106 SIMPLIFIED SCIENTIFIC ASTROLOGY
tion differs widely. See ‘diurnal rotation of the planets,’ page 8.
Barren or Unfruitful Signs: Gemini, Leo and Virgo.
Benefics:
The Sun, Venus and Jupiter. For a thorough synthetic explanation of the terms ‘benefic’ and ‘malefic’, see ‘Good’ and ‘Bad,’ also pages 76 and 77.
Cadent:
The third, sixth, ninth and twelfth houses are called cadent, and so are planets placed in these houses. This position weakens the influence of planets, so that benefics are not so helpful and malefics not so harmful when placed in cadent houses.
Cardinal Signs:
Aries, the Eastern sign entered by the Sun at the vernal equinox; Cancer, where the Sun reaches its highest degree of Northern declination at the Summer Solstice; Libra, the Western sign where the Sun goes into South declination at the Fall equinox; and Capricorn, where it is in the lowest South declination at the Winter Solstice.
The Cardinal Signs are promotive, they further activity in whatever is undertaken under their influence.
Combust:
Any planet within three degrees of the Sun is said to be combust, or burned up by the Sun’s rays. If Mercury or the Moon are so placed, it weakens the mind; if Venus or Jupiter, it takes away their help;
