Exalted Planets and Debilitated Planets

Among the 12 Zodiac signs, there is

one specific sign in which a planet functions at its optimum. This is called its sign of
Exaltation. The sign which is opposite or 180 degrees apart in the Zodiac is known as
the sign of Debilitation for that particular planet. In debilitated sign, the planet is
weak and it causes many challenges and difficulties in the life of a native.
Basically in the sign of exaltation, the planet functions freely as per its true nature and
delivers positive results in our life. Conversely, in the sign of debilitation, the planet
cannot function freely because the nature of sign does not harmonize with the nature of
planets. For all planets except Mercury, the signs of exaltation are different from the
signs which are ruled by each planet. For Mercury, Virgo is the sign of exaltation and it
is also ruled by Mercury.
Each Zodiac sign has a dimension of 30 degrees. There is a specific degree of exaltation
and hence a specific degree of debilitation which are different for every planet. The
Exaltation/Debilitation effects for each planet is highest in the specific degree of
exaltation/debilitation. For the practical purpose of interpretation of chart, a planet is
considered exalted/debilitated in a particular sign no matter at what degree, it is
actually located in the specific sign.
In this article I want to share with you the explanation from the nature of the sign and
the nature of planet why a particular sign is considered as the sign of
exaltation/debilitation for the planet. The nature of a sign /planet is mainly determined
by the elements it represents. Let us take each planet and understand for ourselves.
NOW QUESTION RAISE WHY IN PARTICULAR SIGN THEY ARE EXALTED
AND DEBLITED,I WILL TELL YOU?

Sun : Its exaltation sign is Aries. The degree of exaltation is 10 degrees. Therefore, the
sign of debilitation is Libra and degree of debilitation is also 10 degrees. The sun
represents the fire element. It is the source of all energy which sustains the entire solar
system including all life form on earth. When Sun is located in Aries which is a cardinal
sign type with fire element; Sun functions best because of the commonality of the
element. The cardinal nature of Aries gives it a clear direction for action. Fire element
gives strong will, ambition, determination, leadership. On the higher level, Sun in Aries
gives independence,clarity strong judgment and high values.
However, when Sun is located in Libra, it has to interact with Air element of Libra sign.
The air and Fire together will create uncontrolled energy. It will become like a forest
fire which will destroy everything without creating anything. In an individual, it will
create pride and arrogance which in reality will be because of deep seated insecurity
because Sun is weak and will be malefically disposed in its inimical sign ruled by Venus.
It will give poor perception, lack of intelligence, low vitality , melancholy and fear, and
deviousness or dishonesty.
Moon : Its exaltation sign is Taurus and debilitated sign is Scorpio. The degree of
exaltation is 3 degrees. The moon represents water and indicates the water element in
general in the chart. Taurus is a fixed sign with earth element. When water flows
through earth it makes the earth fertile; fixed sign indicates nurturing. Fertile earth
nurtures all planets and all living organisms. Fixed types are firm ,stable and
determined about who they are and what they do. Exalted Moon in Taurus brings the
best of lunar qualities in the person. They seek balance and harmony in individual
relationships and in their organizations of immediate environment. It gives a strong
sense of form and beauty, the best of lunar qualities It can make them very romantic
and devotional and are often votaries of the idea that all is love manifesting the highest
qualities of Venus, the ruler of Taurus combined with the highest qualities of Moon.
Moon gets debilitated in Scorpio which is a fixed sign but with water element. This is
kind of excess water like flood which destroys all the crop. Being fixed sign the water
does not flow. It gets stagnated. In a person this creates excess of unbalanced lunar
energies of past baggage of emotion and feelings. Afflictions to the moon can show
personality disorders, difficulties in relating to other people and emotional
disturbances. It causes lunacy ,as our language reflects in extreme circumstances
specially if it conjuncts with lunar nodes in Scorpio. However, there is an exception,
Scorpio being ruled by Mars is also a highly mystical sign and can be a vessel for strong
psychic powers, occult etc. Mind is purely dependent consciousness, it has no real
nature of its own. As such, it can function in one of the two ways. It can reflect inner
nature of things or their outer appearance. If there are favorable Jupiter/Venus or
Saturn in the chart, Moon in Scorpio can actually harness the excess water for high
spiritual and psychic development and is often found in the charts of highly evolved
Yogi and Tantrics.
Mars : Mars is the great planet of energy and it also represents fire element. The
essential difference between Mars and Sun is; Mars is purely energy whereas Sun is
energy with soul. The exalted sign for Mars is Capricorn which is a cardinal sign with
earth element. The degree of exaltation is 28 degrees.

In Capricorn Mars is like fire controlled and enclosed in a hearth made of earth, which
can be directed for useful purposes like a steam engine or to give warmth and comfort.
People with Mars in Capricorn has power, strength, courage and aggression almost like
Sun but more to carry out mundane tasks in life without the higher goals and vales of
Sun.
The debilitated sign of Mars is Cancer which is also cardinal sign but with water
element. This water simply kills the fire and energy of Mars. Mars simply becomes
confused, its energy gets lost in unwanted emotion and passion. Its energy gets
dissipated in competition, argument and conflict because such things are usually the
product of misplaced emotions.
Mercury : Mercury signifies on one hand earth element as well as it signifies ether
because of its subtle nature. This is the reason why both the own signs are dual sign
types- Gemini and Virgo. Virgo is also the exalted sign for Mercury as mentioned
earlier. The degree of exaltation is 15 degrees.
Virgo is dual sign type with earth element. Mercury is the great messenger of the
cosmos. He is the planet which represents speech, communication and commerce on all
levels. Mercury in Virgo creates the perfect balance between duality and its ethereal
qualities and the practicality or solidity of the earth element. Mercury represents
intellect, analysis, transaction and exchange. Exalted mercury establishes our values in
life. Material values, prices, standards of measurement and comparison, artistic values
as well as spiritual values. Exalted Mercury in Virgo gives great healing power which
the person uses to heal and serve mankind.
Mercury is debilitated in Pisces which is also dual sign with water element. This water
element completely dilutes the analytical intellect of Mercury in a whirlpool of
misplaced emotions and impractical ideas. People with debilitated Mercury are not
exactly fools but are confused. They are enthusiastic but not always wisely so.
Debilitated Mercury can make a person lack in boundaries. They are moved by
sentiments which are not genuine and when frustrated can suffer from self pity. They
can be amorphous, hard to pin down and often appear in whatever way is necessary to
please or placate others or they make commitments without any intention of fulfilling
them. They just respond to the influence of the moment.
Jupiter : The wise Jupiter by its spiritual nature is said to represent ether. The two
signs ruled by Jupiter, Sagittarius and Pisces are both dual in nature. Jupiter is exalted
in Cancer which is cardinal sign with water element. The degree of exaltation is 5
degrees.
Jupiter is considered as the most beneficial planet for mankind and will function best in
Cancer because of the water element. Jupiter is the planet of wisdom or knowledge
unlike Mercury which is the planet of information and exchange. Exalted Jupiter gives
a person humility because of true wisdom. Exalted Jupiter makes him true guru who
dispenses knowledge and wisdom for benefit of all. It is the planet of luck, divine grace
which can fulfill all our needs without our seeking. When Jupiter is with us the universe
is with us. In its exaltation in Cancer he is the Cosmic and Divine beneficence. Jupiter
gets debilitated in Capricorn which is cardinal sign with earth element The earth
element of Capricorn with its cardinal nature can make us too materialistic, too

pragmatic. We can become too manipulative to achieve our goal. It will give us pride
and arrogance and can make us too self centered. We can become over optimistic and
over extend ourselves in every sphere of our life.
Venus : Venus signifies water element. Venus is exalted in Pisces. The degree of
exaltation is 27 degrees. Pisces is a dual sign with water element. Unlike, Moon in
Scorpio when there is excess water which is stagnated in fixed sign, the excess water
element with Venus in Pisces is free flowing in dual sign. Venus in Pisces signifies
infinite love and our infinite appreciation of beauty and passion.
Venus exalted in our chart signifies our aspiration to beauty and truth through which
we can realize the power of infinite love beyond our senses and pleasure that is the love
of God or realization of the God within ourselves. Venus gets debilitated in Virgo which
is also dual sign with earth element. This earth element of debilitated Venus limits us to
the pleasure of our senses only.
Debilitated Venus completely deprives our capacity to feel content and to become happy
in life. She makes us vain, superficial and affected and turn us into a machine to seek
sensual pleasure and luxury. Debilitated Venus signifies the pleasure that dissipates,
exhausts and debilitates, the self indulgence which can ultimately leads to our
destruction.
Saturn : Saturn signifies Air element. Saturn is exalted in Libra which is cardinal sign
with air element. The degree of exaltation is 20 degrees. The excess air with Saturn in
Libra allows Saturn to manifest its highest qualities in our life. In its normal or worst
form it is the most malefic planet among all the planets.
Saturn brings limitation and obstruction, hindrance in self expression and self
manifestation. As Jupiter is the great affirmer, Saturn is the great negator. Destruction
is as important in evolution as creation is. In this respect Saturn is just opposite of Sun.
In mythology Saturn is described as the son of Sun. Father and Sun are the greatest
enemy of each other. Exalted Saturn can make us really free from our fear of the
limitation of the material realm in our life. Saturn is the death that takes us beyond the
limitations of the mortal life, which is the gateway to the eternal Exalted Saturn is the
Yogi in meditation. He can teach us complete detachment and independence from
material desires in our life. Exalted Saturn can also deliver enormous wealth and power
in our mundane life by giving us the concentration and discipline and will power and
seriousness to achieve most enduring success in our life.
Saturn gets debilitated in Aries which is fire element and cardinal sign. It is the same
story where air and fire combines to deliver the uncontrolled miseries of the negative
qualities of Saturn in our life. It will cause poverty, deprivation and want. It will keep us
in bondage and will take away all our vitality on a physical or mental level.
Rahu/Ketu : The two lunar nodes are always 180 degrees opposite to each other.
Rahu is more like Saturn and has air element. Ketu is more like sun and Mars and has
fire element. Rahu is exalted in Taurus and debilitated in Scorpio and for Ketu it is just
the opposite. The degree of exaltation is supposed to be 20 degrees. Rahu and Ketu are
said to be shadowy Karmic planets in our chart. They act as triggers to deliver both
Karmic rewards and Karmic punishments in our life.

In fact astrologers do not have clear agreements on the signs of exaltation and
debilitation of these two planets. Some consider that both of them are exalted in either
Gemini or Virgo , the two signs of Mercury. Then both Sagittarius and Pisces the two
signs of Jupiter will become the signs of debilitation of both these planets. Because of
this confusion it is difficult to explain the logic behind it.
What you will find interesting that there are three distinct pairs among the family of
planets. They are Sun and Saturn; Jupiter and Mars; Mercury and Venus. In each of
these pairs, the exaltation/debilitation signs gets exchanged. Sun signifies life. Saturn
signifies death. Jupiter signifies wisdom and Mars signifies action. Mercury signifies
intellect and Venus signifies emotion. Truly these 3 pairs are pairs of opposites.