posted August 10, 2013 04:09 PM
I got it the first time it was explained to me.
The Ascendant is said to be the "best" foot forward. It makes a swift impact , but weakens after its objective is served.
The Moon is always the one retreating, drawing back, defending or re-acting to the environment. This is the case for both "masculine" and "feminine" signs. This is the position that checks if all is "clear" and is often the "assessor" of what's been.
The Sun is progress, expression and fulfillness of your desires.
Imagine that you are off to an interview for a company that you desire to work for.
Asc: Aquarius
Moon: Capricorn
Sun:Aries
Mercury: Aries
Venus: Pisces
Mars: Virgo
The Aqaurius Ascendant(ruled by Saturn) will show itself up in the interview by answering all the question and ensuring that its answers are brilliant, "out of the ordinary" and well thought out.
After that is done, the "mask" comes off and you say your goodbyes to the interview panel.
Right outside the door are other candidates who have also had to go through the same drill.
This is where your social contact with the world shows itself up(Moon).You don't have to make an impression here and so, you don't need your Aquarian mask.
The Moon will take-over; feeling out the environment and seeing that there are groups and clicks socializing with each other waiting for the outcome.
The Moon in Capricorn,being naturally reserved, will take a seat somewhere quiet and start reading the magazine and only speak when invited to do so.
Eventually someone, a very pretty somebody that you are attracted to, comes to speak to you and ask you how you answered.
You immediately put the mask back on as you do want to make a favourable impression. And so, you are interesting, eloquent and inventive in your conversation(Aquarius rising).
They tell you that they answered the questions in much the same way that you did and the conversation starts to flow outside just "the interview"...
You talk about yourself and so does she. You interrrupt her often and are quick to notice her eye colour, her mannerisms, hone into her physical appearance etc(Mercury in Aries)
Your Aries Sun is feeling so confident that you suggest that she join you for drinks afterwards-no matter the outcome.
The outcome: you got the Job. Your confidence peaks.
After all that, you ensure that you pick her up on time, open the door and pull out her seat at the restaurant. You insist on covering the bill and make sure she "gets" that you can take care of her (Mars in Virgo).
The evening dies down and you walk her home, you cover her with your jacket and tell her that she can keep it, you feel like you can give everything you have to her now(Venus in Pisces).She thinks you are sweet. You think she is an angel.
You walk off feeling warm and excited; this could be someone that you can be really into but aren't sure yet (Sun/Mercury Aries conjunction-Moon Capricorn square).
But you are convinced that you can even marry her tommorrow since you feel you've known her all your life. But also fear that she may not feel the same way(Venus Pisces/Mars in Virgo Opposition)
This is just a small sample of what I think happens. But I'm sure there is a lot more that goes into it.
The Ascendant is the mask and has to come off.
The Moon is the "parent" and the "assessor" and will always be defensive and reflective.
The Sun is who you are internally when you feel a warm feeling of "I can do anything I choose" , you have accessed the "heart" of you chart: the Sun.