well placed planets

[marablu]

Hi all, I was wondering what people mean when they say that X or Y planet is 'well' placed in one's chart. Any ideas?

Also, how can one calculate which planet or sign is most dominant in one's chart? I also came across that question somewhere.

Thanks,

marablu

 

[Minderwiz]

Hi all, I was wondering what people mean when they say that X or Y planet is 'well' placed in one's chart. Any ideas?

Mostly it's used to describe the House position of the planet:

In descending order:

In 1st, 10th, 7th and 4th - That is one of the 'Angles'
11th 2nd, or 5th - the succedent houses (with one exception)
9th House (The House of God)

The exception for the Succedent houses is the eighth which is a bad placement, as is the sixth and twelfth.

However, I need to add a couple of qualifications. Firstly quite a few Astrologers will only take the angles as well placed and treat all the rest but 6th, 8th and 12th as neutral.

Secondly, it depends what the planet is. Generally you want benefic planets such as Venus and Jupiter (the natural benefics) and Lords 1 and 10 well placed but any malefic planets out of the way as the angles are where planets have most influence. The natural malefics are best out of the way. Traditional Astrology has Mars best placed in the sixth, and Saturn in the twelfth which minimises the 'harm' that the can do.

That's a simple explanation but in practice things may not be that simple, as Mars for example could be your Ascendant ruler but also Lord 8. Mars is necessary for personal well being health and welfare but as Lord 8 he may also bring 'bad' things too. Life may be a real challenged with say Mars conjunct the MC, high rewards but possibly high risks.

Also, how can one calculate which planet or sign is most dominant in one's chart? I also came across that question somewhere.

There's no simple answer to this, as there are many methods that have been developed over time, some being highly complex. Two of the easiest to calculate are:

The most elevated planet - that planet which is closest to the midheaven when you were born (there are other versions of the definition you may come across but this is the easiest for a beginner)

The second more complex one is to consider both the planet's placement and it's sign placment (its essential dignity) In a very simple example, Mercury in Virgo (where it is exalted and in rulership) conjunct the Ascendant and free from other impediments (such as hard aspects from Saturn or Mars) is more powerful than Jupiter in Gemini conjunct the MC, because Jupiter is in detriment in Gemini.

These methods are by no means exclusive and you will find that there are quite a few alternatives. Generally though they will be based on any one or combination of:

House placement
Essential dignity
House rulership - (Lords 1, 7 10 and 4 are always important planets)

 

[BigLuna]

Speaking of dignities, can you give a description of "Face" that has some bearing on interpretation?

 

[Minderwiz]

Firstly for those who are unsure of the term:

Face is similar to the decante, in the sense that it's a division of signs into three ten degree segments. The rulership of the Ptolemaic system starts with Mars ruling the first Face (10 degrees) of Aries and all further Faces are allocated in the order of the planets, from Saturn at the outermost to Moon at the innermost. So Aries continues with Sun ruling the second Face, Venus the third, the first Face of Taurus going to Mercury, the second to the Moon and the third to Saturn. Gemini starts off with Jupiter, and then goes on to Mars, Sun and a repeat of the sequence. The series continues till the final Face of Pisces is ruled by Jupiter. This ensures that the next planet in sequence, Mars, rules the first Face of the next sign - Aries.

This is not the only way of ordering decantes but it's the one most used in Traditional Astrology.

The question you raise is what is it's interpretational value. Basically it's the weakest form of dignity - the planet is not debilitated but apart from that has little real strength - Lilly uses the a analogy of housing, and says that Face is a little bit better than being homeless, you have a roof over your head but little else.

A planet which has only dignity by Face has little capacity to exert power or to act, so we should not expect much from it. It might however be placed in a situation where it can actually exert it's rather small influence - if it's angular for example. If it's in a weak placement, then it's not really going to influence matters unless it's connected by aspect, when it might support or obstruct another planet, or if it shares a house with more powerful planets in which case it might contribute a small but possibly important role.

Dignity is about power to act - the nature of the planet doesn't change but it's confidence and power level, if you like, does change. A well dignified (ruler or exalted) Saturn is confident, organised, structured and methodical working carefully but with certainty. A Saturn that only has dignity by Face, is liable to feel rather fearful about action and may be unsure or unwilling to move forward seeing the 'bad' in all possible actions but rarely the good. A debilitated Saturn won't even see the possibility of the 'good' and be thoroughly fearful and pessimistic. With Mars, you might see Mars with dignity by Face wanting to act bravely and assertively but end up acting rashly or riskily. A Venus might be less the artistic and caring benefic and more the wanton or easily mislead.

There's something of a clash between wanting to act well and not getting it right. Whereas in debility it's a don't care and showing the worst side of the plantes attributes. Venus being a good time gambling, promiscuous, or debauched side of the more generous, fruitful and artistic highly dignified Venus.

 

[BigLuna]

Thanks, Minderwiz.

Face is a dignity I have real trouble processing. Should we really pay any attention to it, at all?

Why do you think the Golden Dawn decided to give Face assignments to all the numbered pip cards? Was it a little joke to say "they really don't work very well"?