A plant is in detriment when it is in the sign that is opposite the sign
of its rulership. For example, the moon rules the sign of Cancer. When
the Moon is in Capricorn, the sign that is opposite Cancer, we say that
the Moon is in the sign of its detriment. When a planet is in detriment,
it has the most difficulty expressing its energies. For example, if you
are a structured and formal type of person, you would feel very uncomfortable
in the house of someone who is informal and spontaneous, or, if you were a
very neat person, you would feel uncomfortable in the house of someone who
was very sloppy. The same concept applies to planets in the position of
their detriment.
Below is a list of each planet, its position of detriment, and a description
of the difficulty presented by the planet's position in detriment. Since
Mercury and Venus each rule two signs, those planets will have two positions
of detriment. If you use the old rulerships, this will also apply to
Mars (detriment in Taurus), Saturn (detriment in Leo), and Jupiter(detriment in Gemini)
as well.
Sun is in detriment in Aquarius:
The Sun being the natural ruler of Leo is related to one's sense of self, the ego,
power, being recognized, and meeting ones own needs. Aquarius, on the other hand,
is concerned with the benefit of humanity, it is detached, objective. The personal
desires of the Sun are watered down in Aquarius. The needs of humanity are
overpowering the egocentric needs and characteristic of the Sun.
Moon is in detriment in Capricorn:
The Moon is emotional, intuitive, nurturing and changeable. Capricorn is structured,
stern, materialistic, concerned with achieving status and achieving ambitions. The
nurturing qualities of the Moon are stifled here.
Mercury is in detriment in Sagittarius:
Mercury's intellectual capacities work best when they are used in an objective
and rational way as it is when in its ruler Gemini. When Mercury is in Sagittarius,
it is subjective and abstract rather than rational and objective. It is also opinionated
and not very willing to accept any rational debate in order to reach the unbiased truth.
Mercury is in detriment in Pisces:
Mercury's intellectual and rational capacities are watered down when it is in
the sign of Pisces. Objective thought is clouded over by feelings and emotions,
making it difficult to perceive the reality of issues and ideas.
Venus is in detriment in Scorpio:
Venus is a light planet. It is social, peaceful, diplomatic, and affectionate.
It has a hard time functioning in this manner in the deep, intense, secretive
and potentially vindictive sign of Scorpio
Venus is in detriment in Aries:
Aries is concerned with the self. It is aggressive and seeks to conquer what it
wants for itself. Venus is concerned with relationships. It is social and
diplomatic, seeking fairness for everyone. These tendencies have a very difficult
time working in the sign of Aries.
Mars is in detriment in Libra:
Mars is aggressive and energetic. It wants to build, conquer, and explore. Libra, on the other
hand is peaceful, social, graceful, diplomatic, and seeks fairness and justice.
When Mars is in Libra, there is difficulty asserting oneself.
Jupiter is in detriment in Gemini:
Jupiter is philosophical and abstract. It relates to higher knowledge , religion and philosophy.
It is optimistic, jovial, generous and full of humor. Gemini is also intellectual,
however it is more concerned with the dry facts. Unlike Jupiter, it is objective,
unemotional, and seeks to remain detached in order to get the accurate facts.
Saturn is in detriment in Cancer:
Saturn is a cold barren planet. It relates to sternness, discipline and fear.
Cancer is the opposite. It is a warm emotional sign. It is the sign of motherhood
and is very nurturing and sentimental. Saturn in Cancer reduces this warm, nurturing
tendency.
Uranus is in detriment in Leo:
Uranus is a sign related to humanitarian causes. It relates to the benefit of
the greater whole. It is scientific and works against any type of injustice.
Leo is concerned with itself. It seeks honor, appreciation, recognition and has
a need to be the center of attention. It wants to be the king, the ruler. Although Leo
can be a generous and loyal sign, the primary focus is normally concerned with
the benefit of the self. This is not a good location for Uranus to express its detached
humanitarian characteristics.
Neptune is in detriment in Virgo:
Neptune is a cloudy, diffuse, planet related to confusion and deception. Virgo
is an intellectual sign which seeks to make practical use of analytical facts.
Virgo seeks accurate truth while Neptune, in it's lower form tends to cloud and
distort the truth.
Pluto is in detriment in Taurus:
Pluto is an intense planet. It represents the best (evolution, transformation,
regeneration) and the worst (evil, decadence, crime). Taurus seeks material comfort,
sensuality and relaxation. While Taurus is determined, it desires to sit back and
relax, seeking to attract its desires to itself while Pluto is intense and compulsive,
actively seeking out its goals and probing to the inner most depths.