[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dignities and Debilities[/FONT]
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The following is an application of some of the principles that I have been talking about. These concepts were first presented to me and others by Tim Smith in a lecture in which he presented the ideas of his teacher, the late Anthony Damiani. As presented, they are a combination of Damiani and Smith with some additions of my own.[/FONT]
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In most, but not all, astrological signs, there are four planets with a significant relationship to the sign. There is the sign ruler, as in “Mars rules Aries,” the exaltation ruler as in “the Sun is exalted in Aries,” the planet in detriment as in “Aries is the detriment of Venus,” and the planet in fall as in “Saturn is in fall in Aries.” Two of these planets are “dignified” or made better in some way, but two are “debilitated” or made weaker in some way.[/FONT]
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Damiani came to the conclusion that these were related to the four worlds in some way. He suggested that Mars represents the aspect of Aries as Oneness, the Sun as Nous or consciousness, Venus as Soul and Saturn as the physical universe, or Cosmos. In traditional occult philosophy, which is basically Neoplatonic, the two higher worlds partake more of perfection, the two lower worlds are more susceptible to corruption, especially Cosmos. But all four are good and in some way divine, even though we do not handle them properly. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Inverted Dignities[/FONT]
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The idea is quite simple. Detriment and fall do not really weaken a planet. It is more our problem. We are more creative with these planets when we are being conscious beings and less creative when we are less conscious. The planet in fact is actually dignified. It is ourselves that create the debility. This leads to a simple idea. Is there some way in which we can change our orientation so that “weaknesses” become strengths? I began to look at this and found not only that it is possible, but I had actually been seeing it in my practice without realizing it.[/FONT]
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Let me take Mercury as an example. I have Mercury in Sagittarius, which is its detriment. This is supposed to make my Mercury weak, in theory. Yet here I am, making a living writing, lecturing and doing astrology which is traditionally a Mercurial activity. But I do have some traditional detrimented Mercury problems. My handwriting is terrible, my level of manual and digital dexterity is quite low (according to tests) and I have always had some problems keeping things organized. What is going on here?[/FONT]
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The answer seems to be that my Mercury effects divide along the lines of whether or not what I am doing requires my being fully present and conscious. When I am being conscious and intentional, everything Mercurial not only works, but works very well. I am actually known for doing things that are very Mercurial indeed. And when I am not being conscious, the sloppier effects of Mercury in Sagittarius become evident. [/FONT]
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And then there is Mercury in Pisces, which is in both its detriment and fall. I have seen many people with that placement who work well with numbers, languages, philosophy, editing and all manner of things that require a strong Mercury. I have also seen people with this placement who have serious trouble communicating and whose thinking seems very fuzzy. Usually, even with these, I have found that their logic only seems fuzzy. There is usually something very potent about it once one understands it. I believe that this is the same effect that I have noted with Mercury in Sagittarius.[/FONT]