Having considered Maternus’ accounts of the destinies of those with an earth or air sign rising, we now present extracts from his “Mathesis” concerning the Ascendant in the water triplicity.
If the Ascendant is in Pisces, the native will be talented and wise, a loyal and indispensable friend. He will advance through certain undertakings, though another’s power will exceed his own power and standing. He will have enemies, but will overcome them with great ease; a lengthy undertaking will bring him fame. As time passes, however, he will attain still greater dignity and enjoy a considerable increase in good fortune. His travels will make him widely and enduringly known.
If the MC is in Sagittarius, he will make many mistakes and expose himself to various dangers. He will be active in all his associations and engage in no small struggles with far more powerful people, while someone will make him the target of intrigues. He will lose everything he initially possesses, then gain charge of the affairs of others, always remaining loyal in his friendships. Yet desire, kindled through the eyes, will drive him to sexual intercourse.
If the Descendant is in Virgo, the native will be wise and provide sustenance for people unrelated to him. He will be one of those who faithfully keep the secrets entrusted to them. He will raise up many friends through his resources or patronage and acquire a great store of wealth. Yet his friends will often be ungrateful. He will be affectionate towards his wife and bound to her by love, but she too will often show him ingratitude. The troubles of his wife and children will cause him profound anguish.
If the IC is in Gemini, the native will be worn down by many illnesses and subjected to much toil. He will suffer some pain or a hidden bodily defect. After the greatest distress and adversity, good fortune will come to him: others will supply all his necessities and, having previously lost everything, he will gain wealth through a sudden stroke of luck. He will possess and retain sources of income that provide for all his needs, and, when weighed down by old age, will die suddenly in a foreign land. For this, however, the ruler of the Ascendant must be examined.
If the Ascendant is in Cancer, it will give the native a keen intellect, though he will be one of those who are late in everything they do. Such natives will be serious, learned people, prone to great anger, who pursue all wicked people with fierce indignation. They are [otherwise] strong and measured, and their anger can be readily appeased. They will assuredly derive their livelihood from a public or royal office, through which provision will be made for their support. They will always be engaged in public affairs, and many people, driven by their various needs, will seek to ingratiate themselves with them. But if Saturn is on the Ascendant in Cancer, or aspects it, he will cause them to die violently or become gravely ill, or their own brothers will die before them in various ways.
If the MC is in Aries, the native will constantly associate with far more powerful people, or his daily necessities will be supplied through the resources of those unrelated to him. He will always desire and strive to obtain good things. His personal wealth, however, will be subject to continual fluctuations, returning as often as it is lost.
If the Descendant is in Capricorn, hidden enemies will constantly assail him; after suffering many troubles, however, he will eventually reach a quiet reconciliation with them. He will certainly be talented, with a penetrating and enquiring mind, but will suffer the torments of some hidden pain, or be worn down by unending anguish of spirit.
If the IC is in Libra, the native will be burdened by many difficulties and bound to public service, or hold administrative responsibilities, and will dissipate the greater part of his previously acquired wealth. He will assuredly succeed in any position of authority and be indispensable to others. He will earn his livelihood through learned pursuits and be one to whom others entrust their deepest secrets. He will live to an exceptionally great age and be honoured with a distinguished funeral. If Mercury is in the following sign, he will be the firstborn of all the male children. But if Venus is in the second house, a daughter will live a long life, provided the ruler of the Ascendant is well placed, as we have said before, and aspected by benefic planets.
If the Ascendant is in Scorpio, it will make the natives sharp, impetuous and industrious in their youth, though they will endure many hardships. Afterwards, however, they will indeed be raised up by an authority favourably disposed towards them, and the greatest good fortune will be bestowed upon them if Jupiter makes any aspect to the Ascendant. They will become renowned, will always hope for the protection of the gods, and will always understand the sacred mysteries of holy or celestial religions. They will live elsewhere or move to another city through their own efforts. They will always be uplifted by a virtuous spirit and display the graces of reasoned speech. They will be people who always welcome change. Through their friends, they may become embroiled in certain undertakings or dangers, and, after suffering the misfortune of losing children, they will once again enjoy happiness in their offspring.
If the MC is in Leo, the native’s life will be consumed by hard work and arduous tasks of every kind. He will be subordinate to someone far more powerful, whether for the sake of honours or his livelihood. He will be strong, and, as time passes, many will seek to ingratiate themselves with him; he will hand over many of his own valuables to others. He will be appointed to a position of power, through which he will increase his patrimony. If the Descendant is in Taurus, he will have many rivals and overcome them all in various ways. He will be one of those drawn to sexual intercourse by lustful eyes, and will suffer some form of scandal. He will lose and gain personal wealth in equal measure, acquiring it anew as often as he loses it. If the IC is in Aquarius, he will earn his livelihood near water or from water, but the same will also endanger his life; whoever benefits from him will invariably prove ungrateful.
Text taken from the articles The Ascendant in the Signs I (Aries–Virgo) and The Ascendant in the Signs II (Libra–Pisces), published on https://astroriznica.com/