A planet in detriment is in the sign that is opposite of the planet's rulership. The Sun, for example, rules the astrological sign Leo. If you have the Sun in the opposite sign of Leo, which is Aquarius, you have the Sun in detriment.
Here's a quick list of the planets and the signs in rulership and in detriment:
Image from Canary Quill Astrology (http://www.canaryquillastrology.com)
A planet in detriment is the weakest manifestation of a particular planet's energy. That doesn't mean that the planet isn't present; think of it like starting a race two lengths behind everyone else. You'll have to do lots of work on the areas of your life that planet rules to get the most out of it.
Another way to consider it: A planet in detriment does things their own way. In other words, it doesn't care how it is supposed to work; it's sort of a wild card. I often think of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" or Limp Bizkit's "My Way" to understand it.
In my case, I actually have two planets in detriment: The Moon, which rules Cancer, in Capricorn; and Venus, which rules Taurus and Libra, in Scorpio.
The Moon in Capricorn is one I think of as "Hoover Dam" because it really holds back emotion. It lets selected emotions out but tries hard to keep them at bay. In other words, it does what Capricorn's ruler, Saturn, does best: Suppress them. My alter ego Silent John is likely a Capricorn Moon manifestation.
Venus in Scorpio is a very intense placement. Relationships can take on an "all or nothing" vibe that can cause problems with others. There's always a quest to find "the one person" with Venus in Scorpio. Luckily, I found my person...but Venus in Scorpio is relentless in pursuit of "the one." Jealousy, possessiveness, and control issues in relationships are also common.
In both cases, the planet's influence manifests in an unorthodox, unexpected, or overly intense way. The effects will really depend on a number of factors, including:
- The planet
- Where it is in your natal chart
- What relationships it makes in the chart or via transit
Don't be concerned if you have a planet in detriment. Just know that it's an area you have to work on. The more work you put in, the more progress you'll be able to make.
Bottom line: It's important to be aware if you have planets in detriment, and this is an important question to ask during an astrology consult. Your astrologer can give you possible manifestations of the planet's energy and provide ways to work on using that planet's energy to your benefit.
