With this method, the rulers of the decans follow the order of the so-called "Chaldean planetary order", which was derived from the geocentric speeds of the planets:
Saturn - Jupiter - Mars - Sun - Venus - Mercury - Moon
The method was taught by the Greco-Egyptian astrologer Teucer "of Babylon" (3rd cent. CE) and the Roman astrologer Firmicus Maternus (4th cent. CE, Mathesis II.4). The system was transmitted to modern European astrology via the Arabic astrologer Abu Ma'shar, whose work was translated into Latin during the Renaissance.
According to this system, the decans have the following rulers:
Aries: Mars Sun Venus
Taurus: Mercury Moon Saturn
Gemini: Jupiter Mars Sun
Cancer: Venus Mercury Moon
Leo: Saturn Jupiter Mars
Virgo: Sun Venus Mercury
Libra: Moon Saturn Jupiter
Scorpio: Mars Sun Venus
Sagittarius: Mercury Moon Saturn
Capricorn: Jupiter Mars Sun
Aquarius: Venus Mercury Moon
Pisces: Saturn Jupiter Mars
We call this method "traditional" because in modern astrology it is the most common one and therefore "has tradition". More correctly, it should be called "decans according to triplicity". The rulers of the decans are derived from the rulers of the signs of the same element (= triplicity, trigon, trine). The decan rulers of Aries are the rulers of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius (thus Mars, the Sun, and Jupiter); the decan rulers of Taurus are the rulers of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn (thus Venus, Mercury, and Saturn); etc. etc.
This method of decans is found in Indian texts of Late Antiquity. It seems to have been introduced in western Astrology only in the 20th century by the British astrologer Alan Leo.
Aries: Mars Sun Jupiter
Taurus: Venus Mercury Saturn
Gemini: Mercury Venus Uranus/Saturn
Cancer: Moon Mars Neptune/Jupiter
Leo: Sun Jupiter Mars
Virgo: Mercury Saturn Venus
Libra: Venus Uranus/Saturn Mercury
Scorpio: Pluto/Mars Neptune/Jupiter Moon
Sagittarius: Jupiter Mars Sun
Capricorn: Saturn Venus Mercury
Aquarius: Uranus/Saturn Mercury Venus
Pisces: Neptune/Jupiter Moon Pluto/Mars
94n said:Slyscorpion, thank you for your input. I'm glad you shared your experience with decans.
Whichever system of decanates that you would like to use is up to you. Whichever makes the most sense to you, or whichever speaks to you the most, is something you should go with.
The Chaldean Decans are:
With this method, the rulers of the decans follow the order of the so-called "Chaldean planetary order", which was derived from the geocentric speeds of the planets:
Saturn - Jupiter - Mars - Sun - Venus - Mercury - Moon
The method was taught by the Greco-Egyptian astrologer Teucer "of Babylon" (3rd cent. CE) and the Roman astrologer Firmicus Maternus (4th cent. CE, Mathesis II.4). The system was transmitted to modern European astrology via the Arabic astrologer Abu Ma'shar, whose work was translated into Latin during the Renaissance.
According to this system, the decans have the following rulers:
Aries: Mars Sun Venus
Taurus: Mercury Moon Saturn
Gemini: Jupiter Mars Sun
Cancer: Venus Mercury Moon
Leo: Saturn Jupiter Mars
Virgo: Sun Venus Mercury
Libra: Moon Saturn Jupiter
Scorpio: Mars Sun Venus
Sagittarius: Mercury Moon Saturn
Capricorn: Jupiter Mars Sun
Aquarius: Venus Mercury Moon
Pisces: Saturn Jupiter Mars
The Modern Decans are:
(The additions of Uranus/Neptune/Pluto most likely came from Alan Leo, a theosophist, so proceed with caution.)
We call this method "traditional" because in modern astrology it is the most common one and therefore "has tradition". More correctly, it should be called "decans according to triplicity". The rulers of the decans are derived from the rulers of the signs of the same element (= triplicity, trigon, trine). The decan rulers of Aries are the rulers of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius (thus Mars, the Sun, and Jupiter); the decan rulers of Taurus are the rulers of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn (thus Venus, Mercury, and Saturn); etc. etc.
This method of decans is found in Indian texts of Late Antiquity. It seems to have been introduced in western Astrology only in the 20th century by the British astrologer Alan Leo.
Aries: Mars Sun Jupiter
Taurus: Venus Mercury Saturn
Gemini: Mercury Venus Uranus/Saturn
Cancer: Moon Mars Neptune/Jupiter
Leo: Sun Jupiter Mars
Virgo: Mercury Saturn Venus
Libra: Venus Uranus/Saturn Mercury
Scorpio: Pluto/Mars Neptune/Jupiter Moon
Sagittarius: Jupiter Mars Sun
Capricorn: Saturn Venus Mercury
Aquarius: Uranus/Saturn Mercury Venus
Pisces: Neptune/Jupiter Moon Pluto/Mars
There's even more here: https://www.astro.com/faq/fq_fh_tradition_e.htm
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