How does your rising sign show up in your business?
A beginner's guide to how astrology can be used as a blueprint within your business
In today’s world there is a lot of information about astrology at our fingertips. Apps, blogs, podcasts, you name it. It’s back in the zeitgeist. But! I so rarely see astrology spoken about within the context of branding and business. It’s out there, but not quite as readily available.
As a brand designer meets astrologer, I’ve been combining these two mediums behind the scenes for a year and a half now and loving every single second of it. But now I want to bring it to a wider audience, starting with today’s post on the rising sign.
So what is the rising sign?
The rising sign (ascendant) is often described as a mask. And, it certainly can be. But I also think that it’s a bit more nuanced than that. In its simplest form, the rising sign represents our leading energy, especially when interacting with new to us people. As we get a bit deeper, though, I like to think of our rising sign as an instinctual energy that helps us safely navigate the world around us in a way that serves our higher goals in life.
Take me, for example. My entire chart is made of almost entirely yin (introverted) energy, MINUS my rising sign. Which is Leo. Fire. Yang. So, instead of operating quietly behind the scenes, there’s this impulse within me to step out into the spotlight and create. Share. Connect. It honestly surprises me sometimes, this ability to extrovert. And I know whole-heartedly that I would not be where I am today without it.
In business, the rising sign is a bit more straight forward. It’s the energy that shows up when you first connect with a potential client, customer, collaborator, follower, etc, whether that’s in person or online. Which means that it’s also a major ingredient in the aesthetic of your visual brand. Have you ever purchased literally any product because of a label? Your logo is the epitome of first impressions. So is the rising sign.
Interpretations:
If you don’t know your rising sign, plug in your details here. Just make sure that you have an accurate birth date, time, and location. All three are required to calculate your rising sign.
* As you read, remember that the rising sign is only one of many placements within your birth chart. While it’s a big indicator of aesthetic direction within a brand, it’s not the only ingredient.
ARIES
First impressions: You come across as direct and confident. Energetic. Perhaps daring and / or adventurous. Your audience is inspired by how you take brave action on what you want and fire them up to do the same.
Helpful gifts: Decisiveness. Leadership. Passion. Someone who tells it like it is. The willingness to take a chance and worry later. Courage over fear.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of boldness. This could be as literal as a bold font or all caps lettering. Maybe you even choose something that feels a bit more unique or loud and proud. For color, any variation of fiery colors (red, orange, yellow) or black is a straight forward option. But Aries is also a trail blazer and the embodiment of spring buds surviving and shooting through the earth, so anything that feels new and fresh is fair game as well. For imagery / illustration, it’s all about energy. Think: a person standing firm in who they are, staring directly at the camera. Bold illustrations. Fire, sparks, literal movement. Use this as a starting point and get creative.
Lower expression: Be mindful of aggression and intimidation.
The Aries in this brand is more subtle due to other elements within Laurel’s chart, but we did use a more obvious rusty red color as an accent. More tellingly, her messaging is straight forward, just like Aries. Right to the point.
TAURUS
First impressions: You come across as down to earth. Grounded. Easy going. Maybe even quiet. Your audience is inspired by your commitment towards building a strong foundation of stability and simplicity in your life.
Helpful gifts: Steadfastness. Good instincts. Being in tune with your body. An inner compass pointing towards peace. The willingness to luxuriate and savor within the present moment.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of serenity. Natural beauty. This could be a font that is more subdued and beautiful. A simple serif or sans serif. Nothing that is trying to shout at its audience. For color, a palette inspired by nature is perfect. This could be as straight forward as a few hues of green or as robust as a garden palette, with Taurus being the epitome of a field of lush spring blooms. For imagery / illustration, the word serenity comes to mind. Think: a beautiful vista. The forest. A butterfly on a flower, still as can be. As an earth sign, illustrations of literally any plant or animal is fair game. So use this as a starting point and get creative. Just make sure that your brand maintains an overall appearance of simplicity.
Low expression: Be mindful of stubbornness.
GEMINI
First impressions: You come across as curious and communicative. Intellectual. Probably full of facts or things to share. Your audience is inspired by your ability to share information in a way that’s easy to understand and implement.
Helpful gifts: A general ability to effectively communicate. Potential wordsmith. Great salesperson. Connector of humans. Locally minded. An energetic, buzzing mind. The willingness to see all sides, good and bad and everything in between.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of being on the pulse. Up to date. Even trendy. This could be an energetic, fresh / fun font or literally anything design related that seems to be popular in the moment. Seriously, though. Hop on Pinterest, notice what comes up a lot, and don’t be afraid to give it a try if it’s something you’re into. This is the one energy that can get away with changing up their brand more often. I know that I’m sharing less specifics here in comparison to other signs, but that’s intentional. Gemini can truly be everything and anything. So get creative and don’t worry if you need to adapt. Gemini’s good at that. ;)
Low expression: Be mindful of compulsive, endless chatter.
CANCER
First impressions: You come across as nurturing and sensitive. A caregiver. Your audience is inspired by your emotional awareness and ability to genuinely listen and hold space.
Helpful gifts: Compassion. Sensitivity as a superpower. Intuition. An impulse to understand your inner self. The willingness to feel, even when it’s difficult. An open heart. “Mothering” energy.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of feeling at “home.” This could be a font that feels welcoming, like a lowercase serif or flowy script. Nothing that feels overly in your face or chaotic. For color, anything that feels like a representation of sensitivity is fair game. This is hard to explain, but think creams, watery blues, light purples, and dreamy pinks. For imagery / illustration, it’s all about cozy comfort. Picture a person lounging on a couch filled with pillows and blankets. Bodies of water. Sunset or the night sky. Use this as a starting point and get creative. Full visual post on Cancer available.
Low expression: Be mindful of staying inside your shell.
The Cancer in this brand comes through in the business name, which is named after the owner’s children, delicate + curvy typography elements, and hand drawn, cozy illustrations.
LEO
First impressions: You come across as radiant. Regal and / or playful. As if you are comfortable being seen (even if you are not). Your audience is inspired by your form of vulnerable, creative self expression and generosity.
Helpful gifts: A warm heart. A willingness to put your self or voice or creations out into the world and receive feedback from those around you (even when nervous). An inner sense of youthfulness. The ability to enjoy and have fun.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of pizazz. Shine. This could be a font that feels highly unique and spotlight worthy. Anything that feels a bit special. For color, a palette that is bright and fun. Poppy. Perhaps using yellow. For imagery / illustration, it’s all about capturing your form of creative self expression. Think: a person wearing a look at me kind of outfit. Bold illustrations. That summer feeling. Nothing too delicate. Use this as a starting point and get creative. This is not a boring brand. Full visual post on Leo available.
Low expression: Be mindful of over centering yourself.
VIRGO
First impressions: You come across as being of service. Competent and skilled. Improvement focused. Your audience is inspired by your attention to detail and commitment to work that matters.
Helpful gifts: Organized. Can sift through and analyze a lot of data. Dedicated human. An inclination towards personal growth. The willingness to build skill. An impulse to do things WELL.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of precision. Simplicity. More often than not, this ends up being an overall brand that is clear and concise and absolutely not chaotic. For type, this could be a clean and crisp sans serif font with plenty of breathing room. For color, the palette could be as straight forward as neutrals or inspired by a few hues from nature. Virgo is an earth sign, after all. For imagery / illustration, it’s more of the same. Think: a picture of a well organized room. A simple backdrop. Nature. Minimalist iconography. Careful line-work and clean detailing. Use this as a starting point and get creative. Full visual post on Virgo available.
Low expression: Be mindful of criticism towards self and others.
LIBRA
First impressions: You come across as a genuinely kind human. Lovely. Aesthetically inclined. Your audience is inspired by your ability to connect and make others feel truly welcome.
Helpful gifts: A tolerance for multiple truths. Diplomacy. Elegance and grace. A good eye. An inner scale, endlessly seeking out equilibrium. The ability to see beauty in everything. A loving heart.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of peace and harmony. This could a font that feels balanced and beautiful to you. Perhaps it even comes across as elegant. For color, think Venus, the ruling planet of Libra. What colors would the goddess of love and earthy delights choose? Romantic colors, probably, with some influences from nature as well. For imagery / illustration, it’s all about what feels good to the eyes. A sunset. A garden. An illustration of flowers. Pictures of beautifully designed interiors. Fashion. Ultimately, this is a brand that NEEDS to look put together. So, no metaphorical sweats here. Full visual post on Libra available.
Low expression: Be mindful of people pleasing.
The Libra in this brand comes across in the literal balance of it. A perfectly symmetrical illustration in the heart of the logo. The imagery is also very much inspired by nature, beauty, flowers, etc., with an overall refined aesthetic.
SCORPIO
First impressions: You come across as a bit mysterious, yet magnetic / charming. There’s depth here, sometimes intensity. Your audience is inspired by your radical honesty and ability to evolve.
Helpful gifts: Psychologically minded. Good intuition. An ability to hold eye contact. People seem to just trust you, you might even receive a lot of confessions. A willingness to talk about things that matter, even darker or taboo topics. No fake convos here.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of intensity. Intrigue. Depth. Most fonts can work, as long as they aren’t too light or airy. Some Scorpio heavy people may even go for spooky, witchy vibes because this is the season of the underworld. Samhain, Dia De Los Muertos, Halloween … that sort of thing. For color, black is an obvious start. Or, darker colors int general. For imagery / illustration, it’s all about what feels real. Think: a picture of you staring directly at the camera, an intensity in your eyes. It says “this is who I am, take it or leave it.” Illustrations that evoke magic and mystery. Charm. Use this as a starting point and get creative. Full visual post on Scorpio available.
Low expression: Be mindful of shocking or scaring others into action.
SAGITTARIUS
First impressions: You come across as optimistic. A big picture thinker. A student of life. Your audience is inspired by your ability to widen both your own and their perspective.
Helpful gifts: A big hearted, fun spirit. The ability to get back up again. A restless drive to see / understand the truth of the world. The willingness to get outside of your box and an openness towards whatever you find.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of expansiveness. Freedom. This could be a font that incorporates playful elements. Or maybe a font that feels literally large. Big and / or bold. All caps. Wide. Tall. For color, let it be fun. Blues, oranges, yellows, and purples come to mind, but there is no limit. Not for Sagittarius. For imagery / illustration, it may be as literal as anything having to do with travel and culture. Or, as abstract as pictures that feel expansive and full of life. Think: big smiles, running through a field, the sky, wide open spaces, wildness, etc. Use this as a starting point and get creative. Full visual post on Sag available.
Low expression: Be mindful of preachiness.
CAPRICORN
First impressions: You come across as focused and disciplined. Serious. In integrity with your values. Your audience is inspired by your dedication towards diligently working towards worthy to you goals.
Helpful gifts: Drive. Ambition. Resilience. Not needing accolades or praise. A willingness to sit in solitude. Someone who does the work that needs to be done and isn’t afraid of a bit of effort. Doing a damn good job.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of structure. Excellence. This could be a font that feels classic and refined, like a serif typeface. Or maybe it’s all caps, a metaphorical take on the steadiness that is Capricorn. For color, a deep green (or any naturally inspired green) is always an obvious start, as we’re talking about another earth sign. But strong, wintery colors like black, navy, burgundy, and brown work as well. For imagery / illustration, the word sturdy comes to mind. Think: a person sitting calmly at their well organized desk, working diligently on an worthy task. They probably look more serious than not. Focused. And then there’s nature. A mountain. Trees majestically reaching towards the sky. Birds soaring above. Where are they going? I don’t know. But it’s important, that’s for sure. Use this as a starting point and get creative. Full visual post on Cap available.
Low expression: Be mindful of the impulse to control.
The Capricorn in this brand comes through in all caps + structural typography and dark colors, with a hint of green.
AQUARIUS
First impressions: You come across as free and forward thinking. Independent. Different in a good way. Your audience is inspired by your ability to individuate and stand up for your like-minded community.
Helpful gifts: The willingness to honor the truth of who you are and not really care what people think. Rebellious nature. An impulse to innovate. Altruistically minded. Someone who truly cares about the future.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of whatever feels cutting edge and authentic to you. This could be a font that’s counter to whatever is currently trendy. Or maybe it’s simply conceptually out of the box with unique details, flourishes, etc. It’s not that your choices have to scream “look at me.” They just need to honor the truth of who you are. For color, it’s common for Aquarius to skew brighter. Yellow, teal, pink, purple. The rainbow. For imagery / illustration, the word futuristic comes to mind. So does community. Think: a group of like-minded souls hugging. Expressive fashion. Illustration of sparkles, stars, lightening. The world. A peace sign. Anything tech related. Perhaps even AI generated imagery. Use this as a starting point and get creative.
Low expression: Be mindful of theatrical eccentricities.
PISCES
First impressions: You come across as gentle and compassionate. Imaginative. Dreamy. Hard to succinctly describe. Your audience is inspired by your form of spirituality, creativity, and / or intuition.
Helpful gifts: Compassionate and gentle, with the biggest heart. Highly sensitive. Creative. Can go with the flow. An innate understanding that we are all one. The willingness to dream big. An expansive, endless imagination.
Brand inspiration: Your branding incorporates some element of flow. Magic. Dreaminess. That could be as literal as a font that feels organic and curvy, like a script. Or maybe something that has creative, dreamy details. Delicate lines. Whimsical flourishes. For color, the word ethereal comes to mind. Hues that seems too perfect for this world. Pastels is a great example of this. It’s more of the same for imagery / illustration. Think: pink or purple clouds. A person wearing a long, billowy dress. The sun hitting the water just right, it sparkles. The most beautiful, intricate flowers. Use this as a starting point and get creative.
Low expression: Be mindful of wide open boundaries.
The Pisces in this brand comes across in intentional cursive lettering, textural shapes, and a beautifully dreamy blend of pinks, creams, and oranges.
As always, please remember that astrology is not a set of fixed personality traits. Each placement has a vast array of expressions and room for growth. On top of this, other planets may be connected to your rising sign as well, giving it even more depth and nuance (ie: maybe you are a Taurus rising, but the planet of Pluto is sitting RIGHT THERE — those are two very different energies that are blending together).
It can get complicated very fast, so for now, use what you see here as a starting point for self inquiry. Here are some prompts if you’d like to go a bit deeper:
🌻 What part of my rising energy do I see in myself, big or small? And how do I see this energy playing out in my business?
👋🏻 If I look back on interactions with others, what kind of first impressions do I typically give off? How can I leverage that on social media, marketing, etc?
🌿 Am I experiencing any of the lower expressions of my rising sign? How can I grow beyond that?
If you’d like to share your own placement along with any insights you have, please do! I love the idea of us all learning from one another. ♥
Oh this was lovely!! As a Taurus rising I definitely relate to flowers, birds, animals, and nature grounded feel, they have made many appearances in my IG stories as a background. So fascinating to have that correlation between the two!!
This could not be more spot on for my Leo rising sign. My brand uses a bold font and bold bright colours! :D