Leo 2024: Part 3
The Decans and Astrology of Leo 2024
You can find Part 2 and the link to Part 1 here:
Last time we looked at the Leo archetype, and the associated major Arcana cards in the Tarot deck, The Strength card and The Sun card.
The Tarot court card representing the fixed fire sign of Leo is the energetic, capable and charismatic – or loud-mouthed and domineering King of Wands. This card classically represents a masculine archetype, and in real life readings, will most usually be identifying a male person though he may also be a subject of one of the other fire signs, an Aries or Sagittarius sun sign native. But, as with all the court cards, this King is not limited, and can on occasion represent a female person, especially when in a position of seniority or authority.
Images from the Smith Waite Tarot and The Gilded Tarot Royale, Ciro Marchetti
Keywords: active, yang, masculinity, virility, charisma, big picture, optimism, innovation, leadership, business acumen, government, communication, far distance travel, entrepreneur, exports, estate agents, higher education, philosophy,
“I do what I say. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.”
The shadow side brings impatience, carelessness, failure to pay attention to detail, recklessness, misuse of power. “Act in haste repent at leisure.”
Or The King of Wands warns against hubris. “Pride comes before a fall.”
The Decans
The Decans, nicknamed the thirty-six faces of the zodiac, was a concept that began with the early Egyptians, based on their observations of the heliacal rising of 36 particular fixed stars. For our purposes here it may be enough to know that each thirty-degree zodiac sun sign can be further divided into three blocks of ten degrees, equivalent to about ten days in length. This will vary by a day or two since not every year, and not every calendar month is exactly the same length.
These three sub-divisions of the zodiac signs are called the decans from the Greek “Deka”, meaning ten. The first ten days of your zodiac sign are the first decan, representing the first 10 degrees of your sign. The second ten days or so are the second decan, and the last ten days or so of your sun sign are the third decan.
You are unique, with a uniquely individual natal chart. But we are dealing in archetypes. There is more than one way of determining the planetary ruler of the decans of the zodiac signs. We can use the oldest Chaldean system, which, as they were not yet discovered, does not include the outer planets. Or we can use a later system, known as Triplicities. This method…
“involves dividing each of the signs into thirds, and then making the assignments based on the other signs that are in the same triplicity. For example, the first decan of Aries, from 0 to 10 degrees, belongs to Aries itself. The second 10 degrees of Aries, from 10 to 20 degrees, belongs to Leo, which is the next fire sign. The third 10 degrees of Aries, from 20 to 30 degrees, belongs to Sagittarius, which is the next fire sign after Leo. This second method appears to have been used by Indian astrologers from a very early stage, although it was not until the 20th century that it became popular with western astrologers. In modern astrology the second method appears to have more widespread acceptance than the first.” (Source https://theastrologydictionary.com/d/decans/)
I have used both approaches, and this second method, I find most resonant.
First Decan Leo
Dates: c. 22/23 July-1/2 August
Planetary ruler: Sun Sub-ruler: also the Sun
Tarot card: Five of Wands: ambition, test of strength, contest, competition, stress, conflict, honest intention, summer thunderstorms
Smith Waite Tarot
This is Leo-Leo, ruled by the sun twice over, and may be understood as the most ‘typically’ or archetypal Leo decan. This Leo native does not just enter the room. It makes an entrance, and can be charm itself, lively, warm, and talkative. Others who are quieter, or who are less confident or energetic may find these Leo encounters loud, overpowering, self-centred or even arrogant. And they may be all these things but the chances are, really, it is just their natural exuberance. This decan is more cardinal than fixed in quality, which is to say, it likes to start new things. Proud, passionate, purposeful, it is a perfectionist, exceedingly determined and persistent, even more so than the other two decans, and that is saying something. First Decan Leo is a loyal friend, unless they are given cause to feel betrayed, which on occasion, indeed they may be, attracting as they are bound to do, not only admiration, but envy, yet though this decan is often particularly attractive to others, this Leo, once committed, is devoted to its own pride of loved ones.
Second Decan Leo
Dates: c. 2 August-11 August
Planetary ruler: Jupiter Sub-ruler Sagittarius: Optimism, opportunity, growth, travel, higher education
Tarot card- Six Wands: victory, progress, momentum, vehicle, (like The Chariot) discipline, pride in success, team work, sporting success, heat wave,
Smith Waite Tarot
This is Sagittarius-Leo, ruled by giant Jupiter. Subjects of this decan may be literally taller and bigger than other Leo decans (and curiously, can anyone verify his, one wonders, this decan has a reputation for having rather noticeably square white teeth.) The influence of its sub-ruler, Sagittarius makes this Leo the life and soul of the party (when they are in the mood) but this smoothest-talking Leo decan is somewhat restless, for travel, for adventure - or learning. This is Leo on a quest, with a visionary quality, hungry and ambitious to do and know more, less settled in temperament than the other two decans, less fixed, versatile with it, and generally good at problem-solving. Leo, for all its friendliness, tends to be a cat that walks alone. It retains a certain aloofness. The Sagittarius sub-ruler of this decan however, is about groups and communities, and this more communal spirit sets the second decan Leo slightly apart from the other decans. Something of a philosopher, interested in social causes, second decan Leo in particular may be an artist, film maker, writer or poet, and they are keen to use these mediums to do their bit.
Third Decan Leo
Dates: c. 12 August -22 August
Planetary ruler: Mars Sub-ruler Aries
Tarot card- Seven of Wands: courage, moral courage, stamina, endurance, outnumbered but fighting your own corner, defeating the odds
Smith Waite Tarot
This decan is sub- ruled by Mars, Aries-Leo with a double dose of warrior energy. These natives are confident, competitive- even combative on occasion. Driven, ambitious, sometimes this Leo decan loses patience and may not finish what it starts due to restlessness, but it operates on its own terms, and is an excellent planner and problem-solver, finding failure almost intolerable. The third decan Leo needs peace and quiet when its mind is working on something, to figure things out in its own way. There is the usual Leo warmth but with just possibly, an explosive temper at times, though quick to forgive and forget- though others may not be so forgiving in return. Deeply curious about other people and other cultures, third decan Leo talks to perfect strangers and hears all kind of stories.
Astrology of Leo Season 2024
A few key Dates
As you see, I am running pretty late with this. Mea culpa. Leo season has got me juggling, sure enough.
July 22 Sun entered Leo
July 1-Aug 5 Venus transiting Leo
July 15-Aug 8 Mars conjunct Uranus in Tropical Taurus
July 19- 25 Venus sextile Jupiter
July 24/25 RARE lunar eclipse (occultation) of Saturn. Ending of an old order.
July 25 Mercury enters Virgo
July 25 Sun in Leo sextile Mars in Gemini
July 26 Chiron retrograde in Aries till Dec (beware haste/knee jerk reactions)
August 2 Venus square Uranus
August 4 New Moon in Leo 12 deg 34 mins Tarot cards 6 & 7 Wands
August 4-14 Mercury retrograde in Virgo
August 14- 29 Mercury retrograde in Leo
August 14 Mars conjunct Jupiter in Gemini
August 19 Full Moon in Aquarius: 27 deg 15 mins Tarot card 7 Swords
Against the on-going dramas and tragedies of current world events, and those heavy duty slow moving outer planet retrogrades with Saturn retrograde in Pisces (till November), Neptune also retrograde in Pisces (till December) and Pluto currently retrograde in Aquarius, where is the wriggle room, where is the opportunity and where is the respite?
This Leo season 2024, at both a collective and an individual level, there will be a sense of stopping and starting, while we can expect plenty more of the unexpected, and maybe some outright shocks on the wider world stage right at the end of Leo season, around 19 August. Such public events may involve fraud, more IT crashes or sabotage.
Summer fun –or fireworks- comes in early August in the shape of Venus in Leo (acting as Mars) conjunct Uranus in Taurus and later, Venus square Uranus. There could be surprise messages from old friends, fun gatherings, professional networking, finance, career opportunities, or romantic developments. Venus in Leo is a diva, and conjunct Uranus in Taurus is impacting our second house of glamour, (the old word for enchantment) smelling the roses, home improvements, worldly goods, comforts, stability and continuity. Venus, the ruler of Taurus, is The Hierophant in the Tarot, representing banking, the Stock Exchange, agriculture (especially dairy for obvious reasons) fashion, marriages and long term partnerships, organized religion, the Church, schools, universities and publishing.
Uranus represents the catalyst for overdue changes this Leo season. Or it throws an almighty spanner in the works especially when Venus squares Uranus August 2, and this retrograde could especially affect Leo, Taurus, Libra and Aquarius sun sign natives.
Mercury’s arrival in Virgo can be a mega boost for sorting out all manner of domestic, health and administrative issues, but there is a retrograde shadow looming. The Leo new moon August 4 hits as Mercury begins its second full retrograde of 2024, first in Virgo and then in Leo unto Virgo season, and we are not fully clear of the post retrograde shadow till August 28.
We are going to need to stay vigilant, ready to pivot at a moments notice, tiring but true. Virgo rules hygiene, food hygiene and digestion. It is always the case in warmer weather (not much of that yet where I am) that we are more susceptible to tummy upsets in summer, with the risk of infected insect bites to boot. There is nothing new or special about any of this per se, and yet, business as usual it is not.
Bon courage this season of roaring versus retrogrades, you Leos and lion-hearts of every zodiac sun sign, one and all. An astral lion or lioness resides somewhere in your natal chart, maybe roaring loud and clear, or else hidden in the long grass of a transit or deep in an aspect cave. Track down the lair using a free chart calculator such as this one at Cafe Astrology (but there are others.)
https://cafeastrology.com/articles/howtoobtainchart.html
And relaxxx
Thank you for reading. Till next time.
Wonderfully thoughtful and thorough overview! I confess I prefer the first method but also lean on the planetary assignments in the Tree of Life. So (for example) when the Five of Wands shows up, I’ll always be looking for that streak of martial energy.