Exaltation Degrees of the Planets


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Introduction


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Exaltations are part of the traditional essential dignity system. Exaltation gives +4 essential dignity score. Saturn is exalted in Libra, Jupiter in Cancer, Mars in Capricorn, Sun in Aries, Venus in Pisces, Mercury in Virgo and the Moon in Taurus. The opposite sign to the exaltation is the planet's fall and is an affliction with an essential dignity score of -4.

The origin of the exaltation is lost in the mists of time and there are many theories. I like the Arabic astrologer Abu Mashar's explanation that the exaltations are the original positions of the planets at creation.


Traditional Sources on the Exaltation Degrees


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Exaltation has an association with power and kingship and planets who are exalted are said to be more powerful for kingship and authority than sign dignity. Exaltation has has an association with quick results, though sign dignity may be longer lasting. Exaltation also has an association with pride and even arrogance which appropriate for kingship.

Orginally the planets were exalted at a specific degree of a sign, later this expanded and the planet was considered to be exalted throughout the sign. The medieval book of the Treasure of Alexander provides exaltation talismans which are made when the planets is in their degree of exaltation.

But as is not unusual with our traditional sources we have a contradictory listings of the specific degrees of exaltation in our traditional sources. As we look at these listings note that our traditional sources are using ordinal numbers, like the 20th degree, which shows position while we moderns typical use cardinal numbers, like 20 degrees, indicating quantity. This can lead to confusion and mistakes, as the for example, the 21st degree is from 20 degrees 1 minute to 20 degrees 59 minutes of the sign, similar to 1733 being in the 18th century.

So let's begin our traditional sources listing the exaltation degrees with the 10th century Arabic astrologer Al-Biruni whose Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology lists the following exaltation degrees:

Saturn 21st degree of Libra
Jupiter 15th degree of Cancer
Mars 28th degree of Capricorn
Sun 19th degree of Aries
Venus 27th degree of Pisces
Mercury 15th degree of Virgo
Moon 3rd degree of Taurus
Caput Draconis 3rd degree of Gemini
Cauda Draconis 3rd degree of Sagittarius

Book of Instruction, sec. 443.

Note that Al-Biruni gives exaltation degrees for the Moon's nodes, very interesting but I have never actually seen this used in practice, a good example of fossilized traditional technique, which as traditional astrologers we respect even if we don't use. Al-biruni notes that the Hindu astrologers say that the exaltation degrees are as follows:

Saturn 20th degree of Libra
Jupiter 5th degree of Cancer
Mars 28th degree of Capricorn
Sun 10th degree of Aries
Venus 27th degree of Pisces
Mercury 15th degree of Virgo
Moon 3rd degree of Taurus

Book of Instruction, sec. 444.

The Arabic astrologer Al-Qabisi, known in medieval Europe as Alcabitius says the exaltation degrees are:

Saturn 21st degree of Libra
Jupiter 15th degree of Cancer
Mars 18th degree of Capricorn
Sun 19th degree of Aries
Venus 27th degree of Pisces
Mercury 15th degree of Virgo
Moon 3rd degree of Taurus
Caput Draconis 3rd degree of Gemini
Cauda Draconis 3rd degree of Sagittarius

Al-Qabisi, The Introduction to Astrology, Chapter 1, sec 15 (Burnett, trans, page 25.)

The Book of the Treasure of Alexander, a medieval Arabic text of astrological magic and alchemy says the exaltation degrees are,

Saturn 21st Libra or 10th Aquarius
Jupiter 15th degree of Cancer
Mars 21st degree of Capricorn
Sun 19th degree of Aries
Venus 28th degree of Pisces
Mercury 15th degree of Virgo
Moon 3rd degree of Taurus

Book of the Treasure of Alexander

So we have the greatest variation for Mars with 28th, 21st and 18th degrees of Capricorn given in our sources. Saturn also has three different exaltation degrees with 21st, 20th Libra and strangely 10th Aquarius. Jupiter has two degrees listed, 15th and 5th Cancer. Sun has two 19th and 10th Aries. Venus also has two 27th and 28th Pisces. All sources agree on Mercury and the Moon.

So the natural reaction is which one is "right"? My view is that these are all reasonable, as they come from traditional sources. My approach is to stick with the traditional sources and then work with them, to see which ones resonate with me and which ones work for me, without the view that what resonates or works for me is universally applicable.

Learning More About Astrological Magic & Talismans

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