Rachel Maddow's Ascendant?

[Earth Sign]

I've been trying to determine Rachel Maddow's Ascending Sign just from watching her. Somehow I think maybe Taurus or Virgo. I just think she has an earthy feel, and her politeness and detail work seems a lot like Virgo. But, as a Virgo Ascendant myself, I may just be trying to claim her. :wink:

When I googled it I found an old blog entry on the subject, featuring the chart shown below. One of the comments said, based on her Human Design Chart, she may have an Ascendant at 5 Taurus. But, of course, it's uncertain. What do you think?

Rachel Maddow's Astrological Chart, set at default time 12:00 PM.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4gF6YuGUwVM/SMWBjqoiieI/AAAAAAAAE3g/cC8uuQk0YC8/s400/rachel+maddow+chart.jpg (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4gF6YuGUwVM/SMWBjqoiieI/AAAAAAAAE3g/cC8uuQk0YC8/s1600-h/rachel+maddow+chart.jpg)
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:N1ahrK8YZ4ZfZM:http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/wp-content/photos/080902_Rachel_Maddow_vmed_130p.widec.jpghttp://lefteyeonthemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/maddow-rachel-rt.jpg?w=115&h=136 (http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=lefteyeonthemedia.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Flefteyeonthemedia.files.wordpress .com%2F2008%2F11%2Fmaddow-rachel-rt.jpg&sref=http%3A%2F%2Flefteyeonthemedia.wordpress.com% 2F2008%2F11%2F06%2Fcautious-jubilation%2F)http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:FDw1E8zr_RkR3M:http://svillar.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/rachel-maddow.jpg (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://svillar.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/rachel-maddow.jpg&imgrefurl=http://svillar.wordpress.com/2009/05/&usg=__jZBjwBEaMbHk6VNq-DqZG8ijzQk=&h=457&w=500&sz=82&hl=en&start=106&itbs=1&tbnid=FDw1E8zr_RkR3M:&tbnh=119&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drachel%2Bmaddow%2Bimages%26start%3D90 %26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26tbo%3D1%26rl z%3D1T4DMUS_enUS305%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1)

[Arian Maverick]

It's interesting that you think she has an Earth sign Ascendant; before I read your post, I immediately assumed she has strong placements in Earth signs, which is not the case at all.

It would be interesting if someone who is more familiar with her show comments upon her mannerisms.

Arian Maverick

[Lunar Pisces]

Oh, I love her. I have been a fan of hers since she was a contributor on Keith Olbermann's show.

I had an instant liking for her, like there was a strong affinity astrologically. I get what you say about an earthy. I'm a Virgo rising, so I often respond well to Virgoan people, but Rachel isn't a Virgo rising. I am sure. She's just too get-out-there, and she's good at talking, REAL good. Better than me, and I'm Gemini Sun! She's gracious and fair. She reminds me a lot of Jon Stewart, a double Sag with Libra ASC (most likely), and how he can talk to anybody, anytime and not really get flustered. Virgo risings get flustered, and then we get kinda nasty and snipey. Rachel is anything but that! ;)

I had a friend years ago who was born only a couple week before Rachel. We were wonderful friends (see what I said about him here: http://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23576 ).

I get similar happy, pleasant vibe from Rachel as I did with me friend. With rachel I first tried Gem and Sag ASC, and neither was giving what I wanted: a energized 5th house that could explain Rachel's obsession with sports, especially baseball, and maybe a nice energized 6th house to explain her strong need to communicate in a very precise, analytical, factual Virgoan manner. So I tried a late Libra ASC, like my friend, and I like this:

--Libra rising: likable, fair, approachable, open. She has considerable appeal. I remember when she got her own show, on one of my progressive political forums that I go to, there were all these men going "Is it OK if I think she's hot, even though she's a lesbian?" LOL!

-Uranus cj ASC: she's a mover and shaker-upper, she is making ripples an upsetting people just by doing what she's doing. She makes people nervous because she's so forward-thinking and so progressive

-Pisces Merc and Moon in 5th: gives her that sunny yet thoughtful personality and manner of communicating. She's got a lot of energy and she loves getting out there and being seen. She's not afraid to put her heart on her sleeve nor speak her mind frankly. Plus, as I said, she loves sports, she's a bit tomboyish, and loves to party--I am referring to two other of her known favorite pasttimes: beer and cocktails. The cocktails thing esp,. because she seems to like being the life of the party this way (5th house) by keeping the spirits flowing (Pisces). :)

-Aries Sun and Venus in 6th: she cares about how things works and if something's broken, she's first in line to fix it. And she has broken a lot of news that wasn't being reported elsewhere, like how many Republican congress members where badmouthing the stimulus bill in Washington while going around taken credit for the good things the bill was doing in their states. Also, she LOVES the issue of infrastructure, once saying she wanted to make talking about infrastructure "sexy." And she is obsessive about being factual. She will immediately correct any error she herself makes, and likewise, she has no qualms about correcting other people's errors. In fact, a good lot of her show is about just that--setting the facts straight.

And if that's not enough to convince you she's a 6th house Aries Sun, she REALLY resents it when people say she's lying. Aries Suns hate being misunderstood, and it's grave offense to their own code of honor if someone says they're lying when they aren't. And 6th house Suns aren't going to tolerate falsehoods being spoken about them, at all! She went after psycho-clown Glenn Beck for lying about what she said about him on his show, and most recently, she has been hammering away at newly elected Mass. Senator Scott Brown for trying to raise campaign funds by telling his supporters she's going to run against him, when she has no intentions of doing so.

So, what do you guys think? Here's the chart I drew up with the late Libra rising:

[Earth Sign]

I'm not sure how I would comment on her mannerisms. I know she's very polite to her guests, respecting of them. That having been said, she's also a driven interviewer, she won't let anyone duck out from under her questions. She's a stickler for research, she corrects herself on all of her mistakes, after researching them thoroughly, and slaps down anyone who wrongly accuses her of lying. Her ruthless dabating skills are sharp in this Tim Phillips interview: Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9BwtBUEonM&feature=related) Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3T3mn3079k&feature=related)
Without getting into the politics of it, I think this is an apt video for observation of her personality, especially toward people with whom she disagrees.

Regarding her general personality, from experience I've noticed she's easily embarrassed, and has tendency to have giggle fits on air, as expressed by this hilarious Moment of Geek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeisOV4FAWw). :lol: It goes without saying that she's a politics nerd, and comes by it honestly. A nerd otherwise, as well. :smile:

I think her Aries comes out in her interviews, and her (maybe) Virgo rising comes out in the detail, research and time she puts into it. That's my take on it.

[Earth Sign]

Lunar Pisces, I missed your post while writing my last one. Actually, I was considering Libra rising as an afterthought, it's interesting you put it up as a potential Ascendant. Libra rising would definately explain that thirst for justice that's so well represented in her interviews.

It's true, what you say about Virgo risings. I'm that way, too. :innocent: But a lot of that Virgo introversion may have been obliterated by her Aries Sun. Plus, if she is a Virgo rising, Mercury in Aries would be her Chart Ruler.

There are some really good arguments for Libra, though. It's definately a candidate. Also, she does look like one.:whistling:

[Lunar Pisces]

I'm still liking my argument myself. :p I can't say I'm right of course, until someone one digs up an actual birth time, but I am very comfortable that I'm at least close.

I don't think an Aries Sun could void out a Virgo rising's tendency to get flustered. She just doesn't get flustered, and she has had some pretty wild interviews with people who were being evasive or not "in good faith." I know that would just make me mad as hell. But she can handle that, cool, calm and collected. She doesn't personal, also. Virgo risings have a bad tendency to make it personal.

I hadn't thought about chart rulers, but I would fine with a Aries Venus as her chart ruler. She's so gracious and reciprocal. She is so open to what other people say and think (Venus) and she's fearless (Aries) about being so open. My chart ruler of course is Gem Merc. I'm hyperintellectual, and so I have a tendency to be a bit self-absorbed and not always as open to other people's ideas as I should be. Rachel is anything but self-absorbed. An Aries mercury chart ruler I think would be a bit self-absorbed, like my Gem Merc, but an Aries Venus would be another story.

[Lunar Pisces]

I stumbled across this tonight, from astrologer Eric Francis' site, Planet Waves, posted a couple days ago:

I’ve been staying in Portland, Maine, for a couple of weeks. After enduring pouring down rain for just about the whole time (it was the rainiest March on record in Portland history), the clouds parted and on a beautiful April 1, Barack Obama showed up to stump for health care reform. So I postponed my day scheduled to write about Eris in the natal chart of MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow. She gave me her data last year, and I’ve been saving it for her birthday, which was the 1st; you will probably see that article next week.

http://planetwaves.net/pagetwo/2010/04/02/obama-in-portland-astrology/

I don't subscribe to Francis' blog, but I'm hoping he'll be posting her ASC where non-subscribers can take a look! :)

Let me just say, I'm glad Rachel's cool with astrology. Not too many Aries suns are, IME, although Aries women seem more cool with it than Aries men.

[Lunar Pisces]

I can see a kind of Leonine shape to her face, but I don't see her as a Leo rising in manner or personality. I think anything Leonine about her could be attributed to placements in her 5th. I could be wrong, but I'm not seeing it that way. Leo and Libra types tend to have very similar facial shapes and can be easily confused, in my experience.

As for Cap rising, yeah, i'M definitely not seeing that. Cap risings tend to be "It's my way or no way." Queen Elizabeth II is a Cap rising. Ted Kennedy, Sean Connery, Lucile Ball, Jane Fonda and Anthony Hopkins are all Cap risings too. I can see similarities between all those people in how they express themselves, but not between them and Rachel. Sorry. Not sure why you would suggest Cap rising. Again there's always the odd-one-out, and maybe Rachel is that one Cap rising who can be spontaneously joyful and fun and just go with the flow.

Anyhow, it will be interesting to see. I would say I have about 50-50 success rate myself. I'm not stranger to being wrong. ;)

[Earth Sign]

Those dogs! They only mailed the Rachel Maddow info to their subscribers and didn't even post her Ascendant for us to see. I was looking forward to that, too. :(

[Eric Francis]

Those dogs! They only mailed the Rachel Maddow info to their subscribers and didn't even post her Ascendant for us to see. I was looking forward to that, too. :(


Hi all,

This is Eric Francis -- to whom Rachel gave her data. Rachel is Capricorn rising. Her birth time is solid; she knows it to the minute. So kudos to those who guessed an earthy ascendant. Here is her chart (sans data), which connects to the full chart interpretation. Note to members of this forum, had anyone contacted me I would have gladly provided the chart.

http://planetwaves.net/rachel-maddow-astrology.html

ef

[Earth Sign]

Whoa! I had no idea she was Capricorn! Thanks for posting it. :smile: And here I was convinced she was Libra. She does have an Earthy feel, but I guessed Virgo or Taurus.

Thanks again! Sorry for calling you a dog... :whistling:

[Eric Francis]

Well cardinal signs all feel similar, tho she has a formality and conscientious quality that is all Capricorn. And, in my view, every true revolutionary has strong Cap or Saturn; otherwise one is a rebel without a clue. We could look for that Libra influence. She certainly has a heck of a lot of Venus and Mars cookin'

Also -- her dry, sardonic sense of humor is 101% Capricorn.

[Earth Sign]

Rebel without a clue. Lol! ;)

I'm definitely seeing the Capricorn. I'm watching her show right now and it's showing. Practical, reasonable, totally realistic. Libra might have it's head in the clouds. Her Aries stellium in the 3rd adds to her skills of communication, but in true Aries fashion she's not afraid to butt heads.

I'm satisfied with this result. This Capricorn is pleased. :smile:

[Modcleopatra]

This is kind of off-topic, but since ascendant has to do with appearance, I much prefer the glasses look.

Libra ascendant, Pluto in the first house, gotta be. Just IMO.

[TayTay]

Yes! I was right! While reading this thread, and looking at her videos, I guessed Cap rising. I can't pinpoint why I thought she was cap rising. Just had a gut feeling
She definitely gives off a very earthy vibe, IMO.

[Modcleopatra]

Wow, seriously, Capricorn Rising... I don't think it shows at all. I see full soft lips (very Venusian) and a look of intense power and presence to her, which I would associate more with Pluto's influence.

Eric Francis, as far as I know.... Rachel Maddow doesn't give this information away so freely. She lives here in the same town I do, and we almost never see her here, so I am thinking is sort of private in this respect. She really gave you this information? I thought it was something newer celebrities never did, seems strange to me, especially her sense of power and control in the role and position she is playing in society. You might have gotten her birth details but I'm still going with Libra Rising. If she has Capricorn Rising, the Moon in Pisces sextiles her ASC , dreamy look is there, but I'm not seeing something watery. If she has Libra on the ASC, plus Pluto in the first house, that would give her a Cancer MC, which would make a whole lot more sense because she comes across *as* and authority in her field of work, and she has to adopt a traditional look for her audience's pleasure. She's very service-oriented in this respect, and paying the "pied piper it's due" to get along with the general public. That seems much more worthy of Capricorn influence at the midheaven. Plus Uranus, for it's non-traditional affect, has got to be doing something with her appearance, and in this chart, it's not.

:shrugs: I suppose she must be Capricorn but I'm still not seeing it anywhere.... if she told you it *must* be true but then again, there are also quite a few reasons it could *not* be true...

[Earth Sign]

Libra Rising would give her Cancer MC, I thought. Capricorn IC. I think she has facial characteristics of both Libra and Capricorn. Venus conjunct Sun might give her a more Venusian appearance, and considering it's in Aries, probably in the face. To me, her eyes look distinctly Venus. Farset and lofty, something I've noticed in a lot of Libra Rising people.

On the Capricorn side, though, I can attribute her longer face. Chart Ruler Saturn in Gemini might give her a brighter, more intelligent look. But Modcleopatra is right about the Moon trine Asc, she doesn't have a Watery look at all in my opinion, despite the Moon in Pisces. And she seems way too composed to have the Moon in the second house.

Hmmm...

[Arian Maverick]

My first impression was Capricorn, too, because of her bone structure...although I think it was a lucky guess. :innocent:

Arian Maverick

[Modcleopatra]

Libra Rising would give her Cancer MC, I thought. Capricorn IC. I think she has facial characteristics of both Libra and Capricorn. Venus conjunct Sun might give her a more Venusian appearance, and considering it's in Aries, probably in the face. To me, her eyes look distinctly Venus. Farset and lofty, something I've noticed in a lot of Libra Rising people.

On the Capricorn side, though, I can attribute her longer face. Chart Ruler Saturn in Gemini might give her a brighter, more intelligent look. But Modcleopatra is right about the Moon trine Asc, she doesn't have a Watery look at all in my opinion, despite the Moon in Pisces. And she seems way too composed to have the Moon in the second house.

Hmmm...

You're right Earthsign. What was I thinking?! Edits needed of all sorts to my previous post, WOW. I like your interpretation here as well. Good points in my opinion, to consider, so many good ones here, wow. I *think* I was more focused on her relationship to the public. This doesn't necessarily mean a Libra MC. Perhaps she IS Capricorn Rising, but I think the thing which needs to be addressed here is our focal point for understanding Rachel Maddow as the person who she is at "not work/at home/for socializing" (queer presentation) versus who she is for her work, a more socially-normative or predictable version of what it means to be woman. She has two very different presentations. She has to "pay her respects to something" for her work. She then "takes her makeup off" and puts back on the glasses, for her real deal. That could be a very earthy Capricorn thing to do, which would make sense if Capricorn is her IC, as this is her "at home look."

If she has a Libra ASC with Pluto, then she could in effect, handle this innate need to balance her power, with a balancing of presentation of masculine and feminine as parts of whole. She wields her sword of power adeptly in this sense, coming across as regal and centered in both circumstances. Harmonious to her surroundings, and it's nicely done, very Venusian.

[Earth Sign]

There was something I wanted to try on her chart. I can't do it without the exact degrees of her Ascendant. I wanted to see if her Secondary Ascendant falls in Libra. If she's central Capricorn Ascendant, it's perfectly possible that it does. Also, I'd like to see the chart in the equal house system.

What kind of privacy is being honored by withholding birth time?

[Modcleopatra]

Hey Earthsign,

I would think it could be a matter of control, and a sense of personal privacy from being viewed any which way but the way which you present up front. This is very important for people like Rachel Maddow.