Astrology For Dummies. Rae Orion
rules Scorpio.
Today, the consensus surrounding rulers has begun to unravel, with many astrologers giving more weight to traditional rulers than was the fashion only a few decades ago. Some astrologers have reverted entirely to the pre-industrial rulers, eliminating Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Other astrologers have decided to keep the old rulers plus the new planets. The signs most affected by that approach are Scorpio, Aquarius, and Pisces, each of which can now boast two rulers, one traditional and one modern:
Scorpio is ruled by Mars, its traditional ruler, and Pluto.
Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, its traditional ruler, and Uranus.
Pisces is ruled by Jupiter, its traditional ruler, and Neptune.
As for Chiron, some astrologers believe that it rules Virgo, Pisces, or both. Others associate it with Sagittarius. Many don’t bother with it at all, and it has not been officially assigned to a sign. The same is true for other asteroids, dwarf planets, and astronomical points. Astrologers might pop them into a chart, but they have not given them dominion over particular signs.
Determining Planetary Dignities
Astrological tradition holds that, in addition to the sign it rules, each planet earns high grades in another sign — the sign of its exaltation. The planet operates less well in two other signs: the sign of its detriment, which is opposite the sign it rules, and the sign of its fall, which opposes the sign of its exaltation. Table 1-4 gives you the details.
How does this affect your chart? A planet exalted or in its home sign (or domicile) expresses itself with ease and is accorded “dignity.” A planet in its detriment or fall — positions sometimes referred to as debilities — may feel impeded or weak. Take Mars. In Aries, Mars has no trouble being assertive. Aries supports that. In diplomatic Libra, the opposite sign, the warrior spirit of Mars feels tamped down, stifled. Each planet is happiest in the signs where it can best express its essential nature.
A planet can gain dignity in at least five ways. I’m only going to consider two: essential dignity, which depends upon the sign the planet occupies, and accidental dignity, which depends upon the house placement.
Essential dignities
This isn’t the first thing to consider when doing a chart. But it does provide an additional bit of information, another point to consider. I pay particular attention when a planet occupies its home sign or sign of exaltation. No matter what else is happening with that planet, it is stronger than it might appear. The dignities are listed in Table 1-4.
TABLE 1-4 Table of Essential Planetary Dignities
| Planet | Rulership | Detriment | Exaltation | Fall |
| Sun | Leo | Aquarius | Aries | Libra |
| Moon | Cancer | Capricorn | Taurus | Scorpio |
| Mercury | Gemini | Sagittarius | Aquarius | Leo |
| Virgo | Pisces | |||
| Venus | Taurus | Scorpio | Pisces | Virgo |
| Libra | Aries | |||
| Mars | Aries | Libra | Capricorn | Cancer |
| Scorpio | Taurus | |||
| Jupiter | Sagittarius | Gemini | Cancer | Capricorn |
| Pisces | Virgo | |||
| Saturn | Capricorn | Cancer | Libra | Aries |
| Aquarius | Leo | |||
| Uranus* | Aquarius | Leo | ||
| Neptune* | Pisces | Virgo | ||
| Pluto* | Scorpio | Taurus |
* Although astrologers have confidently named Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto as rulers or co-rulers of Aquarius, Pisces, and Scorpio, those planets have not been given signs of exaltation or fall. These things take time.
Accidental dignities
Another way to dignify a planet is by house placement. Imagine that the first house is equivalent to Aries, the first sign. If Mars, the ruler of Aries, happens to be in the first house, it is accidentally dignified, regardless of the sign it occupies. Similarly, Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn, the tenth sign, so it is accidentally dignified in the tenth house, no matter what sign it’s in. Table 1-5 shows you where each planet is accidentally dignified.