Exaltation

Exaltation is the second of the essential dignities, a placement where a planet is honored though not in its own sign. If domicile is a planet at home, exaltation is a planet welcomed as a respected guest, given standing and a place of real strength. A planet in its sign of exaltation shows its finest qualities readily, often in an elevated or idealized form. Each traditional planet has one sign of exaltation. The Sun is exalted in Aries, the Moon in Taurus, Mercury in Virgo, Venus in Pisces, Mars in Capricorn, Jupiter in Cancer, and Saturn in Libra. In these signs the planet is held in high regard and tends to shine. Exaltation is a touch less grounded than domicile, since a guest is honored but not fully in charge, and the planet's strength can be idealized or overstated. Even so, it marks a well placed planet shown at its best. The work of exaltation is to use that elevated energy with some humility rather than assuming it is beyond question.