Dignities (essential)
Essential dignities describe how comfortably a planets functions by sign placement in traditional Western astrology. They nuance sign readings beyond pop keywords.
| Dignity | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Domicile (rulership) | Planet in its home sign (e.g. mars in sign-aries) |
| Exaltation | Sign of heightened expression (degree-sensitive in classical tables) |
| Detriment | Sign opposite domicile |
| Fall | Sign opposite exaltation |
Modern psychological astrology may de-emphasize dignities; Hellenistic and medieval revival texts use them heavily. Pair with decanates and aspects — dignity is one layer, not the whole story.