Reception (astrology)
Encyclopedia
In astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...

, reception is a condition where one planet is located in a sign where a second planet has astrological dignity
Essential dignity
In astrology, essential dignity is the strength of a planet or point's zodiac position, judged only by its 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." In other...

--for example, a sign which the second planet rules
Domicile (astrology)
In astrology, a planet's domicile is the zodiac sign over which it has rulership. This is a separate concept from the houses of the horoscope. A planetary ruler is given to each sign, over which the planet is said to have a more powerful influence when positioned therein...

 or in which it is exalted
Exaltation (astrology)
In astrology, exaltation is one of the five essential dignities of a planet. Each of the seven traditional planets has its exaltation in one zodiac sign...

, or where the second planet is the triplicity
Triplicity
In astrology, a triplicity is a group of three signs belonging to the same element.-Trines:Western astrology assumes that each sign of the same triplicity is 120 degrees apart, forming angles to one another called trines, which are each equivalent to the 360 degrees of the circle divided by three...

 ruler.

In such a case, the first planet is said to be "received" by the dignified planet, and this relationship was seen by ancient and medieval astrologers to function in a similar way to that of host and guest. The dignified planet is strong, and hence provides support and assistance to the second planet which falls within its purview.

Sometimes this relationship is mutual--that is, each planet is in each other's sign of dignity. This condition is called mutual reception
Mutual reception
In astrology, mutual reception is when two planets are in each other's signs of rulership.Mutual Reception Two planets are in mutual reception when they are in each...

 or "exchange of signs" and can be very beneficial to both planets.

Further reading

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