The decans give a shade of additional meaning to each astrological sign. You could say that metaphorically the decans are like dropping a bit of blue paint into a bucket of red paint. The paint in the bucket is still red, but it's a slightly different shade of red. In natal astrology, the 36 decans are associated with traits that add a shade of difference to the characteristics of your astrological Sun sign. Some astrologers believe decan based astrology is more effective because it reveals 36 types of personalities instead of 12.
History of the Decans
The history of the decan begins in ancient Egypt around the 5th century BCE. The Egyptian decans are based on the asterisms (small star groups) that rose consecutively and regularly on the horizon due to the earth's rotation. Decans were initially used by the Egyptians as a sidereal star clock. The ancient Egyptians believed that the deities manifest in certain forms and at specific times. It's likely that the decans brought this belief into the Greek zodiac and may explain why they were absorbed the way they were, as sections of each zodiac sign.
Western Astrology
Western astrology has its roots primarily in Mesopotamia. It was the Mesopotamians who eventually developed the signs of the zodiac and the concept of natal astrology. While this was happening in Mesopotamia, the Egyptians astrologers were developing the decans. These two astrological traditions came together sometime around the 1st Century BCE and the 36 decans were merged with the astrological signs.
The Modern Astrological Decans
Each of the astrological signs of the zodiac is an arc of 30° in the 360° astrological zodiac. Each sign is subdivided into three decans of 10° each. In modern astrology, the three decans of each sign are defined by the three signs of the same element (triplicity) and the traditional ruling planets of those signs.
The Fire Signs
- Aries ruled by Mars
- Leo ruled by the Sun
- Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter
The Earth Signs
- Taurus ruled by Venus
- Virgo ruled by Mercury
- Capricorn ruled by Saturn
The Air Signs
- Gemini ruled by Mercury
- Libra ruled by Venus
- Aquarius ruled by Saturn/Uranus
The Water Signs
- Cancer ruled by the Moon
- Scorpio ruled by Mars/Pluto
- Pisces ruled by Jupiter/Neptune
The Decans in Tarot
In Tarot decks there are 36 cards in the Minor Arcana numbered 1-10 that are divided into four suits. Each of these numbered cards represents one zodiacal decan. Just like the 12 astrology signs, each suit of the Minor Arcana is related to one of the four elements. Many Tarot readers combine tarot with astrology and use the decans to gain a deeper understanding of the numbered cards when doing a Tarot spread.
The Suits of the Minor Arcana
- Fire is Wands
- Earth is Disks or Pentacles
- Air is Swords
- Water is Cups
Table of Decans
To find out the decan of your Sun sign, you'll need to know the degree the Sun was on the day you were born. The easiest way to find this degree is to use the free tool at Astro-Seek to calculate your horoscope.
| Sign | First Decan 0 - 9.59° | Second Decan 10 - 19.59° | Third Decan 20 - 29.59° |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Aries/Aries Mars Two of Wands | Aries/Leo Sun Three of Wands | Aries/Sagittarius |
| Taurus | Taurus/Taurus | Taurus/Virgo | Taurus/Capricorn |
| Gemini | Gemini/Gemini | Gemini/Libra | Gemini/Aquarius |
| Cancer | Cancer/Cancer The Moon Two of Cups | Cancer/Scorpio Mars/Pluto Three of Cups | Cancer/Pisces Jupiter/Neptune Four of Cups |
| Leo | Leo/Leo The Sun Five of Wands | Leo/Sagittarius Jupiter Six of Wands | Leo/Aries Mars Seven of Wands |
| Virgo | Virgo/Virgo Mercury Eight of Disks | Virgo/Capricorn Saturn Nine of Disks | Virgo/Taurus Venus Ten of Disks |
| Libra | Libra/Libra Venus Two of Swords | Libra/Aquarius Saturn/Uranus Three of Swords | Libra/Gemini Mercury Four of Swords |
| Scorpio | Scorpio/Scorpio Mars/Pluto Five of Cups | Scorpio/Pisces Jupiter/Neptune Six of Cups | Scorpio/Cancer The Moon Seven of Cups |
| Sagittarius | Sagittarius/Sagittarius Jupiter Eight of Wands | Sagittarius/Aries Mars Nine of Wands | Sagittarius/Leo The Sun Ten of Wands |
| Capricorn | Capricorn/Capricorn Saturn Two of Disks | Capricorn/Taurus Venus Three of Disks | Capricorn/Virgo Mercury Four of Disks |
| Aquarius | Aquarius/Aquarius Saturn/Uranus Five of Swords | Aquarius/Gemini Mercury Six of Swords | Aquarius/Libra Venus Seven of Swords |
| Pisces | Pisces/Pisces Jupiter/Neptune Eight of Cups | Pisces/Cancer The Moon Nine of Cups | Pisces/Scorpio Mars/Pluto Ten of Cups |
Is it Necessary to Know the Decans?
Not all astrologers use decans, some use only a few, and some use decans all the time. The decans and their rulers have proven to be very useful in tarot readings and predictive astrology, especially in the progressed horoscope. Sometimes they complete the story, and at other times they help pinpoint the nature of activity going on in the subject's life. Is it necessary to know the decans? Probably not, but once you begin using them, they can add some surprisingly accurate twists to your Sun sign and other planetary placements.
