© Copyright 2003 Sue Ward. All rights
reserved
When judging any chart – natal, horary,
mundane, event, election – it is essential to observe the condition
and qualities of the significators. The significators are the
planets, house cusps or points which represent the matter being
investigated. In this paper, we are only looking at planetary
significators whose conditions, which we will be examining, can
be measured and generally described as strong or weak.
The strength, or otherwise, of a
planet is gauged through a weighting system utilising the "essential
dignities" and "accidental fortitudes". (The following
table shows those essential dignities). By "essential",
we mean that which is of the planet’s essence and so, that which
belongs to the planet. The most commonly-known essential dignity
is that of sign rulership, so when Mercury is in the sign of Virgo,
it is essentially dignified by sign (it is in its own sign).
There are five levels of essential
dignity: sign, exaltation, triplicity, term and face, in descending
order of dignity. If Mercury were to be found at 21° Libra it
would have essential dignity by term (it is in its own term).
If this hypothetical chart were set during the night, that is,
when the Sun is below the horizon (shown on a chart as the 1st to 7th house axis), Mercury would also have the essential
dignity of being in its own triplicity, because it rules the Air
triplicity by night. The same principle applies to the dignities
of exaltation and face, where a planet found in one of its own
would be essentially dignified.
Figure 2: Weighting
of Planets
As with double-entry bookkeeping,
we see from the table that we must also measure the weakness of
a planet, not only by how few dignities or fortitudes it has,
but also, by how many "debilities" it has. The table
shows how these debilities occur and how they are weighted.
Once the addition and subtraction
is completed for each planet, the result helps the astrologer
to understand the condition of each, and thus how the planet is
likely to act, or demonstrate its signification. This is often
simply put as a strong or weak planet, and we might deduce a positive
or negative action, depending on the results of the weighting.
Essential dignity tells us something
of the nature and quality of the person or matter signified by
an individual planet. It might express a measure of talent, skill,
status or honour. However, this is not enough for success, an
appropriate position in the world is also required, along with
prominence. This is the descriptive role of the accidental fortitudes,
for example, one would not expect prominence if the planet is
not in an angular house – the most talented musician must have
prominence to gain recognition.
Although to delineate a planet as
strong or weak is accurate, it does not provide a complete description.
A planet that is strong in essential and accidental dignities
would demonstrate its signification strongly and in a positive
manner. If it were weak, the reverse would be true and we would
expect a weakly benefic action, or signification.
Of the five planets, two are benefics
(Venus and Jupiter), two are malefics (Mars and Saturn) and Mercury
is common, taking on the nature of the planet it most closely
aspects. The benefics are described so because they have moderate,
fertile natures: Venus is moderately cold and moist, and Jupiter
is moderately hot and moist, moisture being necessary for fertility.
On the other hand, the malefics are excessive and barren: Mars
is excessively hot and dry, and Saturn is excessively cold and
dry. Within these qualities lies the essence of astrology: balance
and harmony. Moderation is benefic, while excess is malefic. Fertility
is required for life to exist and is therefore benefic; its opposite,
barrenness, is antipathetic to life.
In the Western predictive system,
we see Mars as a nocturnal planet, even though its heat and dryness
is characteristic of the day. That was done in order to moderate
its excessive heat. Likewise, Saturn is a diurnal planet, moderating
its excessive coldness. From this we can conclude that moderation
is the key and the system of essential dignities will support
that.
When a planet has no essential dignity
(peregrine), it becomes immoderate. It does not lose power,
and we can see that from the descriptions given in a standard
astrological work and compare the two modes of signification.
"Being
well dignified, he represents a man of subtil and politick brain,
intellect and cogitation; and excellent disputant or Logician,
arguing with learning and discretion, and using much eloquence
in speech, a searcher into all kinds of Mysteries and Learning,
sharp and witty, learning almost anything without a Teacher;…
"[When badly dignified] A
troublesome wit, a kind of Phrenetick man, his tongue and Pen
against every man, wholly bent to fool his estate and time in
prating and trying nice conclusions to no purpose, a great lyar,
boaster, prattler, busybody. False, a tale-carrier, given to wicked
Arts,…".
It is clear then that Mercury does
not signify weakness of action; there is no weakness implied in
"…a great lyar, boaster, pratler…". What we observe
is that the planet’s significations have become negative and unfortunate
– immoderate. We see Mercury’s significations when it is dignified
and undignified, and these terms provide an improved expression
of the effects of having, or not having essential dignity. Mercury’s
lack of dignity manifests as immoderate actions and events.
So, while we know that Jupiter is
a benefic planet, if it were described as strong we would expect
it to produce wholly benefic significations; it would be strongly
benefic. This is so, because the benefics (Venus and Jupiter)
cannot become wholly malefic for the reasons given earlier. They
can become "unfortunate", perhaps because they are debilitated,
or because they rule "unfortunate" houses, such as the
8th or 6th. Nevertheless, they begin as
planets of moderation and lack of dignity reduces that moderation,
but does not eradicate it.
When addressing the effect of the
malefics, we begin from a different standpoint. They are the planets
of excess, and when lacking in dignity, they become more excessive.
So, Venus and Jupiter become less moderate, while Mars and Saturn
become more excessive. Thus the malefics become more malefic,
not less when they are undignified or weak, and become more obstructive,
damaging and significant of loss.
There are several references in Christian
Astrology testifying to the argument that weakness does not
mean lack of power. For example, "A Planet Peregrine, viz. having no essentiall Dignities where he is, he is
malicious beyond expression;". Bonatti is clear, too,
"…if an Infortune, whether he be Significator or not,
be Peregrine; that is, not in any of his Dignities, for then his
malice is increased; but, when in his Dignities it somewhat abates
it;…".
There is, however, a condition which
does lead to a lack of power, explained in Bonatti’s 43rd Consideration: "A Planet
Retrograde and Combust, has no strength in signification. The
Fortunes when Combust and under the sun’s beams, signify none
or very little good; and the Infortunes in like case have little
or no virtue to signify ill."
When a planet is within 8° of the
Sun (and in the same sign) it is considered combust, or burned.
In this position, the planet’s virtue is obliterated by the Sun’s
great power; it is overpowered and cannot be seen. In this case,
the power of the malefics, too, is consumed by the overwhelming
heat and light of the Sun.
To conclude, it is not true that
a weak malefic is less malefic; lack of dignity does not mean
lack of power, it means a lack of moderation, or gaining in excessive
action.
