Confession: “No” is my first response to most new, unfamiliar, or spontaneous situations or suggestions. If the suggestion is, “April, please have some more Cheetos” – a snack I’ve enjoyed with regularity and satisfaction since birth – my reaction would be an enthusiastic “Sure!” But if the suggestion is something like, “Hey, let’s go to lunch and hit the zoo together tomorrow,” my knee-jerk reaction, even if (and this is key) I like both you and going to the zoo, not to mention lunch, will probably be “No, thanks.”
Why is this? Well, I like my little routines. I feel safe in them. The more I can contain and control my surroundings and schedule, the happier I feel. And I had planned to work too hard and have soup for lunch tomorrow. There is no room in those sad little plans for socializing, sandwiches, or gazelles.
The planet closest to your Ascendant, usually in the first, second, or third houses, is called the rising planet. I also call it the “first responder” planet, because it’s the planet that is first on deck to handle anything new that comes your way. (This should not be confused with the “chart ruler.” That’s the planet that rules the sign on the Ascendant. In this chart, since Aries is the sign rising on the Ascendant, its ruling planet, Mars, is the chart ruler.)
In my chart, the first responder is Saturn. I react to anything new or unexpected with an upturned palm and the facial expression of someone who detects a nasty smell. This is complicated by the fact that friendly, spontaneous Sagittarius is my rising sign (the sign on my Ascendant) – so I seem like exactly the kind of gal who’d be up for a last minute drink, cup of coffee, or shark-hunting expedition. And I’d like to be. That’s why I cultivated that persona. But underneath it all, I’m just not. Signs may indicate personal style, but planets set the agenda.
What’s your first responder planet, and how does it describe your initial response to the new and/or unexpected? If you don’t have a planet in the first, second, or third houses, play with the first planet counterclockwise from the Ascendant, regardless of its house placement. And if you have nothing in the first, second, or third houses but do have a planets in the 12th house within, say, a few degrees of the Ascendant, that probably works like a first responder.
Planets as First Responders
Sun: You look for a way to stand out and be noticed, and you’re good at formulating creative responses to new situations. You always seek ways to make situations more fun, and usually succeed – hence, you’re probably pretty popular. And your charisma makes you a natural leader.
Moon: You monitor the emotional temperature of each situation and of the people around you. How’s everyone feeling? Does anyone need help? You’re naturally empathetic, but can also become worn out easily if you don’t devise some strong boundaries.
Mercury: Easily bored, you enjoy new situations. You ask questions, try to find out what’s interesting or novel, and you tell good stories. You never enter a new situation without quickly formulating a getaway strategy in case things get boring.
Venus: You’re generally courteous, charming, and probably a bit flirtatious. I have known some surprisingly aggressive people with Venus rising, though. That’s because you’re a strategist; you figure out the mood of the situation and strike a tone that will even things out. Sometimes that calls for a sweet approach, sometimes for something more forceful.
Mars: You make things happen! Things need to be moving, and moving quickly, to keep you happy, and while you don’t naturally want to lead, you are not a follower. You probably have a quick temper, or at least people perceive you as angry, sometimes even when you aren’t. You likely have good reflexes and instincts in emergency situations.
Jupiter: Like Mercury rising, you generally like new situations, seeing them as an adventure. You make people laugh, often at your own expense. You take a philosophical approach, and where Saturn says, “No!”, you’re inclined to say instead, “Sure, why not?” If you’re in an insecure mood, though, you may switch into “know it all” mode in new situations.
Saturn: Your inclination is to put on the brakes and erect a barrier until you feel safe. You’re very cautious in new situations, and reluctant to get into them in the first place. You are better in unfamiliar situation when you’re in charge.
Uranus: You tend to put people a bit off balance, which you secretly (or not-so-secretly) enjoy. You rarely feel that you really fit in – and usually, you’re okay with that. You’re unpredictable rather than spontaneous; what seems to others like a sudden, spontaneous decision has usually been building for awhile.
Neptune: You’re open, receptive, taking in everything around you. Like Moon rising people, you tend to have weak boundaries, so you have to make an effort to take good care of yourself emotionally and energetically. Weirdly, you have the ability to become invisible in public. In fact, sometimes you have to fight to be noticed.
Pluto: One person on Facebook with this placement said, “First I have to figure out if I love it or hate it.” If you love it, you’ll go with it 100%; if you hate it, you’ll make the person/situation wish they’d never crossed your path. You project a very powerful, often sexual vibe that is alluring to some and off-putting to others. You’re very good at handling emergency situations, and are happiest when you feel you have control over a situation.
# # #
Since lunar nodes are not planets, I don’t count them as first responders. And I don’t work with the asteroids (including Chiron), so while I’m sure you could make an argument for them as your first responder (feel free to do so in the comments section), I don’t really have an opinion about them.
What about you? What’s your first responder planet, and how does it operate in your life?
© 2012 April Elliott Kent
not only is the Moon my first responder planet (in the 2nd house), but it is also my chart ruler as I am Cancer Ascendant. makes alot of sense for me geeeze
Great post April. Love the angle. My first responder is the Sun (from a Pisces Ascendant)…and this is very true
. Despite being completely & totally Piscean, so many people comment that I don’t seem it in the big bad world…& that is that Sun, just a couple of degrees away from the ASC.
I’d love to have the Sun as my first responder planet, Jo! Lucky you.
I love this blog. Based on my personal experience, you are dead on.
What if I have Jupiter AND Saturn in House 1? Saturns is in the end of my House 1, but I tend to lean more to the “no” side when asked to do something (at first, anyway).
Lindsay, technically it would be whichever one comes first after the Ascendant, Jupiter or Saturn. But as a person with a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction, I can say that I never have any experience of Jupiter without some Saturn in there… but on the plus side, I never have to face Saturn without a little Jupiter!
Thanks for having the same conj as mine
I had, for so long, wondered about my own chart meanings with Jupiter and Saturn being only 20 deg apart. (With Mars right up Jupiter’s er um bum between the two!)
Lindsay: I, too, have the tendency to say no at first even though Jupiter is my first responding planet (00 degree third house Virgo), but then Mars is two degrees behind it, and Saturn comes tumbling after at 20 degrees.
Perhaps we can rest a little easier knowing that when we get knocked down by Saturn, Jupiter is right behind to pick us up..moreso than people who don’t have Jup/Sat conj?
kD, I’ve always said that while I never get to have an experience of Jupiter that isn’t tinged with Saturn, I also never have to face a Saturn experience that doesn’t have some Jupiter in there.
April, when I did the FB share (which I found via Maria DeSimone), I did some paraphrasing and likened my “Firefighting men” as the Three Stooges.. Jupiter and Mars being Larry and Curly (or would it be Curly, Larry?) with Saturn being Moe.
That being said, it’s nice to see others’ take on the same events.. and you’re right.. now I wonder what it’d feel like to not have Saturn without Jupiter/vice versa. Would our Saturn Returns have turned out worse?
Anyhow, great piece and thank you again for this write-up! It helped put things into perspective for me (just went through my 2nd Saturn return)
Great post and makes so much sense. My first planet is Pluto – right on 2nd house cusp – Ascendant is 29 degrees Cancer. My first reaction is to be suspicious and wonder what the real motivations are. Then after I have run thru the possibilities I can be somewhat comfortable with whomever or whatever is going on but always on the lookout to be tripped up.
That wariness sounds exactly right, Bel. And usually Pluto rising people have been given good cause to be suspicious!
Loved this April! I have Saturn in the first too and I just laughed out loud when I read your description. And I’ve got Venus rising, so empathize with the contrast of having Sag rising with this combo.
I’m gonna encourage my Cap-rising daughter to read this article. She has Uranus and Neptune conjunct in the first and I think it will help her see herself so clearly (& then hopefully connect some of the dots about how “OK” that makes her.)
Really beautiful clarification here on first responder planets vs ascendant’s ruling planet and the style vs agenda thing is right on the money too!
Uranus rising is kind of tricky, I think. It’s sort of … “I would sort of like to fit in somewhere, but part of me is kind of proud of the fact that I don’t fit in.”
Oh my goodness! I was already going to reply and you just described my husband who has Virgo Ascendant with Uranus and PLuto [1966) rising. He is intensely different and that statement is him! It doesn’t help that he has alot of Aquarius in his chart. Now me- I have a Lbra Ascendant with Neptune rising. YOur statement about appearances does apply; but with me- I Try and suceed to blend in. I dress well and forget about it. I don’t need attention. But I have Saturn in my Second house-I do not care for spur of the moment plans; like you, I like my routine and want to be in charge. So I resemble or respond to both. I do have a Capricorn Moon and Mars to reinforce the Saturnian responce. I really enjoy your blog. Thank you.
That’s very kind of you, thanks sandra.
Yup.
As you know, Mars is my first responder. And what you say here about that makes sense. Whenever I’m reacting to something, I might be putting out the hatchet vibe when I don’t even mean to.
Okay, I’m an idiot. Did you ever put out the Mars and Women study? I can’t remember.
No, Maria, I’m the idiot – I haven’t finished the Mars and Women project yet. I keep hoping I’ll get to it while my pr. Moon is in Aries – I’ve got another year and a half or so.
I love Mars. Even though right now I’m having the slooooooowwwwwweeeeest Mars return in history, as Mars is slowing down to turn retrograde. On my natal Mars. Hmmm.. maybe it’s time to get going on that Mars project after all!
Yes!
Incidentally, it’s turning Rx on my Uranus. This should be Surprising! Unorthodox! Unpredictable!
I mean, “Yes,” you should do the study. Because “No,” you’re not an idiot! No way!
Women and Mars project? Where do I sign up?
Ha! Linea, I’ll make sure you get a questionnaire.
What she said!
wow, I have exactly the same – a Saggie Ascendant and a first responder as Saturn. This is so true!
I have Moon a degree after my Ascendant, in Leo. I do feel very responsive to situations and people, though my first response is definitely not “how can I help.” I’ll blame Uranus conjunct from the 12th house for that! Plus maybe the trine from Saturn. I suppose that’s how I’ve set boundaries. I’ve always been uncomfortable having my emotions right out there, which made me particularly self-conscious when I was younger.
On a lighter note, I just had my Lunar Return and I was noticing today that everyone I encountered was smiling at me! Guess that’s the Leo Moon.
My progressed Moon is coming back into Leo end of January – so happy about that!
Leslee… I think you’re very luck to have Uranus there to add a little objectivity. I haven’t looked at the first responder planet all that much, but I have noticed that eclipses aspecting the natal Moon often bring about a crisis about privacy. So self-consciousness about wearing your heart on your sleeve makes a lot of sense.
Oh, good for you with the pr. Moon returning to Leo! I think for natal air/fire sign people, the progressions through water signs can be pretty darned uncomfortable.
Great post, I love it!
I’m a Sadge with a Pisces Rising, to locate the first “planet” I had to go into the 12th, and it was Jupiter 11* in Pisces.
Pretty dead on! And here I thought that was just my Sage stellium in my 9th. Lol!!!
I do know I have Chiron in the first in Aries, yet he’s an asteroid. I could see him as a first responder of sorts, first instinct… always wanting to help people “heal” and being kinda pushy and matter of fact about it. Lol
Hi April,
So, technically, as I have empty houses 1 through 4, would my Venus (toward the end of the 5th house) or Jupiter (halfway through the 11th) be my “First Responder”?
Kathleen, I’d go with Venus. I haven’t read anything about considering a planet clockwise from the Ascendant, except in the 12th house within a few degrees.
April, This was fun to read. Pluto is my first responder planet. I neither love it or hate it … I like Pluto. I have noticed that there is the odd person(2 maybe 3) that is attracted to me, ( I would never think it was sexual) and the majority of people are put-off. It is oh so true that I’m very good in an emergency situation plus control is a very good thing.
Alana, I think what my FB commenter meant (or at least the way I interpreted it) is that with Pluto as her first responder, her first response was to decide whether she loved or hated the situation – not whether she loved or hated Pluto itself. I’m glad you’re friends with Mr. Intense, though.
There’s a passage in a book I like that describes a party with a lot of emergency room nurses standing around, looking ill at ease with their little plastic cups of wine. A character observed that they looked like the nurses would really blossom if someone would just keel over and require emergency aid! I’m reminded of that whenever I see Pluto rising.
Love this concept! I have a very strong First Responder in Mars and boy does he love being 5 degrees from the Ascendant. This is what they called “accidental dignity” in traditional astrology…an accident of birth (time)…and I am not sorry! I may come on very strong at times, but I DO initiate and get things going, and that Mars really helps energize my huge water grand trine. So I am very grateful for my first responder!
What would you say about a chart that doesn’t have any planets in the first quadrant? Seems that those folks would lack a First Responder altogether. Or, it would develop later in life. What have you seen?
Linea, I believe my teacher used the first planet counterclockwise from the Ascendant, regardless of which house it was in. I assume the idea was that it’s the first planet that receives transits after they’ve crossed the Ascendant – how far away from the Ascendant it might be – and so carries some of that “go get ‘em” energy. But I can’t say I’ve worked with the concept enough to have formed any hard or fast conclusions about it. It’s something I’ll be paying more attention to from now on, though!
Hi, Great Article. I have Mars at 5 degrees Leo, Uranus at 21 degrees Leo. My rising (ascendent) is at 8 degrees Leo. Would Mars be my first responder or Uranus? Mars is closer but Uranus is in the 1st house – thanks so much….Kathryn
Kat, I’d lean toward Mars. But perhaps you could share your experience – which do you feel describes you better?
I have pluto in my first house and mars conjunct my Leo ascendant in the 12th. I’d love to ready more about mars and women!
Wow! Pluto and Mars like me [also — just to complicate matters further — my natal mars is also in a stellium that includes Uranus and Venus all in the 12th — but mars is the only planet that actually would be considered conjunct my asc. Lets read more on Mars and pluto on the ascendant!
I’ll get there eventually, Jess. I was all set to start working on that project when the offer came along to write my newest book… ever since then I’ve been playing catch-up on regular work! Am hoping to get to it, though, while my pr. Moon is in Aries.
April, I knew I liked you right off! We both have Sag rising and Saturn first responders. It can really be a buzz kill for that lively, fly-by-the-seat-of our-pants Sag energy and we probably don’t have too many episodes of going the “oh crap!” response. People around me don’t understand and it really get to my Gemini rising, Moon first responder husband. Thanks for the great insight!
And we both have Gemini rising husbands.
Ah, I have my Cancer Moon as the first responder. I sit back and do gauge the emotional currents coming up. I act intuitively and pick to how up on stuff and then I adapt to how things are in my environment. Venus in Pisces is a chameleon. I will have a wall up and won’t readily let people in to see who I am. Even though I have Sun in Aries – at times I feel strongly Cancerian.
This has really got me thinking, April. I have a very tight Jupiter Moon conjunction with Jupiter leading by an “nth” of a degree. My first response is usually “that’ll be fun” but then my mood changes and I find I’d really rather just stay at home. (Both planets on the IC in Taurus.)
Not to complicate this, but have you found that planets aspecting our first responder also contribute to the ultimate outcome of our decisions?
Honestly, cjwright, this is not a topic I’ve studied in any detail. I remembered it one day as an interesting idea my teacher once shared; folks on Facebook got sort of enthused about it, so I wrote this post. I’d love to hear anyone else’s ideas or observations, including about impacts on the outcome of our decisions.
You don’t work with Chiron at all? I am speechless …
No, I don’t. And apparently not.
Heh. My local astrologer, who runs a well-established astrology school in the area, doesn’t use Chiron either.
Who is your local astrologer and their well established astrology school? Maybe I feel my Chiron so acutely because it’s conjunct my south node in Pisces in the 7th and opposite my 1st house Pluto-Uranus-NN.
Brian, each astrologer decides for him or herself which tools work for us. It’s not that I am unaware of Chiron, its mythology, and why many astrologers choose to work with it. It’s that I simply don’t care to use it. That is no commentary on Chiron, its significance, or anyone who chooses to work with it. May I suggest that a more effective way to make your case for Chiron would be to write eloquently and persuasively about it on a blog of your own, instead of complaining because I’m not doing it for you. You’re really being unspeakably rude, and doing nothing whatsoever to further a cause that seems quite important to you.
@ Leslie,
Rob Hand is a well established astrologer who uses Chiron …
Just discovered this site and really enjoyed this piece. Thank you! You sketched my Jupiter rising perfectly. “Sure, why not”–exactly! Have something to eat? Sure, why not. Chair this dysfunctional committee? Sure, why not. Read another blog? etc. You’re lucky you have Saturn there, too. I also have Mars sitting for the year in the natal area. It has been an incredible experience so far.
What happens if you have a south or north node in the first house.
I respond through my mars-jup (12th) conjunct asc(all in cap) but that response is either mediated by all trine sat in vir or every once in awhile by a Uranian opposition-wacko!!!
Thank you for another great post April! I’ve been reading but not commenting.
I have Scropio AC and Saturn first responder. You nailed it! Now I understand why the conversation goes south with daughter especially (and others) when she brings up something new. I can maybe alter my Saturn response, maybe a little, I hope?? Sure would help that relationship!
Pisces ascendant – fishy foo, and first responder Sun in Aries – leap in and out of the emergency before anyone has even blinked. Yyyyeeeeeehaaaaaa!
p.s. now at work when people come to me with questions.. i do my instant p-sychic yes or no or depends response before they ask their question.
p.p.s. the women and their mars thing… sign me up… hanging out with you is always self discovery (so Happy Bunny.. i’m sure HB is an Aries)..
Ai! What boundaries?? Neptune in the 2nd (square my Leo sun) …works to reinforce my mutable water chart, which includes Saturn in Pisces, square my moon (and conjunct Chiron
Thank you for the eloquent example of not taking the bait, April!
I have Saturn closest to Asc — but Jupiter next closest. If the direction is counterclockwise, Jupiter is my first responder. Am I getting this right?
Susan, are Saturn and Jupiter in your first house?
well i re read all the descriptions..now i have Jupiter..i am very philosophical but the rest..does not apply that much..i read for my Mom..she has Uranus..and that definetely not her !!! far from it !! my eldest daughter also Uranus, not really her…my youngest daughter has the sun a few minutes after her ascendant she is charming but who wouldn’t be being a sag/sag..but she is not a leader, my son has the Jupiter and that sounds a bit like him but he is not a leader at all…, my ex has Saturn..not him !!..he does have Chiron in aries in first..and i would go with that one for sure !! kind of guessing what the description would be…same as a good friend he has the Pluto in 4th..and a mars in cancer at the start of his 12th, the first in his chart is Chiron and i definetely would go with that..and going back to my son his first his Chiron also…and that also would make more sense…sorry for being a stick in the mud here April…actually i’m disapointed and confused more than anything …as i participated in the facebook conversation and was so anxious to read this…
I’m sorry you’re disappointed. Descriptions like these are always generalized, and it’s always good to take them with a grain of salt. Taking one discrete element from a chart and considering it apart from all the other influences is always dicey. I thank you for your comment. In the interest of possibly clearing up come confusion, though, I would note that (1) actually, I know plenty of Sag people who are not charming; Sag has many fine qualities, but “charm” is not a keyword that is normally associated with it; (2) my delineation of Jupiter did not mention leadership; and (3) nothing I’ve read leads me to conclude that Mars at the *beginning* of the 12th house would count as a “rising planet.” As for Chiron, I’ve been very clear that I don’t work with it, so I’m not the person to look to for those delineations.
thanks for your answer April..my mistake for the leader thing i meant it only for my daughter who is a sag, and i mentioned the Mars at the beginning of the 12th, i know it does not count..i was mentioning this as my friend has only that planet in the beginning of his 12th , nothing close to the ascendant and the next planet is Pluto at the end of the fourth..he has Chiron in the first though..so basically (since no counting of Chiron) he has nothing in the first 3 houses..so how would you pick his first responder ? merci !
I would go with Pluto. But if you use Chiron, play around with it and see what you think.
April, Jupiter is in first house, Saturn in 12th. Moon in 1st house also.
My 1st responder is Moon in Virgo. My first response is: “Here’s how I can help, by fixing you.” Haha =D
And guess what I do for a living? I’m a financial consultant. Or is that my MC in Taurus conjunct Chiron?
i have venus and chiron in the first house. chiron is closer to my ascendant. i would say as i get older, i see the chiron more than venus.
Hi April,
I’m back to let you know this is one of the most powerful things I have ever learned about my chart and self and to thank you for sharing it. This has helped me tremendously.
I agree with Terri in that this is one of the most powerful things I have learned about my chart. Since this blog I have been paying close attention to my first response. I had always wondered why I seemed so “on alert” and always preparing for the worse – no matter what the situation. With Pluto on my 2nd house cusp and Saturn in the 3rd conjunct SNode it all makes sense. This information has given me the power to understand and change this reaction from fear to a higher vibration of discernment. Any other ideas on positive uses of this energy?
Bel, Thanks for saying that. Reinforces what I am doing. Same as you, the awareness seems to be allowing me to alter my Saturn first responder or at least saying “wait” (laughing because that is exactly what April says having Saturn as a first responder does, WAIT!). Anyway, I am saying wait and thinking about it: is that Saturn that makes me slam on the brakes when someone brings up something new?
I am not an astrologer and don’t know all that much, so I might be missing it a little, but I am using this knowledge when I have a new idea because it seems I respond to my own ideas by slamming on the brakes too (and this is hurting me in a big way). It feels like I throw a wrench into it, wait, and hesitate (too much hesitation to be productive).
I’ve noticed people stop bringing up new things to me after a while or I notice they become uncomfortable as they are about to share something with me. I’ve wondered what that is for a long time. Now I think I know. I’m now feeling the hesitation, but not speaking it verbally as much and things are rocking along better!
Just knowing this first responder thing allows me to (you’ll laugh) say whoa, wait, is this Saturn 1st responder slamming on the brakes AND the key is to ask if this is REALLY something I need to be slamming on the brakes about or is it OK to proceed.
Just like April says, I do well in unfamiliar situations where I’m in charge, so true and SO helpful to know that!
I just spent some time to try to re-find this posting. I knew it would be very helpful when skimming it on an email pass-by…but I had let it get buried with time passing and other emails piling up. Tonight I found it and I think it is an incredible tool. It helps to explain one of the layers of texture in a chart. I am a Jupiter 1st house person and in spite of lots of earth, I am actually quite game for anything if the timing seems right (Saturn not in my 1st but on the 4th house cusp conjunct the moon—so I can also seem hesitant in a decision too). And,yes, I can be the joking “know it all” when insecure! My son has Saturn right on his ASC and with so much going for him (astrologically and otherwise), I could never understand his reluctance with new situations. Now I have some compassion/understanding and I think I can see where being more “in charge” of the situation really helps him. I love having you as a teacher! Thank you for so generously sharing your gifts, insight and experience!
I love it! I have Neptune right on my Sag Asc, and a Leo Sun. Deep down I want to think everyone sees me and that I’ve made an impression on them, even in cases where I’ve met them one time (because I definitely feel like everyone leaves an impression on me). And in most instances where I feel that I have to compete for attention, I will back down and retreat into my own world where I can lick my wounds. Then I’ll lash out at some irrelevant later date (Mars in Scorpio?), which only serves to confuse.
I have Scorpio 29 rising, Saturn 0 and Mars 6 both Sag.
Saturn says I am cautious, Mars says I make things happen.
Do I look at both or only Saturn?
Great site, I have not been on the blog
I’d use Saturn, since it’s the first planet after the ascendant – though in your case, caution is quickly followed by action!