Rulership is the connection between planet and correlated sign and house.

[19]
In
traditional Western astrology, each sign is ruled by one and only one of the seven
visible planets (note that in astrology, the Sun and Moon are termed The Lights, while
the other bodies are called planets, which literally means wanderers, i.e. wandering
stars as opposed to the fixed stars). The traditional rulerships are as
follows: Aries (Mars), Taurus (Venus), Gemini (Mercury), Cancer (Moon), Leo (Sun), Vir
go (Mercury), Libra (Venus), Scorpio (Mars),Sagittarius (Jupiter), Capricorn (Saturn), Aq
uarius (Saturn), Pisces (Jupiter).
[20]

Psychologically-oriented astrologers often believe that Uranus is the ruler or co-ruler of
Aquarius instead of Saturn; Neptune is the ruler or co-ruler of Pisces instead of Jupiter,
and that Pluto is the ruler or co-ruler of Scorpio instead of Mars. Some
[who?]
astrologers
believe that the planetoid Chiron may be the ruler of Virgo, while other group of modern
astrologers claim that Ceres is the ruler of Taurus instead. Other astrologers, still, use
the former planets Pallas, Vesta, Juno and Hygiea in their delineations and rulerships,
for example Vesta to Taurus and Pallas to Virgo.
Debate continues between those who consider the newly discovered planets as rulers
or co-rulers of certain signs and those that do not. Some astrologers do not even use
the astrological signs at all (mostly Cosmobiologists and Uranian Astrologers/Hamburg
School). Therefore they do not take into account planetary rulerships and the essential
dignities when interpreting an astrological chart.
Note that, if one starts from Leo and Cancer, the traditional planetary rulers are arrayed
outward in the same order from the sun as they occur in the natural solar system. The
Lights ruling Leo and Cancer, Mercury ruling Virgo and Gemini, Venus ruling Libra and
Taurus, Mars ruling Scorpio and Aries, Jupiter ruling Sagittarius and Pisces, Saturn
ruling Capricorn and Aquarius. The result is a symmetry of traditional rulerships across
the 0 Leo/Aquarius axis. Note that modern rulerships, which attribute Pluto as ruler of
Scorpio, break this symmetry.
The following table shows both, traditional
[20]
and modern,
[21]
rulerships.
Symbol Sign names
Ruling
celestial body

Traditional / Modern

Aries Mars

Taurus Venus

Gemini Mercury

Cancer Moon

Leo Sun

Virgo Mercury

Libra Venus

Scorpio Mars / Pluto

Sagittarius Jupiter

Capricorn Saturn

Aquarius Saturn / Uranus

Pisces Jupiter / Neptune
Dignity and detriment, exaltation and fall[edit]
A traditional belief of astrology, known as essential dignity, is the idea that the Sun,
Moon and planets are more powerful and effective in some signs than others, because
the basic nature of both is held to be in harmony. By contrast, they are held to find some
signs to be weak or difficult to operate in because their natures are thought to be in
conflict. The most important of these categories are Dignity, Detriment, Exaltation and
Fall.
Dignity and Detriment : A planet is strengthened or dignified if it falls within the
sign that it rules. In other words it is said to exercise Rulership of the sign. For
example, the Moon in Cancer is considered "strong" (well-dignified). Seventeenth
century astrologer William Lilly compared rulership to a king on his throne, with
considerable dignity. If a planet is in the sign opposite that which it rules (or is
dignified), it is said to be weakened or in Detriment (for example, the Moon in
Capricorn).
[22]

In traditional astrology, other levels of Dignity are recognised in addition to Rulership.
These are known as Exaltation (see below), Triplicity, Terms or bounds, and Face
or Decan, which together are known as describing a planet's Essential dignity, the
quality or ability to give of one's true nature. Contemporary traditional astrologers
like John Frawley or J Lee Lehman explain further on the concept of Essential
Dignity.
[22]

Exaltation and Fall : In addition, a planet is also strengthened when it is in its sign
of Exaltation. In traditional horary astrology, Exaltation denotes a level of dignity
somewhat exaggerated compared to rulership. Exaltation was considered to give
the planet (or what it signified in a horary chart) dignity, with the metaphor of an
honoured guest who is the centre of attention but the extent of their ability to act is
limited. Examples of planets in their Exaltation are: Saturn (Libra), Sun (Aries),
Venus (Pisces), Moon (Taurus), Mercury (Virgo, although some disagree to this
classification), Mars (Capricorn), Jupiter (Cancer). A planet in the opposite sign of its
Exaltation is said to be in its Fall, and thus weakened, perhaps seemingly more so
than Detriment. The Planet in fall is passively rejected or ignored by the sign that it's
in. It can be likened to a mayor of a rival city trying to make suggestions to the
hosting mayor for how he should run his city: The host mayor finds it difficult to trust
him and cannot see how his input could have relevancy to his city. The people of the
city feel the same as their ruler. The result is impasse and failure on behalf of both
mayors and the city.
[22]
There is no agreement as to the signs in which the three
extra-Saturnian planets may be considered to be exalted.
[23]

The following table summarizes the positions described above:
Planet (Symbol) Dignity Detriment Exaltation Fall
Sun ( ) Leo Aquarius Aries Libra
Moon ( ) Cancer Capricorn Taurus Scorpio
Mercury ( ) Gemini and Virgo Sagittarius and Pisces Virgo Pisces
Venus ( ) Libra and Taurus Aries and Scorpio Pisces Virgo
Mars ( ) Aries and Scorpio Libra and Taurus Capricorn Cancer
Jupiter ( ) Sagittarius and Pisces Gemini and Virgo Cancer Capricorn
Saturn ( ) Capricorn and Aquarius Cancer and Leo Libra Aries
In addition to essential dignity, the traditional astrologer considers Accidental dignity of
planets. This is placement by house in the chart under examination. Accidental dignity is
the planet's "ability to act." So we might have, for example, Moon in Cancer, dignified by
rulership, is placed in the 12th house it would have little scope to express its good
nature.
[24]
The 12th is a cadent house as are the 3rd, 6th and 9th and planets in these
houses are considered weak or afflicted. On the other hand, Moon in the 1st, 4th, 7th or
10th would be more able to act as these are Angular houses. Planets in Succedent
houses of the chart (2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th) are generally considered to be of medium
ability to act. Besides Accidental Dignity, there are a range of Accidental Debilities, such
as retrogradation, Under the Sun's Beams, Combust, and so forth.
Additional classifications[edit]
For more details on this topic, see Decans.
Each sign can be divided into three 10 sectors known as decans or decanates, though
these have fallen into disuse. The first decanate is said to be most emphatically of its
own nature and is ruled by the sign ruler.
[25]
The next decanate is sub-ruled by the
planet ruling the next sign in the same triplicity. The last decanate is sub-ruled by the
next in order in the same triplicity.
[26]

While the element and modality of a sign are together sufficient to define it, they can be
grouped to indicate their symbolism. The first four signs, Aries, Taurus, Gemini and
Cancer, form the group of personal signs. The next four signs, Leo, Virgo, Libra and
Scorpio form the group of interpersonal signs. The last four signs of the zodiac,
Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, form the group of transpersonal signs.
[27]

Dane Rudhyar presented the tropical zodiac primary factors,
[28]
used in the curriculum of
the RASA School of Astrology. The tropical zodiac is the zodiac of seasonal factors as
opposed to the sidereal zodiac (constellation factors). The primary seasonal factors are
based on the changing ratio of sunlight and darkness across the year. The first factor is
whether the chosen time falls in the half of the year when daylight is increasing, or the
half of the year when darkness is increasing. The second factor is whether the chosen
time falls in the half of the year when there is more daylight than darkness, or the half
when there is more darkness than daylight. The third factor is which of the four seasons
the chosen time falls in, defined by the first two factors. Thus
[29][30]

the 'winter' season is when daylight is increasing and there is more darkness than
daylight.
[29]

the 'spring' season is when daylight is increasing and there is more daylight than
darkness.
[29]

the 'summer' season is when darkness is increasing and there is more daylight than
darkness.
[29]

the 'autumn' season is when darkness is increasing and there is more darkness than
daylight.
[29]

Indian astrology[edit]
Further information: Hindu astrology
In Indian astrology, there are four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. The master of fire
is Mars, while Mercury is of earth, Saturn of air, and Venus of water.
Jyotish astrology recognises twelve zodiac signs (Ri),
[31]
that correspond to those in
Western astrology. The relation of the signs to the elements is the same in the two
systems.
Nakshatras[edit]
Main article: Nakshatra
A nakshatra (Devanagari: , Sanskrit nakshatra, from naksha- 'approach', and tra-
'guard') or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky, identified by the
prominent star(s) in them, as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology (Jyotisha).
[32]

Chinese zodiac signs[edit]
Main article: Chinese zodiac
Unlike the Western or Indian zodiacs, the Chinese zodiac signs are not derived from
constellations, and are not assigned to sections of the ecliptic. Instead, Chinese
astrological signs operate on cycles of years, lunar months, and two-hour periods of the
day (also known as shichen). A particular feature of the Chinese zodiac is its operation
in a 60-year cycle in combination with the Five Phases of Chinese astrology
(Wood, Fire, Metal, Water, and Earth).
[33]
Nevertheless some researches say that there
is an obvious relationship between the Chinese 12-year cycle and zodiac constellations:
each year of the cycle corresponds to a certain disposal of Jupiter. For example, in the
year of Snake Jupiter is in the Sign of Gemini, in the year of Horse Jupiter is in the Sign
of Cancer and so on. So the Chinese 12-year calendar is a solar-lunar-jovian calendar.
Zodiac symbolism[edit]
The following table shows the twelve signs and their attributes.
Sign Yin/Yang Direction Season Fixed Element Trine
Rat Yang North Mid-Winter Water 1st
Ox Yin North Late Winter Water 2nd
Tiger Yang East Early Spring Wood 3rd
Rabbit Yin East Mid-Spring Wood 4th
Dragon Yang East Late Spring Wood 1st
Snake Yin South Early Summer Fire 2nd
Horse Yang South Mid-Summer Fire 3rd
Goat Yin South Late Summer Fire 4th
Monkey Yang West Early Autumn Metal 1st
Rooster Yin West Mid-Autumn Metal 2nd
Dog Yang West Late Autumn Metal 3rd
Pig Yin North Early Winter Water 4th
The twelve signs[edit]


Chart showing the 24 cardinal directions and the symbols of the sign associated with them.
In Chinese astrology the zodiac of twelve animal sign represents twelve different types
of personality. The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are
many stories about the Origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so.
When the twelve zodiac signs are part of the 60-year calendar in combination with the
four elements, they are traditionally called the twelveearthly branches. The Chinese
Zodiac follows the lunisolar Chinese calendar and thus the "changeover" days in a
month (when one sign changes to another sign) vary each year. The followi ng are the
twelve zodiac signs in order.
[34]

1. Rat (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Rat years include 1900, 1912,
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008. The Rat also corresponds to a
particular month in the year. The hours of the Rat are 11pm 1am.
2. Ox (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Ox years include 1901, 1913, 1925,
1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009. The Ox also corresponds to a
particular month in the year. The hours of the Ox are 1am 3am.
3. Tiger (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Tiger years include 1902, 1914,
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010. The Tiger also corresponds to
a particular month in the year. The hours of the Tiger are 3am 5am.
4. Rabbit (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Rabbit Years include 1903,
1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011. The Rabbit also
corresponds to a particular month in the year. The hours of the Rabbit are 5am
7am.
5. Dragon (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Dragon years include 1904,
1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012. The Dragon also
corresponds to a particular month in the year. The hours of the Dragon are 7am
9am.
6. Snake (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Snake years include 1905, 1917,
1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013. The Snake also corresponds
to a particular month in the year. The hours of the Snake are 9am 11am.
7. Horse (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Horse years include 1906, 1918,
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014. The Horse also corresponds
to a particular month in the year. The hours of the Horse are 11am 1pm.
8. Goat (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Goat years include 1907, 1919,
1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015. The Goat also corresponds to
a particular month in the year. The hours of the Goat are 1pm 3pm.
9. Monkey (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Monkey years include 1908,
1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016. The Monkey also
corresponds to a particular month in the year. The hours of the Monkey are 3pm
5pm.
10. Rooster (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Rooster years include 1909,
1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017. The Rooster also
corresponds to a particular month in the year. The hours of the Rooster are 5pm
7pm.
11. Dog (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Dog years include 1910, 1922,
1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018. The Dog also corresponds to
a particular month in the year. The hours of the Dog are 7pm 9pm.
12. Pig (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Pig years include 1911, 1923,
1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019. The Pig also corresponds to a
particular month in the year. The hours of the Pig are 9pm 11pm.
The five elements[edit]
Wood: The wood person has high morals, is self-confident, expansive and co-
operative, with wide and varied interests and idealistic goals. The direction
associated with Wood is East, and the season is spring, which makes it the fixed
element for the animal signs Tiger and Rabbit.
[35]

Fire: The fire person has leadership qualities, dynamic passion, and is decisive,
self-confident, positive and assertive. The direction associated with Fire is South,
and the season is summer, which makes it the fixed element for the animal
signs Snake and Horse.
[35]

Earth: The earth person is serious, logical and methodical, intelligent, objective and
good at planning. The direction associated with Earth is Center. The season for
Earth is the changeover point of the four seasons. It is the fixed element for the
animal signs Ox, Dragon, Goat and Dog.
[35]

Metal: The metal person is sincere, has fixed values and opinions, is strong of will,
and has eloquence of speech. The direction associated with Metal is West. The
season for Metal is Autumn. It is the fixed element for the animal
signs Monkey and Rooster.
[35]

Water: The water person is persuasive, intuitive, and empathetic. The water person
is objective and often sought out for their counsel. The direction associated with
water is North. The season for Water is Winter. It is the fixed element for the animal
signs Rat and Pig.
[35]

The five elements operate together with the twelve animal signs in a 60-year calendar.
The four elements appear in the calendar in both their yin and yang forms and are
known as the eight heavenly stems. When trying to calculate the relevant year of the
cycle in relation to the Western calendar, an easy rule to follow is that years that end in
an odd number are Yang (representing masculine, active and light), those that end with
an even number are Yin (representing feminine, passive and darkness).
[35]

Notes[edit]
1. Jump up^ Mayo (1979), p. 35.
2. ^ Jump up to:
a

b
Arroyo (1989), p. 27.
3. Jump up^ Bobrick (2005), p. 10, 23.
4. Jump up^ Johnsen (2004).
5. ^ Jump up to:
a

b
Discovering the Universe Neil F. Comins (2009)p. 14, 15.
6. Jump up^ Rochberg (1998), p. ix.
7. Jump up^ Sachs (1948), p. 289.
8. Jump up^ Astrology and The Four Elements by Charlie Higgins
1997.http://accessnewage.com/Articles/astro/HIGELEMS.HTM
9. ^ Jump up to:
a

b
Robert Pelletier & Leonard Cataldo Ibid p 43-44, 1984; Maritha
Pottenger, Ibid, pp 38393, 1991
10. Jump up^ Arroyo (1989), pp. 30-34
11. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p. 42
12. Jump up^ Glyphs from the alchemical symbology.
13. Jump up^ Arroyo (1975)
14. Jump up^ Arroyo (1989), p. 29.
15. Jump up^ As used in Sepharial's "The Manual of Astrology"-Brazilian edition (1988) by
Editora Nova Fronteira S/A, Rio de Janeiro
16. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p. 40
17. Jump up^ Arroyo (1989), p. 30
18. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p. 75
19. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p. 22
20. ^ Jump up to:
a

b
"Rulerships." Carol Wills 2007. astrologynow.com 25
Nov.2007.http://www.astrologynow.com/carolwillis/Rulerships.txt
21. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p. 21.
22. ^ Jump up to:
a

b

c
Glossary of Astrological Terms. Logos, Asaa 19982004. 26 Nov
2007.http://logosastrology.dk/glossary.htm
23. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p. 144
24. Jump up^ Accidental Dignity. Astrological Dictionary 19982007. gotohoroscope.com.
26 Nov 2007. http://www.gotohoroscope.com/dictionary/astrological/5.html
25. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p.87
26. Jump up^ Hone (1978), p.88
27. Jump up^ "An Introduction to Astrology." Spiritsingles.com 25
Nov.2007.http://www.spiritsingles.com/Astrology/aboutAstrology.cfm
28. Jump up^ Rudhyar (1943)
29. ^ Jump up to:
a

b

c

d

e
"The Signs and the Houses", by Robin Armstrong, RASA School of
Astrology 2009 http://www.rasa.ws/index.php/rasa-library-articles-signs-and-houses-
30. Jump up^ "I Ching: The Sequence of Change", by Robin Armstrong, RA Publications
2009http://thewakingdream.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1392&I
temid=1551
31. Jump up^ Sutton (1999) pp. 7492.
32. Jump up^ Sutton (1999), p.168.
33. Jump up^ ""Almanac" "lunar" zodiac beginning of spring as the boundary dislocation?
China Network". 16 February 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
34. Jump up^ Theodora Lau, Ibid, pp 28, 305, 604, 8894, 11824, 14853, 17884,
20813, 23844, 27078, 30612, 33844, 2005
35. ^ Jump up to:
a

b

c

d

e

f
Chinese Astrology: Exploring the Eastern Zodiac by Shelly Wu
References[edit]
Arroyo, Stephen (1975). Astrology, Psychology and The Four Elements. California:
CCRS Publications.
Arroyo, Stephen (1989). Chart Interpretation Handbook. California: CCRS
Publications.
Bobrick, Benson (2005). The Fated Sky: Astrology in History. Simon&Schuster.
Caiozzo, Anna (2003). Images of the Sky. Paris-Sorbonne. Signs and
Constellations.
Hone, Margaret (1978). The Modern Text-Book of Astrology. Revised edition.
England: L. N. Fowler & Co. Ltd.
Johnsen, Linda (2004 March). A Thousand Suns: Designing Your Future with Vedic
Astrology. Yes International Publishers.
Mayo, Jeff (1979). Teach Yourself Astrology. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Rochberg, Francesca (1998), "Babylonian Horoscopes", American Philosophical
Society, New Series, Vol. 88, No. 1, pp i-164
Rudhyar, Dane (1943). Astrological Signs The Pulse of
Life. http://www.khaldea.com/rudhyar/pofl/pofl_p1p1.shtml
Sachs, Abraham (1948), "A Classification of the Babylonian Astronomical Tablets of
the Seleucid Period", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 271290
Sutton, Komilla (1999). "The Essentials of Vedic Astrology". England: The Wessex
Astrologer Ltd.