Considerations

In Chapter 19, Of Exaltations, Ptolemy not only writes about the planets in signs which they are Exalted, but also the signs opposite to those, which are then called the signs of the Planet’s Fall, or, Depression. 

Such “depression” should not be taken as someone “depressed”, but rather a certain condition that Zodiac Sign brings that shall let a Planet quite uncomfortable while circuiting the Zodiac, afterall, not all things are made of gold and rivers of vibrant colorful roses. 

But on the other hand, they can/are indeed be sailing in golden rivers and witness things made of beautiful ornaments when traveling the Zodiac Signs which they are/feel Exalted, elevated, “at the top” of the Sign’s topical meanings, resonating well and neatly.

Of Exaltations

Like in life, there is always someplace we dislike and won’t feel at home, welcomed and comfy, you just don’t want to be there, and on the contrary, they are places where you feel really at home, like in your best friend’s house, parent’s house or even at work you love so much, whatever the place where it is not your own [Domicile] – the ancients thought of the planets of having the same ‘behavior’.

I simple philosophized the Exaltations and the Falls of the planets, but Ptolemy is quite mechanical and will say that the Exaltation of the Moon In Taurus is due to the fact that when the Sun is in Aries, and the Moon is conjunct it, it forms the first lunation of the year, where she begins to increase in light, and when in Taurus that becomes obvious, and also because Taurus is the sign which the Moon rules over its Earth Triplicity by Night. 

Ptolemy dissects planet by planet on their both Exaltation and the opposite signs to those, which turn to be their Depression, or, the Fall of the Planets.

Ptolemy Begins: “The so-called Exaltations [& Falls] of the planets have the following explanation.”

Sun – “Since the Sun, when he is in Aries, is making his transition to the northern and higher semicircle, and in Libra is passing into the southern and lower One, they have fittingly assigned Aries to him as his exaltation, since there the length of the day and the heating power of his nature begin to increase, and Libra as his depression for the opposite reasons.”

The Sun transiting such (Equinoctial) circle is said to begin the transition to the north, thus, reaching up to the higher semi-circle. In Libra, such phenomenon happens exactly the opposite, thus Libra becomes the fall, or depression of the Sun. Aries is the exaltation of the Sun – when it transits this sign, the length of the day increases so as the heating power of nature, while in Libra the an opposite phenomenon begins to occur. 

Saturn  – “Saturn again, in order to have a position opposite to the Sun, as also in the matter of their houses, look, contrariwise, Libra as his exaltation and Aries as his depression. For where heat increases there cold diminishes, and where the former diminishes cold on the contrary increases.”

As opposite to the Sun, Saturn was given Libra as his exaltation and Aries his depression.When the Sun transits Equinoctial Zodiac Libra (the opposite happens when in Aries; the Suns’ exaltation), the cold slightly begins to take dominion and the hours of the day light subtle begins to decrease. It’s like alingnning with the enemy of someone’s enemy but capable and legally prepared, it seeks justice to what “Aries” has done. By transiting the house of Libra (his Fall/Depression), then the last visiable by naked eye planet Saturn affirms/testifies his opposition to the Sun.

Moon – “And since the Moon, coming to conjunction in the exaltation of the Sun, in Aries, shows her first phase and begins to increase her light and, as it were, her height, in the first sign of her own triangle, Taurus, this was called her exaltation, and the diametrically opposite sign, Scorpio, her depression.”

The Exaltation of the Moon In Taurus is due to the fact that when the Sun is in Aries, and the Moon is conjunct it, it forms the first lunation of the year, where she begins to increase in light has she moved to Taurus; also, Taurus is the first sign of the Moon’s Earth Triangle (by night). The sign of Scorpio is then, the Moon’s Depression/Fall.

Jupiter – “Then Jupiter, which produces the fecund north winds, reaches farthest north in Cancer and brings his own power to fullness; they therefore made this sign his exaltation and Capricorn his depression.”

Jupiter “brings” winds and “fruitful breezes” from the North, and the planet is exalted in Cancer because it is when the planet is at his farthest north, and thus alingnning the quality of fecund Jupiter’s direction into motion let’s put it. The Depression is, of course, the sign opposite of it, the sign of the goat (Capricorn), where the southern winds only maked things difficult for Jupiter to expand.

Mars – “Mars, which by nature is fiery and becomes all the more so in Capricorn because in it he is farthest south, naturally received Capricorn as his exaltation, in contrast to Jupiter, and Cancer as his depression.”

Mars on the other hand, concords with the winds from Capricorn [south: “Notus”], and thus, the goat became his exaltation. Somehow, Juptier threatens Mars’ tendency, and Mars then aligns with Capricorn in order to fight against such forces, is Exalted in Capricorn, where Jupiter is depressed – One’s weakness is one’s strenght. Thus, Jupiter’s Exaltation (Cancer) becoems Mars’s Depression/Fall. Cancer of course, marks Mars’ depression.

Venus – “Venus, however, as she is moist by nature and increases her own proper power all the more in Pisces, where the beginning of the moist spring is indicated. has her exaltation in Pisces and her depression in Virgo.”

Venus is quite moist and has her exaltation in Pisces because the sign is mostly moist/wet and is enchanced in Pisces once it when is experienced the “wet-spring” part of season. Venus’ fecund quality is then exalted. The opposite happens in Virgo, the Venus’ fall.

Mercury – “Mercury, on the contrary, since he is arier, by contrast naturally is exalted, as it were, in Virgo, in which the dry autumn is signified, and is depressed in Pisces.”

Opposite to Venus Exaltation, Mercury is exalted in Virgo because when the Sun passes the tropical Zodiac in the sign, the dry autumn is upon.

Conclusion

When the planets are in their Exaltation, they are said to be in really good “hands”, they can operate the way they wish with no problems but an augmentation of what already is. As I can tell, this is quite a Jupiter’s way to reach for the stars: the exaltations represent multiplication of what the planet represents, in a good sense. The planets can identify with the Zodiac Signs and vice-versa.

When the planets are in their Depression, or Fall, they can’t operate at resonable ways let’s put it. Sometimes such thing can offer them the chance to be motivated, once the fall represents the opposite of exaltation, thus integration shall be pursued. However, the fall [sing in question] of the planet is still conditioned to opposite significations.

Read More on Of the Effect of the Seasons & of the Four Angles.

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References

Go back to Ptolemy’s Way and read the references