Astrology Cheatsheet: Accidental Dignities and Debilities

Astrology Cheatsheet: Accidental Dignities and Debilities

Accidental Dignities

These are conditions that strengthen a planet’s influence in a chart, irrespective of its sign and house placement.

Direct Motion: When a planet is moving forward (not retrograde), it is considered stronger and its energies are more straightforward.

Swift in Motion: Planets that are moving faster than their average speed are considered to be accidentally dignified.

Angular Houses: Planets in the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses (the Angular Houses) are stronger. These houses correspond to the Ascendant, Imum Coeli, Descendant, and Midheaven respectively.

Free from Combustion and Under the Sun’s Beams: When a planet is too close to the Sun, it can be “burned” or obscured by the Sun’s light, weakening it. If a planet is not too close to the Sun, it’s considered an accidental dignity.

Stationary: When a planet appears to be standing still before turning direct or retrograde, it is considered to have more power.

In Hayz: A planet is in Hayz when it is in a sign that matches its gender (Sun and Mars are masculine, Moon and Venus are feminine, Mercury can be either), and is above the horizon during the day (for masculine) or below the horizon during the night (for feminine).

Accidental Debilities

These are conditions that weaken a planet’s influence in a chart, irrespective of its sign and house placement.

Retrograde: When a planet appears to be moving backward in the sky, it is considered weaker. Its energies are internalized or reversed.

Slow in Motion: Planets that are moving slower than their average speed are considered to be accidentally debilitated.

Cadent Houses: Planets in the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th houses (the Cadent Houses) are weaker. These houses are the most removed from the angles.

Combust or Under the Sun’s Beams: When a planet is too close to the Sun, it is considered to be weakened or “burned” by the Sun’s light.

Retrograde Stations: When a planet appears to be standing still before turning retrograde, it is considered to have less power.

In Fall or Detriment: Though this is often considered an essential debility, when a planet is in a sign opposite to the one it rules (detriment) or opposite to its exaltation (fall), it is considered accidentally debilitated.