Reading planets by sign
Planets in signs are read through the sign's lord and quality. A planet in its own sign or in exaltation is read as comfortable and strong, and one in debilitation or in an enemy's sign as weaker.
What it is
The classical scheme treats the sign as a setting for the planet's expression. The sign's element and quality add to the reading. The dignity rules are given in the rashi articles.
How it is worked out or read
This site shows the sign of each graha, but does not compute a dignity score. Use the rashi pages to find the rule for each sign.
Where it appears on this site
The sign of each graha is in the birth chart. See exaltation and debilitation for the rules.
Reading by sign first
A planet in a sign is read through the sign's lord and quality. The sign describes the setting in which the planet works, and its lord and element add a further colour. A planet in its own sign or exaltation is read as comfortable and strong, while one in debilitation or in an enemy's sign is read as more strained. The reader should therefore look at the sign before deciding how much weight to give the planet.
The classical scheme treats the sign as the first layer of meaning, and the house as a second layer. A reader who reads the sign alone gets a partial picture, and one who reads the house alone misses the sign's influence on the planet's manner.
Dignity in the sign
The dignities used most often are exaltation, debilitation, own sign and friendship with the sign's lord. Exaltation signs are Mesha for the Sun, Vrishabha for the Moon, Makara for Mars, Kanya for Mercury, Karka for Jupiter, Meena for Venus and Tula for Saturn. Debilitation is the opposite sign in each case. The reader can use these to judge the planet's condition before reading its house.
Own signs are the signs each graha rules, and friendship with the lord of the sign is read through the planetary friendship table. A planet in a sign whose lord is its friend is read as supported, while a planet in an enemy's sign is read as contested.
The element and quality of the sign
Each sign also carries an element and a quality, which the reader uses to describe the planet's manner. A planet in a fire sign is read as more active and visible, a planet in an earth sign as more practical, a planet in an air sign as more mental, and a planet in a water sign as more emotional. The movable, fixed and dual qualities add the rhythm of the expression, so that a planet in a movable sign acts quickly and a planet in a fixed sign acts slowly.
Keeping the signs in proportion
A planet's sign is one factor in its reading. A planet in a good sign may still be placed in a difficult house, and a planet in a weak sign may be well placed by aspect. The reader should weigh the sign, the house, the aspects and the lord together, and say how they combine. The site shows each planet's sign and degree in the birth chart, so these checks can be made directly.
A planet in a sign and its neighbours
Reading a planet in a sign also means noticing the signs on either side. A planet near the end of its sign may be read with the neighbouring sign's influence, and this is especially important when the planet is close to a boundary. The reader notes the degree to decide how much the neighbouring sign counts.