While "dwad" is not in the title, dwads are included in the book. Grebner uses simple keywords. Thus, Aries is Leadership, Fire. Taurus is Material or Values, Earth. Gemini is Mental, Air, etc.
Each decanate has its own ruling sign. Grebner follows the example of Anrias, in that the first decanate of a sign is ruled by that sign, the next decanate is ruled by the next sign in the triplicity, the third decanate is ruled by the third sign in the triplicity. Thus, Aries/Aries, Aries/Leo, Aries/Sagittarius, etc. With his detailed sketches, Anrias proved the value of this system. Which is not the same as the ancient system of triplicities. This must be kept in mind. In the ancient system, the first decanate of Aries is ruled by the Sun (Leo), the second by Jupiter (presumably Sagittarius) and the third by Saturn (Aquarius?).
With Grebner, the keyword for first decanate of each sign is Physical. The keyword for the second decanate is Mental, the keyword for the third is Spiritual. The first decanate of Aries is physical, the first decanate of Taurus is physical, the first decanate of Gemini is physical, etc.
As for dwads, the first dwad in a sign has the same sign. The second dwad has the next sign, the third has the third sign, etc. Thus, the first dwad (2 degrees, 30 minutes) of Gemini is Gemini. The second dwad is Cancer, the third dwad is Leo. This proceeds in zodiacal order from one decanate to the next. The last dwad in a sign is of the sign preceeding the overall sign. The last dwad in Gemini is Taurus. The idea being that each sign of the zodiac can itself be divided into twelve.
I've never been happy with that system of dwads, as after Gemini/Taurus comes Cancer/Cancer, in other words, there is a missing dwad (in this case, Gemini) between each of the signs. I want a system that is coherent, as with the decanate rulers, and/or flowing & consistent, as with planetary hours & days of the week. You will note the ancient system of triplicity rulers fails this rule, because it presumably follows some other rule. (Never second-guess the old guys!)
Chapter 2 are delineations for planets in the decanates, written in a general fashion, ie, for the Sun. I read my solar decanate (Humanitarian, Uranus-Venus, spiritual) but didn't find myself in it. I suspect the author is writing to a private theory.
Chapter 3, on aspects & synastry, hinges on comprehension of chapter 2. The sign ruler is always the projector, whereas the decanate ruler is the receiver. (pg. 29). This made no sense no matter how I looked at it. If your Sun & Moon are in square, then you can read the rulers of the decanates they fall in, right? Well, no, because planets that fall in the first decanate do not have a decanate aspect. But since the sign of the first decanate is always the same as the sign itself, would it not be correct that the first decanate has the same ruler as the sign as a whole?
But instead, the decanate aspects you can read are those for planets which are in aspect and in the same element. In other words, if they are conjunct or trine. Grebner doesn't say this, she simply lets you hang.
With synastry it's just as limited:
A man's Sun in Gemini (Libra decanate) compared with a woman's Venus in Libra (Gemini decanate): This satisfies the man's ego, and can truly be himself with this woman who knows how to love him. (pg. 33)
Which, you will note, are two planets that fall in the same element, in this case, air. Which is a very limited way of using decanates, I think. People occasionally hook up via sextiles, you know, and have been known to blunder about with squares & oppositions. Grebner goes on, page after page, with this rather narrow synastry.
Decanates have rulers, pgs. 37-8. Which are (in this order): Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, which are repeated over & over. You will immediately note these rulers are inconsistent with the signs of the decanates themselves (Aries: Aries/Mars, Leo/Sun, Sagittarius/Jupiter), as well as inconsistent with the traditional triplicity rulers. For extra points you are wondering how seven planets are divided among 36 decanates. And you're right: The last decanate of Pisces & the first decanate of Aries are both ruled by, surprise, Mars. Seems there's one too many decanates.
Chapter 4 gives delineations for the decanate appearing on each house cusp. Since a lot of work went in to this chapter (twelve delineations for each decanate, times three decanates, times twelve houses, equals 432), I dug out my chart to see if I could identify myself. People with my decanate (Gemini-Libra) rising are,
seldom crude or coarse, and their friendly manner and good looks have instant appeal. Love relationships, children, or art can help them project their best, and they are usually very fair with others.
Which in a vague sort of way reminds one of Anrias, who writes,
The Libra decanate of Gemini is ruled by Venus. This combination gives artistic ability, quick perception, but lacks continuity. The talents are thus often misplaced, either through a general unsettled feeling or else through lack of self-esteem.
- Which is why I like Anrias so very much, but I digress. Note that Grebner thinks the second decanate of Gemini is ruled by Mars, not Libra, but you will also note her delineation of Gemini/Libra is clearly Venusian, rather than Martian.
Continuing with the decanates as found on house cusps, in my case there were more misses than hits.
This won't be your first book on decanates.
AFA, 102 pages.