Decan: 10°-19° Aries

Dates 2024: 31 March-9 April

Ruling planet/luminary: Sol

Zodiac sign : Aries ~ Cardinal Fire

Tarot card: 3 of Wands

Golden Dawn Title: Lord of Established Strength

Associated Major Arcana:

The Sun XIX (The Sun) & The Emperor IV (Aries)

Confidence & strength

If Aries I, and the 2 of Wands, represents the planting of a seed (the seed of a new idea, plan, relationship, phase), and this seems appropriately phallic for Mars in Aries, then Aries II, the 3 of Wands, might well represent the energy and mindset required to produce and sustain growth. Maintain momentum.

That Sun energy is the energy that you have to put into something new to make sure it progresses, the next steps that you must take on your path – to nurture it, give it warmth, light and your direct focus. ‘Where your attention goes, energy flows…’ and all that.

I also see the 3 of Wands as less of a ‘show of strength’ (Mars) and more a ‘show of confidence’ (Sun). Confidence in the future. Confidence in self. Confidence in your leadership and vision.

Again, like the 2 of Wands, the Lord of Dominion, this is all super-yang stuff. With the Sun and Aries, could there be a danger that it could tip over into ego driven behaviour? Dominion, strength, Emperor – these are words that could conjure up an image of a tyrant in your mind. Sun XIX is a force of nature, of course, but I’d like to think that he has the potential to be a little more ‘chill’ or relaxed than that. Not everything is a battle or something to be ‘won’.

Let’s take a look at some keywords for the Sun and Aries to see what they tell us about the 3 of Wands.

Energy & order

In the Rider Waite Smith the visual differences between 2 and 3 of Wands, representing the first two Decans of Aries, appear subtle. In both we see someone looking out to the horizon, contemplating, assessing, planning (or dreaming?). In the latter we see someone who has actually stepped out and onto their path watching their ships leave harbour – or are those ships coming in?

With all that might be riding on a situation the posture of this individual might suggest calm assurance. Confidence in the outcome. There is nothing frantic about the energy of this card – there is intent and order. This person has their ducks, or in this case their ships, in a row.

I see someone standing on their own two feet. And standing in the sunlight, prepared and happy to be seen.

Who would play the 3 of Wands?

Feeling a little stuck with the subtle difference between 2 and 3, I asked myself who I would cast as 3 of Wands in a movie. I went in search of Aries II examples in real life and found Ewan McGregor, born on March 31, 1971, in Perth, Scotland.

Actually, I could totally see him play an Emperor’s right-hand-man, in his prime 3 of Wands mode. Sexy, confident, warm. Opportunistic. Optimistic. Charismatic. A radiant hero with a 1000 watt smile.

Or Russell Crowe, born 7 April 1964, in Wellington New Zealand. He could definitely play a slightly older, harder Emperor (this may be the Gladiator effect). One that had to keep his ego in check.

Robin Wright, born on April 8, 1966, in Dallas, Texas, would be equally well cast as a confident, ambitious, driven 3 of Wands Character who might start out with all the good intentions, but along the way get seduced by power and success. Wait. What? House of Cards?

Prompts for 3 of Wands ~ The Sun in Aries

You have stepped onto a certain path, taken a course of action, what next? Where do you go from here?

Ask yourself:

• How can you sustain the energy to see things through to completion or to the next stage?
• How committed are you to seeing something beyond the ‘ideas stage’
• How can you drive a project, situation without being domineering?
• Should you be driving? Who is in this with you?
• Are you feeling confident? Self-assured?
• What situation, relationship, project requires you to shine your light on it right now?
• Who needs your leadership? Your support and confidence?
• What are you creating?
• Are you ready to go public with it? Stand in the full sunlight?
• What opportunities are you making for yourself? How do you run with them?
• What have you put out there – what ships are leaving your harbour?
• How are you promoting yourself?
• What risks are you taking to ensure success – personally and professionally?

Observations and synchronicities ~ on 3-of-Wandsing-it

I’m making a space here to return to over the coming days of Aries II, to add any thoughts, ideas and synchronicities as they arise…

Oh my goodness. I started strong on 21 March with all the Aries I energy driving me to start a new project – the Decan Walk – only to find I stalled a few days in. I’m a Libra Sun and I found the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Libra on 25 March challenging to say the least.

I know. Excuses. But some crappy sh*t came up to do with money which kinda ‘pulled me down a peg or two’ and made me question what the f*ck I thought I was doing with my life blogging about Decans and Tarot when I should be grafting every eyes-open minute for actual cash money.

I pulled a card to get a little insight and that was 4 of Swords. I needed to take a bit of a rest to ‘recharge and rebalance my energy’ (by which I mean I had to go back to bed a bit). But after the rest and retreat, it’s time to get out there and into the open.

I had to pull it together, give it some focus, to get this post written. Keep this show on the road. 3-of-Wands-it. An energy that I am applying to more than just the Decan Walk right now.

My biggest takeaway ~ Aires II is Leo-flavoured

Reading around and about the subject has prompted me to take a closer look into the Zodiacal combination in each astrological Decan.

The Sun is the ruler of Leo and so the second Decan of Aries (the Sun in Aries) has a Leo flavour to it. Aries II, the 3 of Wands, can be described as Leo of Aries. And we know that Leo loves to be seen and loves to shine and be out there, front of house, centre stage to receive recognition and adoration.

For me, this definitely sheds new light on the story told in the 3 of Wands. And that new light would be that it’s time for a person to step out into the into the light show themselves and share what they’re doing, even in the early stages, even if it’s not finished. Openly share, so that they can get some recognition and feedback.

It feels like a prelude to the 6 of Wands, who we’ll meet in August. The 6 of Wands, or Leo II, is Jupiter in Leo… or Sagittarius of Leo. Finding freedom and expansion in the limelight or feeling free to expand in the limelight… I’m getting ahead of myself. But it’s exciting isn’t it?!

I’m such a nerd.

Aries II speaks to me personally about ‘coming out’ with creative ideas, passions, stuff that I’m working on.

A rather scary idea for me would be to actually come out into the open… let’s say on my Instagram account with an actual photograph and introduction of myself.

Watch that space!

Notes on the Decan Walk 2024/25

For more information on Decans, Astrology and Tarot and how they all synchronise please read this Substack article by Rebeka Kulcsar-Kurdi and T. Susan Chang’s 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot.

And, if you care to join me for this continuing solar return, you’ll find me on Facebook and Instagram hanging out on the corner of #decanwalk2024 and #decanastrology And I will be following @astroco_op and @tsusanchang

Here’s to another trip around the Sun!