The “Big Three”
Among the myriad of astrology concepts, the term “big three” refers to the three most significant aspects of an individual’s chart. Each component works together, revealing a complex yet broad image of who someone is. In short, the “big three” works to summarize an individual.
To truly comprehend who someone might be using astrology, it’s important to study the entire chart. That way, we have the necessary details regarding every aspect of the person’s life. However, the “big three” highlights the places of the chart that makes up the overall picture of them. Therefore, the “big three” is the brief overview that allows us to see a generalized idea of who they are.
What Are the “Big Three” Placements?
Whenever we hear of someone referring to the “big three”, what they’re referencing is the sun, moon, and rising signs. As such, there are a couple of reasons that this is the case. The first reason is that these three parts of a person’s chart have the greatest influence on them. The second reason is due to each of these placements having vastly different purposes, as you’ll see below.
If we imagine what exactly it means to be a person, we may conclude that it involves having a physical body, the ability to feel and sense, and our unique experiences, characteristics, and interests. When we put these things together, we have an individual, making us wildly different from others. That is precisely why we have the “big three” in astrology.
Sun Sign
We’ve all been asked, at some point, what our zodiac sign is. What many people don’t realize is that they’re really asking us what our sun sign is. We think of the sun as shining bright and being seen, which is the expression of the sun in astrology. Representing our identity, the sun sign tells us about our ego, how we define ourselves, and our core, fundamental traits. It is associated with our vitality, energy, conscious self, and overall life purpose. Oftentimes, the sun sign represents the person we learn to express with more ease the older we get, becoming more comfortable with who we are.
Moon Sign
As we already know, the moon moves much more quickly than the sun, changing signs every 2.5 days. Therefore, the moon is emotionally influential, with ties to water and phases. Unlike the sun, the moon always remains halfway submerged in darkness, making it mysterious. In astrology, the moon sign, reflects a person’s inner self, including their feelings and subconscious motivations. This is the part of us that’s reserved for those closest, as we only express it to the people we’re comfortable with and trust. For acquaintances and strangers, they have no clue this part of us exists.
Rising Sign
The Rising sign, also called the ascendant, is the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of an individual’s birth. What this means is that at the moment we were born, the first thing the external world noticed was how we looked. So, this area of our chart depicts our appearance. This placement reveals how we’re perceived by others and the first impression we give. It’s our style, our persona, and our physical demeanor, while it gives little insight into our internal drives.
Why is the “Big Three” Important?
When we attempt to summarize a person by their “big three”, we have the key components to the largest parts of what makes them who they are. The sun sign is a person’s identification and personality. Conversely, the moon sign is their emotional compass and internal world. Lastly, the rising sign is what that person looks like to others and how they carry themselves.
Our personal, astrological placements, specifically our “big three”, can tell us what that person takes interest in, what they value, and how they manage their feelings. Not to mention, the “big three” will also allow us to see how they appear while they’re valuing, desiring, and feeling simultaneously.
Individuality & the “Big Three”
If you’re new to astrology and just learned about the “big three”, you’re in for a treat! This means that you’re now on your way to learning that you’re so much more than just your sun sign! Astrologers know that there isn’t a single person that can be summed up by the sun and a single zodiac sign alone. While we also can’t be absolutely summarized with three astrological placements either, the “big three” can give us a good idea of a person overall.
However, what’s great about the “big three” is that there are a high number of combinations a person can have. For example, even if someone’s sun sign is Libra, it’s unlikely that both their moon and rising sign is also Libra. That means that having a different sign for the moon and rising placements gives us human complexity, dynamism, and individuality.
Sun Sign
Moon Sign
Rising Sign
Elemental Comforts
Whenever a person has a Leo sun sign or a Cancer moon sign, in astrology, we call these planetary placements “at home.” This is because Leo is naturally ruled by the sun, while Cancer is inherently ruled by the moon. As a result, having either of these placements makes a person comfortable within those areas of life.
Leo is a fire sign and Cancer is a water sign. Obviously, the sun is fiery, and the moon controls the tides and water on our planet, Earth. Symbolically, fire is linked to passion, desire, and will. On the other hand, water is connected to intuition, emotion, and depth. So, anything outside these two placements for the sun and moon may cause a bit of tension. However, the majority of us do not have a Leo sun sign or a Cancer moon sign.
Sun, Moon, & Rising Combinations
Interestingly, there is only a 0.7% chance that a person will have the exact same combination of their personal “big three.” In other words, the chances that a person has the same sign for all three of these placements is only a 0.7% change. But if you don’t believe me, see it for yourself, where ChatGPT confirms the data.
Learn More About the Signs
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
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