Tarot Timing with Astrology #

One of the most practical applications of Tarot-Astrology correspondences is timing. When will the energy of a card manifest? The decan system and planetary correspondences offer specific windows for interpretation.

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The Decan Timing System #

How It Works #

Each pip card (2-10) corresponds to a specific decan. When the Sun transits that decan, the card’s energy is most active.

The Solar Calendar #

The Sun spends approximately 10 days in each decan, giving us 36 timing windows:

Aries Decans (March 21 - April 19)

• 2 of Wands: ~March 21-30
• 3 of Wands: ~March 31-April 9
• 4 of Wands: ~April 10-19

Taurus Decans (April 20 - May 20)

• 5 of Pentacles: ~April 20-29
• 6 of Pentacles: ~April 30-May 9
• 7 of Pentacles: ~May 10-20

Gemini Decans (May 21 - June 20)

• 8 of Swords: ~May 21-30
• 9 of Swords: ~May 31-June 9
• 10 of Swords: ~June 10-20

Cancer Decans (June 21 - July 22)

• 2 of Cups: ~June 21-July 1
• 3 of Cups: ~July 2-11
• 4 of Cups: ~July 12-22

Leo Decans (July 23 - August 22)

• 5 of Wands: ~July 23-August 1
• 6 of Wands: ~August 2-11
• 7 of Wands: ~August 12-22

Virgo Decans (August 23 - September 22)

• 8 of Pentacles: ~August 23-September 1
• 9 of Pentacles: ~September 2-11
• 10 of Pentacles: ~September 12-22

Libra Decans (September 23 - October 22)

• 2 of Swords: ~September 23-October 2
• 3 of Swords: ~October 3-12
• 4 of Swords: ~October 13-22

Scorpio Decans (October 23 - November 21)

• 5 of Cups: ~October 23-November 1
• 6 of Cups: ~November 2-12
• 7 of Cups: ~November 13-21

Sagittarius Decans (November 22 - December 21)

• 8 of Wands: ~November 22-December 1
• 9 of Wands: ~December 2-11
• 10 of Wands: ~December 12-21

Capricorn Decans (December 22 - January 19)

• 2 of Pentacles: ~December 22-31
• 3 of Pentacles: ~January 1-10
• 4 of Pentacles: ~January 11-19

Aquarius Decans (January 20 - February 18)

• 5 of Swords: ~January 20-29
• 6 of Swords: ~January 30-February 8
• 7 of Swords: ~February 9-18

Pisces Decans (February 19 - March 20)

• 8 of Cups: ~February 19-28/29
• 9 of Cups: ~March 1-10
• 10 of Cups: ~March 11-20

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Planetary Ruler Timing #

When the Ruler Activates #

Beyond solar transits, each decan’s planetary ruler offers timing clues:

• Mars-ruled cards (2 Wands, 7 Wands, 5 Cups, etc.): Mars transits, Mars aspects
• Sun-ruled cards (3 Wands, 6 Cups, 4 Pentacles, etc.): Solar transits, aspects
• Venus-ruled cards (4 Wands, 5 Swords, 9 Pentacles, etc.): Venus transits
• Mercury-ruled cards (3 Cups, 8 Wands, 6 Swords, etc.): Mercury transits
• Moon-ruled cards (4 Cups, 9 Wands, 2 Swords, etc.): Lunar phases
• Saturn-ruled cards (3 Swords, 5 Wands, 7 Pentacles, etc.): Saturn transits
• Jupiter-ruled cards (4 Swords, 6 Wands, 9 Cups, etc.): Jupiter transits

Examples #

• 6 of Wands (Jupiter in Leo): Most active when Jupiter transits Leo, when the Sun is in Leo’s second decan, or when Jupiter makes strong aspects
• 3 of Swords (Saturn in Libra): Most active when Saturn transits Libra, when the Sun is in Libra’s second decan, or during Saturn aspects

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Major Arcana Timing #

Zodiacal Cards #

The 12 zodiacal Major Arcana cards activate during their sign’s season:

Planetary Cards #

Planetary Major Arcana activate when their planet is prominent:

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Practical Timing Techniques #

Step 1: Identify the Card’s Correspondence #

• Pip card? Find its decan and ruler
• Court card? Find its elemental blend and sign range
• Major Arcana? Find its planet or sign

Step 2: Check the Current Sky #

• Where is the Sun now?
• Where is the card’s planetary ruler?
• What aspects are forming?

Step 3: Project Forward #

• When will the Sun transit the relevant decan?
• When will the planetary ruler make aspects?
• When will the sign be emphasized?

Step 4: Consider Multiple Factors #

Stronger timing indicators include:

• Sun in the decan AND ruler making aspects
• Multiple cards pointing to the same timing
• Eclipses or lunations in the relevant degrees

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Court Card Timing #

Court cards correspond to sign cusps and ranges:

Queens and Kings #

Cover approximately 20° spans crossing sign boundaries:

• Queen of Wands: ~March 11-31 (Pisces-Aries cusp)
• King of Wands: ~April 1-20 (Aries-Taurus cusp)
• Etc.

Knights #

Correspond to mutable signs:

• Knight of Wands: Sagittarius season (~Nov 22-Dec 21)
• Knight of Cups: Pisces season (~Feb 19-Mar 20)
• Knight of Swords: Gemini season (~May 21-Jun 20)
• Knight of Pentacles: Virgo season (~Aug 23-Sep 22)

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Example Reading #

Question: “When will I receive news about the job?”

Card drawn: 6 of Swords (Mercury in Aquarius)

Timing analysis:

1. Sun in second decan of Aquarius: ~January 30 - February 8
2. Mercury transiting Aquarius: Check current ephemeris
3. Mercury making aspects: Any upcoming Mercury aspects?

Possible timing: News may arrive when the Sun or Mercury activates the second decan of Aquarius, or when Mercury makes a significant aspect.

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Limitations and Wisdom #

What Timing Can’t Tell You #

• Exact hour or day (astrology offers windows, not moments)
• Whether the event is inevitable (free will matters)
• How the timing will feel (that’s interpretation)

Wise Use #

Use timing as:

• Preparation for when energies are ripe
• Patience when energies aren’t yet ready
• Awareness of natural cycles
• Guidance, not guarantee

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Affirmation #

I use the wisdom of Tarot-Astrology timing to understand life’s natural rhythms. I prepare for opportunities when energies align and practice patience when cycles haven’t yet turned. I trust cosmic timing while honoring my own will.

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Timing through Tarot-Astrology correspondences offers a sophisticated system for understanding when energies are most likely to manifest. Use it wisely, holding timing lightly while staying attentive to the sky’s movements.