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Fixed Stars.

Jul 25, 2016

We hear much about the "fixed stars" but do we know what they really are?  These are the major stars contained in a series of constellations that have been considered inportant through the ages.  Kenneth Johnson has given us a definition of a few of the key fixed stars on his web site and they are presented here for your edification.
 
A BRIEF CATALOGUE OF STARS
In this article, we shall focus our attention on a relatively small number of stars, including the four so-called “royal stars” which would have marked the equinoxes and solstices around 3000 BCE, the beginning of the ancient world civilizations. These stars, along with their present positions, are Aldebaran (10 Gemini), Regulus (29 Leo), Antares (9 Sagittarius) and Fomalhaut (3 Pisces). Another vitally important star which lies upon the ecliptic is Spica (23 Libra), always regarded as one of the most favorable stars of all. We shall also pay some attention to Sirius (13 Cancer), which, though even farther from the ecliptic than Fomalhaut, was always deemed to be important. Finally, we shall also face the challenge of two of the most difficult of fixed stars or clusters, the “evil star” Caput Algol (26 Taurus) and, close by, the Pleiades (29 Taurus). They are given here in zodiacal order.
 
Caput Algol (26° Taurus) This star has the dubious distinction of being called “the most evil star in the sky.” It did not figure highly in the Hellenistic lists, possibly because it is quite some distance from the ecliptic. The Greek astrologers simply call it a combination of Saturn and Jupiter. This star takes its meaning from the myth of Perseus; this hero was the slayer of Medusa, the snake-headed Gorgon whose very gaze turned men to stone, and Caput Algol is her severed head which Perseus holds in his hand. As the decapitated head of a demoness, Caput Algol became known in medieval times as a star of evil omen, and was often interpreted quite literally in terms of losing one’s head (a not uncommon punishment in those days). In actual practice, however, a major contact with Caput Algol in a birth chart implies “losing one’s head” in the metaphorical sense – being so badly bereft of sense or direction that the relevant conjunction point (Moon, Midheaven, or whatever) often causes some kind of misfortune for the individual.
 
The Pleiades (29° Taurus) Despite the world-wide mythological importance of this constellation, it does not occupy a place of prominence in the old Hellenistic teachings regarding the fixed stars. The Pleiades were perceived as a rather gloomy constellation, said by Ptolemy to partake of the nature of the Moon and Mars, notable mostly for their pernicious influence upon one’s eyesight. Note that Ptolemy departs from his usual interpretive mode here. Most stars are perceived as a blend of two different planets, while the Pleiades are unique in being regarded as a combination of a planet with a luminary.
 
In India this lunar mansion, named Krittika, occupies a place of supreme importance in the ancient calendar as well as in the mythology of the nakshatras. Hindu tradition asserts that the Pleiades bring passion, intensity, drive, ambition, and a quarrelsome or contrary temperament into the native’s life. In the sidereal zodiac, the Pleiades constitute the precise exaltation point of the Moon, while in Hindu mythology the god Skanda, ruler of the planet Mars, is said to have been nursed by the celestial sisters who are the Pleiades. Here again one finds an unexpected link between Hindu and Hellenistic traditions, for as we have noted, Ptolemy asserts that the Pleiades are a blend of the Moon and Mars. It is interesting to note that the Pleiades are perceived as a group of sisters in both Hindu and Greek myth.
 
Aldebaran (10° Gemini) Ptolemy merely remarks that Aldebaran is of the nature of Mars – which is unusual, since stars are almost always described in terms of two planets rather than one. It is certainly true that Mars should be a factor here, since Aldebaran is a red star. Anonymous of 379 and the Liber Hermetis both list this important fixed star as being of the nature of Venus and Mars combined. It is said to render its natives fortunate and wealthy, with a talent for administration. It lends courage, eloquence, integrity and popularity to a horoscope. In keeping with its Mars-Venus association, the longitude of Aldebaran is listed by Anonymous of 379 as being among those “degrees which cause licentiousness.” The same author also declares that those born under its influence are “hot-headed” when it comes to their desires, as well as being “versatile in respect of sexual pleasures.”
 
In the Hindu nakshatras, this star is known as Rohini, the Red Goddess, the literal dancing girl in the sky. In 3000 BCE, her rising would have marked the vernal equinox; she is the goddess in the springtime of her youth. As in the Hellenistic tradition, the Hindus recognize Aldebaran as an indicator of fortune, wealth, and administrative talent, and they retain a strong sense of this star’s erotic power. It is interesting to note that Sigmund Freud was born with the Moon close to Aldebaran, while Marilyn Monroe’s Sun was almost exactly conjunct this important star.
 
Sirius (10° Cancer) This star is said to be a mixture of Mars and Jupiter. It is said that for those born in the night-time, Sirius behaves more like Jupiter, gifting its natives with leadership ability, wealth, and honor, along with more Martian attributes such as energy and a temperament that is unruly, high-spirited, and willful. Those born by night received the Mars side of the Dog Star: such natives were said to be despotic, insolent, coarse, agitated, and prone to act through passion and resentment. But the day-born received a Jupiterian influence if Sirius was at the Midheaven, in which case its natives also acquired eloquence and mercy – though all the same, they didn’t always “come to a good end.” Sirius is unique in the sense that its risings and settings, as well as its conjunction with planets, were used for “mundane” or political predictions – a practice which may have to do with its importance in ancient Egypt, where it symbolized the goddess Isis in search of the broken pieces of Osiris (Orion) as well as being an important marker in the beginning of the old Egyptian calendar. Similar mundane and political meanings were attached to several stars in India, notably Canopus.
 
As noted in our discussion of important stars which lie far from the ecliptic, the lunar mansion of Ardra was anciently associated with Sirius (though it is now marked by Betelgeuse). It is interesting once again to note that the standard Hindu interpretation of Ardra upon the Ascendant or conjunct the Moon is almost an exact match for the old Hellenistic Sirius: Those born under Ardra are said to be passionate, tempestuous, bold, haughty, excessive, treacherous at worst and filled with vital energy at best. In the ancient mythology, Sirius was an incarnation of Shiva in his destructive aspect as a wild hunter who chases the Primordial Cosmic Man (Orion) through the night sky and kills him. No wonder he is a bit cranky and “ferocious.”
 
Though the birth data may be a bit dirty, it is likely that the most passionate and “unruly” author of the Victorian era may have been born with the Moon closely conjunct Sirius – Emily Bronte.
 
Regulus (29° Leo) The star Regulus lies at the very center of the constellation of Leo, and is often known as the “Heart of the Lion.” Its name literally means “the star of kings,” and it is associated with royalty and power – or, at the very least, with a majestic temperament. The Greeks regarded Regulus as a mixture of Mars and Jupiter (it is slightly reddish in color), and wrote that those who have this star prominent are esteemed, commanding, independent, outspoken, great-souled and honor-loving, often wealthy and born leaders of men. There is a certain amount of Martian contentiousness or quarrelsomeness involved.
 
Similarly, the lunar mansion of Magha, marked primarily by Regulus, is said to produce natives who are kingly, proud, larger than life, restless, ambitious, wealthy, arrogant, and (once again) born leaders. The Hindu tradition adds that they are more often than not conservative as leaders (think of Winston Churchill, with his Moon conjunct Regulus). This star would have marked the summer solstice in 3000 BCE.
 
Spica (23° Libra) Spica has always been universally regarded as one of the most positive stars in the sky. In late Egyptian times, the constellation of Virgo was sometimes perceived as the goddess Isis, and Spica was the divine child Horus seated in her lap. Later, Virgo became identified with the Virgin Mary, and Spica with the Christ child. But it is most commonly seen as the sheaf of wheat which Persephone, the goddess of Virgo, holds in her hand. The Hellenistic astrologers saw Spica as a mixture of Mercury and Venus; hence its natives are said to be learned, philosophical, eloquent, creative, clever, artistic, pleasure-loving, practical, high-minded and successful, but sometimes fickle or promiscuous. Anonymous of 379 wrote that Spica, in particular among the Mercury-Venus stars, produces men who act as “hierophants” or high priests as well as philosophers, and that it produces women who become priestesses of Isis, Demeter, or Persephone.
 
The lunar mansion of Chitra is centered on the star Spica, and Hindu tradition asserts that natives of Spica are elegant, charming, charismatic, sensual, seductive, creative, clever, and excellent conversationalists, though with a tendency to be self-centered or shallow.
 
Antares (9° Sagittarius) The star Antares forms the center of Scorpio, the “heart of the scorpion.” A red star, it was regarded by the Greeks as a mixture of Mars and Jupiter, and hence it shares many qualities with Regulus: power, esteem, command, rashness, independence, blunt speech, wealth and leadership are all said to be characteristic of those born with Antares at the Midheaven, the Ascendant, or conjunct the luminaries.
 
Antares stands directly opposite Aldebaran, and in India was seen as part of a pair with that star. If Aldebaran was the goddess as nymph and dancing girl, Antares was the goddess as wisdom crone. This mansion’s Hindu name, Jyeshta, means “the eldest sister,” and refers to the fact that the lunar mansions were part of a cycle of celestial goddesses who were all daughters of the Cosmic Primordial Man (Orion, slain by Shiva as the star Sirius). In 3000 BCE Antares would have marked the autumnal equinox; the goddess turns toward the second half of life, when the darkness is longer than the day. The interpretation given to Jyeshta, however, is similar to that given to Antares by the Greeks: those with Antares conjunct the Moon or Ascendant are said to be crafty, subtle, analytical, wealthy, war-like, adventurous, and powerful, and at worst turbulent, arrogant, egotistical, secretive and combative.
 
Fomalhaut (3° Pisces) The Greeks saw this star as a mixture of Mercury and Venus, and hence gave to it the same general interpretation as Spica: “learned, philosophical, eloquent, creative, clever, artistic, pleasure-loving, practical, high-minded and successful, but sometimes fickle or promiscuous.”
 
Whether or not Fomalhaut was ever part of the nakshatra system is open to question. It is not currently included among the nakshatras – but Fomalhaut marked the winter solstice sunrise in 3000 BCE, so it is difficult to see how the ancient astrologers could have missed it. Evidence from the Atharva Veda (19.7) and the Mahabharata (3.37.219.7-10) demonstrate that Abhijit or Vega was part of the original nakshatra system, but, like Vega and Sirius, was dropped from the list because of its distance from the ecliptic. Longitudinally, it would be in the mansion of Shatabhishak, the sign of the divine healer and the home of Varuna, the god of the night sky who holds the jug full of the water of life in the middle of the constellation of Aquarius. (The Greeks said that Fomalhaut was the mouth of the fish – Piscis Austrinus – into which the water jug of Aquarius is poured.) The Hindu interpretation of Shatabhishak is different than the Greek interpretation of Fomalhaut and is based upon the nature of the god Varuna: mystical, reclusive, solitary, sometimes scientific and sometimes meditative, secretive, moody, depressive, and possessed of healing talents.
 
Image:  Antares in the constellation Scorpius - astrologyweeklyforum.com
 



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