In astrology, there are four essential dignities, or categories, into which the planets are divided to show whether they operate in their strongest or weakest energies: ruling, exalted, detrimental, and fallen.
Depending on the sign each planet is in, it will mean greater ease and success or numerous challenges and efforts to utilize the energies present.
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Essential Dignities in Astrology
These locations are determined by the time, place, and date of your birth within your natal or birth chart.
While the planets always change signs, a planet’s location within your birth chart does not change because it is based on the exact locations at the specific time of your birth.
Home
When a planet is in its ruling sign, it’s like being at home.
It feels comfortable there and it means that the planet and the sign have the same qualities and characteristics, which makes it an energy with super powers.
Exalted
When exalted, it signifies the best possible placement because a few different qualities are present, such as grounding or a connection to intuition.
In this case, your energies are magnified allowing you to make the most of the location and see remarkable success.
However, in others, the planets may not seem to be extraordinarily strong and, in fact, can be the cause of many difficulties both personally and professionally.
Detriment
When a planet is in its detriment, it means that it is in its opposite sign to the one that rules it.
This means that you are as far away from home as possible and feel very challenged here.
He doesn’t like differences and doesn’t know how to work with them, so his energy atrophies.
Drop
A falling planet means that the planet is operating at its lowest possible energy.
When a planet is in its downfall, you may not feel like a significant energy in the natal chart and even in your own life, almost feeling like you’re missing out on something that everyone else has.
Even challenging zodiac locations can be worked with to create a more beneficial outcome, but that’s why knowing about it can help you do the work to achieve it.
Best and worst locations for each planet in astrology
1. Venus
The best signs of Venus: Taurus, Libra and Pisces
Taurus and Libra are the origin signs of the planet of love, which means that Venus will work in the best way because it is comfortable with the energies of these two signs. In Pisces, you’re exalted, which means it’s the best possible placement for Venus because you can love exactly the way you’re supposed to.
These placements increase the ease of relationships, financial matters, and the general enjoyment of life.
Difficult signs of Venus: Scorpio, Aries and Virgo
Scorpio and Aries are opposite signs to those that rule Venus, which almost automatically makes them the worst possible placement for Venus. This is because the nature of these signs works against the qualities of this planet instead of working with it, especially Virgo, in which Venus is falling.
Having any of these Venus signs can make love and relationships extremely difficult, as well as matters related to career and finances.
2. Sun
Best sun signs: Leo and Aries
The Sun rules Leo and gives him his mantra of ‘follow your heart’ which both the Sun and Leo love to do. The Sun is strong here in Leo and because Aries is a fellow fire sign with similar qualities, he too can find the same strength here.
Both signs prefer action and are extremely motivated and because the Sun rules external action, it makes for the perfect placement.
Difficult sun signs: Aquarius and Libra
Aquarius and Libra are air signs, which means that they will have to think things through before they act. They are also the opposite signs of Leo and Aries, making them enemies of the Sun in many ways.
In this placement both represent the detriment and fall of the Sun; they will struggle with motivation and are likely to overthink rather than act.
3. Moon
Best Moon Signs: Cancer and Taurus
Cancer is the natural ruler of the Moon, which makes it a perfect place to do what it does best, which is feel.
Taurus and Cancer are so connected by qualities and even similarities in nature that it’s no wonder the Moon is exalted in this romantic earth sign. Taurus is one of the rulers of Venus, best known for his influence on love and the Moon has to do with your emotional being. Therefore, it is a natural meeting and strengthening of your greatest strengths.
Difficult Moon Signs: Capricorn and Scorpio
Once again, Capricorn and Scorpio represent the opposite signs of Cancer and Taurus. This means that they lack the ability to connect emotionally and vulnerable, two requirements of the Moon.
The Moon is in detriment in Capricorn and falls into Scorpio. This is because Capricorn is too logical and Scorpio tends to be too dark and obsessive, neither of which is what the moon is all about.
These difficult Moon signs can make romantic relationships incredibly challenging.
4. Mercury
The best signs of Mercury: Gemini and Virgo
Mercury is the ruler of the mind and rules over both Gemini and Virgo. This means that within this location, most of Mercury’s energy is available and works best.
Quick-thinking skills, attention to detail, and the ability to take an idea and make it a reality are why both of these signs make great placements. This allows those with this placement to be masters of their own destiny and able to create anything that comes to mind.
Difficult signs of Mercury: Sagittarius and Pisces
Both Sagittarius and Pisces are known as the philosophers of the zodiac. They are able to think of multiple scenarios of various possibilities and, as opposite signs to Gemini and Virgo, this makes this placement more challenging.
Mercury in Sagittarius and Pisces have a hard time thinking logically and being able to plan a way forward because of that.
While Mercury is in detriment in both Sagittarius and Pisces, in Pisces it is also in fall, meaning that it is operating at its weakest point.
5. Mars
The best signs of Mars: Aries, Scorpio and Capricorn
Mars is the planet of action, ambition and passion. In Aries, his birth sign, he is able to do all of this with ease because Aries harbors the same qualities.
Scorpio is also known to be one of the ancient rulers of Mars and because this water sign operates differently than the others, it is a strong placement because it allows the deepest desires to manifest.
In Capricorn, Mars is exalted. Although an earth sign, Capricorn likes to be able to make a plan and then, through challenging work and dedication, make it a reality.
The placement of Mars in these signs allows for a deep sense of accomplishment.
Difficult signs of Mars: Libra, Taurus and Cancer
While Mars is a sign that prefers action, emotions are something else entirely. Mars does not process emotions or feel. It just does. When you’re in the opposite signs to the ones you work best in, you face numerous challenges because the signs want you to feel like Mars just wants to do.
To the detriment of Libra and Taurus, the two ruling signs of Venus, and in its fall into Cancer, Mars has an extremely challenging time navigating the feeling world of these signs. For those with these placements, it will be extremely difficult to get out of that space of knowing what feeling to act on, or even how to trust what it feels like.
6. Jupiter
The best signs of Jupiter: Sagittarius, Pisces and Cancer
Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces. Both signs can see the big picture and theorize about multiple possibilities and beliefs within life. Together, Jupiter and these two signs can make anything happen, seemingly creating magic in every moment.
Cancer also takes on this role as it is also about remembering what matters most and allowing this placement to create more abundance in their lives.
Difficult signs of Jupiter: Gemini, Virgo and Capricorn
Jupiter is the planet of luck and expansion. In order to embrace the best parts of these qualities, the truth will have to be suspended and questioned.
This is not something down-to-earth signs like Gemini, Virgo, and Capricorn can do. They only come in black and white. They only care about achieving their goals, not whether their path is destined to lead somewhere else.
Jupiter is in detriment in Gemini and Virgo while it is in fall in Capricorn. This leads to a struggle or even a lack of abundance because these signs cannot deviate from what they think should happen.
7. Saturn
The best signs of Saturn: Capricorn, Aquarius and Libra
Saturn is known as the lord of time and karma. This planet also rules boundaries and prefers to teach most lessons through experience.
Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius, two very different signs, which can be seen by the way they can work independently. Saturn is exalted in Libra because of that aspect of balance and fairness that this sign is known for.
In any of these locations, Saturn would be a help so that lessons can be learned and a sense of balance can be created.
Difficult signs of Saturn: Cancer, Leo and Aries
Saturn likes to play by the rules, which means for Leo and Aries, this placement becomes more challenging because they just want to get their act together. Leo and Aries will tend to ignore Saturn’s head and rush in anyway, making this a challenging and even dangerous location.
For Cancer, it’s more challenging because this is a sign that struggles with limits, so on Saturn, where limits are required, you often end up feeling powerless.
These challenging placements of Saturn take their toll on romantic relationships as well as in the workplace as they would not allow for the practice of patience or standing up for what is needed.
8. Uranus
The best signs of Uranus: Aquarius and Scorpio
Aquarius is the rebel of the zodiac, so it’s no surprise that Uranus is right at home here, feeling supported to create unexpected changes and opportunities. Because Aquarius is more likely to go with the flow and take things as they come without caring what others think, Uranus excels here.
In Scorpio it acquires a similar nature because this deep-sea sign is usually ready for anything and always looking to discover the truth, which is what a large part of Uranus’ actions are about, what…