Virgo Decans

Decans of the Minor Arcana Part 6
What every good magician needs to know.

We enter the 6th sign of the Zodiac – the Mutable Earth sign of Virgo, ruled by Mercury.

Mercury corresponds to The Magician, while Virgo corresponds to the Hermit.
These two figures are said to be 2 of the three Maji of the Arcana, along with the Hierophant. I’d like to propose that the High Priestess is the fourth.

The three Maji can also be associated with the 3 alchemical elements of Salt, Sulfur, and Mercury.

The Magician = Mercury – The Soul – Neutral
The Hierophant = Sulfur –  The Spirit –  Active/Projective
The Hermit = Salt – The Body –  Passive/Receptive

Just as these three symbols are seen around the interior of the Wheel of Fortune, along with the fourth symbol which looks like the symbol for Aquarius which is actually the Azoth – the elixir of life.

Consider that the Azoth corresponds to the High Priestess: the secret of immortality, the Philosopher’s stone, and as she is related to in Gnostic teachings, The Holy Grail.

Consider also, Mercury – The Magician, ruling Virgo – the Hermit. Let’s take a look at the Minor Cards which correspond to Virgo:

Images from the Thompson-Leng Tarot

Aug 23rd – Sept 1st = 8 of Pentacles = Sun in Virgo

Take what you are already good at and see what you are capable of when you inact an even greater degree of precision. This is a time for productivity, creating tangible things and working like a well-oiled machine.

Sept 2nd – Sept 11th = 9 of Pentacles = Venus in Virgo

With your assets growing and the fruits of your labors maturing, this is a time to shift your focus into higher learning. How can you expand your knowledge base to guarantee growth in the future? Seemingly random things that interest you may be of more value to your long-term success than you may realize.

Sept 12th – Sept 22nd = 10 of Pentacles = Mercury in Virgo

All of the pieces are now clicked together. It is time to show gratitude to those who came before you. Find understanding in the challenges of the past. Honor your ancestors. Remember your teachers. Focus on home, family, and simple pleasures.

“We do not live in a world of dreams, but in an Universe which while relative, is real so far as our lives and actions are concerned. Our business in the Universe is not to deny its existence, but to LIVE, using the Laws to rise from lower to higher–living on, doing the best that we can under the circumstances arising each day, and living, so far as is possible, to our biggest ideas and ideals. ” – THE KYBALION