Decan walk continues with Leo I
Saturn and Sun are on the stage as the decan rulers*
Just leaving the Cancer season behind, I feel like after that contemplation period, thinking about the past and reorganising our ideas, we can finally see the way forward with Mercury retrograde period coming to an end. Not 100% end end but let’s say it so for the sake:))
And the Sun moving into Leo, like the lion going back to its lair, we may have the chance to complete this transition period, some still enjoying the summer sun in the Northern Hemisphere, some still enjoying the winter sun in the Southern Hemisphere, by focusing on more creative projects so that we can later let some elements of the Virgo season to help us tidy up all and put everything in a more meaningful order. I personally feel like I am all over the place; writing, reading, and have lots of interesting ideas on my ongoing projects about ‘water’ and ‘metonic cycle’ and a few more on the side, but I desperately need the order in my chaos:))) You can accept this as confessions from a Virgo Sun, Saturn, Mercury and NN!
Well, let’s now have a look at what the first ten degrees of Leo, Leo I, might tell us. In the first decan of Leo, the decan rulers are Saturn and Sun according to Chaldean/Descending order and Triplicity order respectively. Saturn, being the traditional ruler of Aquarius, is thought to be not in a very comfortable position in Leo. It might have the visiting team discomfort in a way. As if Saturn is saying “Before fun comes work, hard work little cub!” I believe that even we could be the most talented people when it comes to writing, speaking, drawing, architecture, wood carving, anything related to creativity, for being able to build some legacy, mark our genuine signature, we may need to work hard, face the reality, and have confidence that as the time passes, we will get there and enjoy the fruits of our creativity! But first some patience…While Saturn may be setting up some rules, Sun might continue to feed our confidence, telling us like a cheerleader ‘You are Leo, who can stop you, shine, get the recognition you deserve, it’s just around the corner, keep going!’ knowing that it’s at home, and we may need to listen to the voice of our hearts as much as we listen to the voice of authority which has definitely a lot of valid points when it comes to our creativity, our authentic power, fun, and generosity. And as Jupiter is in Leo and will be mostly in the first decan of Leo during Leo season (how many Leos in a sentence!:))), especially Saturn element in this decan could put some breaks into our great expansion, growth plans in this new journey and may help to bring us back to our senses.
I will go back to making quotes from traditional sources starting from Virgo season. I have been slow about that and decided to focus on minor arcana cards associated with the respective decans during the summer period.
So, when we talk about Leo I, we are talking about the 5 of Wands as the associated minor arcana card. There are really interesting versions of this card in the decks I generally read with but today let’s focus on the one in the RWS deck. It is also worth mentioning that even though Leo is a fire sign with all that radiating energy, it’s also a fixed sign which might symbolise consistency, stability as well as sometimes being insistent on what already exists instead of being able to focus on different approaches that may require change or diversion from the main road.
Here comes the 5 of Wands from RWS:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wands05.jpg
Everyone holding the wands high as much as they can. It feels like a competition when the winner might take it all which we potentially witness in the 6 of Wands, the minor arcana card associated with the following decan, Leo II. However, in this card, there seems to be nothing easy; there’s struggle, a lot at stake and to win we may need to make a lot of effort, find the right strategy to come out of this contest as the triumphant. It could be an also a way of ‘building confidence’ to get ready for the next stage and demonstrate all the skills up our sleeves. No easy gain! But sometimes, when we don’t earn a title or own something from an easier way, we may feel the value of this gain in our veins and hopefully don’t fall into the trap of ‘I will be glorious forever, no need to work more…’ I have Jupiter in Leo in the first decan of Leo and I always feel the whip of Saturn on me…
Let me finish this piece with a quote from ‘Dreaming the Decans’ by T. Susan Chang:
“In the spotlight, passions flare.
Lions pace and rivals glare.
All those who strive must feel the heat.
The prize for which we all compete.
Strain and sweat and count to five;
Some shall falter, some shall thrive.”
Enjoy the Leo season!
by yours truly Teri Nudelman a.k.a. amethystastrotarot as in Hello from Amethyst! –
*Original article published on my Substack account on Jul 21, 2026.