Essential Dignities & Debilities by Zodiac Sign

Comprehensive vocabulary and technical placements for essential dignities and debilities within the traditional Hellenistic/Dorothean astrology system.

Rulership (Domicile)

Planet in its home sign -- strongest possible placement

Exaltation

Planet honored and elevated -- nearly as strong as rulership

Triplicity

Planet ruling the element by day or night -- moderate dignity

Detriment

Planet in the sign opposite its domicile -- weakened expression

Fall

Planet in the sign opposite its exaltation -- most debilitated

Aries Rulership

Mars

Aries Exaltation

Sun (at 19 degrees)

Aries Detriment

Venus

Aries Fall

Saturn

Taurus Rulership

Venus

Taurus Exaltation

Moon (at 3 degrees)

Taurus Detriment

Mars

Taurus Fall

None (no traditional fall planet in Taurus)

Gemini Rulership

Mercury

Gemini Detriment

Jupiter

Cancer Rulership

Moon

Cancer Exaltation

Jupiter (at 15 degrees)

Cancer Detriment

Saturn

Cancer Fall

Mars

Leo Rulership

Sun

Leo Detriment

Saturn

Virgo Rulership and Exaltation

Mercury (exalted at 15 degrees) -- Mercury both rules AND is exalted here

Virgo Detriment

Jupiter

Virgo Fall

Venus

Libra Rulership

Venus

Libra Exaltation

Saturn (at 21 degrees)

Libra Detriment

Mars

Libra Fall

Sun

Scorpio (Traditional) Rulership

Mars

Scorpio Detriment

Venus

Scorpio Fall

Moon

Sagittarius Rulership

Jupiter

Sagittarius Detriment

Mercury

Capricorn Rulership

Saturn

Capricorn Exaltation

Mars (at 28 degrees)

Capricorn Detriment

Moon

Capricorn Fall

Jupiter

Aquarius (Traditional) Rulership

Saturn

Aquarius Detriment

Sun

Pisces (Traditional) Rulership

Jupiter

Pisces Exaltation

Venus (at 27 degrees)

Pisces Detriment and Fall

Mercury (Mercury is BOTH in detriment and fall in Pisces)

Dorothean Triplicity System (Fire Sign Rulers)

Sun (day ruler), Jupiter (night ruler), Saturn (participating)

Dorothean Triplicity System (Earth Sign Rulers)

Venus (day ruler), Moon (night ruler), Mars (participating)

Dorothean Triplicity System (Air Sign Rulers)

Saturn (day ruler), Mercury (night ruler), Jupiter (participating)

Dorothean Triplicity System (Water Sign Rulers)

Venus (day ruler), Mars (night ruler), Moon (participating)