decan (the next fire sign), the second decan of Taurus is the Virgo decan (the next
earth sign), etc.
The third decan is associated with the remaining sign of the same element. To
continue with the same examples, the third decan of Aries is the Sagittarius decan,
and the third decan of Taurus is the Capricorn decan.
For signs placed later in the zodiac, one continues around the zodiac, past the
Pisces-Aries cusp (the boundary between the last and first signs), to pick up the next
signs of the same element past this cusp. For example, for the sign Aquarius, which is
the last air sign in the zodiac, the first decan is the Aquarius decan, the second decan
is the Gemini decan (Gemini is the next air sign after one crosses the Pisces-Aries
divide), and the third decan is Libra (the next air sign in succession). These relation-
ships are clearer in outline form:
Aries-Aries decan, 0°–10°
Leo decan, 10°–20°
Sagittarius decan, 20°–30°THEASTROLOGYBOOK [195]
Decan (Decanate)A sixteenth-century woodcut of the three decans of Pisces. Reproduced by permission of
Fortean Picture Library.