Sun in 1st House

Any person with Sun in the 1st house strives towards inner authenticity and should never submerge their individuality to please others. This placement suggests there is a strong determination to choose one's own course in life, and the energy of the Sun radiates out of the personality. Others tend to follow their lead and the ego expresses itself in a dynamic, confident and warm way. According to Astrologer, Howard Sasportas, these people are meant to influence and catch the attention of others and should meet life with the determination to make something of themselves. Rather than relying on family background they need to forge their own 'place in the Sun'.

More usually, challenging aspects show difficulty in expressing identity, confidence and independence. The first house of the natal chart relates to self-presentation and how we are perceived by others. Furthermore, it also represents the lens which we view the world through, and any planet here rules the 'personal outlook'. Liz Greene says, “The first house is the most unformed part of the birth chart and is in a process of becoming.” The first house is symbolic of new beginnings and so the individual is good at starting and initiating projects. The Ascendant is the front door of the chart, therefore it's difficult to hide planets in the first house. Early experiences of always being “on show” may occur. However, some individuals hate the spot-light for that reason.

Often the individual will have felt a special sense of purpose and destiny, hence the urge for self-discovery, self-integration and self-actualization. The closer the Sun is to the ascendant the more powerful the sign traits appear in the personality. Those with Sun in the 1st house are developing a strong sense of self, leadership skills and powerful self-awareness. On the other hand, if the Sun receives difficult aspects to Saturn or Pluto, people with it are extremely self-conscious about standing out. The Sun is accidentally exalted in the house of Aries, and so there is a drive to be first, win and compete.

Barbara Streisand has the Sun in Taurus in the first house, and the singer starred in the film, A star is born.  The story is about a woman who enters show business, falls in love with an established film star, only to find her star is “ascending” while his is on the decline. Barbara also became the first ever woman to produce, direct, write and star in a major motion picture. Streisand’s career has been highlighted by a series of "firsts".

Barbara also has Sun square Pluto and her father died when she was just a baby. Pluto rules physical death, abuse, emotional manipulation and power-struggles. The singer's step-father verbally abused and denigrated her as a young girl. However, Barbara's natal chart describes a determined, powerful and resourceful lady.

Streisand has been quoted as saying that she was a "personality" before she became a person and that to have an "ego" means strength but that her ego is also small in other ways and is responsible for doing what she does - good or bad. We can't forget the memorable entrance she made in Hello Dolly at the top of the stairs.

Her reputation in Hollywood ranges from hard-working perfectionist to neurotic narcissist. She has defended herself against accusations of egotism by citing the sexism of the Hollywood system. "A man is forceful," she has said, "a woman is pushy ... He's assertive--she's aggressive. He strategizes--she manipulates.

Gene wilder is another celebrity with the Sun in Gemini in the 1st house. The Sun in the first sector of the chart likes to make an entrance and be noticed, some of the qualities are quite Leonian. The star was hesitant to make the Movie “Willy Wonka:

"When I make my first entrance, I'd like to come out of the door carrying a cane and then walk toward the crowd with a limp. After the crowd sees Willy Wonka is a cripple, they all whisper to themselves and then become deathly quiet. As I walk toward them, my cane sinks into one of the cobblestones I'm walking on and stands straight up, by itself... but I keep on walking, until I realize that I no longer have my cane. I start to fall forward, and just before I hit the ground, I do a beautiful forward somersault and bounce back up, to great applause.

When asked why he wanted to include this scene: Wilder said that he didn’t want people to know whether he was telling the truth or lying. I think this statement reflects Gemini’s changeability, love of disguise, and sly mimicry. Wilder certainly made an entrance outside of those chocolate factory gates, and his wit, word plays, and clever intellect, all shine through the sign of Gemini. All Gemini's needs to communicate and often possess a great sense of humour. Gene Wilder is also a writer and is living out the Sun, particularly, for his need to be recognised (Sun) and acknowledged in the field of communication (Gemini).