It is obvious to see when an individual has a physical birth defect. It is not so obvious when an individual is born with an inherent weakness which has other mitigating factors that hide, or even improve, an underlying weakness - to the point where it may even seem this is actually a strength the person was born with.

We do not see the hours and hours of toil they had to endure to experience a sense of strength. This is more obvious when we see it as a physical strength. An example would be a pro-athlete being born with a sense of weakness which they have overcome by years of training.

This weakness actually serves to create a stronger position for them in sports. However, there is always an underlying weakness which is felt off the playing field.

One example of this is the basketball player Michael Jordan. He is seen to be the most successful basketball players of all time and one of the most competitive individuals in sport. So, how does someone who was born with Mars, the planet of competition, placed in its sign of debilitation, become so successful in sports?

​Well, the answer lies in Mars' unique position at his time of birth. Michael Jordan was born at 13.40 on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, NY. 

Debilitated Moon & Mars
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Mars was placed in Cancer, its sign of debilitation. If we simply stopped there we may deduce that this individual is meek and lacks assertiveness, or over-compensates for a weakness and lacks discipline.

Does this sound like Michael Jordan? Of course not!

Mars is also retrograde which intensifies its impulse and is placed with Rahu, the north node of the Moon, which further exaggerates it.

Mars' impulse is of competitiveness and assertiveness, even aggression if the situation requires it. Mars' weakness have been reversed by being retrograde. However, that is too simplistic and does not bear out in real life circumstances. What you actually end up with is both the strength and the weakness.

Michael Jordan feels a lack of strength and courage which he is compensating very well for by achieving all he can in the competitive world of sport. This strength is coming from a place of weakness. He felt this weakness from an early age and had to prove to himself and others that he was indeed a strong, capable individual. His father James said of him: "What he does have is a competition problem. He was born with that ... the person he tries to outdo most of the time is himself."

His Moon is also placed in its sign of debilitation, Scorpio, which is ruled by a debilitated Mars. The Moon and Mars debilitate each other when placed in each others' signs. This links his need for strength on the court with a need to feel emotionally secure. He does not feel it naturally so he must do something about it. Mars' debilitation has been cancelled by its retrograde motion. This is known in Vedic astrology as Neecha Bhanga Yoga.

There is also a cancellation of debilitation of the Moon by the planet Venus which rules the sign of the zodiac the Moon finds its exaltation: Taurus. Venus placed in the 7th house from the ascendant shows support for his Moon.

He receives this boost from his children and ancestors (Libra and Taurus are the 5th and 12th houses for his Gemini ascendant). Venus also represents emotional support from his wife. He has had a long term marriage and, although this first marriage ended, he remarried in 2013 and has three children. 

He owns several restaurants: The Moon represents restaurants and nourishment, as does Venus, the ruler of the natural second house of food, Taurus. His need to move into this type of business is obvious when we take into account his weak Moon being rescued by Venus. 

Having a weak Mars that is cancelled is easy to see with someone who achieves a great deal through courageous action. But how do we see a weak Moon being compensated for?

Well, perhaps by excelling in things which comfort, e.g., food in Michael Jordan's case. Those with the Moon in Scorpio can sometimes seem to be the most positive and upbeat of individuals.

When someone feels insecure they must compensate by telling themselves, and everyone else, how good they feel, or how great they are. Deep down there is a feeling of lack of emotional security they are trying to compensate for. They may speak in language of the heart, e.g., 'love and light', and 'joy', but when someone is so sweet we know that, just as sickly sweets are full of sugar and very toxic, there is something more unsavory lurking beneath the forced smiles. 

If you have to tell someone you are strong (Mars), then you are not. If you have to tell someone you are feeling great all of the time (Moon), then you are probably trying to convince yourself. And while no one would deny you such affirmations, you must consider the negative effects of denying all of your feelings. 


Debilitated Sun
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When the Sun is weak it can be the downfall of everything else in the horoscope. The Sun represents self-confidence, self-esteem and self-belief. If the Sun is weak it cannot hold up everything else.

All of the planets revolve around the Sun, after all!
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A weak Sun can be compensated for, of course, as and when someone builds a healthy self-esteem through living life. However, all too often there is an overcompensation which leads to a vulgar display of egotism.

An individual with a weak Sun may appear confident outwardly, but they are hiding an underlying weakness which can can easily fall prey to changing circumstances. 

​Hillary Clinton

Hilary Clinton is one such individual. There is a powerful yoga in her horoscope (assuming I have a correct time of birth for her) which, not only cancels her debilitated Sun, but also makes for a very powerful position for the Sun. Venus is placed in her first house which creates a Neecha Bhanga Raj Yoga.

This combination creates a leader. However, we have already seen that regardless of how strong a planet becomes from a cancellation, the fact that there is a weakness there to be cancelled shows an underlying sense of weakness.

In Hillary Clinton's case such weakness has worked in her favor. Do you think an individual with a powerfully placed Sun - and the resulting strong sense of self - would have been able to stand by a cheating husband who happened to be the president of the United States?  No, I think not!

Hilary Clinton has been able to forgo her own concerns - a 'strength of her weak Sun' - and allow her husband to shine, while all the time planning to take power herself one day. We recognize her as being humble (which often necessitates being humiliated), and we acknowledge her ability to put others needs before her own. 

It remains to be seen whether Mrs Clinton will be the next president of the United States, but when all is considered, including the planetary line-up at election time, she stands a good chance of leading the country. That, in itself, says more about her self-esteem than anything else. 

Combinations for Cancelling Debilitation

​Here are some combinations for a cancellation of debilitation:

• When the dispositor (the planetary ruler of the sign occupied by the debilitated planet) is exalted.
• When the dispositor is in an angular sign from the ascendant or Moon, i.e., the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th houses.
• When the dispositor, and the ruler of its exalted placement, are in angles from each other.
• When the debilitated planet receives an aspect from the ruler of the sign it occupies.
• When the debilitated planet is exalted in the Navamsha Chart (9th Harmonic Chart).
• When the debilitated planet is retrograde.

NB: When the debilitated planet, having any of these cancellations, is also in the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th houses then it becomes an even stronger planet as a result.


Strengthening Weak Planets
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I recently gave a presentation of these cancellations at the British Association of Vedic Astrology's annual conference. One attendee asked about those who do not have any cancellation in their horoscope and who have to deal with a weak planet without any assistance from other planets.

Although this can happen, of course, it is generally the case that a planet helps out another in some way - no matter how small the assistance. And this is the case in life. We do not stand alone for the most part, but are supported in our weaknesses by others. 

There are, however, those who do not have these cancellations, but you are not likely to hear their story - except when things become so difficult and make newsworthy stories. In other words, those individuals who struggle, and who do not find the strength to rise above their afflictions, are all too apparent if we choose to see the downcast.

They live, and deal with, their weaknesses in the only way they know how. Sometimes, dealing with the problem makes it worse, as and when we throw all of our energy at a problem only to confound the situation. 

In this case, something else is needed to gain strength and to regain balance. This is achieved through accentuating the positive qualities of the weak planet.

In the case of someone with a lack of self-worth and self-esteem, it may mean attending therapy in order to build a healthy view of themselves, taking in 'Sun foods', exercising and lightening the mood by getting some Sun, trusting in life and the life-giving qualities of the Sun. 

Here are some examples of what could be done to compensate for weakly-placed planets in your own horoscope, regardless of whether that weakness is also cancelled:

Sun: Hatha yoga Sun salutations and back extensions, dance, music, exercise, laughter, sunlight and a 'Sun food' diet. 
Moon: Surround yourself with support from family and friends, good company, nourishing food and frivolous fun. 
Mars: Take assertiveness courses, martial arts, anger management courses, and surround yourself with disciplined people, who also know how to enjoy themselves. 
Mercury: Take up courses, travel, seek help from friends, meditate and practice hatha yoga. 
Jupiter: Surround yourself with wise people, have an 'attentive optimism', meditate on stillness, and stay open to small miracles.
Venus: Devote yourself to sensual practices, take dance classes, get fashion advice and take courses in social skills. 
Saturn: Know your limits and communicate these to others - respecting others' limits, and surround yourself with responsible people who also know how to relax. ​

​OM TAT SAT