Dignities
and Debilities.
Conditions of placement wherein a planet's
influence is strengthened, are termed
Dignities; if weakened they are termed
Debilities. These are of two varieties:
Essential and Accidental.
Part
One of
this article.
A
planet in a Sign in which it is strengthened,
is in one of its Essential Dignities; in a
House in which it is strengthened, in its
Accidental Dignity.
The
Essential Dignities
are: (1) when a planet is in a Sign of which
it is the Ruler, when it is said to be in its
own Sign, or in its Domal Dignity. It is
ambiguous and confusing to call this its
House-position. If the Sign which a planet
rules is on the cusp of the House in which the
planet is posited, the planet may be described
as the Lord of the House: but the strength as
such depends upon its Essential Dignity by
virtue of its Sign placement. Some authorities
deem that placement in any other Sign of the
same element as that of which it is the Ruler
confers a degree of Dignity; (2) When it is
posited in the Sign in which it is said to be
Exalted, wherein its strength is augmented and
its virtues magnified. A planet in its
Exaltation is only slightly less favorably
placed than when it is in its own Sign; (3) By
ancient precepts, the placement of a planet in
the same Triplicity as that of which it is the
Ruler, in the same Term, or in the same Face,
were deemed to be Essential Dignities of
varying degree.
Relative
values were computed by points as follows:
Sign 5; Mutual reception by house, 5;
Exaltation 4; mutual reception by Exaltation
4; Triplicity 3; Term 2; Face 1.
In
the opposite Sign to that which it rules, a
planet is said to be in its Detriment; which
is to say, in opposition to its most congenial
environment, hence materially weakened.
In
the opposite Sign to that in which it would be
in its Exaltation, it is said to be in its
Fall.
The
scale of Essential Debilities arc: Detriment
5; Fall 4; Peregrine 5.
A
planet in its Debility is generally to be
interpreted as an indication of weakness in
that it increases the bad effects of malefic,
and lessens the possibilities for good of a
benefic.
Of
the Accidental Dignities
the strongest is placement in Angular Houses:
firstly, the Tenth; then, in order, the First,
Seventh and Fourth Houses. The Succedent
Houses come next, with the Cadent Houses
weakest.
Other
Accidental Dignities, according to older
authorities, are: favorable aspects to
Fortune; freedom from combustion; favorable
aspects from benefics; swift in motion and
increasing in light; and in a House which
corresponds to the Sign of its Essential
Dignity - as the Sun in the Fifth House,
corresponding to Leo; Moon in the Fourth
House, corresponding to Cancer; Mercury in the
Third or Sixth House, corresponding to Gemini
and Virgo; and so on.
Modern
authorities, however, usually confine the use
of the term to House placement or Elevation.
Accidental Dignities are not necessarily
benevolent. The increased strength may result
harmfully if expressed through unfavorable
aspects. The number of planets which are
accidentally dignified is a character - index
of importance. A planet so placed as to gain
strength by way of Essential or Accidental
dignity, does not necessarily confer a
benevolent disposition. For example, a
significator that is exalted, angular, and not
afflicted indicates a person of haughty
arrogant nature, assuming more than is his
due. Charles E. 0. Carter considers that a
planet in its own sign benefits
quantitatively, but not qualitatively; i.e.,
its strength is increased, but not necessarily
rendered benefic. Point values by which to
judge the relative strength of the Accidental
Dignities, as listed by Wilson, are:
Ascendant
or Midheaven..............................5
<NOT
DIV 5< Cazimi.............................................
5
Combust........................................>
Besieged
by Jupiter and
Venus...................... 6
Partile
conj. with Jupiter and
Venus............... 5
Conj.
Cor Leonis...................................
6
Conj.
Spica........................................
5
4th,
7th or 11th
House............................. 4
Direct
motion......................................
4
Partile
conj., North
Node.......................... 4
Partile
trine, Jupiter and
Venus................... 4
Partile
sextile, Jupiter and
Venus................. 3
2nd
or 5th
House...................................
2
9th
House..........................................
2
Swift
of
motion....................................
2
Increasing
in light................................
2
Saturn,
oriental...................................
2
Jupiter,
oriental..................................
2
Mars,
oriental.....................................
2
Moon,
occidental...................................
2
Mercury,
occidental................................
2
Venus,
occidental..................................
2
3rd
House..........................................
1
Hayze..............................................
1
In
the Term of Jupiter or
Venus.................... 1
Point
values of the Accidental Debilities are:
Besieged
by Mars and
Saturn......................... 6
Partile
conj., Mars and
Saturn...................... 5
Conj.
Caput Algol...................................
6
Combust.............................................
5
Retrograde..........................................
5
12th
House..........................................
5
Under
the
Sunbeams..................................
4
6th
or 8th
House....................................
4
Partile
conj., South
Node........................... 4
Partile
opposition, Mars or
Saturn.................. 4
Partile
square, Mars or
Saturn...................... 3
Decreasing
in
light.................................
2
Decreasing
in motion, or
slow....................... 2
Saturn
occidental...................................
2
Jupiter
occidental..................................
2
Moon
oriental.......................................
2
Mercury
oriental....................................
2
Venus
oriental......................................
2
In
term of Mars or
Saturn........................... 1
Certain
Dignities
specifically ascribed to Fortuna
are:
Conj.,
Cor Leonis...................................
6
Asc.
or Midheaven...................................
5
Partile
conj., Jupiter or
Venus..................... 5
Conj.,
Spica........................................
5
Not
Combust.........................................
5
In
Taurus or
Pisces.................................
5
Besieged
by Jupiter and
Venus....................... 6
In
Cancer, Leo, Libra, or
Sagittarius............... 4
4th,
7th, or 11th
House............................. 4
Partile
trine, Venus or
Jupiter..................... 4
Partile
conj., North
Node........................... 4
In
Gemini...........................................
3
2nd
or 5th
House....................................
3
Partile
sextile, Jupiter or
Venus................... 3
In
Virgo............................................
2
9th
House...........................................
2
3rd
House...........................................
1
In
Term of Venus or
Jupiter......................... 1
The
Debilities ascribed
to Fortuna are:
Conj.,
Caput Algol..................................
6
Besieged
by Mars and
Saturn......................... 6
12th
House..........................................
5
In
Scorpio, Capricorn, or
Aquarius.................. 5
Combust.............................................
5
Partile
conj., Mars or
Saturn....................... 5
6th
or 8th
House....................................
4
Opposition,
Mars or
Jupiter......................... 4
Partile
conj., South
Node........................... 4
In
Aries............................................
3
Partile
square, Mars or
Saturn...................... 3
Term
of Mars or
Saturn..............................
1
The
totals of the Dignities in
comparison to the totals of the
Debilities affords a determination
of the potential strength of the
planet.
According
to the strength each assumes in a
nativity, will its power to
activate become manifest:
Sun......builds
Moon.....nourishes
Mercury..communicates
Venus....allures
Mars.....energizes
Jupiter..expands
Saturn...endures
Uranus...perceives
Neptune..dissolves
Pluto....consolidates
A fixed star is in conjunction with a planet
when not more distant than 5° of longitude
and 2° of latitude.
Of Dignities Calvin in "Scientific
Astrology" says:- "A planet in its
own Sign, unless retrograde or seriously
afflicted by the malefics, is as one who is
master of his own house and goods. In its
Exaltation it is strong, but less so than were
he his own master. In its Detriment it is
weak, as one in his neighbor's house and not
master thereof. In its Fall it is as one who
is poverty-stricken and without power."
Of Mutual Reception he says: "When two
planets are in each other's Signs, even though
in evil aspect to one another, the effect is
beneficial, as of people exchanging courteous
social amenities."
As to Accidental Dignities, he says: "A
planet is strong if it is in an angle of the
Figure, swift in motion, direct, and
overwhelmingly in good aspect with other
planets."
As to retrograde motion he says: "It
tends to bring out the introspective rather
than the objective qualities of the native,
and is generally synonymous with belated or
denied benefits."
Another generalization based upon the
Accidental Dignities of the Geocentric Figure
stipulates that "When the Moon is higher
than the Sun, the personality and
sensibilities usually rule. With their
positions reversed the character will dominate
the career. If both are below the horizon, the
life will be correspondingly
unfortunate."
James Wilson expressed doubt concerning the
efficacy of some of the dignities, and cited
the Ptolemy dictum that "Planets are
strong in the world when they are
oriental, swift in motion, direct, and
increasing in light; and strong in the
Nativity when angular or succedant,
particularly in the south or cast
angles."
The following Table shows the Essential
Dignities and Debilities:
PLANETS......RULER..............DETRIMENT...........EXALTATION....FALL
Sun..........Leo................Aquarius............Aries.........Libra
Moon.........Cancer.............Capricorn...........Taurus........Scorpio
Mercury......Gemini-Virgo.......Sagittarius-Pisces..Aquarius#.....Leo#
Venus........Taurus-Libra.......Scorpio-Aries.......Pisces........Virgo
Mars.........Aries-Scorpio......Libra-Taurus........Capricorn#....Cancer#
Jupiter......Pisces-Sagittarius.Virgo-Gemini........Cancer#.......Capricorn#
Saturn.......Capricorn-Aquarius.Cancer-Leo..........Libra.........Aries
Uranus.......Aquarius*..........Leo*................Scorpio.......Taurus
Neptune......Pisces*............Virgo*..............Cancer........Capricorn
Pluto........Scorpio*...........Taurus*.............Aries.........Libra
* Modern and arbitrary assignments.
# Some authorities give Virgo as
the Exaltation of Mercury - as well as the
Sign of its rulership; hence also Pisces as
the Sign of its Fall. Others give Virgo as
the Exaltation of Mars, and Capricorn as the
Exaltation of Jupiter.
A planet that is unfavorably aspected is
sometimes loosely characterize as
debilitated; also any Sign dessimilar in its
nature to the Sign it rules - as Saturn in
Pisces. Properly speaking, a planet is said
to be in its Dignity solely by virtue of
position, in distinction to any strength
conferred by a supporting aspect.
The same table arranged in the order of the
Signs follows:
SIGNS........RULER.................DETRIMENT..........EXALTATION.........FALL
Aries........d.
Mars...............Venus..............Sun................Saturn
Taurus.......n. Venus..............Mars
-Pluto*.......Moon...............Uranus
Gemini.......d.
Mercury............Jupiter............North
Node.........South Node
Cancer.......Moon..................Saturn.............Jupiter
-Neptune*..Mars
Leo..........Sun...................Saturn
-Uranus*....-..................Mercury
Virgo........n. Mercury............Jupiter
-Neptune*..Mercury............Venus
Libra........d.
Venus..............Mars...............Saturn.............Sun
Scorpio......n. Mars
-Pluto*.......Venus..............Uranus*............Moon
Sagittarius..d.
Jupiter............Mercury............South
Node.........North Node
Capricorn....n.
Saturn.............Moon...............Mars...............Jupiter
-Neptune*
Aquarius.....d. Saturn
-Uranus*....Sun................Mercury............-
Pisces.......n. Jupiter
-Neptune*..Mercury............Venus..............Mercury
Some authorities limit the Exaltation and
Fall to specific degrees:
PLANET..........SUN............MOON.........MERCURY.........VENUS...........MARS
Exaltation:.....Aries
19º......Taurus 3º....Virgo 15º.......Pisces
27º......Capricorn 28º
Fall:...........Libra
19º......Scorpio 3º...Pisces 15º......Virgo
27º.......Cancer 28º
PLANET..........JUPITER........SATURN.......NORTH
NODE......SOUTH NODE
Exaltation:.....Cancer
15º.....Libra 21º....Gemini 3º.......Sagittarius
3º
Fall:...........Capricorn
15º..Aries 21º....Sagittarius 3º..Gemini
3º
Wemyss attributes the rulership of Pisces
to the asteroids; probably fragments of
what once was or was intended to be a
planet between the Earth and Mars. Thereby
he explains the lack of a consciousness of
Destiny which is an outstanding feature of
the Pisces nature.
Most authorities attribute to an Essential
Dignity the force of a harmonious aspect,
and to a Debility that of an inharmonious
aspect.
Some authorities speak of congeniality of
planet in element as a species of Dignity;
Moon and Neptune in the Water Signs; Sun
and Mars in the Fire Signs; Mercury and
Venus in the Air Signs; and Jupiter and
Saturn in the Earth Signs.
The basis on which these Exaltations were
assigned is lost in antiquity. Certain
correspondences are worthy of notice, as
bearing on their selection. The Sun as
giver of life, finds an important function
in Aries, which rules the head@he scat of
the mind. The changeable nature of the
Moon is stabilized by the fixity of Taurus
- the provider of the home. Venus finds
its most ready servitor in the
philanthropic Pisces. Mars is stabilized
and harnessed in Saturn-ruled Capricorn.
Saturn finds a noble outlet in Libra - the
purveyor of justice. Jupiter in Cancer,
representing the home, is there sublimated
into devotion. This supposed dignity seems
to have had its origin with the Arabians.
Almansor, in his aphorisms, says
"Saturn and the Sun have their
exaltations opposite, because one loves
darkness and the other light; Jupiter and
Mars are opposite, because one is a lover
of justice and the other of misrule; and
Mercury and Venus have opposite places,
because one loves learning and science,
and the other sensual pleasures - which
are mutual enemies to each other."
It can be noted that harmonious aspects
join the signs of Rulership and
Exaltation, as follows:
Planet....Ruler......................Exaltation
Sun.......Leo...........trines.......Aries
Moon......Cancer........sextiles.....Taurus
Mercury...Gemini........trines.......Aquarius
Venus.....Taurus........sextiles.....Pisces
Mars......Scorpio.......sextiles.....Capricorn
(or Virgo)
Jupiter...Pisces........trines.......Cancer
(or sextiles Capricorn)
Saturn....Aquarius......trines.......Libra
As explained by Ptolemy in the
Tetrabiblos, the Moon and the Sun were
assigned to the Rulership of Cancer and
Leo because "these are the most
Northerly of all the Signs, and approach
nearer than any others to the Zenith of
this part of the Earth: the Moon to
Cancer because both are feminine, and
the Sun to Leo, because both are
masculine." This resulted in the
division of the zodiac into a Solar
semi-circle from Leo forward to
Capricorn, and a Lunar Semi-circle from
Cancer backward to Aquarius. In order
that each planet might rule a Sign in
each semi-circle, whereby it could be
configurated with both Sun and Moon,
Mercury, which is never more than one
Sign distant from the Sun, was assigned
to the rulership of Gemini and Virgo;
Venus, which is never more than two
Signs distant, to Taurus and Libra;
Mars, because it is dry in nature, was
assigned to two Signs of a similar
nature, Aries and Scorpio, whose square
relation to the respective Signs of the
luminaries was appropriately discordant;
Jupiter, whose fruitful nature deserved
a harmonious relationship in which to
operate for good, was assigned to the
two trine Signs Pisces and Sagittarius;
leaving Saturn, a cold planet in an
orbit remote from the harmonious, to be
assigned to Cancer and Aquarius, and for
the added reason that their
"configuration by opposition does
not cooperate towards the production of
good." As the basis on which the
Exaltations were assigned is equally
arbitrary it is no wonder that Wilson
scoffs at and refuses to accept the
entire doctrine of Essential Dignities.
To render matters worse confounded some
of the moderns have endeavored to upset
the scheme by assigning to Uranus the
rulership of Aquarius, and to Neptune
the rulership of Pisces, and are now in
a battle royal as to whether Pluto shall
be assigned to Aries or Scorpio. Looked
at from a scientist's viewpoint the
entire Doctrine of Dignities appears to
be a fortune-teller's device whereby to
find at least some answer to a
question concerning a House which
contains no planets, and is thus unable
to give positive testimony regarding a
question asked. Wilson seemed to think
that Placidus side-stepped the doctrine
as one with which he could not agree,
but regarding which he dared not
disagree. Marc Edmund Jones says that
few modern practitioners pay much
attention to the Essential Dignities and
Debilities. v. Ptolemaic Astrology.
To distinguish between these dual
rulerships, the positive signs were
called Day Houses, and the negative
signs, the Night Houses -- although
since they are signs not houses, the
terms Day Home and Night Home would be
preferable.
..Day
Home.......Planet.....Night Home
..Gemini.........Mercury....Virgo
..Libra..........Venus......Taurus
..Aries..........Mars.......Scorpio
..Sagittarius....Jupiter....Pisces
..Aquarius.......Saturn.....Capricorn
A person born by night, with the Sun
below the horizon, looks to the Night
Homes of the planets to be the
stronger; if born with the Sun above
the horizon, the Day Homes.
The moderns have thrown this into
confusion in an effort to ascribe
rulerships to the newly-discovered
planets - Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Many authorities prefer however to
consider these as second-octave
planets: Uranus of Mercury, Neptune of
Venus, and Pluto of Mars.
Other systems of rulership have been
variously proposed. v. Rulership.
For further observations on the
relative strength of the Dignities: v.
Synthesis.
Triplicity, Rulers of.
Another variety of Dignity, used in
Mundane and Horary practice, is that
of a planet posited in its own
Triplicity. The rulerships of the
Triplicities are, however, not always
the rulers of the three signs which
make up the Triplicity. For example,
of the Fire
Trigon, Mars as an enemy of the Sun is
dethroned, and the Sun is made the
ruler by day, and Jupiter by night.
This was the Northern Triplicity,
since because Jupiter brought to the
Egyptians fruitful showers from out of
the North he was said to rule the
North; also the Northwest, because the
outlawed Mars now and then brought in
the West wind; and Southwest, because
Mars is feminine, and the South is
feminine. Of the Earth
Trigon Venus was its ruler by day and
the Moon by night. This was the
Southern Trigon, because "under
the petticoat government of Venus and
the Moon," as Wilson puts it,
"they contrived to exclude Saturn
- for what reason we are not
informed." It rules the South
because Venus brings South winds, and
Southeast because Saturn brings East
winds. Of the Air
Trigon Saturn rules by day and Mercury
by night. It was the Eastern Trigon
because Saturn brings East winds and
persuaded Mercury to cooperate; and
Northeast because Jupiter claimed a
share since both are diurnal planets,
hence related. The Water
Trigon was ruled by Mars with the co-rulership
of Venus by day and the Moon by night.
It was the Western Trigon because Mars
liked the West winds for the reason
that they scorched the Egyptians; and
the Southwest because of the share of
Venus in the trigon. Concerning all
this Wilson adds: "Its absurdity
requires no comment; and since the
doctrine that countries and cities are
governed by certain signs and planets
is solely founded on this folly, it is
undeserving of the smallest
attention."
In Horary practice a planet in its
Triplicity denotes a respectable
person who has a sufficiency of
everything, hence is quite
comfortable.