Virgo rising

Here the books lean toward the mind more than usual. Raphael's Guide 1877 mentions learning, curiosities and graceful speech, and Lilly 1659 describes a discreet and studious person who is fond of history. Adams 1928 warns that Mercury as ruler makes the appearance hard to pin down, since other planets change it so easily.

Among the longest risers in the zodiac at northern latitudes, Virgo can take about two and a half hours to pass the horizon near 40 degrees, while Aries takes about half that. Raphael 1828 simply calls it a sign of long ascension, and only a birth time from a record can settle whether it was this sign or its neighbor.

Modern popular astrology reads the rising Virgo as neat, reserved and observant at first meeting. That is an inference from the sign's reputation.