While the essential dignities are not really critical for discussing or calculating Arabic Parts or Lots, they developed around the same time period and give a sense of the strengths of the planets involved. In particular, there are a very few of the formulae for lots for which you have a choice of planets depending on which one is stronger. It is these dignities and debilities which determine that strength. Roughly, the strength of the planet in question is stronger if it is listed towards the top of the Ptolemaic chart. In order of strength, Rule is strongest, followed by the next strongest: Exaltation, etcetera. The last two rows of the same chart are considered debilities, ie. "bad" or "weak". Naturally, actually using these is somewhat more subtle than I have described here, and I encourage all interested readers to refer to other texts on this subject. I can especially recommend anything by Robert Zoller or Anthony Louis (who gives a brief but effective review of the topic). Lehman's book called "Essential Dignities" is masterful, but a challenge to the reader unless they have extensive astrological experience. The Hindu/Chaldean chart at the bottom of the page refers to a historical view of dignities and is not now used in standard practice for the calculation of strength of the planets. It is provided for reference and comparison purposes only.

Ptolemy's Essential Dignities and Debilities as Used by Lilly

Sign

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Ruler

Mars D

Venus N

Mercury D

Moon D/N

Sun D/N

Mercury N

Venus D

Mars N

Jupiter D

Saturn N

Saturn D

Jupiter N

Exaltation Exalted Degree

Sun 19

Moon 3

N. Node 3

Jupiter 15

Mercury 15

Saturn 21

S. Node 3

Mars 28

Venus 27

Triplicity Day Night

Sun Jupiter

Venus Moon

Saturn Mercury

Mars Mars

Sun Jupiter

Venus Moon

Saturn Mercury

Mars Mars

Sun Jupiter

Venus Moon

Saturn Mercury

Mars Mars

Terms

0° Jupiter 6° Venus 14° Mercury 21° Mars 26° Saturn 30°

0° Venus 6° Mercury 14° Jupiter 21° Saturn 26° Mars 30°

0° Mercury 6° Jupiter 14° Venus 21° Saturn 26° Mars 30°

0° Mars 6° Jupiter 14° Mercury 21° Venus 26° Saturn > 30°

0° Saturn 6° Mercury 14° Venus 21° Jupiter 26° Mars 30°

0° Mercury 6° Venus 14° Jupiter 21° Saturn 26° Mars 30°

0° Saturn 6° Venus 14° Jupiter 21° Mercury 26° Mars 30°

0° Mars 6° Jupiter 14° Venus 21° Mercury 26° Saturn 30°

0° Jupiter 6° Venus 14° Mercury 21° Saturn 26° Mars 30°

0° Venus 6° Mercury 14° Jupiter 21° Mars 26° Saturn 30°

0° Saturn 6° Mercury 14° Venus 21° Jupiter 26° Mars 30°

0° Venus 6° Jupiter 14° Mercury 21° Mars 26° Saturn 30°

Faces 0-10° 11-20° 21-30°

Mars Sun Venus

Mercury Moon Saturn

Jupiter Mars Sun

Venus Mercury Moon

Saturn Jupiter Mars

Sun Venus Mercury

Moon Saturn Jupiter

Mars Sun Venus

Mercury Moon Saturn

Jupiter Mars Sun

Venus Mercury Moon

Saturn Jupiter Mars

Detriment

Venus

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Saturn

Jupiter

Mars

Venus

Mercury

Moon

Sun

Mercury

Fall

Saturn

S. Node

Mars

Venus

Sun

Moon

N. Node

Jupiter

Mercury

Ptolemy's Azmene Degrees

These are said to indicate lifelong infirmity if conjunct the Ascendent, ruler of the Ascendent, Sun, or Moon.

Sign

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Degree

None

6-10

None

9-13

18, 27, 28

None

None

19, 28

1, 7, 8, 18, 19

26-29

18, 19

None

Hindu Decans & Chaldean Face Rulers

Sign

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Hindu 0-10° 11-20° 21-30°

Aries Leo Sagittarius

Taurus Virgo Capricorn

Gemini Libra Aquarius

Cancer Scorpio Pisces

Leo Sagittarius Aries

Virgo Capricorn Taurus

Libra Aquarius Gemini

Scorpio Cancer Pisces

Sagittarius Aries Leo

Capricorn Taurus Virgo

Aquarius Gemini Libra

Pisces Cancer Scorpio

Chaldean 0-10° 11-20° 21-30°

Mars Sun Venus

Mercury Moon Saturn

Jupiter Mars Sun

Venus Mercury Moon

Saturn Jupiter Mars

Sun Venus Mercury

Moon Saturn Jupiter

Mars Sun Venus

Mercury Moon Saturn

Jupiter Mars Sun

Venus Mercury Moon

Saturn Jupiter Mars

A few links with more information about dignities:

• Hand, Robert. Dignities and Debilities as Collected from a Variety of Sources. http://www.robhand.com/alldign.htm.

• Lehman, Lee.

• Almutens by Day: http://www.leelehman.com/pages/images/AlmutDay.PDF

• Almutens by Night: http://www.leelehman.com/pages/images/AlmutNgt.PDF

• Essential Dignities: http://www.leelehman.com/pages/EssDig.html

• Glossary: http://www.leelehman.com/pages/glossary.html

• Triplicities: http://www.leelehman.com/pages/Triplicity.html

• ... and lots more ... http://www.leelehman.com/

• Lilly, William. "Of the Essentiall Dignities of the Planets." Christian Astrology, CHAPTER XVIII, p. 101+. (1st ed. 1647, reprinted 1985 Regulus). As made available online by Christopher Warnock, Esq. at Renaissance Astrology, URL: http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/essentialdignities.html.

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