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Astrology

How the sky is mapped onto the seventy-eight cards, followed by a full astrology reference in thirteen chapters.

The deck as a map of the sky

Every card has a place in the sky. Twelve signs, seven planets and three elements make the twenty-two trumps; the thirty-six decans make the small cards; the courts and Aces share out the wheel in larger pieces.

SkyCardsWhich
12 signs12 trumpsEmperor (Aries) to Moon (Pisces)
7 planets7 trumpsMagus (Mercury) to Universe (Saturn)
3 elements3 trumpsFool (Air), Hanged Man (Water), Aeon (Fire). Earth shares the Universe
36 decans36 small cardsTwo to Ten of each suit, ten degrees and one planet each
12 arcs of 30°12 court cardsKnights, Queens and Princes, each from 20° to 20°
4 quadrants4 Princesses and 4 AcesA quarter of the heavens each, around the North Pole

The wheel

Knight of Wands: 21° Scorpio to 20° Sagittarius, Nov 13 – Dec 12Knight of WandsQueen of Wands: 21° Pisces to 20° Aries, Mar 11 – Apr 10Queen of WandsPrince of Wands: 21° Cancer to 20° Leo, Jul 12 – Aug 11Prince of WandsKnight of Cups: 21° Aquarius to 20° Pisces, Feb 9 – Mar 10Knight of CupsQueen of Cups: 21° Gemini to 20° Cancer, Jun 11 – Jul 11Queen of CupsPrince of Cups: 21° Libra to 20° Scorpio, Oct 13 – Nov 12Prince of CupsKnight of Swords: 21° Taurus to 20° Gemini, May 11 – Jun 10Knight of SwordsQueen of Swords: 21° Virgo to 20° Libra, Sep 12 – Oct 12Queen of SwordsPrince of Swords: 21° Capricorn to 20° Aquarius, Jan 10 – Feb 8Prince of SwordsKnight of Disks: 21° Leo to 20° Virgo, Aug 12 – Sep 11Knight of DisksQueen of Disks: 21° Sagittarius to 20° Capricorn, Dec 13 – Jan 9Queen of DisksPrince of Disks: 21° Aries to 20° Taurus, Apr 11 – May 10Prince of DisksAries, cardinal Fire: IV The Emperor♈︎ ARIESIV The EmperorTaurus, fixed Earth: V The Hierophant♉︎ TAURUSV The HierophantGemini, mutable Air: VI The Lovers♊︎ GEMINIVI The LoversCancer, cardinal Water: VII The Chariot♋︎ CANCERVII The ChariotLeo, fixed Fire: XI Lust♌︎ LEOXI LustVirgo, mutable Earth: IX The Hermit♍︎ VIRGOIX The HermitLibra, cardinal Air: VIII Adjustment♎︎ LIBRAVIII AdjustmentScorpio, fixed Water: XIII Death♏︎ SCORPIOXIII DeathSagittarius, mutable Fire: XIV Art♐︎ SAGITTARIUSXIV ArtCapricorn, cardinal Earth: XV The Devil♑︎ CAPRICORNXV The DevilAquarius, fixed Air: XVII The Star♒︎ AQUARIUSXVII The StarPisces, mutable Water: XVIII The Moon♓︎ PISCESXVIII The MoonTwo of Wands, Dominion: Mars in Aries I, Mar 21–30♂︎2DominionThree of Wands, Virtue: Sun in Aries II, Mar 31–Apr 10☉︎3VirtueFour of Wands, Completion: Venus in Aries III, Apr 11–20♀︎4CompletionFive of Disks, Worry: Mercury in Taurus I, Apr 21–30☿︎5WorrySix of Disks, Success: Moon in Taurus II, May 1–10☽︎6SuccessSeven of Disks, Failure: Saturn in Taurus III, May 11–20♄︎7FailureEight of Swords, Interference: Jupiter in Gemini I, May 21–31♃︎8InterferenceNine of Swords, Cruelty: Mars in Gemini II, Jun 1–10♂︎9CrueltyTen of Swords, Ruin: Sun in Gemini III, Jun 11–20☉︎10RuinTwo of Cups, Love: Venus in Cancer I, Jun 21–Jul 1♀︎2LoveThree of Cups, Abundance: Mercury in Cancer II, Jul 2–11☿︎3AbundanceFour of Cups, Luxury: Moon in Cancer III, Jul 12–21☽︎4LuxuryFive of Wands, Strife: Saturn in Leo I, Jul 22–Aug 1♄︎5StrifeSix of Wands, Victory: Jupiter in Leo II, Aug 2–11♃︎6VictorySeven of Wands, Valour: Mars in Leo III, Aug 12–22♂︎7ValourEight of Disks, Prudence: Sun in Virgo I, Aug 23–Sep 1☉︎8PrudenceNine of Disks, Gain: Venus in Virgo II, Sep 2–11♀︎9GainTen of Disks, Wealth: Mercury in Virgo III, Sep 12–22☿︎10WealthTwo of Swords, Peace: Moon in Libra I, Sep 23–Oct 2☽︎2PeaceThree of Swords, Sorrow: Saturn in Libra II, Oct 3–12♄︎3SorrowFour of Swords, Truce: Jupiter in Libra III, Oct 13–22♃︎4TruceFive of Cups, Disappointment: Mars in Scorpio I, Oct 23–Nov 1♂︎5DisappointmentSix of Cups, Pleasure: Sun in Scorpio II, Nov 2–12☉︎6PleasureSeven of Cups, Debauch: Venus in Scorpio III, Nov 13–22♀︎7DebauchEight of Wands, Swiftness: Mercury in Sagittarius I, Nov 23–Dec 2☿︎8SwiftnessNine of Wands, Strength: Moon in Sagittarius II, Dec 3–12☽︎9StrengthTen of Wands, Oppression: Saturn in Sagittarius III, Dec 13–21♄︎10OppressionTwo of Disks, Change: Jupiter in Capricorn I, Dec 22–30♃︎2ChangeThree of Disks, Works: Mars in Capricorn II, Dec 31–Jan 9♂︎3WorksFour of Disks, Power: Sun in Capricorn III, Jan 10–19☉︎4PowerFive of Swords, Defeat: Venus in Aquarius I, Jan 20–29♀︎5DefeatSix of Swords, Science: Mercury in Aquarius II, Jan 30–Feb 8☿︎6ScienceSeven of Swords, Futility: Moon in Aquarius III, Feb 9–18☽︎7FutilityEight of Cups, Indolence: Saturn in Pisces I, Feb 19–28♄︎8IndolenceNine of Cups, Happiness: Jupiter in Pisces II, Mar 1–10♃︎9HappinessTen of Cups, Satiety: Mars in Pisces III, Mar 11–20♂︎10SatietyMar 21 – Apr 20Apr 21 – May 20May 21 – Jun 20Jun 21 – Jul 21Jul 22 – Aug 22Aug 23 – Sep 22Sep 23 – Oct 22Oct 23 – Nov 22Nov 23 – Dec 21Dec 22 – Jan 19Jan 20 – Feb 18Feb 19 – Mar 20Ace and Princess of Disks: the quadrant of Aries, Taurus, GeminiAce and Princess of DisksAce and Princess of Wands: the quadrant of Cancer, Leo, VirgoAce and Princess of WandsAce and Princess of Cups: the quadrant of Libra, Scorpio, SagittariusAce and Princess of CupsAce and Princess of Swords: the quadrant of Capricorn, Aquarius, PiscesAce and Princess of Swords0° Aries on the leftthe year runsanticlockwise

Read the wheel from the outside in: court card arcs (20° of one sign to 20° of the next), the twelve signs with their trumps, the thirty-six decans with the ruling planet, the small card's number and its title, the dates, and the quadrants ruled by the Aces and Princesses. Colour marks the element: Wands (Fire) Cups (Water) Swords (Air) Disks (Earth). Every segment is a link.

Find your cards by birthday

Every birthday falls in one decan, so it has three cards: the trump of the sign, the small card of the decan and the court card that rules it.

Dates are the usual averages. The Sun changes sign and decan on slightly different days each year, so within a day of a boundary check the exact degree of your Sun.

Signs

SignDatesTypeRulerTrumpSmall cardsCourt
♈︎ AriesMar 21 – Apr 20Cardinal Fire♂︎ MarsIV The Emperor♂︎ 2 Dominion
☉︎ 3 Virtue
♀︎ 4 Completion		Queen of Wands
♉︎ TaurusApr 21 – May 20Fixed Earth♀︎ VenusV The Hierophant☿︎ 5 Worry
☽︎ 6 Success
♄︎ 7 Failure		Prince of Disks
♊︎ GeminiMay 21 – Jun 20Mutable Air☿︎ MercuryVI The Lovers♃︎ 8 Interference
♂︎ 9 Cruelty
☉︎ 10 Ruin		Knight of Swords
♋︎ CancerJun 21 – Jul 21Cardinal Water☽︎ MoonVII The Chariot♀︎ 2 Love
☿︎ 3 Abundance
☽︎ 4 Luxury		Queen of Cups
♌︎ LeoJul 22 – Aug 22Fixed Fire☉︎ SunXI Lust♄︎ 5 Strife
♃︎ 6 Victory
♂︎ 7 Valour		Prince of Wands
♍︎ VirgoAug 23 – Sep 22Mutable Earth☿︎ MercuryIX The Hermit☉︎ 8 Prudence
♀︎ 9 Gain
☿︎ 10 Wealth		Knight of Disks
♎︎ LibraSep 23 – Oct 22Cardinal Air♀︎ VenusVIII Adjustment☽︎ 2 Peace
♄︎ 3 Sorrow
♃︎ 4 Truce		Queen of Swords
♏︎ ScorpioOct 23 – Nov 22Fixed Water♂︎ MarsXIII Death♂︎ 5 Disappointment
☉︎ 6 Pleasure
♀︎ 7 Debauch		Prince of Cups
♐︎ SagittariusNov 23 – Dec 21Mutable Fire♃︎ JupiterXIV Art☿︎ 8 Swiftness
☽︎ 9 Strength
♄︎ 10 Oppression		Knight of Wands
♑︎ CapricornDec 22 – Jan 19Cardinal Earth♄︎ SaturnXV The Devil♃︎ 2 Change
♂︎ 3 Works
☉︎ 4 Power		Queen of Disks
♒︎ AquariusJan 20 – Feb 18Fixed Air♄︎ SaturnXVII The Star♀︎ 5 Defeat
☿︎ 6 Science
☽︎ 7 Futility		Prince of Swords
♓︎ PiscesFeb 19 – Mar 20Mutable Water♃︎ JupiterXVIII The Moon♄︎ 8 Indolence
♃︎ 9 Happiness
♂︎ 10 Satiety		Knight of Cups

Planets

PlanetTrumpSephirahRulesExaltedDetrimentFallDay, metalSmall cards
♄︎ SaturnThe UniverseBinahCapricorn, AquariusLibraCancer, LeoAriesSaturday, leadFailure, Strife, Sorrow, Oppression, Indolence
♃︎ JupiterFortuneChesedSagittarius, PiscesCancerGemini, VirgoCapricornThursday, tinInterference, Victory, Truce, Change, Happiness
♂︎ MarsThe TowerGeburahAries, ScorpioCapricornLibra, TaurusCancerTuesday, ironDominion, Cruelty, Valour, Disappointment, Works, Satiety
☉︎ SunThe SunTipharethLeoAriesAquariusLibraSunday, goldVirtue, Ruin, Prudence, Pleasure, Power
♀︎ VenusThe EmpressNetzachTaurus, LibraPiscesScorpio, AriesVirgoFriday, copperCompletion, Love, Gain, Debauch, Defeat
☿︎ MercuryThe MagusHodGemini, VirgoVirgoSagittarius, PiscesPiscesWednesday, quicksilverWorry, Abundance, Wealth, Swiftness, Science
☽︎ MoonThe PriestessYesodCancerTaurusCapricornScorpioMonday, silverSuccess, Luxury, Peace, Strength, Futility

The order Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon is the Chaldean order, slowest to fastest. The decans follow it round the wheel, starting from Mars at 0° Aries.

The thirty-six decans

The planet's dignity in its sign explains part of each title. Mars exalted in Capricorn gives Works; Venus in detriment in Scorpio gives Debauch. It does not explain everything: the Sephirah counts for as much, so Mars at home in Scorpio still gives Disappointment, because the card is a Five.

DatesDecanPlanetDignityCardTitleCourt
Mar 21–30♈︎ Aries I♂︎ MarsDomicileTwo of WandsDominionQueen of Wands
Mar 31–Apr 10♈︎ Aries II☉︎ SunExaltedThree of WandsVirtueQueen of Wands
Apr 11–20♈︎ Aries III♀︎ VenusDetrimentFour of WandsCompletionPrince of Disks
Apr 21–30♉︎ Taurus I☿︎ MercurynoneFive of DisksWorryPrince of Disks
May 1–10♉︎ Taurus II☽︎ MoonExaltedSix of DisksSuccessPrince of Disks
May 11–20♉︎ Taurus III♄︎ SaturnnoneSeven of DisksFailureKnight of Swords
May 21–31♊︎ Gemini I♃︎ JupiterDetrimentEight of SwordsInterferenceKnight of Swords
Jun 1–10♊︎ Gemini II♂︎ MarsnoneNine of SwordsCrueltyKnight of Swords
Jun 11–20♊︎ Gemini III☉︎ SunnoneTen of SwordsRuinQueen of Cups
Jun 21–Jul 1♋︎ Cancer I♀︎ VenusnoneTwo of CupsLoveQueen of Cups
Jul 2–11♋︎ Cancer II☿︎ MercurynoneThree of CupsAbundanceQueen of Cups
Jul 12–21♋︎ Cancer III☽︎ MoonDomicileFour of CupsLuxuryPrince of Wands
Jul 22–Aug 1♌︎ Leo I♄︎ SaturnDetrimentFive of WandsStrifePrince of Wands
Aug 2–11♌︎ Leo II♃︎ JupiternoneSix of WandsVictoryPrince of Wands
Aug 12–22♌︎ Leo III♂︎ MarsnoneSeven of WandsValourKnight of Disks
Aug 23–Sep 1♍︎ Virgo I☉︎ SunnoneEight of DisksPrudenceKnight of Disks
Sep 2–11♍︎ Virgo II♀︎ VenusFallNine of DisksGainKnight of Disks
Sep 12–22♍︎ Virgo III☿︎ MercuryDomicile and ExaltedTen of DisksWealthQueen of Swords
Sep 23–Oct 2♎︎ Libra I☽︎ MoonnoneTwo of SwordsPeaceQueen of Swords
Oct 3–12♎︎ Libra II♄︎ SaturnExaltedThree of SwordsSorrowQueen of Swords
Oct 13–22♎︎ Libra III♃︎ JupiternoneFour of SwordsTrucePrince of Cups
Oct 23–Nov 1♏︎ Scorpio I♂︎ MarsDomicileFive of CupsDisappointmentPrince of Cups
Nov 2–12♏︎ Scorpio II☉︎ SunnoneSix of CupsPleasurePrince of Cups
Nov 13–22♏︎ Scorpio III♀︎ VenusDetrimentSeven of CupsDebauchKnight of Wands
Nov 23–Dec 2♐︎ Sagittarius I☿︎ MercuryDetrimentEight of WandsSwiftnessKnight of Wands
Dec 3–12♐︎ Sagittarius II☽︎ MoonnoneNine of WandsStrengthKnight of Wands
Dec 13–21♐︎ Sagittarius III♄︎ SaturnnoneTen of WandsOppressionQueen of Disks
Dec 22–30♑︎ Capricorn I♃︎ JupiterFallTwo of DisksChangeQueen of Disks
Dec 31–Jan 9♑︎ Capricorn II♂︎ MarsExaltedThree of DisksWorksQueen of Disks
Jan 10–19♑︎ Capricorn III☉︎ SunnoneFour of DisksPowerPrince of Swords
Jan 20–29♒︎ Aquarius I♀︎ VenusnoneFive of SwordsDefeatPrince of Swords
Jan 30–Feb 8♒︎ Aquarius II☿︎ MercurynoneSix of SwordsSciencePrince of Swords
Feb 9–18♒︎ Aquarius III☽︎ MoonnoneSeven of SwordsFutilityKnight of Cups
Feb 19–28♓︎ Pisces I♄︎ SaturnnoneEight of CupsIndolenceKnight of Cups
Mar 1–10♓︎ Pisces II♃︎ JupiterDomicileNine of CupsHappinessKnight of Cups
Mar 11–20♓︎ Pisces III♂︎ MarsnoneTen of CupsSatietyQueen of Wands

Astrology reference

Thirteen chapters on astrology itself: the planets, signs, houses and aspects, how to judge a planet's strength, and a method for reading a chart.