So You're An Aquarius Rising — Here's How To Thrive, According To Experts

You may know your sun sign in astrology, but your rising sign can clue you in to how you show up in the world—and how other people perceive you. In the case of Aquarius risings, these eccentric wayshowers are some of the quirkiest people you'll ever meet, but they're also the ones who steer society in a progressive direction.

Your rising sign, also known as your "ascendant," is the zodiac sign that was rising over the eastern horizon the moment you were born. Where your sun sign relates to the position of the sun relative to the astrological year (i.e., you were born during Libra season or Taurus season), your rising sign relates to the position of the sun relative to the time of day. (The sun spends about two hours traveling through each sign every day.)

Your rising sign reveals how you interact with the world, from your appearance to your attitude to the first impressions you make on others. For example, a Leo sun with a Aquarius rising will likely exhibit Aquarius-like traits you wouldn't expect from typical Leo energy, or will even physically look more like a Aquarius.

Your rising sign also determines where your first house of identity falls in your chart (your ascendant is always your first house), which sets the stage for the rest of the houses in your chart.

Aquarius is a Uranus-ruled air sign, represented by the Water Bearer. It is of fixed modality, meaning it falls in the middle of its respective season (winter in the Northern Hemisphere), and is known for being a quirky and innovative sign.

The planet Uranus is, after all, associated with sudden change, revolution, and upheaval—which are all necessary for making progress on a large scale. And when it comes to Aquarius' priorities, humanity is the name of the game, so they tend to have a big-picture, idealistic view of how society can be improved. (Aquarius happens to be the second to last astrological sign on the zodiac wheel, which speaks to this sign's wisdom and uniqueness as well).

Looking to the Water Bearer—a figure emptying a jug of water—it makes a lot of sense that this is the image used to represent this sign. Emptying the water is symbolic of sweeping away the past, clearing away stagnant thinking that's holding us back, and making room for what's next. This says a lot about the Aquarian personality.

Aquarius also rules the 11th house, which is all about large groups, friendships, teams, ideals, and humanity.

As astrologer and holistic psychiatrist Kayse Budd, M.D., tells mindbodygreen, Aquarius' fixed-air quality gives them a unique ability to take all their airy ideals and actually put them to work in real time, which the other air signs (Gemini and Libra) can often struggle with.

If you're an Aquarius rising, that means your first house of identity and self-image is ruled by Aquarius. So, Aquarius qualities are likely going to be the qualities people see in you the most—even if your sun sign is something completely different.

For one thing, Aquarius is known for its eccentricity, so this rising sign may appear as such. Between their typically larger forehead and even larger eyes, Aquarius risings have an almost out-of-this-world appearance and may also gravitate toward creative style choices or multicolored hair.

Budd explains to mindbodygreen that these people will also display the general Aquarian features of being progressive and humanitarian, as well as being incredibly independent. "They don't like to be told what to do, they want to find their own way—and often, they'll even show others a potentially better way to do something," she says, adding, "They have that classic wayshower archetype, and they won't feel comfortable being hemmed in."

Whether it's creating their own schedule, curating a style that pays little regard to the current trends, or shirking commitments that make them feel restricted, this rising sign ultimately just wants to do their own thing without having to apologize for it. This can make them come off as a bit aloof or even "too cool for school," but the truth is, they kind of are.

If you're looking for someone who's going to pour their heart out to you or immediately jump into a committed relationship, an Aquarius rising is probably not the best bet. However, if you want to be with someone who cares about the collective and can entertain the most stimulating intellectual conversations, you might be in luck.

As Budd explains, Aquarians' telltale emotional detachment can make dating a challenge. Again, they don't want to be boxed-in, and that includes by other people. This can also make them take an unusual approach to dating, whether they don't adhere to dating norms or avoid settling down all together.

"They can be a little emotionally detached and a little bit more conceptual, so trying to connect with them deeply and emotionally might feel a bit frustrating," Budd says, adding to understand that it's simply this sign's nature.

Further, she notes, they probably won't want to be with somebody who doesn't understand their need for freedom and/or doesn't have shared higher values. "It will bug them all the time that they can't share these key values, and for somebody that is highly emotional, they might find it challenging that Aquarius is a bit more detached," Budd explains.

To that end, this rising sign can also be a bit sporadic and unpredictable, even if they do commit to someone. "You're not necessarily going to get a really consistent person," according to Budd, who notes that unless they have other prominent, more emotive placements (like a Pisces moon, for example), that emotional bond can take a lot of time.

Much of what applies to Aquarius in romantic relationships is applicable to friendships as well, as far as prioritizing freedom and individuality, and wanting to be around people with shared humanitarian values and quirky personalities. Just don't be surprised if it takes time for them to get back to you or it's a challenge to get them to open up emotionally.

As Budd explains, these folks tend to be erratically available and a bit unpredictable. For example, she says, "This is not somebody to get into a super-emotional, intimate text chat with—they're more comfortable discussing things intellectually."

Of course, this can be a good thing when you want a friend to give you sound, rational advice. But if you want emotional support and someone to rub your back, you might be better off calling up a water sign friend.

Ultimately, Aquarius risings want friends who are outside of mainstream circles, and further, ones who share their flare for the intellectual side of life, as well as all things progressive and new.

Moving on to the workplace, Budd notes that this is a placement that has a strong work ethic, as well as a fierce passion for humanitarian and scientific pursuits. Aquarius risings are constantly pushing the boundaries without fear, and they thrive when they're able to bring that energy into the workplace.

"Because of their association with technology, humanity, and science, you'll often see anybody with strong Aquarius placements gravitating toward those fields," Budd explains.

And even if they're not necessarily in those fields, they will still want a job that allows them to apply their individuality and creative, inventive spirit. Think mad scientists, astronomers, engineers, and in some cases, even politicians, Budd tells mindbodygreen, adding that like all the fixed signs, Aquarius risings are excellent at applying themselves.

According to Budd, a key thing she works on with clients that have strong Aquarius placements is cultivating more tolerance and patience. It can be hard to operate in a world where it feels like everyone is catching up to your idealistic, forward-thinking standards, but the truth is, big change takes time and small strides.

To that end, just because Aquarius doesn't necessarily vibe with Taurus' money-minded priorities or Capricorn's unrelenting need for structure, it doesn't mean those things aren't important, needed, or valuable in their own right. "Those are still valid paths, just different priority systems than what matters to Aquarians," so trying to understand that and have compassion for others' perspectives is important, she says.

And speaking of structure, you may not want it as an Aquarius rising, but Budd says there's always a need for balance. "Lean into that eccentricity and let yourself follow your erratic path—but if you find you're getting too ungrounded or feel anxious or stressed, set a routine," she suggests.