*Eleditor’s note: Astrology isn’t a religion. We’re not sure it’s a science, either. It’s magic, maybe. But, as with feng shui, say, things affect things. So as long as we don’t go blaming our problems on the stars, as long as we assume responsibility for our own actions…well, hell, a little auspicious coincidence and applicable wisdom can’t hurt. And so, with that grain of salt…enjoy!

Attraction is a powerful and essential ingredient in all types of relationships.

We need that special spark to help turn our heads and make us question all the possibilities. There are many reasons and theories behind the push and pull that draws us closer to some people over others.

The essential thing to keep in mind about attraction is that we can’t force it.

It’s something that has to happen without any thought or worry. No matter how hard we try, the ingredients must come together all on their own.

It’s a magical mix that we’re always looking for—yet can’t be sought after with precision.

Some may say it’s the look that grabs our attention first. While others are adamant to say it’s anything but. Everyone’s got an opinion on the subject because it’s a rather important one. We need and crave relationships. They are essential to our existence.

However, the truth of the matter is, sometimes we can’t really explain what it is that makes us gravitate so strongly toward certain people. Despite the question marks, getting to the bottom of how the magic of attraction works can help us hone in on the people we’re most magnetizing toward.

The phenomenon of attraction can be explained using astrology.

That’s where the magic comes into play.

Our personal mix of planetary influences can help us pinpoint who we’re going to gravitate toward first. The special mix of energy that’s determined by our astrology can help reveal what personality types we’re always going to be drawn to.

The key to uncovering the who, however, begins when we look at ourselves first.

Once we start to zone in on the special influences which make us who we are, distinct patterns can be found in the people who we are attracted to.

The most publicized astrological method used to determine who we work best with, has to do with how our Sun Sign works with another’s Sun Sign. Our Sun sign is the astrological sign our Sun was living in at the time of our birth. For instance, I was born on March 3^rd and since the Sun was living in this sign on that day, I’m what’s known as a Pisces.

Being an astrologer and a person who needs to look at the whole picture, I’m going to say that sizing me up just by my Sun Sign is vague. I’m complicated and multifaceted just like everyone else. There’s no way Pisces alone could describe me 100%.

This popular Sun sign method of relationship astrology is not what I’m going to promote here because in my opinion it doesn’t work.

Everyone’s Sun Sign is only a small fraction of our personal story.

I dislike not being able to see the full picture—particularly when it comes to relationships.

While astrology is complicated, I’m going to try to “keep it simple” in order to showcase the attraction factor a little more easily.

One of the biggest things we need to look at when it comes to relationships and attraction is something called our Rising Sign.

This is the sign that was waking up when we were born and the one that reveals who we are at our core. The Rising Sign is key to who we are and it’s the essential ingredient to help us find who we’re going to be most attracted to.

Our exact birth time is important because it determines which sign was rising when we were born.

It sets our personal stage and reveals the story we will tell, all throughout our lives.

Our Rising Sign, or Ascendant, is the “door to who we are.”

When people first encounter us, they see the traits of our Rising Sign.

It’s similar to how we first encounter a front door to a house. 

We won’t be able to see what’s inside each person, unless we walk through that door. Each of our doors look different and each one holds characteristics to match the sign that was rising when we were born.

Sometimes our perceptions about a person change when we walk through their door.

The fancy door we saw initially could lead to a messy interior. On the opposite side, that simple wood door ends up leading to a fantastic spread of glorious living.

People work in just the same way. We’re complicated and our façade never ever tells the whole story. Our astrology picture reveals what our doors look like in addition to what’s happening on the inside.

Now when it comes to attraction we have to begin by looking at our very own Rising Sign.

After we determine our Rising Sign, we can then look at the sign just opposite it. This is what’s called our Descendant and is the key to the relationships we crave—as well as attract.

Interestingly enough, our Descendant sign ends up being the exact opposite of our Rising Sign. This opposite sign will describe the type of person we’re not only subconsciously attracting but the one we truly seek in close relationships.

The Rising Sign opposite theory is the most telling, when it comes to attraction and the relationship factor.

So if we were on a mission to find our “perfect” match or just have a little fun looking at who we’re most attracted to, we have to take a look at the sign that was rising at the time of our birth. The person who we attract, the one we’re most compatible with, is going to have attributes opposite our Rising Sign.

The reason behind this is simple.

Opposites attract. This theory precisely showcases this concept.

We need people who aren’t like us in order to compliment us.

Attraction doesn’t work when we’re trying to gravitate toward people who are exactly like us.

The exact opposite is true. We’re attracted most to the people who are the least like us. It’s the two halves make a whole concept. People who are just like us are boring. We need a zing and zang to get us going. Sparks are essential and the only way we’ll find them is by looking for people who are different than we are.

It’s easy to play around with this theory and uncover who we’re personally attracting most. Simply go to this free Rising Sign Calculator and enter your birth details. After you determine your Rising Sign, take a look at its polar opposite. That’s going to be the sign we crave on a subconscious level and the one that we’ll always magnetize toward first:

Here’s the list of Rising Signs and their opposites:

Aries—Libra

Taurus—Scorpio

Gemini—Sagittarius

Cancer—Capricorn

Leo—Aquarius

Virgo—Pisces

Once you start taking a look at your Rising Sign, it’s really easy to determine which signs we’re going to gravitate toward most easily.

While in a perfect scenario our partner’s Rising Sign would be the exact opposite of our Rising Sign.

Life isn’t perfect and neither are relationships.

Sometimes, however we’ll end up attracting to people whose Sun sign is the opposite of our Rising sign.

For example: If I’m a Pisces and my rising sign is Capricorn, I find that I attract most to people born with the Rising Sign of Cancer (opposite of my rising sign of Capricorn). However, I will also naturally attract people born under the Sun sign of Cancer. **Remember that a person’s Rising sign is usually different than their Sun sign.

This particular rule is only one of a multitude of astrological factors that needs to be considered when we look at the attraction factor. However, it’s one of my favorites, as well as the easiest to determine without consulting a professional astrologer.

Have a little fun and check out your Rising Sign.

It’s actually even more insightful if you’ve never felt connected to your Sun Sign.

Once you determine your Rising Sign you might find astrological concepts more valid.

Once you unlock the mystery that makes you who you are, you can then start to uncover the mysteries regarding the relationships and attraction factor that surround you.

~

Relephant:

Author: Crystal B.

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock

Photo: flickr/Katie Tegtmeyer