Becoming Who We Already Are

A reflection on the pieces of ourselves that shape how we feel, grow, and move through the world.

I used to think astrology was just about my sign in the back of a magazine.
Now I see it as a map, one that shows how I think, feel, and show up in the world.
This is what I’ve learned about growing into my Sun, living from my Moon, and being seen through my Rising.

When people ask what sign you are, they have no idea how little, or how accurate, that answer might be.

Ever get a certain feeling when someone tells you their birth sign?
Aries — ugh, selfish.
Scorpio — people I just don’t tend to get along with.
Sagittarius — my husband is one too, and I often don’t feel like we’re similar.
Leo is the funniest. David Ghiyam, who teaches Kabbalah, says if you tell a Leo they’re amazing, they’ll blush, put a hand on their chest, and say, “I know I am.” Tell them again five minutes later and you’ll get the same response. It makes me laugh every time. My middle sister is a Leo sun, so I get to see this play out firsthand.

But the truth is, your Sun sign tells only a fraction of your story. Once you learn that you also have a Moon and Risingsign, everything starts to make a whole lot more sense, for yourself and for understanding others.

The Basics: Your Big Three

Here’s a simple way to remember them:

• Sun: Your core self, who you’re becoming and what drives you at your deepest level.

• Moon: Your inner world, how you feel, nurture, and respond emotionally.

• Rising: Your outer expression, how you move through life and how others first perceive you.

Each one tells a different story: your Sun is your growth edge, your Moon is what keeps you steady, and your Rising is how your light reaches the world.

Sun - Sagittarius

When I’d read about Sagittarius in Glamour magazine, a few things matched up, but not all. My husband (also a Sagittarius) would say, “You can find something that fits in any horoscope if you look for it.” Fair. Still, some Sagittarius traits have been spot-on for me: adventurous, optimistic, honest, philosophical, independent.

Freedom? Yes. Gamble? Not really. “Open mouth, insert foot”? Absolutely. I mean no harm, but sometimes things just slip out.

I’ve always been optimistic, even when things fall apart.
And I didn’t realize how independent I was until the last six or so years. I want to do what I want to do, spend my days as I wish, and when my week feels too scheduled, I shut down. I love solo retreats and prefer to shop alone.

The funny thing is, I’ve always wanted to travel, but there have been constraints. First my dad wouldn’t pay for the trip, and now we have dogs that make long travel tricky. So the Sagittarius in me dreams of adventure but often meets reality.

Maybe that’s part of what it means to grow into your Sun, learning that freedom isn’t only about where you go, but how you live inside yourself.

Rising - Virgo

When I learned my Rising sign was Virgo, I was intrigued and still am. My daughter and one of my friends are also Virgos and the overlap makes sense now.

Detail-oriented, practical, analytical, reliable, modest.

My Virgo Rising shows up as the planner, like when I organized my granddaughter’s third birthday party. My daughter and friend aspire to be planners, but they just don’t see what I see. Things turn out fine, but the little details matter to me. There weren’t enough forks, even though Toria said there were. I told her I had a “3” candle, she said she had it handled, and when it came time for cake, the candle was nowhere to be found. Virgo Suns would shrug and say it’s fine; Virgo Rising double-checks anyway.

This Virgo Rising part of me is the one who asks questions, shares information, and tries to make sense of everything. It can come across as controlling to some people, but it’s not about control. It’s about contribution. It’s how I shine and serve.

And modest fits too, I’d rather support than lead. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.

This is how I show up in the world, even when people don’t see what’s behind it.

Moon - Pisces

Intuitive, compassionate, creative, empathetic, dreamy.

When I talk with someone, on the phone or in person, I immediately feel where they’re at. I notice if something’s different about them. My mom used to tell me, “Leave them alone, stop analyzing things” but what if they need something?

My inner world runs deep. On the outside, Sagittarius looks confident and strong, but inside I’m often emotional and sometimes insecure. People rarely see that part of me.

That’s my Pisces Moon, sensitive, intuitive, and always attuned to what’s happening beneath the surface. It’s the quiet space where I feel everything before I can explain it.

Why This Matters

Like Human Design, knowing someone’s Sun, Moon, and Rising helps you understand who they are, how they operate, and what they really need in this life.

For me, it brings comfort, knowing that people are who they are and that there’s nothing to fix. I’m a Virgo Rising who loves to make things make sense, create lists, and plan ahead. But I’m also learning to grow into my Sagittarius Sun, to say yes to more fun, travel, and adventure, and to stop making excuses about why it’s not convenient right now.

The Invitation

I’m working with ChatGPT to create a short guide that helps you understand your own Sun, Moon, and Rising, with daily and weekly reflections to help you lean into each one.
Would you like your free document? Send me your three signs, and I’ll put it together for you.

Don’t know them, discover them here https://www.astrosofa.com/horoscope/ascendant

This whole process has been so fun and fascinating, and I think that’s what draws me so deeply into it. Astrology mirrors the layers of who we are.

My Sagittarius Sun wants to explore the truth.
My Pisces Moon wants to feel it.
My Virgo Rising wants to make sense of it all.

The more I learn, the more I see that these parts of us aren’t random, they’re invitations. To know ourselves better, to live more intentionally, and to remember that growth isn’t about changing who we are, but finally becoming it.

 Closing Reflection

We each carry our own map, our patterns, our possibilities, and our becoming.
When I started learning about my Sun, Moon, and Rising, it gave me something I didn’t expect  permission.
Permission to stop trying to be softer, quieter, or less curious. Permission to see the way I’m built not as something to fix, but as something to understand.
To live from the truth that my design isn’t random; it’s intentional.