I Don't Care About Your Sun Sign

Sun sign, star sign, whatever you want to call it—it’s not the be all end all.

Yes, your Sun sign is important in astrology, I’m not refuting that—I just wrote an article about harnessing solar energy! But a lot of people are unaware that they have other signs outside of their Sun—or ‘star’—sign. This is where a lot of people go wrong with astrology.

I often hear people talk about how they don’t think astrology is accurate (let alone an entire ancient science and language). The reasoning they give usually has to do with the fact that the horoscope they read that week or month for their sign didn’t align with what actually happened in their life. Basing your rejection of astrology solely on the fact that your horoscope didn’t predict your month exactly as it unfolded is, quite frankly, shortsighted—especially if you haven’t taken the time to dive deeper into the study. But here’s a basic explanation for why this happens:

You’re not supposed to read your horoscope based on your Sun sign.

Yup. It’s that simple.

Don’t get me wrong—you can absolutely read your horoscope for your Sun sign if you want to. But if you’re looking for the most aligned reading with what’s currently happening in your life, you should be reading your horoscope based on your rising sign.

The rising sign, or ascendant, in astrology marks the moment of your birth. It’s the sign that was rising on the horizon at the exact time and location you were born, and it sets the entire framework for your birth chart—it determines which signs rule the twelve houses of your chart.

The word horoscope comes from the Greek words hōra (meaning ‘time’) and skopos (meaning ‘observer’ or ‘marker’)—essentially translating to ‘hour-marker’. It originated from the ancient practice of casting charts based on the exact moment and location of birth, which is why the rising sign, determined by that precise moment, holds so much weight.

So when astrologers write horoscopes, they typically do so from the perspective of the rising sign, because it aligns the current planetary transits with your personal house placements at birth. That’s why, when you read your horoscope for your rising sign, it tends to feel much more accurate and reflective of what’s really going on in your life.

This is also why, when someone tells me “I’m a Leo” or “I’m a Virgo” and expects that to mean something huge on its own, I take it with a pinch of salt. Your Sun sign speaks to your identity, your career, how you go after your goals—it’s your essence. It’s not irrelevant, but it’s only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

And don’t even get me started on compatibility.

Basing relationship potential solely on Sun signs is like judging a book by its cover without ever reading the first page. Real compatibility is seen through the interplay of entire charts—your Moon, Venus, Mars, and rising signs all tell a deeper story about how you connect, love, and relate.

Horoscopes were never meant to be one-size-fits-all. They gained mainstream popularity only in the early 20th century, particularly through newspaper columns that simplified astrology using only the Sun sign. While this made astrology more accessible, it also led to the widespread misconception that your Sun sign tells the full story.

Astrology, when studied properly, is nuanced and layered. So if you’ve been doubting its legitimacy based on vague horoscopes or mismatched Sun sign pairings, I’d encourage you to dig a little deeper—you might just be surprised at how much more it all starts to make sense. So the next time someone asks, “What’s your sign?” maybe pause before defaulting to your Sun sign. Get curious about your rising sign and see what else is in the mix.

Astrology is so much more than daily predictions—it’s a tool for self-awareness, growth, and connection. The magic really begins when you look beyond the surface.