Hello,

Are the commanding signs equal to northern signs or signs of long ascension?

The way I understand Ptolemy, commanding signs equal northern signs (and obedient signs equal southern signs) but I have seen in some places on the net that commanding signs equal signs of long ascension!

Thank you!

It wouldn't make sense that commanding signs are signs of long ascension because Aries is a short ascension sign, and clearly not an obeying one at that.

Lilly, Christian Astrology, book I page 92 says:

There are also many other divisions of the Signs: as into Signs commanding, viz. ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO

And Signs obeying; LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES.

An into Signs of right or long ascention, viz. CANCER LEO VIRGO
LIBRA AQUARIUS SAGITTARIUS.

An into Signs of shorter oblique ascention, viz. CAPRICORN
AQUAIRIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI.

Hope that clears up any confusion.

From what I understand, the Sun stays longer in the commanding signs, which is what adds the "commanding" qualities to them (the days are longer in the northern hemisphere when Sun is Aries-Virgo). They are also considered northern.

Hello,

Tanit is right.

Northern signs = Commanding Signs = Aries to Virgo following the zodiacal circle (for places in the northern hemisphere). The northern signs are called northern because when the sun is in any of the northern signs, it has northern declination (or having positive declination as sun is above the celestial equator). They are also called commanding signs because when the sun is in any of the commanding/northern signs, the sun spends more time above the earth as the day is longer than the night (above = commanding).

Southern signs = Obeying/Obedient Signs = Libra to Pisces following the zodiacal circle (for places in the northern hemisphere).The southern signs are called southern because when the sun is in any of the southern signs, it has southern declination (or having negative declination as sun is below the celestial equator). They are also called obedient/obeying signs because when the sun is in any of the obedient/southern signs, the sun spends more time under the earth as the night is longer than the day (below = obeying).

Signs of Long Ascension: Also known as stretched, straight, direct or right signs. These signs take more than two sidereal hours rising in the eastern horizon; Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius. Signs of long ascension become signs of short ascension for places in the southern hemisphere. When sun is in one of the signs of long ascension, the day is getting shorter as sun?s declination is decreasing.

Signs of Short Ascension: Also known as bent, crooked or oblique signs. These signs take less than two sidereal hours rising in the eastern horizon; Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Gemini. Signs of short ascension become signs of long ascension for places in the southern hemisphere. When sun is in one of the signs of short ascension, the day is getting longer as sun?s declination is increasing.