Exalted and debilitated planets: Meaning, significance and effects on zodiac signs

Our zodiac signs are merely the starting points to comprehending the nuanced and complex world of astrology. A detailed birth chart contains many more elements, such as exalted and debilitated planets, that are also factored in to produce a better picture of your horoscope.

When laid out on an astrological chart, our signs are connected to a map of celestial bodies, each placed in a unique position. Astrological practitioners consider these as the lighthouses to predict one’s future and add meaning to the past. For example, if you look up your birth chart right now, you will find some planetary positions marked as exalted, and others as debilitated. This can make all the difference in your destiny.

While all of this may sound very complicated, it is not. Here is a cheat sheet to navigate the exalted and debilitated planets chart and its influence.

What does exalted and debilitated mean?

Vedic and Western astrology categorise the planets as four different dignities. Their powers become malefic (negative or weak) or benefic (positive or strong) for the signs. The four dignities in which the planets move on a birth chart are domicile (in their home sign), exaltation (most comfortable or happy position), exile (in the opposite sign of its ruling sign) and debilitation (weakest position, which is in the sign directly opposite to the sign it exalts in).

While exalted planets give strength and the most benefit of their qualities to the natives, helping them to flourish, their debilitated position has an obstructive, bleak and sometimes harmful effect. A native’s moon sign is looked at in Vedic astrology to see exaltation and debilitation.

Exalted and debilitated planets charts

Do the lunar nodes of Rahu and Ketu have exalted and debilitation degrees?

South and north lunar nodes, called Rahu and Ketu in Vedic astrology, do not have much relevance in Western practises. It is highly debated if these planets have exalted and debilitated degrees because they are shadow planets and are there merely to fulfil the Karmic destinies of the natives. They cannot be located astronomically.

Some practitioners of astrology believe that Rahu is exalted in Taurus and debilitated in Scorpio by 20 degrees each. It is just the opposite in the case of Ketu. This means it is exalted in Scorpio and debilitated in Taurus.

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Conclusion

While the exaltation of planets brings in a lot of good luck, its debilitation is considered inauspicious. But one needs to carefully analyse the birth chart to see the other combinations of the planetary placements to check if the debilitated planet is indeed going to create bad luck for you.

There could be a positive silver lining to even a planet considered debilitated depending on the house it is placed in and its aspects. Similarly, even an exalted sign could produce bad effects depending on its placement. This is true for all the planets.

(Hero and featured image credit: Mira Cosic, Astrologer/Pixabay)