Fall

fawl

greek: Ταπείνωμα (Tapeinoma) · latin: Casus

Definition

A planet is in fall — also called depression — when it sits in the sign directly opposite its exaltation, the sign where it would otherwise be honored. The placements are: the Sun in Libra, the Moon in Scorpio, Mercury in Pisces, Venus in Virgo, Mars in Cancer, Jupiter in Capricorn, and Saturn in Aries. Each planet has exactly one sign of fall, set across the zodiac from its exaltation.

In Tradition

Traditional Western astrologers count fall as a serious debility — a weak placement marked by lowered authority. A planet in fall tends to struggle to bring about favorable results, with whatever it governs brought low and reduced in standing.

In Practice

Astrologers score fall as -4 in the traditional dignity system, the second-harshest score after detriment at -5. In a birth chart, a planet in fall is deeply weakened, though it can become the very place where someone puts compensating effort. When a planet lands in both fall and detriment at once — Mercury in Pisces is the case — the weakness is doubled. Helpful aspects, a welcome from the sign ruler, or a strong placement on an angle can soften the difficulty but never erase the underlying weakness.

Historical Origin

The Hellenistic Greek term is tapeinoma (lowering, humiliation). Valens, Rhetorius, and other Hellenistic sources discuss fall as the opposite of exaltation, a state of basic dishonor. The exaltation-fall axis was likely inherited from Mesopotamian astronomical traditions.

Etymology

Origin: Latin. Meaning: From Latin casus, "a falling." The Greek term is Tapeinoma, meaning "lowering" or "humiliation," reflecting the concept of a planet brought low from its honored position..

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Etymology

Further Reading