In traditional astrology, each planet or luminary has certain signs of the zodiac, or sections of signs, where they enjoy some extra strength or authority. These include the planetary domiciles and planetary exaltations. We call these “essential dignities,” because placement in those signs or sections of signs reinforce the essential nature of the planet or luminary in some way. Many know the signs where the planets or luminaries have their primary dignity, being in their own sign of rulership (domicile). Each planet rules two signs, and each luminary one sign, where they are at home, in charge, and well-resourced.

The traditional signs of rulership are as follows:

• Sun: Leo
• Moon: Cancer
• Mercury: Gemini & Virgo
• Venus: Taurus & Libra
• Mars: Aries & Scorpio
• Jupiter: Sagittarius & Pisces
• Saturn: Capricorn & Aquarius

The logic for this rulership scheme is based on symmetry. The luminaries rule the two signs at the height of the summer in the northern hemisphere, Cancer and Leo. From there, the rulerships continue outward in order of distance from the Sun. Innermost planet, Mercury, rules the sign before Cancer and after Leo, those of the luminaries. Venus rules the sign before Gemini and after Virgo, those of Mercury. Then Mars, and so on, until we reach Saturn, who rules the two signs opposing those ruled by the luminaries, Capricorn and Aquarius. This wintery rulership is apt, considering Saturn’s associations with darkness and cold.

But we aren’t here to discuss the planetary domiciles.

Instead, let us consider the next rung down from planetary domiciles—planetary exaltations.

Planetary Exaltations

Each planet and luminary has just one sign where it enjoys exaltation. But what do planetary exaltations mean? While a planet’s domicile is a place where it is at home, in charge, and well-resourced, the sign of exaltation is where it enjoys honors and praise. It may not be at home, but it gets the ultimate VIP treatment. It enjoys royal treatment without the obligations associated with domicile rulership. This is why some ancient astrologers considered planetary exaltations a stronger benefit for a planet or luminary than its domicile. There is also a specific degree of each exaltation sign, considered to be the height of the exaltation. But most astrologers focus on the whole sign when looking at planetary exaltations.

The signs of exaltation are as follows:

• Sun: Aries
• Moon: Taurus
• Mercury: Virgo
• Venus: Pisces
• Mars: Capricorn
• Jupiter: Cancer
• Saturn: Libra

How were the signs of exaltation determined? For that question, there is no firm answer. A number of theories exist, such as an alternate rulership system from a different culture, or relation to planetary declination (see Lee Lehman’s Essential Dignities). But there are a few interesting patterns revealed in the exaltations system that give clues into the original logic.

Light Versus Dark

In the domicile rulership scheme, Saturn rules the signs opposite both luminaries, one of which, of course, being the Sun. This polarity is reinforced in the exaltation system, with Saturn exalted in Libra, opposite the Sun’s exaltation in Aries. Curiously, these are the only exaltations in diurnal/active polarity signs. Perhaps this is to highlight the supreme “light versus dark” dichotomy that moves all things, presented by the Sun and Saturn.

Seasonal Focus

These exaltations make sense. The Sun enjoys exaltation in the sign where it begins to dominate. Aries marks the vernal equinox, when the amount of daylight begins to exceed the nighttime. Likewise, Saturn’s exaltation, Libra, marks the autumnal equinox, when the darkness begins to overcome the daylight.

(It seems appropriate, too, that both the Sun’s domicile and exaltation are in fire signs. It’s the only place for a great ball of fire to feel comfortable!)

All of the cardinal signs (those which start the seasons) exalt a planet or luminary. This seems also to relate to the seasonal logic at play. While the Sun and Saturn enjoy exaltation in the equinoctial signs, Mars and Jupiter find honors in the solstitial signs. Jupiter, greater benefic, is exalted in Cancer at the summer solstice, the height of the land’s fertility and abundance. Mars, lesser malefic, is exalted in Capricorn at the winter solstice. This reinforces the malefic quality of the darkest time of the year, as the sign is ruled by greater malefic, Saturn. Notice, too, that the malefic exaltations are the beginning of the dark half of the year (Libra), and the darkest point of the year (Capricorn).

Balancing Maleficence

Saturn, greater malefic, is a diurnal planet. Mars, lesser malefic, is a nocturnal planet. This may seem counter-intuitive, since Saturn is cold and dark while Mars is hot and fiery. Shouldn’t Saturn belong to the night sect and Mars to the day? Well, yes…and no. It is true that the night matches Saturn’s nature more, while the day better matches Mars’s. However, being malefic, these planets behave themselves better when their natures are tempered a bit. So, Saturn’s extreme cold is balanced by the warmth of daytime, while Mars’s hot temper is cooled a bit by the night.

We see this tempering in the exaltations. While Libra is the sign where darkness begins to take over, it is still considered a diurnal sign, as the air element is of the positive/active/diurnal polarity. Saturn’s iciness warms a bit here, opening the door for more productive Saturn expression. It is the same with Mars. Capricorn is nocturnal, as the earth element is negative/receptive/nocturnal. This cools down Mars’s temper, allowing for more beneficial Mars expression.

Head Versus Heart

Another polarity revealed by the exaltations is an opposition of the exaltations of Mercury and Venus. Most do not regard these planets as particularly opposed or at odds. Astrologer Adam Elenbaas presented some ideas on this planetary dichotomy at a recent ISAR conference, citing ancient astrologers. Most know that Venus rules over such pleasant things as desire, harmony, love, and connection—it’s all heart. It finds honors in Pisces, where the feelings flow. Mercury, on the other hand, rules over discourse, intellectual pursuits, debate, haggling—it’s all brain. It enjoys praise in Virgo, where details reign supreme. Virgo is also one of Mercury’s domiciles—even in exaltations, Mercury insists on being different. Both Mercury and Venus enjoy exaltation in mutable signs, emphasizing the changeability of both the head and the heart.

What’s with the Moon?

Interestingly, the Moon is the only body to enjoy exaltation in a fixed sign, Taurus. This seems odd, since the Moon is all about cycles and constant change. And some consider Taurus to be the most fixed of the fixed signs, since the earth element always comes with a bit of rigidity. (We earth-dominant types prefer the word “structure,” thank you very much.) So, how can the Moon be so exalted here? Perhaps this speaks to the other side of the Moon not represented by its domicile, Cancer. The Moon rules not only the watery matters of emotion and cycles. In traditional astrology, the Moon also relates very much to the physical—our body, our health, and our wealth. These matters often find association with Taurus.