Sabian Style Degree Theory

Degree theory in astrology is a way of adding a second layer of meaning to any astrological placement according to its degree position. The first degree of any placement corresponds to Aries, the second to Taurus, and so on. Aries repeats after Pisces. It's not proven, but it 's fun and does appear to have some validity.

The problem is there are two ways of determining the degree position which very few sites take into account. While Sabian Degrees, for example, are counted from 1 to 30, popular degree theory counts from 0 to 29.

So Mercury at 2 degrees 49 minutes Aries is the 3rd degree in Sabian, but the 2nd degree in popular degree theory. 3 is Gemini(third sign) and 2 is Taurus(2nd sign), regardless of the minutes. In the popular theory, zero stands for the purest qualities of the sign placement itself. Which system is better or correct?

Below is a table showing both systems.

Degree
Sign
Sabian Style
Degree Theory
1st
Aries
0/00 to 0/59
1/00 to 1/59
2nd
Taurus
1/00 to 1/59
2/00 to 2/59
3rd
Gemini
2/00 to 2/59
3/00 to 3/59
4th
Cancer
3/00 to 3/59
4/00 to 4/59
5th
Leo
4/00 to 4/59
5/00 to 5/59
6th
Virgo
5/00 to 5/59
6/00 to 6/59
7th
Libra
6/00 to 6/59
7/00 to 7/59
8th
Scorpio
7/00 to 7/59
8/00 to 8/59
9th
Sagittarius
8/00 to 8/59
9/00 to 9/59
10th
Capricorn
9/00 to 9/59
10/00 to 10/59
11th
Aquarius
10/00 to 10/59
11/00 to 11/59
12th
Pisces
11/00 to 11/59
12/00 to 12/59
13th
Aries
12/00 to 12/59
13/00 to 13/59
14th
Taurus
13/00 to 13/59
14/00 to 14/59
15th
Gemini
14/00 to 14/59
15/00 to 15/59
16th
Cancer
15/00 to 15/59
16/00 to 16/59
17th
Leo
16/00 to 16/59
17/00 to 17/59
18th
Virgo
17/00 to 17/59
18/00 to 18/59
19th
Libra
18/00 to 18/59
19/00 to 19/59
20th
Scorpio
19/00 to 19/59
20/00 to 20/59
21st
Sagittarius
20/00 to 20/59
21/00 to 21/59
22nd
Capricorn
21/00 to 21/59
22/00 to 22/59
23rd
Aquarius
22/00 to 22/59
23/00 to 23/59
24th
Pisces
23/00 to 23/59
24/00 to 24/59
25th
Aries
24/00 to 24/59
25/00 to 25/59
26th
Taurus
25/00 to 25/59
26/00 to 26/59
27th
Gemini
26/00 to 26/59
27/00 to 27/59
28th
Cancer
27/00 to 27/59
28/00 to 28/59
29th
Leo
28/00 to 28/59
29/00 to 29/59
30th
Virgo
29/00 to 29/59
-----------
 Note: in the standard or popular degree theory method, 0/00 to 0/59
degrees emphasizes whatever SIGN a planet or point is in.

I have tested both systems using my own chart and find the Sabian Style Degree Theory to be more accurate. The other method DOES have some validity, at least at face value(appearance is everything in this world), but the Sabian style of counting degrees is more concrete and makes more sense to me.

I invite you to try both systems and then make up your own mind.

back to table
back to home