Rulerships, Exaltations, Monads, and the Triad Correlated with the Sections of Plato's Divided Line

Divided Line (Plato)

In the upper left, there is a circle labeled “Nous,” with the twelve signs of the zodiac going around the circle. The planets in exaltation are listed inside the circle.

In the center is Plato’s Divided Line. Each section of the Line has a planet just above the line, which represents the type of object that can be known (objective) and a planet(s) just below the line, which represents the type of knower of that object (subjective). The planets in the objective position are rulerships, and the planets in the subjective position are exaltations.

The planets in the objective position, reading from left to right, are Moon in Cancer, Venus in Libra, Saturn in Capricorn, and Jupiter in Pisces. Their corresponding exaltations are listed below the line (although Mercury in Virgo is also listed next to Jupiter in Cancer in the first section).

To the left of the Line, the Sun in Aries and Moon in Taurus (both in exaltation) represent the unity of the Intellect, or Nous.

Above each of the sections of the Line are various configurations of planets. Above the Moon in Cancer, there is a tetractys that consists of the ten dignities of houses 1-3, with the four dignities of house 1 at the top, the dignities of house 2 on the left, and the dignities of house 3 on the right.

Above Venus in Libra, there are three rows that list the Life rulerships, sometimes called the “Life monad,” where the rows group the rulerships by quadrant.

Above Saturn in Libra, there are four rows that list the falls, sometimes called the “Body monad,” where the rows group the falls by quadrant. (Mars in Taurus is listed in the third row, but it should be Mars in Cancer.)

Saturn in Aries, which is in fall in house 1, is listed only by sign in the last row.

Above Jupiter in Pisces, there are four rows that list the Soul detriments, sometimes called the “Soul monad,” where the rows group the falls by quadrant. Jupiter in Gemini, which is in detriment in house 3, is listed only by sign in the last row.