Essential Dignities: What Does it Mean if a Planet is in Fall in Astrology?

There are four essential dignities, including a fall, in astrology that refer to the qualities of planets in certain signs. The four qualities are:

• Exalted
• Fall
• Domicile
• Detriment

In modern astrology, these essential dignities aren’t determinative of a good life or a bad life. They are merely a guide for where you might need to work a little harder in your life. However, in traditional astrology, a planet in fall or detriment could be taken quite literally as something that would give you bad luck or a poor outlook in the area ruled by the planet.

What Does “In Fall” Mean in Astrology?

When a planet is in fall in astrology, it is opposite the position of the planet when it is exalted. A fall in astrology means the planet is weaker than it might be in other positions. However, this isn’t a “bad” placement. It simply means that you may have to work a little harder in the area of your fall placement in life. Sometimes the things we have to work at become the things we are best at later down the line!

Table of Planets in Fall

Because there are only 10 bodies that count as planets in astrology, some signs do not have a corresponding planet in fall.

Qualities of Each Planet in Fall According to Modern Astrology

Saturn in Aries

With Saturn in its fall position, the bold leadership qualities of Aries do not come easily to you. You probably prefer to follow the pack and don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. Saturn was in Aries for much of 1996-1999. People born during this time may have trouble taking the initiative to live their dreams. It’s not impossible for them, but they have a hard time getting out of their comfort zone.

Uranus in Taurus

Uranus is a planet of rapid change and innovation, and Taurus is a slow and steady sign. It’s easy to see why these two are uncomfortable together. The most recent Uranus in Taurus generation was from 1934-1941, and Uranus has been in this sign since 2018. It will leave in 2025. When people have Uranus in Taurus in their birth chart, they are quite stubborn and do not like change. They prefer for things to stay the same even if it’s not in their best interest.

Mars in Cancer

When Mars, a planet of action and passion, meets Cancer, a deeply emotional sign, the two sometimes form a flame that fizzles out, but sometimes forms steam. People with this placement have trouble maintaining consistency with their passion and action. They can go full steam ahead only to get too tired to complete a project. Their emotions can also prevent them from having the full energy required to get things done.

Pluto in Leo

The most recent Pluto in Leo generation was from 1938-1957. Because Pluto is a higher octave of Mars, those with this fall placement also struggle with energy, but for different reasons. People with this placement have significant creative vision with a transformative power. However, they are often held back by fear of innovation, or personal responsibility and loyalty. They want to do the sensible thing that will make them comfortable, rather than the out-of-the-box thing.

Venus in Virgo

Venus in Virgo people often desire connection but don’t know how to get it. Outwardly they seem standoffish and can seem to push people away with high standards and judgments. A person with this fall placement may be internally romantic, but outwardly they are very practical and seem to eschew romance. The way to their heart is definitely through earthly delights such as organizing, cooking meals, and running errands.

The Sun in Libra

The Sun, which shines bright and is all about ego, doesn’t always mesh well with Libra, which seeks to intertwine with others. However, this is part of what gives Libra their balanced approach to life. What Libra has to be careful of here is not to dim their own shine. They can easily allow others to take the spotlight or diminish their own needs or even their own achievements. Learning to be comfortable with attention and recognition may be a lifelong pursuit.

The Moon in Scorpio

The trouble with the Moon in Scorpio is that it makes these people suspicious. They are so intuitive they appear to be psychic. But, they have trouble telling their own delusions or suspicions from what is real life. However, people with this placement are deeply emotional and have a strong nonsense detector. They require sincerity in all their relationships. If they’re not careful, their emotions can rule their lives.

Jupiter in Capricorn

When the planet of expansion meets the sign of structure, difficulties may erupt. People with this fall-in-astrology placement have big ambitions but they tend to get lost in the details. They analyze everything, which is great in some situations, but crazy-making in others. Jupiter is very optimistic, but Capricorn is very pessimistic. People with this placement often have a hard time allowing optimism into their lives.

Neptune in Aquarius

The most recent Neptune in Aquarius was from 1998-2012. People with this Neptune sign tend to dream big, especially when it comes to technological advances, but they may not be able to make their ideas come to life. They can easily get lost in delusion about the world, preferring to believe things should be a certain, ideal, way. However, nothing is ever quite that easy and they can get depressed when they realize just how complicated the world really is.

Mercury in Pisces

Pisces’ boundlessness makes Mercury’s thinking nature go a little wild at times. People with Mercury in Pisces can get stuck in anxiety-provoking thought patterns. They are quite theoretical but have trouble applying their ideas to the real world. Their communication can seem to change depending on who they are talking to because they go with the flow and want to find the most commonality with others. This can cause conflicts.

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