26 Dec Decans – Three Flavors of the Zodiac
by Tiffany Harelik, MA, RYT, MT
What Are Decans in Astrology?
Astrology enthusiasts know there’s more to your Sun sign than meets the eye. One way to explore the nuances of the zodiac’s personality is through decans—which are subdivisions of each astrological sign. Decans divide each zodiac sign into three equal parts of 10° each. The meaning of each third of the slice is found in sub-rulers.
In other words, each decan brings unique qualities influenced by its planetary sub-ruler. These variations explain subtle shifts in personality, and why people born under the same Sun sign can express it so differently. But it’s not limited to Sun signs – all of the planets can be viewed through the lens of the decans.
So how do you determine the sub-ruler, or flavor, of each decan?
Understanding Decans: Two Methods
Chaldean Method
The Chaldean method assigns one of the seven visible planets to each of the three decans per zodiac sign. These *assignments along with date ranges are listed in two separate tables at the end of the article.
Triplicity Method
The more common/modern method is the triplicity method. Here, the three decans are represented by the three expressions of the same element that rules each sign. To study the decans with this method, you need to know there are four elements, and that each element has three signs.
Review of the elements:
- Fire element signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
- Earth element signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
- Air element signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
- Water element signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
The three decans:
- First Decan (degrees 0-10):
- Ruled by the same planet as the sign. Represents the purest expression of the sign’s traits.
- For example, Aries is ruled by Mars. This first decan of Aries is Mars. This means an Aries-Sun in degrees 0-10 are doubly influenced by Mars and will relate to the iconic Aries themes.
- Second Decan (degrees 11-20):
- Influenced by the next sign within the same element. Adds new dimensions to understanding personality.
- For example, Leo is the next sign in the same element (fire). The second decan of Aries is the Sun. So an Aries-Sun in degrees 11-20 has a Leo-tone to it. It adds some flair, creativity, and romance to the normal Aries themes.
- Third Decan (degrees 21-30):
- Influenced by the final sign within the same element. Often marks a more developed or philosophical expression.
- For example, Sagittarius is the final sign in the same element (fire). The third decan of Aries is Jupiter. So an Aries-Sun in degrees 21-30 has a Sagittarius-tone to it. It adds some adventure, spice, and culture to the normal Aries themes.
To reiterate this example, it’s not just that your Sun is in Aries. What decan is it in? Knowing this will give you an extra layer of information about how that Sun-in-Aries is expressed. If it’s in the second or third decans, looking at the triplicities offers more information.
I’ve taken the guesswork out of what each decan means in this helpful guide to decans. Do you want to add it to your astrology toolkit?