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The phenomenon
of long and short ascension can be illustrated with a very simple
example. Imagine standing in front of a building which appears to
be 7 meters wide. If you walk 10 meters to the left and examine
the same building from a different perspective, it will appear to
be narrower than before.
This is precisely
what happens to certain astrological signs when observed from the
Earth. The Ecliptic is slanted at 23,5° to the Earth’s
Equator, as a result of which we see some of the astrological signs
from a slanted perspective.
This phenomenon
causes a noticeable variation in the length of time that it takes
for different signs to rise over the horizon, particularly at middle
latitudes. The signs that require more time to ascend are referred
to as signs of long ascension. These are the following: Cancer,
Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. The longest signs to
ascend are Virgo and Libra.
The signs that
require less time to ascend are referred to as signs of short ascension.
These are the following: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus,
and Gemini. The shortest signs to ascend are Pisces and Aries.
This phenomenon
should be noted when someone tries to figure out an ascendant without
the aid of a computer or tables of houses (which, of course, cannot
be trusted but we astrologers are often asked to do it nevertheless);
however, it becomes especially relevant in natal astrology when
we do progressions. Those born with a long ascending sign will “stay”
in that sign longer, their ascendant will not change for many years.
Those born with a short ascending sign may experience as many as
four or even five sign changes during their lives.
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