Exploring the soul of the first 10° of Cancer.
Welcome to the first decan of Cancer! Before we jump in, if you want/need a refresher about the decans themselves, check out the introductory post in this series and then meet me back here so we can dive head first into this post together. Here's a quick overview of everything we'll be covering:
Planetary ruler of the decan
Descriptions from Ibn Ezra, the Picatrix, and Agrippa
The tarot card associated with the decan
An exploration of the decan's soul via Sun placement
Again, if you want to know the meaning of the decans themselves, what they are, and how they can be of use to us, then definitely read the first post in this series before continuing on. You all know I like to teach from a solid foundation, so knowing exactly what the decans are and the rationale behind them will be important in their interpretation. If you're solid on the concept of decans, then let's get started with the planetary ruler.
Planetary Ruler
We’ve made it to the first of the Water decans! These first 10° of Cancer are ruled by Venus. This creates nice, smooth waters for planets to stroll into after the last 10° of Gemini. The change in planetary disposition can be quite stark from Gemini to Cancer, and it’s not just elemental differences. The last Venus-ruled decan we talked about was back in Aries, so we’re seeing the goodness of Venus again for the first time in a while. This decan feels super cozy, inviting, and welcoming. It brings to mind all the tropes you hear about Cancers— loving, caring, nurturing, welcoming, warm— it’s a feel-good decan, if nothing else. This is a decan that is infused with energy from the feminine polarity. We have Cancer, which is ruled by the Moon, and then these 10° are where Venus resides within that lunar realm. It’s a space where planets and placements will need to be less harsh and move inviting, less combative and more intuitive. Planets that pass through here or fall here in a natal chart will immerse themselves in the caretaker role. Kindness and unity go a long way with this decan, so understand that rude or belittling energy need not apply. Charm, poise, and general good manners are utilized in these 10°, so planets here will need to learn to get along with others. Since we have Venus in the Moon’s realm, we can see this be a place where relationships become the main focus. Placements in this decan will likely be highly oriented towards relationships of all kinds and create deep emotional attachments to others.
I think we can sometimes forget that Cancer is one of the cardinal signs. It takes on the role of the caretaker and spearheads into emotional landscapes without a second thought. When that’s combined with these 10° of Venus, we get the hopeless romantics that throw everything to away to be with the one they love. We can see unhealthy attachment styles and emotional manipulation, but we can also see unconditional love and emotional depth. Venus’ influence highly depends on what the placement is. If it’s a planet like Mars, we’re going to see someone who can be passive aggressive in relationships and have a hard time making decisions or taking action. If it’s Jupiter that’s placed in this decan, then we’re going to get someone who loves the idea of family, being a caretaker, or finds wisdom and goodness through their emotional landscape. Venus’ decan in Cancer can be moody and it can be loving. It creates artists, dreamers, and visionaries. People with placements in this decan will be highly imaginative and also just a little bit clingy.