Analyzing Career Weaknesses Through a Person's Ascendant Sign

My father has a friend whose Ascendant and Sun sign are both in Leo. He is exceptionally skilled with a lathe (a skill I don't fully grasp) and was once highly regarded. However, due to his temper, he struggled to maintain good relationships with his leaders and colleagues, especially with his superiors, and gradually became someone who worked diligently but earned little. Over time, his career has stalled, and now, in his fifties, both his temperament and finances are in turmoil, with his relationships with his spouse and children far from ideal.

This uncle, with his Ascendant and Sun in Leo, needs to develop the skill of "interpersonal relationships" in his professional life, as he cannot solely depend on his technical expertise to succeed. However, we have indeed encountered individuals who strive to improve their interpersonal skills yet remain mediocre. Sometimes my clients ask me what the most crucial element in their careers is, considering that, for most of us, it's challenging to excel in every area.

Interpersonal relationships, technical skills, resumes, experience... numerous factors shape each individual's unique career, and the significance of these factors varies for everyone. In this article, I will highlight the one or two most vital elements in your professional life based on your Ascendant sign.

Ascendant Aries

The career path of an Ascendant Aries can be described as "gaining strength over time" or being a "late bloomer," indicating that hard work is a necessity for them. The first step for an Ascendant Aries to establish themselves in the workplace is to display a service-oriented attitude and sound thinking skills in their daily tasks (a combination of mental and physical effort is unavoidable). These attributes enable Ascendant Aries to continuously accumulate experiences and lessons, ultimately building a career worth pursuing.

In essence, if an Ascendant Aries aspires to achieve success in their career, they must seek out work experiences that offer significant growth value while enhancing their organizational and management skills, ultimately fulfilling their ambitions. From this perspective, Ascendant Aries faces several challenges concerning vision and mindset in their career (the ultimate aim of these aspects is to create an impressive resume), along with resilience and organizational skills. The expectations for Ascendant Aries in this regard are diverse and comprehensive.

Additionally, it is important to note that if an Ascendant Aries has Mars in Taurus, Cancer, or Libra, or Mercury in Leo, Sagittarius, Cancer, or Pisces, these placements may hinder their professional development.

Ascendant Leo

For an Ascendant Leo to reach greater heights, they must learn how to leverage their interpersonal relationships. However, Ascendant Leos who succeed often either come from privileged backgrounds or have made considerable efforts throughout their lives. The first step in an Ascendant Leo's career requires their own platform, a hurdle that many Leos struggle to overcome.

The career journey of an Ascendant Leo should progress from the general to the specific, suggesting that they may face difficulties before enjoying success. For Ascendant Leos, being a temporary hero is of little significance (meaning achieving something in just one phase is not meaningful; they need sustainable development). Overemphasizing technical skills is pointless, as Ascendant Leos require long-term organizational capabilities and overall strength. From this perspective, each Ascendant Leo's career is indeed a challenge that requires them to endure trials and tribulations. Once a platform for Ascendant Leos is established, they will enter a "specific" phase, where their ability to leverage interpersonal relationships comes into focus.

Overall, Ascendant Leos cannot afford to have noticeable weaknesses in their careers, and they must excel in interpersonal relationships.

It is also worth mentioning that for Ascendant Leos, having the Sun in Aquarius or Libra, or Venus in Scorpio, Virgo, or Aries, can be unfavorable for their career development.

Ascendant Sagittarius

Among the twelve Ascendant signs, Ascendant Sagittarius is undeniably the one that must prioritize reputation or public image (building trust and being trustworthy are integral parts of this challenge). In other words, "positive reviews" are the first aspect Ascendant Sagittarius should aim for in their career. A good reputation enables them to advance more quickly in their careers and avoid unnecessary setbacks.

However, not every Ascendant Sagittarius recognizes the importance of reputation. After all, individual circumstances differ, with some leading deep lives and others not. Nonetheless, they will certainly realize that good interpersonal relationships allow them to achieve more with less effort. This includes learning how to manage and employ interpersonal resources effectively. Ascendant Sagittarius individuals often possess a talent for transforming relationships into opportunities (from this perspective, if you need someone to help you network, Ascendant Sagittarius typically has a high success rate).

In short, the most important aspects for Ascendant Sagittarius in their professional life are reputation and relationships. Of course, maintaining a good reputation requires them to balance gains and losses in daily life, make wise decisions, and avoid becoming overly self-satisfied or shortsighted.

Furthermore, it is important to note that if Jupiter in an Ascendant Sagittarius chart is in Scorpio, Aquarius, Virgo, or Gemini, or if Venus is in Virgo, Aries, or Scorpio, these placements may hinder their professional development, increasing stress and confusion in their careers.

Ascendant Gemini

The versatile Ascendant Gemini (if you are an Ascendant Gemini with limited talents, I hope you are articulate) faces a difficult reality: achieving career success begins with a technical skill. In other words, if an Ascendant Gemini wishes to avoid long-term career confusion and passivity, they must cultivate a technical expertise early on.

The reason is that the professional life of an Ascendant Gemini requires continuous training and progress. Without a technical skill, they need a substantial initial accumulation (but for most people, who is born into wealth?). If neither is present, it becomes extremely challenging for an Ascendant Gemini to build successful experiences. An Ascendant Gemini lacking professional success can easily lose their way, descending into chaos and darkness (manifesting either through relationships or the material aspects of their careers), oscillating between potential and realization, ultimately wasting time and achieving little.

In my view, the most essential aspect for an Ascendant Gemini in their career is acquiring a technical skill, followed by cultivating a forward-thinking vision, which also involves a moral dimension of self-cultivation.

It is worth noting that if Mercury in an Ascendant Gemini's chart is in Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, or Pisces, or if Mars is in Cancer, Libra, or Taurus, these placements may pose obstacles and pressures to their career development.

Ascendant Libra

In modern times, the concept of social circles is often mentioned, and for Ascendant Libras who aspire to a remarkable career, it is essential to cultivate these social circles during their development. Clearly, this is not an easy task; after all, having a couple of friends is simple, but leading a life of elegance and grandeur is challenging. For most Ascendant Libras, living like socialites is difficult, while experiencing passive and helpless realities in their professional lives is quite easy.

The first and foremost task for an Ascendant Libra in their career is to maintain strong moral character (stories of people being favored by leaders for their strong moral values often involve Ascendant Libras). The second important task is to avoid short-sighted actions or associating with negative influences. The career path of Ascendant Libras does not require them to be overly perceptive (at least they shouldn't appear too shrewd); instead, they should embrace the idea that "fools have their blessings." Tolerance and self-sacrifice help Ascendant Libras navigate their careers, as they need to be uplifted by social circles, and immediate gains and losses are not as valuable as being respected within an ideal circle.

In short, the career of Ascendant Libras demands more from their spiritual energy than other aspects, and they are often not the ones to complete specific tasks.

It is worth mentioning that when the Venus of an Ascendant Libra is in Aries, Scorpio, or Virgo, or when the Moon is in Scorpio or Capricorn, these placements may bring more pressure and challenges to their professional development.

Ascendant Aquarius

In their professional lives, Ascendant Aquarians clearly need to soften their aloofness and show more warmth and care. Undoubtedly, emotional intelligence is crucial in their careers. The initial step for them is to find a nurturing environment, making the workplace's nourishment vital for them. This cannot merely be assessed by money or the difficulty of the work; it is determined by a sense of belonging.

Once Ascendant Aquarians establish a sense of belonging in their professional lives, they will need to explore and strive further. This involves identifying and refining their technical skills to enhance their resources. The process is akin to "establishing a family before starting a career." I do not recommend Ascendant Aquarians to define themselves too early, as they often have tendencies toward multiple careers. Instead of focusing on a single point, they should explore broader areas, immerse themselves in them, and then make breakthroughs.

In summary, the most vital aspect of professional development for Ascendant Aquarians is finding their "home." Once they find a sense of belonging at work, they can focus on refining their "technical skills."

For Ascendant Aquarians, if the Moon in their chart is in Capricorn or Scorpio, or if Mars is in Taurus, Libra, or Cancer, these placements can often have adverse effects on their professional development.

This issue concludes with the Fire and Air signs, and we will continue in the next issue.