Tarot Decans

Each zodiac sign is divided into 3 sub-categories of 10 degrees called decans or

decanates. Each decan is assigned to a sign in the same ELEMENT as the sign the
planet is in. The first decan of any sign is the same as the sign (1 st decan of Aries is
Aries; 1st decan of Taurus is Taurus; 1 st decan of Pisces is Pisces). When figuring the
decan of a sign, always stay within the sign’s element.

st nd rd
1  De
 Decan 2  De
 Decan 3  Decan
0-9.59  10-19.59  20-20.59 

Major Arcana Cards Minor Arcana Cards

Sign Ruling Planet Pure Quality of: Subquality of: Subquality of:
Fire Signs
Aries Mars Aries Leo Sagittarius
Emperor Tower 2 of Wands 3 of Wands 4 of Wands
Mars Sun Jupiter
March 21-30 March 31-April 10 April 11-20
Leo Sun Leo Sagittarius Aries
Strength The Sun 5 of Wands 6 of Wands 7 of Wands
Sun Jupiter Mars
July 22-August 1 August 2-11 August 12-22
Sagittarius Jupiter Sagittarius Aries Leo
Temperance Wheel of Fortune 8 of Wands 9 of Wands 10 of Wands
Jupiter Mars Sun
November 23- December 3-12 December 13-21
December 2
Water Signs
Cancer Moon Cancer Scorpio Pisces
Chariot The High 2 of Cups 3 of Cups 4 of Cups
Priestess Moon Mars or Pluto Jupiter or
June 21-July 1 July 2-11 Neptune
July 12-21
Scorpio Mars Scorpio Pisces Cancer
Death  Tower 5 of Cups 6 of Cups 7 of Cups
Pluto Death Jupiter or Moon
Judgement October 23- Neptune November 13-22
November 1 November 2-12
Pisces Neptune Pisces Cancer Scorpio
The Moon The Hanged Man 8 of Cups 9 of Cups 10 of Cups
Jupiter or Moon Pluto
Neptune February 29- March 11-20
February 19-28 March 10
Air Signs
Libra Venus Libra Aquarius Gemini
Justice The Empress 2 of Swords 3 of Swords 4 of Swords
Venus Uranus Mercury
September 23- October 3- 12 October 13-22
October 2
Aquarius Uranus Aquarius Gemini Libra
The Star The Fool 5 of Swords 6 of Swords 7 of Swords
Saturn Uranus/Saturn The Lovers Justice
The World January 20-29 January 30- February 9-18
February 8
Gemini Mercury Gemini Libra Aquarius
The Lovers The Magician 8 of Swords 9 of Swords 10 of Swords
Mercury Venus Uranus
May 21-31 June 1-10 June 11-20
 Earth Signs
Capricorn Saturn Capricorn Taurus Virgo
The Devil The World 2 of Pentacles 3 of Pentacles 4 of Pentacles
Saturn Venus Mercury
December 22-30 December 31- January 10-19
January 9
Taurus Venus Taurus Virgo Capricorn
The Heirophant The Empress 5 of Pentacles 6 of Pentacles 7 of Pentacles
Venus Mercury Saturn
April 21-30 May 1-10 May 11-20
Virgo Mercury Virgo Capricorn Taurus
The Hermit The Magician 8 of Pentacles 9 of Pentacles 10 of Pentacles
Mercury Saturn Venus
August 23- September 2-11 September 12-22
September 1

If a planet is at 12.56 Aries, it will have the qualities of Aries and the subqualities of Leo.
Try to imagine how adding the characteristics of Leo as a subquality will color that Aries
sun. At 24.13 degrees, it would have a Sagittarian flavor. Is it becoming clearer how one
Aries can differ from another? Even more subqualities can be found in the Dwaads.