Libra 0°-10° — the Five of Swords
The first decan of Libra runs Sep 23 - Oct 2, is ruled by Moon under the Chaldean order, and carries the Five of Swords — titled Lord of Defeat by the Golden Dawn.
Five of Swords
Lord of Defeat
Upright: Conflict, disagreements, competition, defeat, winning at all costs
Reversed: Reconciliation, making amends, past resentment
Full Five of Swords meaning →Moon in Libra
The Moon in Libra brings feeling to the sign of balance, and the Two of Swords, Lord of Peace Restored, is a truce rather than a resolution: a blindfolded figure holding two crossed swords with water behind her and a crescent moon overhead. The lunar detail is on the card. Read the decan as a standoff that is genuinely holding - the peace is real - while noting that the blindfold and the crossed arms are what maintain it. Nothing has been looked at yet.
Using this decan for timing
For timing, this decan describes a pause that is holding rather than resolving. The Two of Swords answering 'when' means the clock is stopped by mutual agreement, and it restarts only when one party removes the blindfold. A poor card for dates, a precise one for conditions.
Where it sits in Libra
Libra spans thirty degrees and divides into three decans, each with its own ruler and its own card from the Suit of Swords. This one is the opening ten degrees.
| Decan | Dates | Ruler | Card | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0°-10° | Sep 23 - Oct 2 | Moon | Five of Swords | Lord of Defeat |
| 10°-20° | Oct 3 - Oct 12 | Saturn | Six of Swords | Lord of Earned Success |
| 20°-30° | Oct 13 - Oct 22 | Jupiter | Seven of Swords | Lord of Unstable Effort |
The sign as a whole is attributed to Justice in the Major Arcana — see why Libra carries that card.