Rulership

Rulership and dignity give planets strength. Rulership is based on the planets sign position. A planet’s house position  and degree can give the planet strength or can take away from its strength. Domicile , exaltation , face , term and mutual reception are all considered dignity. Detriment and fall are considered debilities.
When the planets is in it’s domicile it’s in the house that are naturally rules ,thus it is quite comfortable. It follows it’s own rules and doesn’t have to answer to no one.

Rulership – planet in sign that it rules

There is one sign, sometimes two, where each planet feels totally at home.  Its energy flows freely and easily there. For example, the energy of the Moon combines extremely well with the energy of Cancer.  This is said to be the sign that the planet rules.
A planet in the sign it rules is said to be in its Essential Dignity.  It’s like being completely at ease in your own home.

Exaltation – Honor and Applause

Besides the sign that it rules there is usually a sign where the energy of a  planet expresses itself quite well .

To be exalted is to be admired and praised.  It’s like visiting your  best friend. You’re very comfortable and happy there, but it’s still not your own home

Detriment – Damaging and Harmful

Planets are said to be in detriment when they are in the sign opposite the sign that they rule.

Planets in detriment are  considered to have some difficulty expressing their own nature. They are required to conform to the energy of the sign rather than working with it.  You’re in a place where you have to conform to someone else’s rules and regulations.

Fall – Seriously Harmful

Planets are in their fall when they are in the sign opposite the sign of their exaltation. 
There are exaltation degrees for  planet in their sign of exaltation. This makes  planet Express with more ease. planets other than the exalted planets  found  at exaltation degree  should be  interpreted as a conjunction to the planet that is exalted in that sign.  For  example Sun at 3 Taurus  is seen as Sun conjunct  moon or Sun in Cancer. The exaltation degrees are as follows:

Sun: 19th degree of Aries

Moon: 3rd degree of Taurus.

Mercury: 15th degree of Virgo.

Venus: 27th degree of Pisces.

Mars: 28th degree of Capricorn.

Jupiter: 15th degree of Cancer.

Node:
3rd degree of
Gemini.

Planets in fall are in the most difficult place for planet to express their nature.  It is uncomfortable and like being forced to be in a place where you are not welcomed.

Mutual reception is when two planets are in each others ruling sign. For example the Sun in Cancer  and  the Moon in Leo. These planets will then share each other’s energy in both signs and houses.

Accidental dignity is when a planet is in an angular house

Terms  and Face are used in Horary Astrology.  It basically a subrulership system where the traditional 5 planets  are assigned rulership to a particular portion of a sign.  6 degrees per sign . Having  all signs with a ruler of the degree as well. (see chart)

Triplicity Rulers are planets  that rule signs in the same element.  They further  influence the nature  of a planet that  falls within  the 10  degrees they govern. Each Element  owns 3 signs.  Within each sign they all rule a 10 degree  span. the sign itself  rules the first 10 degrees. The middle 10 is ruled by the next sign of the element in zodiacal order . The last  10 degrees by the remaining sign. For example:  Aries  is Mars(0-9) Sun(10-19) Jupiter(20-29)

Leo is (Leo)Sun  (Sagittarius) Jupiter (Aries)Mars

Sagittarius  is (Sagittarius ) Jupiter (Aries) Mars  (Leo) Sun

Planetary  Joy Think of the planet being on holy ground someplace where he feels safe.

The joys are as follows:

Mercury has its joy in the 1st house.

Moon has her joy in the 3rd house.

Venus has her joy in the 5th house.

Mars has his joy in the 6th house.

Sun has its joy in the 9th house.

Jupiter has its joy in the 11th house.

Saturn has its joy in the 12th house.

When a planet is in the house of its joy it is said to “rejoice”.