Taurus 0°-10° — the Two of Pentacles
The first decan of Taurus runs Apr 20 - Apr 30, is ruled by Mercury under the Chaldean order, and carries the Two of Pentacles — titled Lord of Harmonious Change by the Golden Dawn.
Two of Pentacles
Lord of Harmonious Change
Upright: Multiple priorities, time management, prioritisation, adaptability
Reversed: Over-committed, disorganisation, reprioritisation
Full Two of Pentacles meaning →Mercury in Taurus
Mercury in Taurus slows the quickest planet down into the most fixed of the earth signs, and the result is thought that moves at the speed of material fact. The Five of Pentacles, Lord of Material Trouble, falls here, which makes this the hardest opening decan in the zodiac. The image is two figures in the snow passing a lit church window they do not look up at. Mercury's contribution is precisely that: the failure is one of noticing. Read this decan as material difficulty in which the available help is nearer than the people involved can currently perceive - a distinction that matters for what the card is asking you to do.
Using this decan for timing
In timing, this decan covers the first ten days of Taurus and reads as a lean stretch rather than a permanent condition. The Five of Pentacles answering 'when' usually indicates the difficulty has a duration - which is genuinely useful information, because the card's imagery invites the assumption that it does not.
Where it sits in Taurus
Taurus spans thirty degrees and divides into three decans, each with its own ruler and its own card from the Suit of Pentacles. This one is the opening ten degrees.
| Decan | Dates | Ruler | Card | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0°-10° | Apr 20 - Apr 30 | Mercury | Two of Pentacles | Lord of Harmonious Change |
| 10°-20° | May 1 - May 10 | Moon | Three of Pentacles | Lord of Material Works |
| 20°-30° | May 11 - May 20 | Saturn | Four of Pentacles | Lord of Earthly Power |
The sign as a whole is attributed to The Hierophant in the Major Arcana — see why Taurus carries that card.