The Big Three Explained

Decoding your Sun, Moon and Rising Sign

If you’ve ever been asked, “What’s your sign?”— the answer only scratches the surface of astrology. Your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs (aka the “Big Three”) create the foundation of your personality, shaping how you express, feel, and interact with the world. In fact, in ancient astrology, the Rising sign was considered your true sign, as it marked the beginning of your chart and represented your path in life. Understanding these three placements can unlock powerful insights into what drives you, how you navigate emotions, and how others perceive you.

🌞 Sun: Where You Shine & Find Fulfillment

The Sun represents your core identity, vitality, and life purpose. It’s the driving force behind your ambitions and what makes you feel truly alive. Your Sun sign reveals where you naturally shine and how you pursue success and satisfaction in life.

🔹 Example: A Leo Sun thrives in the spotlight, gaining fulfillment through creative self-expression, recognition, and inspiring others. They shine when they’re leading, performing, or bringing joy to those around them. In contrast, a Virgo Sun finds satisfaction in mastering their craft, solving problems, and being of service. They excel when their skills are put to practical use, often finding purpose in refining details and improving systems.

🌙 Moon: Your Inner World

The Moon governs your emotions, instincts, and personal rhythms. It reveals how you experience and process feelings, your emotional needs, and what makes you feel safe and nurtured.

🔹 Example: A Cancer Moon seeks emotional security, finding comfort in close relationships and nostalgia. Highly sensitive and deeply protective of their emotions, they may retreat into their shell when feeling overwhelmed, processing their feelings through reflection, memory, or even creative expression. A Sagittarius Moon, on the other hand, craves freedom and space in relationships, often coping with emotions through humor, adventure, and seeking higher wisdom. They’re naturally optimistic and don’t stay sad for long, preferring to look at the bigger picture rather than dwell on feelings.

⬆️ Rising: Your Path & Persona

Your Rising sign (also called the Ascendant or Hour Marker) is the lens through which the world sees you—and through which you see the world. It shapes your first impressions, physical presence, and approach to life. Rooted in early childhood conditioning, it reflects how you’ve learned to navigate the world. In astrology, the first house—where your Rising sign sits—is called the Helm, the steering point of a ship. Likewise, your Rising sign sets the course for your journey, influencing how you take initiative, face challenges, and move through life’s opportunities.

🔹 Example: A Scorpio Rising may come across as intense, mysterious, or private, even if their Sun is in a more outgoing sign like Gemini or Leo. Shaped by an intense upbringing, they tend to keep their guard up, observing before they engage. This cautious approach drives them toward experiences that foster deep trust and transformation, drawing them into careers, relationships, and life paths that require emotional depth and resilience. In contrast, a Libra Rising is naturally charming and socially attuned—a master of personal connections, driven to understand themselves through relationships. Their early childhood conditioning makes them highly aware of appearances and social dynamics, leading them toward roles where they can mediate, create beauty, or foster harmony, whether in their personal lives or careers.

Why the Big Three Matters

While your Sun sign reflects your core self, your Moon sign influences your inner world, and your Rising sign shapes your outer expression. Together, they create a more complete picture of who you are.

When you dive into your Big Three, you start seeing patterns in your personality, emotional needs, and life path.

THE BIG THREE IN ACTION: Marilyn Monroe

To see how the Big Three come together in real life, let’s look at someone whose personality, emotional world, and public image were all deeply shaped by their Big Three —Marilyn Monroe.

☀️ Gemini Sun – The Curious, Multifaceted Star

Marilyn Monroe's library contained over 400 books.

Marilyn’s Gemini Sun was the engine behind her endless curiosity, quick wit, and ability to adapt. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, which gave her a sharp mind, a love of learning, and an innate ability to play different roles—both on and off screen.

Though she was often typecast as the “dumb blonde,” those who knew her privately spoke of her deep intellect, love of literature, and constant hunger for knowledge. She even had an impressive personal library of over 400 books, ranging from philosophy to poetry. Gemini’s mutable nature made her versatile and highly skilled at shape-shifting into whatever the world expected her to be, but it also made her restless, always searching for something more.

Her drive for success and satisfaction was fueled by Gemini’s need for variety and mental stimulation. She wasn’t content just being a movie star—she wanted to understand the craft deeply, studying at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg in pursuit of something more meaningful than just fame.

🌙 Aquarius Moon – Emotional Detachment & the Outsider Complex

Marilyn’s Aquarius Moon likely played a huge role in how she processed emotions and formed relationships. Ruled by Saturn with a Uranian influence, this placement is both detached and unconventional. Despite her romantic image, she seemed to struggle with deep intimacy. She longed for love but kept people at arm’s length—likely a defense from her traumatic childhood of abandonment and foster homes. Fiercely independent, she resisted being controlled or confined, yet she was drawn to unavailable or emotionally complex partners like Arthur Miller and JFK.

With this Moon sign, Marilyn likely intellectualized her emotions rather than fully feeling them, seeking answers in psychology and philosophy. She idealized love but found sustained emotional closeness difficult, craving connection yet instinctively holding back. Her need for personal freedom clashed with her desire for deep bonds, creating a push-pull dynamic that made her enigmatic in relationships and reinforced her lifelong sense of being both deeply desired and profoundly alone.

⬆️ Leo Rising – The Iconic, Larger-Than-Life Persona

Leo Rising was the dazzling presence Marilyn projected to the world. The Ascendant represents both first impressions and how we were conditioned in childhood. With Leo here, she was trained from a young age—both by Hollywood and by life itself—to be a performer. Leo Rising often indicates someone who feels they have to "earn" love or attention, and in Marilyn’s case, she learned early on that being charming, beautiful, and larger-than-life got her noticed.

This placement also gave her an undeniable magnetism. People were drawn to her light, her presence, and her ability to command attention, whether she was on-screen or simply walking into a room. But Leo is also deeply tied to identity, and for someone like Marilyn, who was born Norma Jeane Mortenson, the transformation into "Marilyn Monroe" was an act of survival. She had to become larger than life because, deep down, she feared being forgotten.

Her Leo Rising also contributed to her deep need to be truly seen—not just as a sex symbol, but as an artist, a serious actress, and a person of depth. While Hollywood capitalized on her beauty, she longed to be recognized for her mind, her talents, and her heart.

Her Big Three In Action

Marilyn Monroe’s chart tells a story of duality. Her Gemini Sun made her curious and restless, always searching for knowledge and deeper meaning. Her Aquarius Moon kept her at a distance emotionally, making intimacy a challenge despite her longing for love. And her Leo Rising made her an unforgettable icon, both elevating her to legendary status and trapping her in the role of “Marilyn Monroe,” even when she longed to be Norma Jeane.

Her life reflected the tensions and gifts of these three placements: the brilliant mind behind the blonde bombshell, the woman who craved connection yet struggled to let people in, and the radiant performer who hid deep pain behind a dazzling smile.

Go Beyond the Big Three: Unlock Your Full Potential

Understanding your Big Three is just the beginning! Your entire natal chart weaves together a unique story that goes far beyond just your Sun, Moon, and Rising. If you’re ready to dive deeper, book the My Blueprint reading: Your Essential Roadmap to Clarity, Authentic Living, and Success. Using insights from both Astrology and Human Design, I’ll help you maximize your strengths, navigate challenges, and step into your full potential. Whether you're looking to elevate your career, strengthen your relationships, or simply move through life with more ease and alignment, this session will give you the clarity and empowerment you need!