Understanding the three Drekkana divisions
A Drekkana is one of three 10-degree parts of a sign; this method assigns each part a ruler by counting from that sign.
STEP 1
Divide each sign into thirds
A 30-degree sign has three parts: 0° to less than 10°, 10° to less than 20°, and 20° to less than 30°. At an exact boundary, use the following part; 30° begins the next sign. There are 36 Drekkanas across twelve signs.
STEP 2
Count one, five and nine
The first part belongs to the ruler of the sign itself. The second belongs to the ruler of the fifth sign from it, and the third to the ruler of the ninth sign. Always include the starting sign as number one.
STEP 3
Look up the rulers
Mars rules Aries (Mesha) and Scorpio (Vrischika); Venus, Taurus (Vrishabha) and Libra (Tula); Mercury, Gemini (Mithuna) and Virgo (Kanya). The Moon rules Cancer (Kataka), and the Sun rules Leo (Simha). Jupiter rules Sagittarius (Dhanus) and Pisces (Meena); Saturn, Capricorn (Makara) and Aquarius (Kumbha).
STEP 4
Work an example
At 14° Virgo, a point is in the second part. Count five signs including Virgo: Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn. Capricorn's ruler is Saturn. For the third part, the ninth sign from Virgo is Taurus, ruled by Venus. Try a degree in Aries next: identify its part, count to the relevant sign, then look up that sign's ruler.