Revealer of our Soul's Purpose

This topic was created in the Ascendants forum by SirHorns on Thursday, July 17, 2014 and has 2 replies.

Have you ever wondered whether there might be more to the Ascendant than a mere description of the physical appearance, the persona, the mask, or the manner in which we project ourselves into the world? How often have you encountered a client whose personality does not seem to match the traditional description of the Rising Sign? A Leo rising client, for example, who lacks confidence, or an Aries rising person who is not particularly assertive or outgoing, or a Sagittarius rising person who has difficulty being adventurous?
...
According to Bailey's system, the Sun symbolises the present (the path of the integrated personality); The Moon symbolises the past (the path of instinct, karma, heredity) and the Ascendant symbolises the future (the path of the soul).

Even in a more 'traditional' approach to astrology, it is recognised that the Ascendant points to qualities which are in the process of development, which challenge us, which force us to grow, and which serve to bring together the rest of the chart. Liz Greene has this to say about it, in her usual eloquent style :
Article: http://www.aplaceinspace.net/Pages/CandyAscendant.html