Barren sign Barren sign In astrology, a barren sign is a sign of the Zodiac that, according to ancient astrological tradition, is not likely to possess strong powers of procreation, i.e. they are "barren". The signs most associated with infertility are Gemini, Leo, and Virgo. In addition, Aries, Sagittarius, and Aquarius are also believed to quite often have problems in matters of reproduction and are therefore considered "semi-barren". William Lilly (1647) in CHAPTER CXVIII of his book "Christian Astrology" described the signs as follows: Aries: By reason Mars, a sterill planet hath that for his house, and the Sun for Exaltation, is
Zodiac the circle of background constellations over time. The principle of the vernal point acting as the first degree of the zodiac for Greek astronomers is also described in the 1st century BC astronomical text of Geminus of Rhodes. Geminus explains that Greek astronomers of his era associate the first degrees of the zodiac signs with the two solstices and the two equinoxes, in contrast to the older Chaldean (Babylonian) system, which placed these points within the zodiac signs. This illustrates that Ptolemy merely clarified the convention of Greek astronomers and did not originate the principle of the tropical zodiac, as