Essential dignity
What is essential dignity? it's one of a classical astrology system
Essential dignity, in astrology, refers to the relative strength or weakness of a planet or point's zodiac position by sign and degree, or its essence—what the pre-eminent 17th-century astrologer William Lilly called "the strength, fortitude or debility of the Planets [or] significators."[1] In other words, essential dignity seeks to view the strengths of a planet or point as though it were isolated from other factors in the sky of the natal chart.
By comparison, accidental dignity indicates how much strength a planet or point derives from its position in a natal chart, such as its relation to the other factors in the chart: for example, its proximity to other planets, or to the four angles of the chart, or to stars, as well as the aspects (or symmetrical angular connections) it forms with other planets or points in the chart...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_dignity
In classical astrology (ancient times), essential dignity was well calculated as major cause and effect in someone's chart, not so much in modern times. Planet fall or detriment in a sign didn't really affect one's successful outcome. In modern astrology; aspects such as conjunction, opposition and especially square are more responsible for the adverse impact.
For post-Classical astrologers, such as Bonatti or Lilly, the dignities had a hierarchy. The most important dignity was domicile rulership; slightly less important was exaltation. Triplicity rulerships were still fairly important in medieval astrology, but nowhere near as vital as they were for Hellenistic astrologers such as Ptolemy. Terms or bounds rulerships became very much diminished in importance, and face rulers were almost entirely ignored. (Lilly said that the only function face rulers served was to keep a planet from being entirely peregrine—that is, without any essential dignity whatever—which was considered a malefic condition.)
...
Many modern astrologers take little heed of essential dignities, with the exception of domicile rulerships (see article on ruling planets.) This is most likely the result of the simplification of astrological technique that occurred when astrology lost popularity beginning in the eighteenth century....
In essential dignity- a planet strength/weaknesses is carefully calculated according to the system. I.e=
*
Dont bother if you confuse, only me can read that/sort of ^^
I.e= If your planet in the fall sign; it has -2, besieged by Mars and Saturn -3 and so on..
Why I bother to talk this thing?
Because our life as a soul is somehow reflect to that ^ system, essential dignity could be an analogy of our life quality. For sample:
If you were born rich +8, if you have powerful family and have connection +3 if you pretty and you know it +3 if you 're white +4- really?

Idk..
If you born in low income family -5, if you born in 3rd world -8

if you fugly and you dont know it -4, if you're asian -2, if you're black -4 really? Idk..it seemed I heard so much outcry of being born black; from racism, homophobia to the difficulty getting white mate ..dont blame me, even Im (a non black) who's faaaar from their circle could smell something not right...
Do you believe if you're white you're like +4 and if you're black then -4? Do you really believe what Im saying??!!

The thing is..there is no ultimate nomenclature to explain plus and minuses in your life quality but the effect is..personally 'heart felt' for each of us. If you feel being white is like .."the top of this world"- you're free to add 4 or 8 points- if you're supremacist ^^, you too ..could believe that race is doesn't matter, then add "0" for being white. The same system as being black, hispanic, other races or an asian. Tbh, I dont do any better as being asian.
To me personally..being asian is like +4 and -2 altogether. +4 for the blessing born and raise in typical asian family and -2 because wherever I go...I treated as a non sexual object. If you're a regular asian, not a super sexy asian ...then it seems you're casted out from the sexy circle/ uninvited, the desexualization of asian guys is still "hard" in western centric world. I know that ^^ Im part of disexualizing group and I cope with that for the rest of my life. But you're free not to trust me if you think that issue doesn't matter.
If you noticed I said +4 and -2 altogether; aren't that equation canceling each other? Of course they do, just like in math! ^^
In the end result, I got "2" for my asian-ness. It also happen if you're black..you could rate yourself -4 or -8 for being black but think if you're super pretty, athletic like Michael Sam or famous, perhaps your equation is like -4+3+5+8 and in the end you're having 12 and that's a positive number...for being a black guy.
You see?..Our self (body and soul) is like component..of plus and minuses ...
What the use ++++ things in life if you got ----- multiple negatives?
What's the use of being white if you have criminal tendency, abused or kicked from parent's house in such early age with no value learned? Or sick? Or physically harmed? Or being a drug addict? or a convict? (
I say that -100) We never know what's going on inside a stranger other than his/her pretty face.
or..the most famz
And when you see the big picture...what is the point of being part of _____ (
put your race there) Isn't race like a very small..component from the bigger picture, which is
"you?"
However, it's still mind boggling to think race isn't relevant as a key play to determine one's success isn't?
What about white privilege? People who excel because of their whiteness...?
I say: What if he's not too bright/ pretty/ cunning and lucky? Could every white person becomes superstar? Of course not but this is America with caucasian majority and it's human behavior to helping other human who look like them first (priority) than anyone who's foreign to them- that's why the "privilege" exist.
Our life is nothing but series of components- race included. It's foolish to think that your race defines you and it's also foolish to think your race (as a group) do not make influence/impact to its neighbors. However, you have freedom to rate yourself, your plus and minuses..^^ and every person has different equation..it's the very basic thinking of why Im not really meddle to anyone's business, they have their own.
But it's true an old saying:
"Count your blessing" because without that attitude..it's easy to fall and sucked into your
"minuses" ..which later you can't get out.