Underworld Astrology

Astrological Essence: How Your Birth Chart Reveals Your Core Energy

One of my favorite things about astrology is how a single birth chart can reveal so much more than just personality traits. While many people use astrology to understand themselves better, your natal chart also holds the keys to shadow work, family karma, and your essential needs. But one of the most intriguing ways astrology can be used is to help define your unique energetic essence.

Photo by Diego PH on Unsplash

The first time I encountered the word essence was in the world of style systems. Over the last decade, there has been a resurgence of online style analysis, with various systems claiming to help you dress as your most authentic self. Some focus on body shape, others on facial features, and a few take a holistic approach, blending physical traits, mannerisms, and personality into a complete style profile.

But this led me to a bigger question: what is essence, really?

By definition, essence is the fundamental nature or core of someone or something. And in astrology, we can uncover this essence by analyzing key placements in the birth chart.

Your astrological essence is a fusion of your Sun sign, Ascendant (rising sign), any planets conjunct the Ascendant, and your chart ruler (the planetary ruler of your rising sign). These elements together form the core expression of your energy—the most distilled version of your identity.

Let’s break it down with an example.

Example Birth Chart:

The Sun: The core self-expression.
The Ascendant: The first impression, the persona, and approach to life.
The Chart Ruler: The ruling planet of the Ascendant, adding further nuance.

Step 1: Identify the Sun Sign

In this chart, circled in red, the Sun is in Capricorn. This means their core identity is:

• Grounded, ambitious, and leadership-oriented
• Resilient, disciplined, and action-driven
• Naturally inclined toward structure, success, and long-term goals

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, which gives them high personal standards, but also a tendency to be overly critical of themselves and others.

Their Sun is in the 7th house, meaning relationships play a huge role in their self-understanding. They will often see themselves most clearly through their interactions with others, making close partnerships essential for their growth.

Step 2: Identify the Ascendant

Starred in brown, this chart’s Ascendant is in Cancer, meaning they:

• Leads with emotional intelligence and intuition
• Is deeply receptive to the energy of those around him
• Is nurturing, protective, and values close connections

The Ascendant ruler is the Moon, which leads us to the next step.

Step 3: Find the Chart Ruler’s Placement

The Moon is in Taurus, in the 11th house. This means their emotional foundation is:

• Steady, grounded, and deeply loyal
• Tied to community, friendships, and collective goals
• Influenced by tradition but adaptable to change

Sample Astrological Essence Summary

At their core, this person is a people-oriented leader who values tradition, family, and deep emotional bonds. They are naturally steady and nurturing, but also forward-thinking, able to blend tradition with innovation. Their leadership comes from emotional awareness and a deep connection to their community.

Find Your Astrological Essence

Want to discover your own astrological essence? Follow these steps:

1. Identify your Sun sign (core identity)
2. Identify your Ascendant (Rising) sign (outward persona)
3. Find your Chart Ruler (ruling planet of the Ascendant)
4. Consider any planets conjunct the Ascendant, as they will color its expression

Here’s a quick reference for Chart Rulers:

• Aries Rising → Mars
• Taurus Rising → Venus
• Gemini Rising → Mercury
• Cancer Rising → Moon
• Leo Rising → Sun
• Virgo Rising → Mercury
• Libra Rising → Venus
• Scorpio Rising → Mars & Pluto
• Sagittarius Rising → Jupiter
• Capricorn Rising → Saturn
• Aquarius Rising → Saturn & Uranus
• Pisces Rising → Jupiter & Neptune

Bonus: Planets Conjunct the Ascendant

If a planet sits closely to your Ascendant, it will significantly influence how you express yourself:

• Saturn → Reserved, serious, structured
• Jupiter → Expansive, optimistic, larger-than-life
• Venus → Charming, artistic, magnetic
• Mars → Dynamic, assertive, action-oriented
• Neptune → Mystical, dreamy, hard to pin down

What’s Your Astrological Essence?

Now that you have the tools, what does your astrological essence reveal about you? Share in the comments below!