The Decans in Astrology

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Submitted by ciuboda on 6 January, 2010 - 10:38.
Language: 
English

"In this brief essay I will explain the history and some of the meanings and uses of the astrological decans. It is not a complete survey, and there are other sources I have not checked. It is mainly designed to give a student of the Western Mystery Tradition a general introduction.

The decans originally started out as calendar devices: they were ways of keeping track of how much of the heavens had turned, day to day. And since they were measured by the rising and setting of certain stars or groups of stars, and since stars were often thought to be alive or have intelligent power, the decans were associated with deities. Later, when horoscopic astrology was invented, they were thought of as astrologically very important for a few centuries. Then their importance clearly waned. Their earlier status as important divisions of the heavens and as associated with star beings remained alive in talismanic magic (e.g., the Picatrix), but in astrology they became only minor dignities and played special roles only in astrological medicine and physiognomy."

Author: 
Benjamin Dykes
Article Link: 
The Decans in Astrology
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