Zodiac Decans — All 36 Decan Meanings, Dates & Sub-Rulers

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Complete guide to all 36 astrological decans: each zodiac sign divided into three 10-degree sections, each with a planetary sub-ruler that modifies the sign's expression. Dates, personality, love, and career for every decan.

Every zodiac sign spans 30 degrees of the ecliptic and divides naturally into three decans of 10 degrees each. Each decan is co-ruled by a planet from the same element — which means there are actually three distinct expressions within each sign, not one. The second-decan Scorpio (co-ruled by Neptune) and the first-decan Scorpio (co-ruled by Pluto/Mars) share a core nature but diverge in meaningful ways. This guide covers all 36 decans: dates, sub-rulers, and the personality, love, and career themes specific to each.

Real-world reference: Decan (astrology) on Wikipedia.

♈ Aries decans

Decan 1 March 21 – March 30 ♂ Mars 0°–9° Aries Decan 2 March 31 – April 9 ☉ Sun 10°–19° Aries Decan 3 April 10 – April 19 ♃ Jupiter 20°–29° Aries

♉ Taurus decans

Decan 1 April 20 – April 29 ♀ Venus 0°–9° Taurus Decan 2 April 30 – May 9 ☿ Mercury 10°–19° Taurus Decan 3 May 10 – May 20 ♄ Saturn 20°–29° Taurus

♊ Gemini decans

Decan 1 May 21 – May 31 ☿ Mercury 0°–9° Gemini Decan 2 June 1 – June 10 ♀ Venus 10°–19° Gemini Decan 3 June 11 – June 21 ♅ Uranus 20°–29° Gemini

♋ Cancer decans

Decan 1 June 22 – July 1 ☽ Moon 0°–9° Cancer Decan 2 July 2 – July 11 ♇ Pluto 10°–19° Cancer Decan 3 July 12 – July 22 ♆ Neptune 20°–29° Cancer

♌ Leo decans

Decan 1 July 23 – August 1 ☉ Sun 0°–9° Leo Decan 2 August 2 – August 11 ♃ Jupiter 10°–19° Leo Decan 3 August 12 – August 22 ♂ Mars 20°–29° Leo

♍ Virgo decans

Decan 1 August 23 – September 1 ☿ Mercury 0°–9° Virgo Decan 2 September 2 – September 11 ♄ Saturn 10°–19° Virgo Decan 3 September 12 – September 22 ♀ Venus 20°–29° Virgo

♎ Libra decans

Decan 1 September 23 – October 2 ♀ Venus 0°–9° Libra Decan 2 October 3 – October 12 ♅ Uranus 10°–19° Libra Decan 3 October 13 – October 22 ☿ Mercury 20°–29° Libra

♏ Scorpio decans

Decan 1 October 23 – November 1 ♇ Pluto 0°–9° Scorpio Decan 2 November 2 – November 11 ♆ Neptune 10°–19° Scorpio Decan 3 November 12 – November 22 ☽ Moon 20°–29° Scorpio

♐ Sagittarius decans

Decan 1 November 23 – December 2 ♃ Jupiter 0°–9° Sagittarius Decan 2 December 3 – December 12 ♂ Mars 10°–19° Sagittarius Decan 3 December 13 – December 21 ☉ Sun 20°–29° Sagittarius

♑ Capricorn decans

Decan 1 December 22 – January 1 ♄ Saturn 0°–9° Capricorn Decan 2 January 2 – January 10 ♀ Venus 10°–19° Capricorn Decan 3 January 11 – January 19 ☿ Mercury 20°–29° Capricorn

♒ Aquarius decans

Decan 1 January 20 – January 29 ♅ Uranus 0°–9° Aquarius Decan 2 January 30 – February 8 ☿ Mercury 10°–19° Aquarius Decan 3 February 9 – February 18 ♀ Venus 20°–29° Aquarius

♓ Pisces decans

Decan 1 February 19 – February 28 ♆ Neptune 0°–9° Pisces Decan 2 March 1 – March 10 ☽ Moon 10°–19° Pisces Decan 3 March 11 – March 20 ♇ Pluto 20°–29° Pisces

How to use this guide

Start with your birth date to identify your decan, then read the full page for your decan to see how the sub-ruler modifies your sun sign's core expression. If you know your rising sign, check whether its decan sub-ruler adds additional nuance to your chart's overall pattern. For context on how decans interact with your full birth chart, see the free birth chart calculator, the rising signs guide, and the astrological houses guide.

FAQ

What is a decan in astrology?

A decan (also spelled decant or decanate) is a 10-degree subdivision of a zodiac sign. Since each sign spans 30 degrees of the ecliptic, every sign has exactly three decans. Each decan is associated with a sub-ruling planet that adds a secondary influence to the sign's core energy — producing three distinct expressions within each sign rather than a single monolithic type.

How do decans work?

In the traditional Chaldean decan system used here, each decan's sub-ruler is drawn from the same elemental group as the sign. For fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), the three decans are sub-ruled by Mars, Sun, and Jupiter — the same planets that rule the three fire signs, in the same order the signs appear in the zodiac. The same pattern applies to earth, air, and water signs.

How do I find my decan?

Your decan is determined by your exact birth date. Each sign covers approximately 30 days; the first 10 days are decan 1, the middle 10 days are decan 2, and the final 10 days are decan 3. The date ranges for each decan are listed on this page. Note that the exact cutoff can shift by a day depending on the year; if you were born near the boundary, check your full birth chart for your precise sun degree.

Are decans more specific than sun signs?

Yes — decans add specificity to the sun sign rather than replacing it. The sun sign remains the primary placement; the decan describes a particular flavor of that sign's energy. If two people are both Scorpio but born in different decans, they share Scorpio's core qualities but will diverge in some significant ways based on their sub-ruling planets.

What is the difference between a decan and a house?

A decan is a subdivision of a zodiac sign (based on the sun's degree at birth) and does not require a birth time. A house is a division of the sky into 12 sections based on the exact time and location of birth. Decans and houses operate on different axes of the birth chart and provide complementary, not competing, information.