planet on the ascendant

[madmoiselle]

Is it possible to have a planet on the ascendant? I've never seen one like this. Not a planet aspecting the ascendant (I've seen that). But right on the rising degree. If so, what effect does this have?

[dadsnook2000]

The ASCENDANT (degree) is very important in a chart. Depending upon what kind of a chart you working with or the answers you seek, this degree can have any/several types of meaning. For example, 1) the physical body, appearance or expression, 2) the immediate environment about you, 3) the personality traits you prefer to exhibit, 4) the type and/or level of vitality you bring to your life, 5) the action(s) that you take.

Having a "planet" upon the Ascendant brings that planet's energy and qualities to one or more of the five modes of expression noted above. While an aspect from a "planet" is important and significant, a conjunction raises that "planets" impact greatly.

SUN brings warmth, energy, will, creativity, clarity of purpose.
MOON brings emotions, habits, hopes and expectations, needs, changabilty.
MERCURY brings mental organization, acuity of perceptions, thoughts, curiosity.
VENUS brings desire, appreciation of harmony, a need to "balance" things.
MARS brings physical expression, creative drive, anger, impatience, sexual drive.
JUPITER brings opportunitic views, wanting more, socialness.
SATURN brings thoughtfulness, caution, sense of limitiation. responsitbility.
URANUS brings change, surprise, upset, a need to revise things.
NEPTUNE brings mysticism, visions, illusion, dreams, subconscious senses.
PLUTO brings intensity, focus, unrelenting change, pressure.

Now, you can expand this list with psychological words, health issues, relationship factors, projection trends, insane behavior traits, whatever. But, the process of understanding is quite easy -- within the context of the type of astrological work you are doing, you just blend the the mode of expression and the planetary meaning.

If you wish to go deeper, you can add signs (which I consider a low-level help at best), mid-points, equal arcs and many other astrological tools. Dave

[Minderwiz]

Throughout the last 2500 years or so, angular planets have been seen as especially important - they are more able to express the concepts, ideas, people, things, etc that they symbolise. Of the four angles, the Ascendant is seen as the most powerful position.

The only modifications that I would make to Dave's statements (and I think they are implied by what he said) is that the ability to express will only be put into operation if there is the strength to do so. I give the signs more significance than Dave does, but not in the rather wishy washy modern view. Planets are more at home in some signs than others - Rulership and exaltation on the one hand and detriment and fall on the other should be considered. There are other 'essential dignities' but the dignities/debilities mentioned are a good starting point.

There are other accidental dignities/debilities that could be taken into account - whether the planet is fast or slow (the speed with which the planet can express itself), whether the planet is Retrograde or Direct - which again effects the speed and accuracy of response and how the planet is positioned relative to the Sun.

Basically though, these influence the way in which the planet performs or how well it performs - being on the Ascendant usually means that it can perform if required.