Planet strength calculator

The planet strength calculator rates every planet in your birth chart as Strong, Harmonious, Weak or Afflicted. It combines four factors into one rating per planet, so you can see which parts of your chart run smoothly and which ask for more effort. The calculator is not live yet, and this page explains the method.

What does planet strength mean?

Planet strength describes how well a planet can express its nature in your chart. A well-placed Mars acts with clear energy. A Mars under strain can feel blocked or erratic. Strength measures ease of expression. Importance is a separate question, and neither one says how good or bad a person is.

What are the four strength levels?

Level	What it means	How it often feels
Strong	The planet is well placed and well supported	Natural, confident expression
Harmonious	The planet works smoothly with the rest of the chart	Easy, cooperative expression
Weak	The planet has little support or is hard to access	Needs conscious effort
Afflicted	The planet is under pressure from hard aspects or difficult conditions	Tension, but also a drive to grow

What factors go into the rating?

The rating draws on four groups of factors. They are weighed together, never added up one by one.

• Dignity. This is whether the planet sits in a sign where it is comfortable, such as Mars in Aries or Scorpio, or in a sign where it is strained.
• Aspects. These are the angles it makes to other planets. Easy aspects support it, and hard aspects add pressure.
• House position. Planets in angular houses, near the rising sign or the Midheaven, act more visibly.
• Configurations. A planet may belong to a pattern, for example a grand trine, a T-square or a stellium.

This page gives the outline of the calculation. The same rating feeds your core type, so the two results never disagree.

How do I find my strongest planet?

Look at the planets rated Strong. If several share the rating, compare them by dignity and by how many aspects they receive. The strongest planet tends to act as the main voice of the chart. Its sign and house show how and where it speaks. Its themes, such as drive for Mars, are likely to feature in your life.

For planet meanings, see the planets section.

How do I read a Weak or Afflicted planet?

Read it as an area to develop. A Weak planet is still present and working, only without automatic support. An Afflicted planet is under pressure, which can bring frustration and also determination. Look at its sign, house and aspects, and think about what it needs to work well. Never take a rating as a verdict on your life, and do not treat it as a medical or psychological assessment.

How does planet strength relate to chart shape and elements?

Shape shows where planets are, and strength shows how well they work. The planet that forms the handle of a bucket chart, for example, carries a lot of weight, so check its strength. Strength also pairs with the element balance calculator, which shows how your planets divide across fire, earth, air and water.

What do I need to use it?

You need to know when and where you were born, with the time as exact as you can get it. The birth chart calculator shows all results in one view, including the planet strengths.