Photographed by Mark Nicdao
From career-aligned dressing to authentic self-expression, Wiji Lacsamana breaks down the Midheaven’s role in shaping how you show up in the world.
For astrologer Wiji Lacasama, the birth chart is a blueprint that can illuminate how we move through the world, including the way we cultivate our aesthetic identity. Central to this discussion is the Midheaven, or MC, a mathematical point at the very tip of the chart that reveals how we are seen, what we aspire to, and the legacy we hope to craft. “A birth chart comes in a circle,” she begins. “One of its main divisions is called the Angles. These represent our core pillars in life.”
She describes the Ascendant in the east, tied to our physicality and instinctual self-expression; the IC in the south, connected to home and ancestry; the Descendant in the west, governing relationships, and finally, the Midheaven in the north: “the highest part of your chart, for all the world to see.”
While the Ascendant may shape what feels natural (how we dress without thinking), the Midheaven offers something more intentional. Unlike Venus, which governs taste, or rising signs, which influence our inherent style, the MC relates to how we want to be perceived in our public and professional lives. “Dressing for your MC is dressing with a goal in mind,” Lacsamana explains. “It’s a way to claim power as you step into your audience.”
For example, she notes that an individual with Capricorn rising may gravitate toward clean, direct silhouettes without much deliberation, whereas the Midheaven calls for mindful self-presentation aligned with one’s aspirations.
This influence becomes even more layered when considering the ruling planet of the MC and its aspects. Lacsamana emphasizes that the chart ruler, the planet governing the Ascendant, holds strong sway, but the Midheaven can meaningfully shape style when approached consciously.
“All these heavenly bodies and us are intricately connected,” she says, pointing to the moon’s effects on tides as a familiar parallel. In practice, this means the MC’s sign takes on aesthetic qualities of its own: a Taurus Midheaven may feel most authentic in luxurious yet understated fabrics, while a Scorpio MC might lean toward mystery and depth, favoring darker tones or symbolic textures. A Leo Midheaven, by contrast, may gravitate toward expressive looks that command visibility.
Because each Midheaven houses specific signs and potentially planets, certain beauty choices feel more aligned than others. Lacsamana encourages using this placement as a compass for reinvention, particularly during moments of transition, career shifts, or a desire to be more fully seen. “If now is the time to get noticed and step into the dream life you’ve always wanted, look to your Midheaven to find clues on how to act and dress,” she says.
Exploring this doesn’t require a deep dive into advanced astrology. The first step, Lacsamana advises, is simply generating a proper circular birth chart using one’s exact birth details. At the topmost portion of the wheel, the MC is marked by an arrow or bold line. “Look at what sign that line falls in, and there you have your MC sign.”
More than anything, integrating astrology into conversations about beauty and authenticity reflects Lacsamana’s core purpose. “As a modern astrologer, my value is to empower people, she says. In a world saturated with external influences, she sees the birth chart as a grounding tool, one that cuts through inherited tastes and online noise. “When you look at your chart, you are seeing a map of your life, something totally all yours. And you can navigate your life using this.” In this way, the Midheaven becomes more than a point in the sky; it becomes a guide toward intentionality, self-knowledge, and a style that feels genuinely one’s own.
To learn more about your personal chart, visit Wiji Lacsamana’s official website.
