The Descending signs are those from Cancer to Sagittarius.
ASCENSION - LONG :: SHORT. The Signs of Long Ascension are those which, due to the obliquity of the
Ecliptic, require more than two hours to rise over the Eastern horizon. The Signs of Short Ascension are those
which rise in Less than two hours. For example, in Latitude 40°N, approximately that of New York, Leo may
require as much as 2h 45m to rise, while Aries and Pisces may rise in 1h 10m. In the Northern hemisphere, the
Ascending signs are the signs of Short Ascension; the Descending signs, those of Long Ascension. In the
Southern hemisphere, these are reversed. Thus by the law of averages the majority of birth maps in the
Northern hemisphere have an Ascendant in an Ascending sign; while in the Southern hemisphere the majority
of Ascendants are in a Descending sign.
BARREN :: FRUITFUL. The so-called Barren or Sterile signs, are Gemini, Leo and Virgo; and by some
authorities, Aries - with a mild tendency attributed to Sagittarius and Aquarius. Generally classed as the
Fruitful signs are those the Water triplicity, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, in that the Lord of the Ascendant or of
the Fifth house in a fruitful sign, or such sign on the Asc. or the cusp of the Fifth, are taken as an indication of
the probability of offspring. Taurus and Capricorn, and by some Libra and Aquarius, are classed as Moderately
Fruitful.
BESTIAL :: HUMAN. The Bestial Signs are those named after animals: Aries, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio,
Capricorn and the last half of Sagittarius; also spoken of as feral, or four-footed. The Human Signs are Gemini,
Virgo and Aquarius, and the first half of Sagittarius, so-called to distinguish them from Signs named after
animals. Sepharial insists that the first half of Sagittarius is the animal portion and that the human portion is the
last half, and cites in proof Jacob's words concerning Dan. (Genesis 49:17) In a different sense Ptolemy rated
Libra a humane Sign, since he discovered that the Lord of the Ascendant posited in Libra conferred a humane
disposition.
BICORPOREAL. The Double bodied, or dual Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
BITTER :: SWEET. Older authorities classed Aries, Leo and Sagittarius as hot, fiery and bitter, and often
referred to them as the Bitter Signs. The Sweet Signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, were presumably sweet-
tempered.
BOREAL. From Boreas, the north wind. The six northern Signs: Aries to Virgo inclusive.
BROKEN AND WHOLE. Perfect :: Imperfect. Signs deemed more likely to produce distortions of the body
or limbs, when in the Ascendant and unfavorably aspected, are variously known as Broken, Mutilated, or
Imperfect Signs. These are Leo, Scorpio and Pisces, to which many authorities add Capricorn and Cancer. Any
rising Sign may have its defects if severely afflicted planets are posited therein. The Whole or Perfect Signs are
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius because those born thereunder are said to be strong, robust and less liable to
accidents.