What does it mean when Astrologers say that a planet “rules” a sign?
Rulerships or dignities are a rather thorny subject among Astrologers. What is meant by saying a planet “rules” a sign is that when positioned in that sign, a planet expresses its energy more naturally, with greater strength and expression. Another term for planetary dignity is saying that a planet is at “home” in a sign, and that pretty much describes it. There are actually four categories of planetary dignity: rulership, exaltation, detriment and fall. Traditionally, planets in their dignity (rulership or exaltation) were considered to be strong, and positive forces in a chart, and planets in detriment or fall were considered to be weak and ineffective. (Then there are the minor dignities of Triplicity, Term and Face, but I won’t get into these here!) I tend to work with a more spiritual approach to planetary dignity based on the teachings of Plotinus, Anthony Damiani and Astronoesis. When a planet is in the sign that it rules, it is working on the level of pure Being; in the sign of
