Decan Walk

The Two of Cups Gemini III ends in ruins. A false idol, dressed as confidence, finally undone. In the first decan of Cancer we take a left turn towards a liminal space–one that represents attraction’s first gaze. The summer solstice opens onto the Two of Cups, Venus ruling Cancer, the Moon’s domicile, it’s natural house. It’s the nicest placement for this ruler–one where she governs with ease. The Golden Dawn’s Book T title for this decan, “Lord of Love,” is apt. The Rider-W

10 of Swords We leave the anxiety-driven insomnia of Gemini II and land at the completion of the Gemini cycle, here represented by the 10 of Swords—the card everyone hates to get. While the Tower may strike fear, there’s a finality to the 10 of Swords imagery that is somehow more frightening. Remember that we are in the land of swords—the death illustrated in the cards (what T. Susan Chang termed as “dramatic” — really, one sword would have done the job) is mental. The death

Gemini II: the 9 of Swords meets Mars’s 3 a.m. dread. A Decan Walk essay on consequence, anxiety, and the choices we can’t outrun — titled Drag Me to Hell.

The 8 of Swords is Jupiter in Gemini — big brain, wrong target. Too much force applied to small things. Admires wisdom, applies it to small and unworthy objects. In other words: Carmy, losing his mind over the menu, while the restaurant burned down around him. He ultimately discovered the answer wasn’t in the details.

Taurus III: the 7 of Pentacles meets Saturn’s mid-labor grind. A Decan Walk essay on endurance and unfinished success, anchored by Rocky’s Mickey and Adrian.

Six of Pentacles “No, no, you chose. You chose to get ahead. You want this life. Those choices are necessary.” — Miranda Priestly During a rewatch of The Devil Wears Prada ahead of the new movie, it occurred to me that opportunities are only gifts when we understand the motivations of the giver. Without that understanding, we lack the ability to employ discernment in deciding for ourselves — to “choose for ourselves,” as Miranda notes to Andy in Paris. Andy spent the better p

The Five of Pentacles / Taurus I: The Lord of Worry Decan Walk “You know, it occurs to me that the best way you hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people.” — Billy Ray in Trading Places In late April we’ve moved out of the fiery, Mars-ruled energy of Aries and into the grounded, Venusian Taurus. And the first decan doesn’t ease us in gently. In the northern hemisphere, it’s not all roses and sunshine yet. The weather is unreliable. The ground is still hard. The see

The Four of Wands: The Lord of Perfected Work After the initial battle and climb of Aries I and II, we move into the last decan of Aries -- Aries III, which is like every 80s movie high school house party. A glorious celebratory moment where the fire of Aries is seemingly under control -- but there’s always a cost. Corresponding to the Four of Wands in the tarot, it looks festive and happy on the outside, but there’s inevitably some teenage girl crying in the bathroom. In thi

If the 2 of Wands is all gas no brakes — Martian will hurling itself forward — the 3 is the first deep breath you take when you reach the plateau. You know that moment—you’re a bit sweaty, hands on hips. Chest heaving a bit. The view opens up in front of you. And then, almost immediately, the question that follows every arrival: now what. That's this card. The inception point where the conqueror becomes the leader. He's not standing on that outcropping looking at the horizon

We begin here. The first decan of the first sign of the zodiac year. If the Ace of Wands is the spark — pure potential, undirected — the 2 is the moment that spark finds a place to land and take root The Golden Dawn named it the Lord of Dominion. Mars in Aries, ruling in its own domicile. No friction, no compromise. All gas—no breaks. That unbridled enthusiasm is intoxicating. The Rider-Waite depiction features a figure that stands on a battlement holding a small globe in one