the case of house 1, it may appear empty and this will not modify the personality of the person who has this configuration in the chart. Thus, the person will still have the influence of the sign that appears in this space at the time of his birth to highlight how he behaves in the face of the issues addressed by the house 1. The same pattern repeats with the other houses.