We continue the series on the 36 Decans of the Zodiac with the sign of Cancer. Today, we're going to look at the first 10 degrees, or decan, of Cancer. We'll differentiate it a bit from the other decans by examining the planets that rule this part of Cancer. We'll also explore Tarot symbolism, a little bit of Kabbalah, and how ancient authors described this face—the term they used for decans in ancient times. Additionally, we'll discuss the images associated with this decan. Finally, I’ll explore examples of people with their rising degree in this part of the zodiac: Jimmy Stewart, the famous movie star; and singer-songwriter Karen Carpenter.

Today, I continue my exploration of the Decans of the Zodiac with Gemini III, the third Decan of Gemini. Gemini is an air sign. It's ruled by Mercury, the god of communication. He was Hermes in the Greek pantheon who brought messages back and forth to the gods. Air signs all have to do with thinking and communication. They're all associated with the swords in tarot cards, if you're a tarot aficionado. Gemini is also a mutable sign, so it has this playful, flexible quality about it.

What Differentiates Gemini III

We're going to find out that what differentiates this decan of Gemini from the other two is that it has this sense of the battle being over—a completion of the thought process. Folks who have important planets or points in this part of the Zodiac tend to be the truth-tellers of the world, the people who perhaps want to ensure that we're looking at what reality is, as opposed to what we wish it were. Sometimes they can tell that truth to their own detriment.

We're going to find that in the case of Edward Snowden, who has his Mars, Sun, and North Node in this decan. The famous comedian George Carlin has his moon in this decan and enjoyed telling the truth in a funny way, which can be mercurial, about United States policies. We're also going to see Sigmund Freud had his Saturn here, and he was the founder of psychoanalysis who talked about the “reality principle” and so forth. There's a lot to unpack.

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Explore the complexities of Gemini 2, the second Deccan of Gemini (10-20 degrees), where Venus and Mars collide, creating a fascinating interplay between love, beauty, and mental struggle. This Deccan highlights the duality of Gemini: balancing light and dark, humor and anguish. Ruled by Venus and Mars, it reveals how we connect with others—through Venusian receptivity or Mars' protective boundaries. Associated with the Nine of Swords in tarot, this Deccan reflects themes of mental anguish, perseveration, and the potential for transformation. Learn how figures like Mindy Kaling and Drew Barrymore exemplify this energy, using humor and art to transmute personal struggles into relatable, healing expressions. Discover the deeper numerology and Hermetic Kabbalah connections, revealing the potential for love and creativity to emerge from life's challenges. Join us as we explore how this Deccan fosters connection, self-awareness, and transformation through its complex and dynamic energy.

We’ve arrived at the first decan of Gemini, a dynamic part of the zodiac that fuses Gemini’s mutable air energy with the expansive, philosophical influence of Jupiter and the sharp intellect of Mercury. As part of this 36-part series on the decans in astrology, this post explores the unique themes of Gemini I: duality, mental clarity, and the interplay between big-picture thinking and fine detail. The combination of Jupiter and Mercury as planetary rulers highlights the potential for intellectual breakthroughs and creative expression, while also challenging us to balance contrasting energies.

In the video attached, I explore the esoteric wisdom of Gemini I, its connection to the Seven of Swords tarot card (and the Eight of Swords in the Thoth deck), and the tension between mental overwhelm and emotional insight. I also examine how these themes come to life in the work of Margaret Atwood, whose rising sign is in Gemini I. Her book, The Handmaid’s Tale, reflects the energy of this decan, blending expansive philosophical ideas with sharp, precise storytelling.

Taurus III: Growth Through Saturn's Trials
The third decan of Taurus blends the grounded, persistent energy of this fixed earth sign with Saturn’s discipline and wisdom. This decan teaches us to persevere through limitations, adapt to challenges, and find meaning in struggle. From the tarot’s Seven of Disks to Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick and Toni Morrison’s life story, Taurus III reveals the transformative power of resilience and hard work.

The Planets Associated with the First Decan of Taurus

To begin, let’s examine the planets associated with the first decan of Taurus. Mercury, the god of communication (Hermes in the Greek pantheon), and Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, relationship, harmony, and justice.

• Mercury is associated with planning, putting things into order, organizing, and strategizing. It governs the mind and how we focus on what we need.

• On the other hand, Venus represents love, beauty, harmony, justice, and what we value.

When we combine these planets with Taurus, a fixed earth sign, we get a unique expression of these energies. All zodiac signs belong to one of three modes: cardinal, fixed, or mutable. Taurus is fixed, meaning it is stable, concentrated, and slow-moving. Its energy is grounded, like the bull that symbolizes it—a creature that moves deliberately and steadily, embodying focus and persistence.

As an earth sign, Taurus is deeply connected to material reality and the practicalities of life. Earth signs focus on what is tangible and achievable in the physical world.

When we weave these ideas together—Mercury’s planning and strategy, Venus’s beauty and values, and Taurus’s fixed earth energy—we see that the first decan of Taurus is about breaking into the material world to establish something tangible. It’s about tilling fertile ground, organizing resources (Mercury), and creating something harmonious and beautiful (Venus). Venus also highlights the importance of values and social justice within this decan.

If you’ve been following along on my 36 Decans series, you know we’ve already explored the first two decans of Aries, and now it’s time to dive into the third and final decan—Aries III. This is where things get really interesting because we see how the energy of Aries evolves and deepens as we move through the sign. In this video, I’ll unpack what makes Aries III unique, including its planetary rulers—Venus and Jupiter—and how their influence creates a dynamic mix of charisma, creativity, and ambition. We’ll also connect this energy to the Four of Wands tarot card, which beautifully captures the themes of celebration, harmony, and building something that lasts.

I’ve included a video transcript below, but it’s not just a word-for-word version—I’ve rewritten and expanded on the content to add extra insights and examples. So, whether you prefer to watch, read, or do both, the transcript offers something additional to explore.

Today’s post explores the energy of Aries II, the second decan of Aries. There are two systems of rulership for decans, and the Sun rules this decan under both systems. We’ll uncover how this decan’s solar qualities of stability, leadership, and inspiration intertwine with Aries’s fiery, cardinal energy to create a dynamic archetype of courageous creativity and growth.

Drawing connections to the Three of Wands in tarot and esoteric numerology, I’ll also explore how the number three’s symbolism of expansion and receptivity deepens our understanding of this decan. For example, while Aries II is often associated with achievement and leadership, reframing it through a lens of abundance reveals its potential for channeling creative energy into something new and meaningful.

In this blog post (and accompanying video), I’ll cover the energy of Aries I—the first 10 degrees of the zodiac—ruled by Mars in both decan systems. I’ll also explore how different perspectives, like Rachel Pollack’s Shining Tribe Tarot and teachings on nonduality, add depth to our understanding of these archetypes. For example, while many astrologers looking at traditional images of this decan have described it as relating to “domination” and “submission, i.e., notions of “winners” and “losers,” this understanding is one-sided and ego-driven; it misses a more holistic Self-oriented approach to its energy. Pollack’s tarot deck and my experience with esoteric and nondual teachings reveal that this decan is also about a receptive relation to life, the courage to follow spirit into life—to take action in the world that flows out of a sense of your integrated connection with life.

Today marks the beginning of a unique journey—my year-long YouTube video series exploring the 36 decans of the zodiac. Many practitioners explore each 10-degree segment of the zodiac every 10 days throughout the year as a personal practice.

My approach is different. I hope to unlock the deeper meaning of the astrological signs through a multidisciplinary approach, grounding and deepening this process by weaving in Hellenistic and Traditional Astrology, esoteric wisdom (e.g. alchemy, IChing), Carl Jung's work, Rachel Pollack’s Shining Tribe tarot deck, and more.

Check out my YouTube video and abridged/revised transcript below to better understand the Decan Walk process. I’ve added and subtracted from the original transcript to make it more like a blog post for folks who prefer written content. If you want to join me on this journey, sign up for my Mailing List (link below) and/or subscribe to the video series on my YouTube channel.