Are you in control of your life or this 'I' is in control of your life? If the former is true then you are in the right path. In sublime terms this 'I' is our innermost entity but in most cases it is simply a volatile ego that inflates at the smallest blowing in of wind.

In Vedic Astrology, this 'I' is signified by the 1st house. The 1st house is also known as the Ascendant or Lagna. It is the most important area of the horoscope that determines the potential of the person in each and every sphere of life. This house governs the life force, well being and defines the complete mood of the horoscope.

Astrologers look at this house first and foremost while judging a horoscope.

The obvious reasons being:

• How is the person?
  
  
• How is health and longevity?
  
  
• How does the person look
  
  
• What is the potential in future?

The significator or Karaka of the 1st house is planet Sun. The planet has to do with all kinds of power. The life force, confidence, ambition, leadership qualities all these are parts and parcel of Sun qualities. These are also essentially 1st house governed and driven powers that a person enjoys.

The horoscope has twelve houses and 7 planetary energies that are in control of them. The nodes Rahu & Ketu are shadowy planets and are not in power where Zodiac signs are concerned.

Fiery planets and their effect on Ascendant or Cardinal signs in Ascendant can make a person full of 'I'. You will seldom find a meek Leo Ascendant or a limping Aries person. Leaving aside cases of heavily afflicted or tarnished Ascendant lords, these two are mostly bold, active and courageous. However some Leo people can be very lazy also!

The nine planetary energies are closely interconnected and there is hardly any area of life that can be really taken as completely free of their effects. However when they are directly connected to the 1st house, their influence on self is quite prominent and makes the person show very specific tendencies in life, personality and mannerisms. I give below some examples.

Mars (Aries) driven people are candid, innocent, active but often rash. Venus (Taurus) driven person can be very stable, worldly, fixed and often obstinate. Mercury (Gemini) driven person is mostly dual natured, moody, romantic and often fickle minded. Moon (Cancer) driven person can be sensitive, intellectual, emotional but always very touchy.

Next comes Leo ruled by Sun, a fiery planet. Proud bold, generous and courageous are the tale tall signs of a powerful Leo. The sixth sign is Virgo the perfectionist ruled by Mercury. These are people who can be very methodical, systematic and full of wit & humor. Libra is rules by Venus and this sign is symbolic of balance, diplomacy, and fair deals but often a Libra can be very imbalanced in life.

Scorpio is the 2nd sign ruled by Mars and these people are matured, intense, deep and very dangerous as opponents. Sagittarius is a sign ruled by Jupiter and the most important quality of these people is the space that they allow to all. Live and let live is often the motto but Sagittarius people can be very undisciplined. Capricorn people are ruled by Saturn and are slow and steady. They prod through life diligently and can be very unforgiving when hurt. Aquarius is a sign that remains an enigma even to the closest person in family. Saturn rules the sign and the freedom seeking nature of an Aquarius can sometimes bring doom or produce a radical. Finally it is the Pisces ruled by Jupiter, which is the last of the Zodiac houses. Pisces person can be very wise and powerful as well as matured but there is a strong essence of duality in nature. A Pisces person could turn in exact opposite direction at a critical point raising questions on trust and reliability.

The above are generally applicable to the different Ascendants when the respective planet is strong, but when the planet is weak or there is heavy influence of malefic planets on Ascendant, the effect can generate distorted mentality and mannerisms. But to come back to the 'I' theme, a strong planet, as an Ascendant lord can be the biggest boost for potentially successful life.