The Essential Dignities- an introductory thread

The essential dignities are the core traits of a placement, and they determine the relative strength/weaknesses of a planet based on it's position in a chart. It's the fundamental essence of the planet, its existence without considering its relationship to other planets or angles

Essential dignities are used to determine a planet's significance and affect in a chart.

The Essential Dignities are
- Domicile/Detriment
- Exaltation/Fall
- Triplicity
- Terms
- Face (Decan)

DOMICILE:
Domicile and detriment are based on (traditional) planetary rulerships.
Planets are domicile when they fall in the sign that they rule, and detriment when they fall in the sign opposite of the sign that planet rules.

Domiciles:
☉ Leo
☽ Cancer
☿ Gemini, Vigro
♀︎ Taurus, Libra
♂︎ Aries, Scorpio
♃ Sagittarius, Pisces
♄ Capricorn, Aquarius

Detriments:
☉ Aquarius
☽ Capricorn
☿ Sagittarius, Pisces
♀︎ Aries, Scorpio
♂︎ Taurus, Libra
♃ Gemini, Virgo
♄ Cancer, Leo

Here's a chart for the more visual learners- this one shows the domiciles. Just flip everything across the asc/dc axis for the detriments

EXALTATION:
Exaltation is the 2nd most influential dignity to a planet. There are specific degrees of exaltation, however a planet is considered exalted in the sign regardless of the exact degree it is placed at. The opposite of exaltation is fall, and not every sign has one.

Exaltations:
☉ Aries (19°)
☽ Taurus (3°)
☿ Vigro (15°)
♀︎ Pisces (27°)
♂︎ Capricorn (28°)
♃ Cancer (15°)
♄ Libra (21°)

Falls:
☉ Libra
☽ Scorpio
☿ Pisces
♀︎ Virgo
♂︎ Cancer
♃ Capricorn
♄ Aries

A brief explanation by Stephanie Johnson, quoting Guido Bottani

TRIPLICITY
Triplicity is confusing, partially because there are so many different methods of organizing them. Triplicities are harmonious groups. Modern Triplicity is based on elemental groups. However, they can also be grouped by planetary rulership. The latter is more important

Seasonal/Elemental Triplicity:
Hot & Dry - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Cold & Dry - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Hot & Wet - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Cold & Wet- Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Traditional Triplicity
Based on sect, this triplicity gives each element 3 planets- a day ruler, night ruler, and a participating ruler. Here's a table depicting each planetary triplicity.

TERM
Term is fairly ambiguous, because it has largely fallen out of use. Dignity by Term depends where in a sign the planet lies at a specific moment. If the planet falls within a specific range of degrees, it is dignified by term.

So, in the picture below each sign has it's own row, Aries through Pisces (starting w Aries, which are dignified in term when Jupiter falls between 0-5°, when Venus falls between 6-11°, etc. Taurean planets are dignified in term when the Venus falls between 0-7°, and so on).

FACE (DECAN)
Decans are subdivisions of each sign. Each decan takes up 10° in a sign and is ruled by a planet. This rulership is based on triplicity. Planets in their decan are "captains of their own fate" and signify extra importance in that area of life.

DECANS
: Mars, Sun, Venus
: Mercury, Moon, Saturn
: Jupiter, Mars, Sun
: Venus, Mercury, Moon
: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars
: Sun, Venus, Mercury
: Moon, Saturn, Jupiter
: Mars, Sun, Venus
: Mercury, Moon, Saturn
: Jupiter, Mars, Sun
: Venus, Mercury, Moon

: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars

The most common system of measuring a planet's impact in a chart was a system that gave 5 points to domicile planets, 4 to exalted planets, 3 to planets in triplicity, 2 to planets in term, and 1 to planets in face.

Using this system you could calculate the relative strength or weakness of a planet. The more points the planet is alloted, the more strength or influence is associated with that planet.

Bonus graphic I made simplifying the domicile and exaltation schemas!