Aries WON. They WON!
That's what the Aries in the room want to hear. You don't have to say it louder for those in the back, because Aries are right up front. Aries ONE, the first of 36 decans, is here to initiate the astrological year. {A decan is a division of the zodiac into 36 portions at 10 degrees each. 36 x 10 = 360˚. Each of the 12 zodiac signs have three decans that descend through the zodiac in Chaldean order of speed} This inaugural Aries I decan rises at the hour that the light begins to take over, the triumph brought to us by the endless movement of the Sun. The unvanquished Mars ruled Aries rides out of the darkness, bringing the dawn, charging victorious so that we may all begin again. So let's begin!
Rams are born headfirst, yet they are all legs at birth. While Aries rules the head, how they stand and how they charge is symbolized in how they are born. They are born ready. The story of the hero's journey in three parts: Aries won. ONE, I mean. Using the Rider Waite Smith tarot as the visual entry point, the Two of Wands is placed in view.
The man, in a position of dominion, looks at the world he holds in his hand, while still gripping the wand to his left and asserting his agency. The beginning of the story of the year starts with the surviving conqueror who holds everything, tenuously and bravely, in his hand. Bravery isn't the impulse of the ego leading a charge, bravery is perseverance through trial and sacrifice. Mars, the ruler of this card by sign and decan, requires sacrifice. Where do you think the word "martyr" is rooted? The figure in the card stares at all that he holds, while strategy begins to form for his next move. The two wands flanking him stand as both a choice and as a threshold that he has crossed into. He was once a soldier, but now he is the Lord of Dominion. He was once just responsible for himself and now he must protect beyond himself. As he stands in his new position, is his fighting over? He will need to defend that which he has won. He’s got the whole world in his hands, after all.
This card can be deceptive because he is not pictured on the battle field, this is after the war was won. He can seem plainly contemplative, but this is not a docile or even a Hermit like card. This card descends from the almighty Tower (Mars) and the supreme Emperor (Aries). Those two don’t play. The wild blood of the soldier still circulates in his veins. To sprout out of the darkness, for Light to overcome Dark, we require that brave spirit to charge us forward. Onward!
There is no return with Aries I and it begins with the choice that the Two of Wands suggests. To sit on the fence doesn’t get you anywhere beyond where you’re at and this decan situates us in a position of making the choice. All first decans of the cardinal signs are asking us to choose, it’s what propels us forward along the wheel of the year. To choose one over another, a pathway or lover, a yes/a no; by making the choice we turn the hinges on the doorway as we step through the threshold of no return. What Aries I reflects to us is the simplicity of finding the answer to any choice by listening to the beat of the fighting blood in our veins. The fire inside of us illuminates our truths & our connection with the divine light. It is what propels us to charge forward in our lives. We fight and defend for our blood, for our loves, for our honor.
The word that continues to rise for Aries I, is “verge.” Verge is the edge or outer limit of a space, it is on the brink, an interval of time just before the onset of something. Aries I is perpetually on the verge/at the brink, surrounded by the anticipation of breakthrough in order to step through those two wands and cross over into a new land.
Aries II & Aries III are just beyond the veil. Support my writing by subscribing to my SubStack. $5/month to read the rest of the story…
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