Essential dignity

In astrology, essential dignity is the strength of a planet or point's zodiac position, weighed by only that position by sign and degree, or its "essence". In other words, "essential dignity" seeks to view the strengths of a planet or point as though it were isolated from other factors in the sky of the natal chart.

By comparison, accidental dignity is the strength of the planet or point in relation to all the other factors in any given natal chart: for example, its proximity to other planets, angles of the chart and fixed stars, and the aspects (or symmetrical angular connections) it receives from other planets or points in the chart.

For example, the "essential dignity" of Mars, if located at 27 degrees of Capricorn would take into account the fact that Mars is exalted in Capricorn, and also that it is the bounds ruler of the 27th degree of Capricorn and also the face ruler of the 27th degree of Capricorn. This is a considerably dignified Mars.

If that Mars were located in a natal chart in which the Ascendant were in Leo and Saturn were in Libra, Mars' "accidental dignity" would be excellent, since it would be located in the sixth house from the Ascendant, its house of joy, and would be receiving a dexter square aspect from malefic Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, in his sign of exaltation. The overall strength and capacity of this Mars is hindered by a square to his sign's ruler, Saturn.

Traditionally the five essential dignities are:

*domicile, rulership or house
*exaltation
*triplicity
*Decan
*terms or bounds

For Medieval astrologers, such as Bonatti or Lilly, the dignities had a hierarchy. The most important dignity was domicile rulership; slightly less important was exaltation. Triplicity rulerships were still fairly important in medieval astrology, but nowhere near as vital as they were for Hellenistic astrologers such as Ptolemy. "Terms" or "bounds" rulerships became very much diminished in importance, and "face" rulers were almost entirely ignored. (Lilly said that the only function face rulers served was to keep a planet from being entirely peregrine--that is, without any essential dignity whatever--which was considered a malefic condition.)

However, Hellenistic astrologers had a very different view of the dignities. To earlier astrologers, such as Ptolemy, domicile rulership, exaltation, triplicity rulership and bounds rulership were all of equal weight in power and influence.

Many modern astrologers take little heed of essential dignities, with the exception of domicile rulerships (see article on ruling planets.) This is most likely the result of the simplification of astrological technique that occurred when astrology lost popularity beginning in the eighteenth century (see History of astrology.) The decline may also be due to a tendency by modern astrologers to downplay aspects of astrological technique which emphasize malevolent or benevolent tendencies.

Table of dignities

(d) - direct
(r) - retrograde