Definition:
Definition:
Essential dignity (the author spells it Dignitaries) is the strength or weakness a planet gets from its zodiacal position alone, regardless of house or aspect. It is distinct from accidental dignity, which comes from house placement, speed, direction and so on.
The Five Dignities and their Debilities (Lilly’s scores)
| Condition | Meaning | Lilly score |
|---|---|---|
| Domicile (own house) | planet in the sign it rules | +5 |
| Exaltation | planet in its sign (and degree) of exaltation | +4 |
| Triplicity | planet rules the sign’s element (by sect) | +3 |
| Term (bound) | planet rules that degree-range (Egyptian terms) | +2 |
| Face (decan) | planet rules that 10° decan (Chaldean order) | +1 |
| Detriment | sign opposite domicile | −5 |
| Fall | sign opposite exaltation | −4 |
| Peregrine | no essential dignity at all | −5 |
Astrological Significance:
The dignity tables for each planet are in the planet notes (Essential Dignitaries sections and the planet-data blocks), and per sign in the sign notes. See also Planetary Rulerships and Dignities.
Sources
- William Lilly, Christian Astrology (London, 1647), Book I (houses, orbs p. 107, essential dignities table p. 104) — public domain; orb table transcribed at https://www.renaissanceastrology.com/aspects.html and https://www.skyscript.co.uk/aspectorbs.html
- Claudius Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos (2nd c. CE), Book I — trans. F. E. Robbins, Loeb Classical Library 435 (1940), public-domain text at LacusCurtius: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Ptolemy/Tetrabiblos/home.html
- Dorotheus of Sidon, Carmen Astrologicum (1st c. CE), Book I — triplicity rulers (trans. D. Pingree 1976; B. Dykes 2017)