Playing Cards and Decans: Cancer I — The Two of Hearts
See the master post on my 2024 decan walk and playing cards
Two of Hearts
Cancer I is the decan of Cancer 0° to 9° (inclusive). Astrologically, it is ruled by Venus, in a sign ruled by the Moon.
The traditional English method divinatory meanings for this card are:
- Success in life, position in society, and a happy marriage, attained by virtuous discretion.
- shows that extraordinary success and good fortune will attend this person; though if unfavourable cards attend, this will be a long time delayed.
- Success, but it will need care.
- Great success, but equal care and attention needed to secure it.
Reflection
Well, we made it to Cancer, thus completing a quarter of the decans so far!
We are also into the Hearts, arguably the most straightforwardly positive suit in the playing card system — although individual cards may challenge that, as we will see in later decans.
Cancer I, the Two of Hearts, is a jolly card. Succes, happy marriage, with the need for ‘virtuous discretion’. This is all good news, but there is a need for continual work to maintain these successes. The success needs ‘care’ and comes about through discretion, it is not simply a gift from above. Agrippa’s image for this decan is charmingly Venus:
In the first face of Cancer ascendeth the form of a young Virgin, adorned with fine cloathes [clothes], and having a Crown on her head; it giveth acuteness of senses, subtilty of wit, and the love of men
Note that the love of ‘men’ seems specific, as Cancer II’s image specifies the love of ‘women’.
Connecting this card to the astrological symbolism seems quite simple: the benefic Venus is in the moist and cold sign of Cancer, protected by the Moon, although the Moon gives movement and change that means that care is required. Cancer’s pop astrology stereotypes emerges through, with the lunar aspect being a requirement of the querent here: it is not so much that the marriage will be “caring” (although that is certainly a possibility), but that it will require care.
I think this is partly why this is a card of success in the first place. All such relationships and goods require care and attention to secure and maintain. This card’s reminders at the end tell the querent that they need to not simply take such good news for granted.
The Rider-Waite image for this decan is also quite straightforward, although it doesn’t necessarily contain the full implication of care and attention being required to continue the goodness that is flourishing in this card. I want to end with this, as a positive micro-talisman:
Two of Cups
Peace,
⭕