Virgo 0°-10° — the Five of Pentacles
The first decan of Virgo runs Aug 23 - Sep 1, is ruled by Sun under the Chaldean order, and carries the Five of Pentacles — titled Lord of Material Trouble by the Golden Dawn.
Five of Pentacles
Lord of Material Trouble
Upright: Financial loss, poverty, lack mindset, isolation, worry
Reversed: Recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty, self-care
Full Five of Pentacles meaning →Sun in Virgo
The Sun in Virgo lights up the sign of discrimination, and the Eight of Pentacles, Lord of Prudence, is the deck's card of deliberate practice: a craftsman at a bench, working through identical pentacles one at a time. The solar influence is what keeps this from being drudgery - the work is visible, attended to, and improving. This is the most encouraging decan in the earth signs for anything involving skill acquisition, and its warning is Virgoan: the craftsman has his back to the town in the distance.
Using this decan for timing
For timing, this decan is measured in sessions rather than dates. The Eight of Pentacles answering 'when' points at accumulated hours - the answer is a quantity of work rather than a moment in the calendar, which is the most Virgoan possible response to a timing question.
Where it sits in Virgo
Virgo 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° | Aug 23 - Sep 1 | Sun | Five of Pentacles | Lord of Material Trouble |
| 10°-20° | Sep 2 - Sep 11 | Venus | Six of Pentacles | Lord of Material Success |
| 20°-30° | Sep 12 - Sep 22 | Mercury | Seven of Pentacles | Lord of Success Unfulfilled |
The sign as a whole is attributed to The Hermit in the Major Arcana — see why Virgo carries that card.