What are the degrees?
There are 360° in a circle, and within the circle of the chart there are twelve (12) zodiac signs.
360° ÷ 12 signs = 30°
Therefore,
→ Within each sign, there are 30 degrees.
→ And, within each degree, there are 60 minutes.
We usually don't refer to the minutes very often in astrology unless where getting even more specific than the exact degree, so don't give yourself a headache over the minutes.
Every sign begins at 0° and ends at 29°, so there are a total of 30° in each sign, but we won’t ever see a 30° placement because we always begin with 0° instead of 1°
And while zodiac signs each contain a 30° span, each of the houses is not exactly 30°, and therefore you may find a sign rules more than one house, a house contains more than one sign, or you have signs that don’t rule a house at all, and instead reside within the house.
Pictured here is a snapshot of my natal chart, my moon placement to be exact. This image shows that my Pisces moon is at 17° and 43 minutes in my 8th House. My 8th House is ruled by Pisces and begins at 12° and 21 minutes.
We would numerically write out my moon placement as follows:
☽17♓43
I recommend practicing writing the numbers and symbols frequently in your studies and note-taking! Not only does this help you memorize the symbols, but it helps you learn to read the celestial placements on any chart.
Interpreting The Degrees:
There is no one set way to interpret or read the degrees, so here are three major methods for you to study and choose from. You may find you use a bit of each of these methods, you may find that one just really resonates and sticks with you best. Use what works for you!
Degree Theory
According to astrologer Nikola Stojanovic, Degree Theory states that each of the degrees follows the consecutive order of the zodiac, and therefore each degree is associated with the traits of that zodiac sign.
0° is the pure, undiluted form or essence of a sign’s energy. Some even say 0° amplifies the nature of the sign. This would apply to placements in the same degree sign as the placement sign itself–like a 12° Pisces placement.
Degree | Ruled by Zodiac Sign | Ruling Planet |
1°, 13°, 25° | Aries ♈ | Mars ♂ |
2°, 14°, 26° | Taurus ♉ | Venus ♀ |
3°, 15°, 27° | Gemini ♊ | Mercury ☿ |
4°, 16°, 28° | Cancer ♋ | Moon ☽ |
5°, 17°, 29° | Leo ♌ | Sun ☉ |
6°, 18° | Virgo ♍ | Mercury ☿ |
7°, 19° | Libra ♎ | Venus ♀ |
8°, 20° | Scorpio ♏ | Mars ♂ and Pluto ♇ |
9°, 21° | Sagittarius ♐ | Jupiter ♃ |
10°, 22° | Capricorn ♑ | Saturn ♄ |
11°, 23° | Aquarius ♒ | Saturn ♄ and Uranus ♅ |
12°, 24° | Pisces ♓ | Jupiter ♃ and Neptune ♆ |
Degrees as the Decans
Is a theory and method evolved from ancient astrology. It is the subdivision of a sign to add nuance and complexity to the characteristics of the zodiac.
The First Decan: 0-9° 59’59”
The Second Decan: 10-19° 59’59”
The Third Decan: 20-29° 59’59”
Each decan corresponds to the triplicity (or element) of that sign
Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
First Decan 0-9° is the Aries Decan, ruled by Mars
Second Decan 10-19° is the Leo Decan, ruled by the Sun
Third Decan 20-29° is the Sagittarius Decan, ruled by Jupiter
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
First Decan 0-9° is the Taurus Decan, ruled by Venus
Second Decan 10-19° is the Virgo Decan, ruled by Mercury
Third Decan 20-29° is the Capricorn Decan, ruled by Saturn
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
First Decan 0-9° is the Gemini Decan, ruled by Mercury
Second Decan 10-19° is the Libra Decan, ruled by Venus
Third Decan 20-29° is the Aquarius Decan, ruled by Uranus/Saturn
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
First Decan 0-9° is the Cancer Decan, ruled by the Moon
Second Decan 10-19° is the Scorpio Decan, ruled by Pluto/Mars
Third Decan 20-29° is the Pisces Decan, ruled by Neptune/Jupiter
Degrees as Stages of Development
Similar to The Decans, this is the subdivision of each sign into thirds again, but each third refers to the stage of development or part of the journey a placement is on.
0-9° The Beginning
Exploring, learning, and maybe even a bit awkward or unfamiliar at times.
10-19° The Middle
“In the thick of it.” The climax, or most growth-inducing part of the journey.
20-29° The End
Gained wisdom and final tests. Enjoy the ride, and stay curious.
Final degrees like 27°, 28°, 29° may be tested in particular.
I recommend trying the methods with a couple of placements in your chart, seeing what resonates most, and then going in depth into one. Sometimes you can cause a little too much confusion in the beginning studies of astrology when you try mastering too many variations all at once (like trying to master too many different house systems all at the same time before fully understanding the chart itself first.
Remember, when it comes to theories and interpretation styles, there is no one specific "right" way. Take every layer in one step at a time, diversify where you learn your information from, trust your intuition & learned knowledge, and practice as much as you can!
Leave a comment if you found this article helpful, and which degree method you are most drawn to!
I have been confused about the degrees for so long! Thank you! I think the 3 different methods are very interesting, the third makes most sense to me but I can't wait to see which resonates best with me :)