Domicile

The planets' domiciles

A sign of the zodiac in which a planet is the ruler. The qualities of this sign most closely resemble those of the ruling planet (for example, Mars and Aries).

The sign situated opposite the domicile is the planet's detriment. If a planet is in its detriment the sign modifies the planets' qualities in ways that seem diametrically opposed to its innate nature (i.e. agressive Mars in peace-loving Libra).

A planet in the sign of its exaltation (e.g. Mars in Capricorn) is supposedly well-situated, in that the sign possesses similar qualities to the planet in question. A planet situated in the opposing sign is in a state of fall (i.e. Mars in Cancer). This status is similar to detriment in that the sign is seen as possessing qualities that are in many ways foreign to the planet in question, and that inhibit the planet's effective operation.

Table

Planet	DOMICILE/ Rulership	Detriment	Exaltation	Fall
Sun	Leo	Aquarius	Aries	Libra
Moon	Cancer	Capricorn	Taurus	Scorpio
Mercury	Gemini	Sagittarius
	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	Scorpio	Taurus
Neptune	Pisces	Virgo	Cancer	Capricorn
Pluto	Scorpio	Taurus	Leo	Aquarius

(Note: The signs in brackets are those that have been used before the discovery of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - according to the Thema Mundi. Nowadays these dignities still get used in Horary Astrology and in Electional Astrology, where the three Trans-Saturnians usually aren't considered)

Interpretation

This kind of categorisation can easily lead to the idea that a planet in a particular sign of the zodiac is somehow 'bad' or 'good'. Consequently it is largely obsolete in modern psychological astrology.
Classical and horary astrology, however, still make use of these categories to visualise which planets are "stronger" or "weaker" in judging the expected outcome of a question or an event.

Domiciles in "Tetrabiblos" by Ptolemy

See also

• Accidental Dignities
• Essential Dignities

Weblinks

• Wikipedia: Thema Mundi
• The Planetary Dignities (Several Articles on Skyscript)
• Wikipedia: Domicile_(astrology)