The Medieval Symbols Of Ascending Degrees In Use

Thus, 19th degree of Cancer was ascending. I had decided to look at the symbol of the ascending degree just for fun, and I was quite surprised to see the symbol which signifies A man has a spear in his right hand and a pipe in his left. This person will become an actor.

Certainly, it could be taken as a pure coincidence, but I decided to investigate this matter more seriously. I made a complete translation of these symbols and began to collect information about their usage in ancient astrological practice.

Sicilian astrologer of IVth century A.D. Julius Firmicus Maternus pays great attention to characteristics of ascending degrees and uses word Myriogenesis³. Obviously, this word has Greek origin. I surmise, it is a compound word (a bit distorted) composed of two Greek words - μοιρα and γενεσις.
The first of them, μοιρα has two main meanings:
       • A part of something. Hence, this word was used in the meaning a degree of ecliptic.
       • Lot, destiny. It was the name of goddess of destiny - Μοιρα, as well.
The word γενεσις means a birth, an origin.
These two component words as parts of the compound are used in Greek non-astrological texts as well. Homer uses word μοιρηγενης with the meaning [the one] born with a good destiny⁴. Therefore, I think, myriogenesis can be understood as a birth with certain destiny, but a birth with certain degree of ecliptic as well. It seems, the astrologers of Hellenistic epoch understood and used this dual meaning of μοιρα in astrological interpretation of astronomical material. They connected a certain destiny with a certain degree of Zodiac.

The next question is why they attach the significance to the ascending degree, not to the degree of the Sun, or to the degree of the Moon etc.? Proclus Diadochus says in his comment to The Republic by Plato, that the degrees ascending in the horoscope contain all the virtue of the birth and that by these degrees they judge about the modes of life of the souls, which are getting into the bodies while those degrees ascend at the birth. Although Proclus rather says about the faces, I think, the same can be ascribed to the individual degrees. I suppose the following way of thinking: the man appears in this world at the moment of the birth, and the degree ascending at the moment of the birth appears in this world from under the skyline at the same time. The lot or the destiny of the man appears in this world together with his appearance. Therefore we can judge about native's destiny by the ascending degree.

As regards the practical usage of the ascending degree symbols, we must pay attention to a remark made by Johannes Engel, who published these symbols in his book Astrolabium Planum ⁵.
Engel says that if some person has an Ascendant in the 2nd degree of Aries, and Mars, the lord of the Ascendant, is strong, then the person will be inclined to boldness, firmness, irascibility, and immodesty, because of the nature of Mars. And ascending 2nd degree of Aries intensifies the manifestations of Mars, because the image of the second degree of Aries is a quarrelsome and hateful man.
But if this person has the Ascendent in 3rd degree of Aries, then the manifestations of Mars will not be intensified by this, but, on the contrary, abated a little, because this degree signifies a man tending to make peace.

2nd of Aries A man with the head of dog, his right hand is outstretched, and he has a stick in his left hand. This person will be quarrelsome and hateful like a dog.

3rd of Aries A man showing various things of the world with his right hand, and applies his left hand to his belt. This man will be loving peace.

So the meaning of the ascending degree symbol can strengthen (if agrees) or abate (if disagrees) the significations of planets, and make them more precise as well.
Let's go back to the Schwarzenegger's nativity. What can we say about native's profession in this case? Jupiter, lord of MC, is in the 5th house and in trine to the Ascendant. Jupiter is exalted in the Ascendant as well. Venus, which is exalted on MC, is in the Ascendant and in trine to MC. Venus is received by Jupiter by exaltation; and Venus is the first oriental planet⁶.
These testimonies can promise some creative, artistic profession. The meaning of the ascending degree symbol is in agreement with other testimonies, the symbol strengthens this signification, and also makes the judgement more precise - an actor.

Thus, the usage of the ascending degree symbols in contemporary practice of traditional astrology can help to appreciate the planetary influence in a chart more subtly, and sometimes it allows to make a judgement much more precise.