In classical astrology, planets are exalted at very specific times, just during one degree. This concept isn't used very much in modern astrology, but if you are doing astrological magic ala the Picatrix, exaltation can be very important.
How Rare is Exaltation?
Exaltation doesn't happen very often for the outer planets. You're probably looking at once every 12 years for Jupiter and once every 29 years for Saturn. This can probably vary a lot depending on retrograde cycles and stuff like that. Who knows; cosmic mechanics are tricky and I don't totally understand all of it.
For the inner planets, you can expect exaltation about once a year, or more. Remember that exaltation has to happen when the planet is not retrograde. This can be tricky with Mercury.
Upcoming Exaltations
Here are some upcoming exaltation dates for you to use in your astrological magic!
- Venus will be exalted March 3-4
- The Sun will be exalted April 8
- Mars will be exalted May 9-11
- Mercury will be exalted September 29 (not retrograde!)
Remember to draw up a chart for the exaltation time to make sure it's accurate for your latitude and longitude. Also, you'll want to pay attention to other aspects of the sky to make sure you can take full advantage of the exaltation.
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