And the decan walk starts

with the 1st decan of Aries*

I have been writing in the last few days decan walk this, decan walk that with more like panic of that getting delayed as the Sun has already started its journey in the sign of Aries marking Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere along with the start of the Astrological New Year (please get your eyes ready for my never ending long sentences- I nearly made my English tutor cry at the university). Sun starting its new cycle is also the start of the decan walk. As I am writing these lines, Sun is still in the 1st decan of Aries (phew:)). And it’s worth mentioning that Sun is exalted in this cardinal, fire sign.

In terms of astrology, Aries is ruled by Mars. In terms of the 36 decans, I generally consider the decan rulers of both the Chaldean/descending order and triplicity order. In case of the 1st decan of Aries, Mars is the decan ruler in two of the orders just mentioned. There is this complete flavour of Mars in Aries. I believe that there is something immature in this first decan. A feeling of limbo at the same time especially when we think about the shift in the seasons as well as the shifts between the signs. We can also think about purity or the state of being raw…A fresh start, all this stamina for moving forward in a fiery way but innocence of being at the start! Like white and red in the flower I have taken photo of today…

This is the image I have thought about for the 1st decan of Aries. However, throughout the history many important astrologers talked different aspects and images of the decans. Let me give you some examples while you start thinking about Saturn and Neptune which are also currently going through the first decan of Aries and how Mars as the decan ruler may make an impact on their expressions.

“One who is born in the first decan ⟨of Aries⟩ [a person who has the first decan of Aries as the ascendant of his nativity] will be yellow, with a thin belly and little flesh. He will have a mole on his left leg as well as in his left armpit. He will have many friends and will hate evil.” (Abraham Ibn Ezra Introduction to Astrology; Beginning of Wisdom – Chapter II p.63)

“We begin with Aries, and we say that the first face is of Mars, in which an image can be made so that, by such images they are always victorious in battle, litigation and controversy and gain what they wish, and are never defeated; in it can be made an image to hinder the milk of beasts and destroy their butter.” (The Picatrix Liber Atrus Edition Book 33 Chapter Twelve p.118)

“The colour of the first face of Aries is red and it is made this way…” (The Picatrix Liber Atrus Edition Book 333 Chapter Three p.140)

“Therefore it is said, that in the first face of Aries, ascendeth the image of a black man, standing and clothed in a white garment, girdled about, of a great body, with reddish eyes, and great strength, and like one that is angry ; and this image signifies and causeth boldness, fortitude, loftiness, and shamelessness …” (Book II of Occult Philosophy Chapter XXXVII p. 293 Henry Cornelius Agrippa)

These are examples of some of the images in terms of astrology though next time I will look into the text of the Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology by Greenbaum in addition to the Methods of Firmicus Maternus.

And it’s curious to see that in her book ‘Decanates a Full view’ Grebner mentions that the first decan could represent physical influence and in this regard asks us to look into Mars in terms of sign and house in the chart. That’s quite interesting and when we think about full Mars energy in the 1st decan of Aries, maybe it might be worthwhile to consider this as well.

What about Tarot?

The associated Minor Arcana card is the 2 of Wands.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wands02.jpg

The Hermetic title of this card is ‘Lord of Dominion’. There is an image of a person who seems to be quite powerful with the globe in one hand and one of the the wands in the other hand, as if asking ‘What next? or maybe to be more precise Where next?’ Highly motivated, maybe a bit of impatient but reflecting the courage, enthusiasm of Mars into a pioneering figure which could be spotted in Mars in Aries. In a way interested in what is ahead rather than what already exists! Making plans, taking initiatives…However, it is a starting energy, baby steps even though it is probably not the first time plans are being laid on the table…And I think that red rose and white lily on this card are the representatives of opposites in alchemy; the first one representing rubedo (red stage) while the latter represents albedo (white stage), one is completion, passion, one is purification…

I hope to write more about both astrology and tarot in the 2dn decan of Aries.

All the best,

Teri

by Teri Nudelman a.k.a. amethystastrotarot as in www.amethystastrotarot.com

*Original article published on my Substack account on Mar 23, 2026