Ptolemy's Table of Essential Digities and Debilities
Traditional Rulers of the Zodiacal Degrees

Claudius Ptolemy

Only the visible planets and the Moon's nodes are considered by Ptolemy. The outer planets, asteroids, etc., have only been considered recently, since their discovery in modern times by means of the telescope. These newer chart factors, though worth considering, have no traditional dignity or debility.

Important note on degrees: there are 360 equal degrees in a circle, in this case the circle of the ecliptic. Each sign has 30 degrees; each degree is divided into 60 minutes; each minute is divided into 60 seconds of arc. For the same reason that there is no "Year 0" in the calendar (which begins with "Year 1"), the first degree of a sign contains 0°00'01"–1°00'00", the second degree contains 1°00'01"–2°00'00" and so on. 0°01' is in the 1st degree. 1°01' is in the second degree. 29°01' is in the 30th degree. It is essential to grasp this point.

The degree of exaltation is the degree stated. For example: the Sun is exalted in the 19th degree of Aries (i.e. between 18°00'01" and 19°00'00"). The terms are measured from the beginning of the sign to the degree of the planetary ruler indicated, then from the subsequent degree to the next and so on the the end of the sign. So for example, in Aries: the terms of Jupiter are 1º–6º; terms of Venus: 7º–14º; Mercury: 15º–21º; Mars: 22º–26º; Saturn: 27º–30º. Faces are assigned similarly.

Sign	Ruler	Exalted	Triplicity		Terms					Face			Detriment	Fall
			Day	Night
Aries	Mars (D)	Sun 19°	Sun	Jup	Jup 6°	Venus 14°	Merc 21°	Mars 26°	Saturn 30°	Mars 10°	Sun 20°	Venus 30°	Venus	Saturn
Taurus	Venus (N)	Moon 3°	Venus	Moon	Venus 8°	Merc 15°	Jup 22°	Saturn 26°	Mars 30°	Merc 10°	Moon 20°	Saturn 30°	Mars	n/a
Gemini	Merc (D)	Cap.Drac. 3°	Saturn	Merc	Merc 7°	Jup 14°	Venus 21°	Saturn 25°	Mars 30°	Jup 10°	Mars 20°	Sun 30°	Jup	n/a
Cancer	Moon (D/N)	Jup 15°	Mars	Mars	Mars 6°	Jup 13°	Merc 20°	Venus 27°	Saturn 30°	Venus 10°	Merc 20°	Moon 30°	Saturn	Mars
Leo	Sun (D/N)	n/a	Sun	Jup	Saturn 6°	Merc 13°	Venus 19°	Jup 25°	Mars 30°	Saturn 10°	Jup 20°	Mars 30°	Saturn	n/a
Virgo	Merc (N)	Merc 15°	Venus	Moon	Merc 6°	Venus 13°	Jup 18°	Saturn 24°	Mars 30°	Sun 10°	Venus 20°	Merc 30°	Jup	Venus
Libra	Venus (D)	Saturn 21°	Saturn	Merc	Saturn 6°	Venus 11°	Jup 19°	Merc 24°	Mars 30°	Moon 10°	Saturn 20°	Jup 30°	Mars	Sun
Scorpio	Mars (N)	n/a	Mars	Mars	Mars 6°	Jup 14°	Venus 21°	Merc 27°	Saturn 30°	Mars 10°	Sun 20°	Venus 30°	Venus	Moon
Sagittarius	Jup (D)	Cau.Drac. 3°	Sun	Jup	Jup 8°	Venus 14°	Merc 19°	Saturn 25°	Mars 30°	Merc 10°	Moon 20°	Saturn 30°	Merc	n/a
Capricorn	Saturn (N)	Mars 28°	Venus	Moon	Venus 6°	Merc 12°	Jup 19°	Mars 25°	Saturn 30°	Jup 10°	Mars 20°	Sun 30°	Moon	Jup
Aquarius	Saturn (D)	n/a	Saturn	Merc	Saturn 6°	Merc 12°	Venus 20°	Jup 25°	Mars 30°	Venus 10°	Merc 20°	Moon 30°	Sun	n/a
Pisces	Jup (N)	Venus 27°	Mars	Mars	Venus 8°	Jup 14°	Merc 20°	Mars 26°	Saturn 30°	Saturn 10°	Jup 20°	Mars 30°	Merc	Merc