The Hindu Dwad is also called Dwadasama and Dwadachamsa. The word Dwadasama is actually a Sanskrit word spoken between 1500 BCE and 1200 BCE. Vedic Sanskrit is a language that interacted within tribes migrating from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India - several old Indo Aryan varieties - and is deeply rooted in Hinduism as well as other religions and cultures. Dwads blend very well with Western astrology lending themselves to deeper understanding of an astrological placement. Dwads give subtle dimension and nuance to a particular western astrological placement These dimensions/nuances are not obvious but far more in depth. I am looking at Dwads in this article from a Western astrological viewpoint and adding a lot of good stuff to the delineation of a chart.

Definition:

A simple definition of a Dwad is that all twelve signs of the zodiac are contained within each sign. The astrological sign is divided into twelve parts. Each part is 2-1/2 degrees. Thus, the first 2-1/2 degrees of Aries is the Aries Dwad, the second 2-1/2 degrees of Aries is the Taurus Dwad, the third 2-1/2 degrees if Aries is Gemini Dwad and so forth. The first 2-1/2 degrees of Taurus is the Taurus Dwad, the second 2-1/2 degrees of Taurus is the Gemini Dwad, and so forth. This goes for each zodiac sign. The 2-1/2 degree signs add energy to the sign and the ruler of that 2-1/2 degree sign also adds energy. For example, you have a Sun at 14 degrees Leo, which is the Capricorn Dwad. This is a heavy influence on the Leo Sun that is usually considered to be on fire and running at full speed, but may move along more steadily rather than with the exuberant energy you expect from Leo. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn and OMG put Saturn with Leo. Is one of your life lessons learning to slow down, see obstacles for what they are and temper your exuberance a little in order to move forward? You may be moving forward at a good pace but not nearly as fast as your Leo Sun wants to move. You still have Leo energy, a desire to be in the spotlight, are great with other people; however, you also have more restraint and analyze a situation more than your Leo Sun would suggest.

I like to describe the Dwads as buying a vanilla ice cream cone (the western astrological placement) and adding some chocolate drizzle (the Dwad) on it - a whole different flavor to the same cone, Then put sprinkles (the ruler of the Dwad) on your cone . You are tasting the same cone with a lot more flavor. The Dwads just add so much to the astrological chart.

I have a Dwad Glyph in my book described in the following paragraph. However, it is very easy to get a Dwad chart in the SolarFire program. Select your natal chart, then choose Chart/Vedic and in the list of Vedic charts that appear you select Vedic 12 Dwadashamsha and click on OK, then in the box that comes up click No. You will have your Dwad chart. If you put the Dwad chart around your natal chart in synastry, viewing the Dwad effect on your natal planets, and then look in your natal chart for the ruler of the Dwad you will get very important undercurrents to your natal analysis.

I began using Dwads when analyzing childrens’ charts and secondary progressions in my book “Creative Step Parenting” published by the American Federation of Astrologers. The outer planets move very slowly and Dwads are a tremendous tool to use to see signs of maturity as the planet moves to the next 2-1/2 degree Dwad in a progressed chart. These outer planets may be generational but are a great clue to the child’s development. Also, Dwads are a good tool to use in analyzing the child natally. Your little charming, lovable, balanced but unable to make up his/her mind Libra child may have the Sun in his/her Scorpio Dwad and add such traits as being secretive, sulking, and jealous of siblings, but also have good Scorpio traits as well such as intuition and self-sufficiency - all added to his/her Libra traits. Scorpio is ruled by both Mars and Pluto so here are two more planetary influences - energy, power, control and combativeness. Your Libra child may have a lot of undercurrents with a Scorpio Dwad which may not be readily apparent since the child possesses Libra charm but they will show up. This a very interesting ice cream cone. By using Dwads in delineation, you will have a greater understanding of the child’s chart. The Dwads also come in handy when comparing the child’s natal chart in synastry with others in the family or with anyone for that matter. My book has an analysis of the royal family when Camilla came into the picture. I am borrowing a little from my book “Creative Step Parenting” for this article.

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Let’s look at Prince William’s natal chart briefly and his progressed chart on the day of Prince Charles marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles.

*** As an aside, you look at the fifth house when you are dating your potential spouse. Both you and the children are defined by the fifth house of romance, creativity and children, and the planets contained in the fifth house. You may get along great with the children at that time. When you marry your spouse, you move to the seventh house. This is a whole new ball game and your relationship with your spouse’s children will change. The child may feel you are not on a par anymore but above him/her. You have a whole new house look at and you may have new planets and their Dwads to look at vis a vis your relationship. You also view your step children in your chart in the eleventh house ( your spouse’s derivative 5th house). ***

Back to Prince William. I obviously will not analyze his entire chart in an article. However, there are a few important placements to look at for this article. First of all, his Sun is at zero degrees Cancer. A zero degree planet suggests that one incarnation has been completed and this is the start of a new one. This is Cancer in the Cancer Dwad so home and family are what he will always focus on. It is ruled by the Moon which is also at 4 degrees Cancer (the Leo Dwad so there will be prominence and a public persona), just reinforcing the placement. His partnership in life (the seventh house Sun) will be to his home and foundation and in his case, the Crown. His North Node is also in Cancer at 14 degrees which is the Sagittarius Dwad (higher consciousness). Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter (so opportunity and expansion) which is in Scorpio adding these traits as well. He is very good at keeping family secrets.

He has a T-square with his South Node, North Node, and Mars/Saturn. This is between his ninth house (where Jupiter also sits) his first house, himself and his seventh house where his Sun sits which suggests partnership with the family business, the Crown. He is literally and easily being molded to be King. With regard to himself and his South Node, he is coming from a Capricorn place, down to earth, practical and is in the Gemini Dwad so he does a lot of thinking and communicating naturally and at this time around; however, he must also keep secrets and look to the home front. His Mars/Saturn sit in the ninth house in Libra along with his zero degree Jupiter in Scorpio which we have discussed with his Cancer Sun Dwad. Interesting that Jupiter is also at zero degrees or a new beginning - higher consciousness, religion, philosophy and foreign places or matters. Of course as Prince and future King he will travel a lot for his country. His Mars in Libra is in the Capricorn Dwad (ruled by Saturn) bringing in the South Node and Saturn is in the Aries Dwad ruled by the ninth house Mars (part of the T-Square) . Doesn’t this sound like someone born to into the responsibility of being King? This T-square and his Sun just go around and around. Pluto also in the ninth house at 24 Libra is in the 24 Cancer Dwad which again ties into his home and family. With Pluto he will attempt to reform the monarchy. I will stop here with chart analysis and look at one astrological placement of Camilla Parker-Bowles in synastry with Prince William’s T-square. Her Midheaven (her fame, career and honor) sits in Prince William’s third house and creates a Grand Cross with his T-square. Ouch! Her Midheaven is in Aries so is ruled by his Mars but in the Leo Dwad. Her drive and prominence will create difficulty for him. Since her Midheaven is square his Nodes it is felt on a core, karmic level. It is square what he was in the past and what he is born to do. Think they have a lot to work out? Princess Diana’s Cancer Sun is at 9 degrees so sits with this T-square as well - a lot for William to process as a child since CPB was always in the picture even if in the back ground. Communication by the press would have been hard for Prince William to handle. Prince William’s Sun and Dwad along with his T-Square planets and their Dwads alone tell you who he is and when you add Camilla Parker-Bowles’ Midheaven creating a Grand Cross a picture is painted. Using Dwads for this small part of his entire chart is so helpful and adds so much insight into the delineation.

Look at the chart of Prince William’s secondary progressions on the day of and the chart of Charles/Camilla’s wedding. His Sun has progressed to 21 degrees Cancer but still in the seventh house. The Sun is now at the P:isces Dwad. A lot of intuition, emotion and probably mistrust at this time. He may wish to look at this day through rose colored glasses in a Pisces manner but his intuition and emotions are also in play. Pisces is ruled by Neptune which sits in his eleventh house wishes, hopes and dreams. His Neptune is in Sagittarius which is concerned with ninth house matters. Right here you can see these ninth house matters concern his natal T-square and the Grand Cross Camilla’s Midheaven make with his natal chart. He has grown a bit but this is natally very difficult and affects his higher values. Also his progress Neptune is conjunct the exact degree the wedding day Pluto suggesting intense emotions, uncertainty and a spiritual transformation as well as upheaval. His progress Sun is conjunct the wedding day Saturn - very difficult for Prince William. His father is represented by the fourth house which is foundation and his progress Chiron is 26 degrees Taurus in this house. This is also a Pisces Dwad. Again, he may try to look at this day through rose colored glasses but emotions are deep. His intuition is also at play here. Obviously he loves his father and wishes the best but he has some healing to do while still thinking of the Crown with his Cancer Sun. You can see just from these few natal and progressed placements how much the Dwads add to analysis of a chart and we have just looked at a few Dwads as examples not all of them. . Neptune and Pluto, the Sun and Saturn are heavily in play this day.

TWO OTHER AREAS OF LIFE FOR WHICH I FREQUENTLY USE DWADS:

Career:

I also find Dwads very important in career counseling (My book “Astrology For Career Success” is published by ACS Publications). It is often not a beneficial time for a person to look for a job, try to change jobs, or to begin education for job training. My theory is to look at every possible astrological placement to help find the best times to act even at the worst of times. Sometimes you just have to go for it. You have no choice. For expediency I use Sun and Pluto Dwads and Dwads of planets in heavy aspect patterns such as a Grand Trine, a T-square, a Grand Cross, a Yod, a Kite and a Rosetta. One example (from my book) is the use of the Solar Return in synastry with the Natal Chart. As the Sun transits the natal and solar return charts, its transits may makes a positive aspects or transit the sixth and tenth house planets and this would be a time to act. The Sun transiting third or ninth houses would be a time to begin education to further the career. However, if you look at the Dwad of that transiting Sun and the ruler of the Dwad, you add a whole new dimension to these charts. I may also use the lunar return, the progressed chart, the 90 degree dial and its solar arc before advising a client regarding career success; however, this article is to bring to light Dwads for those who don’t usually use them so I won’t go into these charts at this time..

Synastry:

I always look for core connections - the ties and bind, as well as Dwads when looking at couples’ charts. These are the South and North Nodes conjunct planetary placements and particularly the luminaries, the Sun and Moon. I will look at my and my husband’s charts. My South Node is 25 degrees Virgo in my fourth house conjunct my Moon at 20 degrees Virgo and my husband’s Moon is 21 degrees Virgo and also sits conjunct my South Node and Moon in my fourth house. This is totally karmic on the home and foundational front. Both of our Moons are in the Taurus Dwad as well, ruled by Venus indicating a strong emotional connection. We really do connect on a deep level.

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My husband’s Ascendant Dwad is conjunct my Ascendant in Gemini.

My Sun is 13 degrees Scorpio. It is in the Aries Dwad. My husband is Taurus and our Suns are opposite. His Sun Dwad is in Libra, my Neptune is in Libra in my fifth house and Libra is ruled by Venus, and his natal Venus is in Aries. He tended to go for Aries type women - medium to tall, slender and with apparent strength. I am not very tall and although was slender I was not skinny (more his type). I was kind of surprised when he showed an interest in me. However, I was not thinking of my Aries Dwad which he obviously felt. You can see by the Dwad connections this is a pretty good match. Further, his Sun is in the Libra Dwad and my Neptune is in the fifth house in Libra. Libra is ruled by Venus where his natal Aries sits so this is another connection to romance.

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If you look at my Moon, Neptune and Mercury Dwads, they are all in Taurus with Neptune and Pluto in my twelfth house so obviously there is a core, subconscious connection, intuition for his feelings and emotions. With Neptune I tend to see him through rose colored glasses as well.

His Midheaven Dwad is in Scorpio and I met him when I interviewed and was hired to work for him (my Scorpio Sun, Venus and Mercury are in the sixth house of work and service). I worked for him for 43 years, we just retired. His Sun, Pluto and Neptune Dwads are all in Libra - the scales of justice so a very good attorney. Libra is ruled by Venus (again his Venus is in Aries) which sits in his tenth house of career along with his natal Taurus Sun suggesting a lot of drive and energy.

You can see by just these few placements discussed in our charts, how Dwads connect people who at first glance may not seem as connected.

Dwads are also very important for deep, core connections and along with the Nodes demonstrate time and time again why we have chosen those with whom we wish to be with in this lifetime, be it friends, workers, lovers or family.

This article discusses just a few Dwads in each chart as examples of how to blend the Dwad with Western astrology.If you look further into each chart, you will see more and more Dwad connections and their importance.