After learning the basics of astrology, we often have an appetite for more specificity. That is where deconanates and dwads will become helpful. Depending on the degree of a sign a planet (or other point) finds itself in, it will be influenced even more by other signs and their ruling planets. By digging deeply enough, we can find even more influence with deconates and dwads. This gives Astrology readings much more flavor. Deconates and dwads can be read for planets, asteroids, the Ascendant, or any point on a chart where more specificity is wanted.
All 360 degrees of the zodiac coincide with a certain sign. The first 30 degrees belong to Aries, the second 30 degrees belong to Taurus, the third to Cancer and so on, but all signs are 30 degrees. If we split a 30 degree sign into 3 equal parts (0 to 10 degrees, 10 to 20 degrees, and 20 to 30 degrees), we are splitting it into its deconates. Deconates share the same element (triplicity). We can find further influence from the deconates and their ruling planets. For the first 10 degrees of Aries (that’s 0 degrees Aries to 10 degrees Aries), the deconate is also Aries, but the second 10 degrees of Aries, the second deconate (10 degrees Aries through 20 degrees Aries) is influenced by the next fire sign of the zodiac- Leo. The last 10 degrees of the sign (20 degrees Aries through 30 degrees Aries) are influenced by the last fire sign of the zodiac- Sagittarius. The three signs in the same element are the deconantes, but their ruling planets are the key players in the influence. Remember, the planets are the energy, they are just expressing themselves through the sign. The following chart illustrates:
Deconate Table
| 0 to 10 degrees | 10 to 20 degrees | 20 to 30 degrees | |
| Aries | Aries / Mars | Leo/ Sun | Sagittarius/ Jupiter |
| Taurus | Taurus/ Venus | Virgo/Mercury | Capricorn/ Saturn |
| Gemini | Gemini/ Mercury | Libra Venus | Aquarius/ Uranus |
| Cancer | Cancer/ Moon | Scorpio/ Pluto | Pisces/ Neptune |
| Leo | Leo/ Sun | Sagittarius/ Jupiter | Aries/ Mars |
| Virgo | Virgo/ Mercury | Capricorn/ Saturn | Taurus/ Venus |
| Libra | Libra/ Venus | Aquarius/ Uranus | Gemini/ Mercury |
| Scorpio | Scorpio/ Pluto | Pisces/ Neptune | Cancer/ Moon |
| Sagittarius | Sagittarius/ Jupiter | Aries/ Mars | Leo/ Sun |
| Capricorn | Capricorn/ Saturn | Taurus/ Venus | Virgo/ Mercury |
| Aquarius | Aquarius/ Uranus | Gemini/ Mercury | Libra/ Venus |
| Pisces | Pisces/ Neptune | Cancer/ Moon | Scorpio/ Pluto |
Directions for using the chart:
- Look up the sign in the first column.
- Look up the degrees in the top row.
- The box where they intersect will show you the deconate. The sign’s planetary ruler is written next to it.
Example:
My Sun is in Aries (7 degrees, 19 minutes).This is found in the first row and first column. My sun sign with its deconate are Aries and Aries which are both ruled by Mars.
My mother is also an Aries. Her Sun is 21 degrees Aries 36 minutes found in the first row and third column. Her sign with its deconate are Aries and Sagittarius which are ruled by Mars and Jupiter.
Dwads are comparable, but instead of splitting a sign’s 30 degrees into 10 degree increments, dwads split them into 2 ½ degree increments. That makes 12 dwads for every sign. Observe the following table:
Table of Dwads
| Ari | Tau | Gem | Can | Leo | Vir | Lib | Sco | Sag | Cap | Aqu | Pis | |
| 0-2.5 | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep |
| 2.5-5 | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar |
| 5-7.5 | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven |
| 7.5-10 | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer |
| 10-12.5 | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo |
| 12.5-15 | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun |
| 15-17.5 | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer |
| 17.5-20 | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven |
| 20-22.5 | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu |
| 22.5-25 | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup |
| 25-27.5 | Aqu Ura | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat |
| 27.5-30 | Pis Nep | Ari Mar | Tau Ven | Gem Mer | Can Moo | Leo Sun | Vir Mer | Lib Ven | Sco Plu | Sag Jup | Cap Sat | Aqu Ura |
For this table, to find the dwad we will:
- Look up the degree of the point in the first column.
- Find the sign in the top row.
- The box where they intersect will show you the dwad.
Let’s use 7 degrees, 19 minutes Aries once again. Third row down, first column over, gives us Gemini which is ruled by Mercury. My sun sign with its deconate and dwad are Aries, Aries, & Gemini. These are ruled (influenced by) Mars, Mars, & Mercury.
This would suggest that people see me as an energetic pioneer (Aries) being propelled through life with an abundance of passion (Aries is ruled by Mars). Even more passionate and energetic than the average Aries (Mars rules the deconate), but I am able to communicate well (Mercury rules the dwad).
Now we will find the dwad for 21 degrees Aries 36 minutes. Ninth row down, first column over gives us Sagittarius again. Mom’s sign is Aries, her deconate is Sagittarius, and her dwad is Sagittarius. These are ruled by Mars, Jupiter & Jupiter
My mother is also seen as an energetic pioneer (Aries) who is propelled through life with passion (Aries is ruled by Mars), but her passion expands through so many different activities (Jupiter rules the deconante), and she succeeds (Jupiter rules the dwad)!!
When reading a point on a chart, a sign and its ruling planet are said to have 60% influence while a deconate and its ruling planet adds another 30%. The dwad and its ruler give a little 10% for good measure. Essentially, deconates and dwads give sub-ruling planets that enhance the energy.
By finding deconates and dwads for 2 different Aries women, we are able to help define some of these differences. Mom and I are both strong Aries women, but we have different recipes for life.
One of the most beautiful things about Astrology is the patterns it makes. Upon first glance, these tables may seem a bit confusing, but careful examination reveals a pattern. Only a bit of memorization is needed to create your own deconate and dwad table that can be used later for off-the-cuff readings.