Fixed Stars
The
Fixed Stars were so called by the
ancients to distinguish them from the Planets, or Wanderers, which
are heavenly bodies moving perceptibly in the sphere of the Zodiac.
Fixed Stars are those which appear to be stationary, relative to the
Earth (although they do advance due to precession at a rate of less
than one minute per year, so needing some seventy-two years to move
one degree of arc). These do not move across the ecliptic, as do
planets. Those near the ecliptic and of significant magnitude have
considerable influence. Fixed stars do not lie within the zodiac;
they are all beyond it in the constellations. Planets move within
the zodiac.
The Elizabethan astrologer, William Lilly,
identified about fifty fixed stars in his horary delineations (these
are marked in the table with an asterisk *). The Fixed Stars have an
influence when in conjunction, opposition, square or parallel aspect
with a planet, or significant point in the horoscope. They are
particularly important when in the Ascendant or Angles at birth, or
when near the Sun or Moon. They also have an effect when directed to
the Angles and can be activated by major transits.
The
allowed orb for fixed stars is a matter of some dispute among
astrologers. Most modern astrologers lean to a very small orb,
mainly based on the magnitude of the star (the bigger the star, the
greater the orb). For a more detailed examination of magnitudes and
other factors, check out Anne Wright's very comprehensive site at
The Fixed Stars.
Traditional astrology uses a smaller number of stars and allows a
larger orb, especially for the four Royal Stars, Aldebaran, Regulus,
Antares and Fomalhaut, plus Sirius and Spica. Caput Algol is also
allowed a larger orb, because it is such a powerful influence for
evil.
In my own work, I have found that an orb of 1 degree
is usually quite noticeable (though I'd allow up to 6 degrees for
Algol and various sizeable orbs for the other major stars). I
generally ignore most of the smaller stars unless there is a very
significant reason not to. Experience is the best teacher. Have a
look at my article on the influence of the fixed stars on the
September 11 attack, American Catastrophe for some insight into the
way they work. Fixed stars are also said to "cast no rays" meaning
that aspects other than conjunction should not be considered. This
is not necessarily the case. See my colleague Ian Thurnwald's
article on the 2002 Uranus/Algol cycle The Cycle of Uranus and Algol
in 2002.
Sun and Moon have a naturally wide orb (since they
actually physically occupy more of the sky). This said, the closer
the orb, the stronger the influence. If a star is angular,
especially if rising or setting, its influence is the greatest. This
involves the use of parans (angular relationships between planets
and fixed stars in a chart). Bernadette Brady is the best modern
writer on this. Brady's Book of Fixed Stars makes a very useful and
readable addition to any astrologer's library. Conjunctions of fixed
stars with planets (including lunar nodes) in the natal chart are
also very significant, especially if rising, setting or culminating,
and when stimulated by transits.
Important Fixed Stars |
Star |
Keywords |
Position |
Effect |
Character |
Kerb |
Danger of being jilted by a lover
|
1° Aries 03 |
Neutral |
Mars/ Mercury |
Difda
Deneb Kaitos |
Laziness, self destruction, nervousness, illness,
inhibitions, loss |
2° Aries 35 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn |
Algenib |
Ambition, vanity, intuition, enthusiasm, bad judgment
|
9° Aries 09 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Mercury |
Alderamin |
Gravity, sternness, judgement, severe trials, poetry,
drama |
12° Aries 47 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
Alpheratz |
Grace, popularity, independence, honours |
14° Aries 18 |
Fortunate |
Venus |
Baten Kaitos |
Isolation, depression, accidents, emigration,
shipwrecks |
21° Aries 48 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn |
Acamar |
Success in public office, ecclesiastical success |
23° Aries 16 |
Fortunate |
Jupiter |
Alrisha |
Unifying influence with groups |
29° Aries 23 |
Fortunate |
Mars/ Mercury |
|
Mirach |
Good fortune through marriage, beauty, love talent |
0° Taurus 24 |
Fortunate |
Venus |
Sharatan |
Violence, defeat, accidents, injury, danger,
honours |
3° Taurus 49 |
Neutral |
Mars/ Saturn |
Hamal |
Violence, cruelty, brutality, also the "Healer" |
7° Taurus 40 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Saturn |
Schedir |
Astrology, mysticism, writing |
7° Taurus 48 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Almach |
Success in Venusian occupations, artistic ability,
popularity |
14° Taurus 15 |
Fortunate |
Venus |
Menkar |
Disease, throat trouble, disgrace, ruin, injury from
beasts, unjustified enmities |
14° Taurus 19 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Rana |
love of knowledge, science, much travel, many
changes, position of authority, accidents at sea, drowning |
20° Taurus 52 |
Fortunate |
Saturn
part of "The River", a
constellation traversing several Signs |
Zaurak |
Melancholy, fear of death and suicidal tendencies |
23° Taurus 52 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn |
Caput Algol *
The Demon's
Head |
Strangulation, beheading, danger to throat and neck,
murder, violence, the "Evil One" |
26° Taurus 10 |
Very Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
Pleiades
The Seven
Sisters |
Accidents, blindness, violence, homosexuality,
feminine power |
29° Taurus 58 |
Unfortunate |
Constellation of 7 stars
(refer Alcyone) |
|
Alcyone *
Central star of the
Pleiades |
Ambition, honour and glory. Trouble with opposite sex
|
0° Gemini 00 |
Neutral |
Moon/ Jupiter |
Hyades * |
Scandal, violence, disgrace, imprisonment |
5° Gemini 45 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Mercury |
Aldebaran *
Bull's North
Eye |
A Royal Star. The archangel Michael, the Watcher of
the East. Eloquence, high honours, integrity, popularity, courage,
war mongering, agitation |
9° Gemini 47 |
Unfortunate |
Mars |
Cursa |
Currents of Fate, fluctuating emotions, irreversible
changes to rhythm of life, sense of oblivion |
15° Gemini 17 |
Fortunate |
Saturn |
Rigel *
Orion's
Foot |
Technical and artistic ability, inventiveness,
humour, honours, riches, happiness |
16° Gemini 50 |
Fortunate |
Jupiter/ Mars |
Bellatrix *
Orion's Left
Shoulder |
Loquaciousness, accidents, sudden dishonour |
21° Gemini 28 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Mercury |
Capella |
Inquisitiveness, open mindedness, powerful friends |
21° Gemini 51 |
Fortunate |
Mars/ Mercury |
Phact |
Talent in art or science |
22° Gemini 16 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury/ Uranus |
El Nath |
Luck, fortune, success, quarrels, headstrong |
22° Gemini 26 |
Fortunate |
Mars |
Alnilam * |
Brief fame, quick temper, scandal |
23° Gemini 49 |
Fortunate |
Jupiter/ Saturn |
Al Hecka * |
Honours, wealth, power, greed, aggression |
24° Gemini 42 |
Fortunate |
Mars |
Polaris *
The Pole
Star |
Sickness, trouble, loss, affliction, spiritual
powers |
28° Gemini 34 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Betelgeuse *
Orion's
Right Shoulder |
Calamities, danger, violence |
28° Gemini 45 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Mercury |
|
Propus |
Over confidence, pride, shamelessness violence
|
3° Cancer 26 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn |
Alhena
Almeisan, the shining
one |
Acute sensitivity, creative imagination, artistic
skills, writing, injuries to feet |
9° Cancer 06 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Venus/ Jupiter |
Alzirr |
Hunting, besieging towns, the revenge of princes,
trouble, disgrace, sickness, loss of fortune, affliction, danger to
knees |
11° Cancer 13 |
Unfortunate |
Mercury/ Venus/ Jupiter |
Sirius *
the Dog Star the
Sun of the Sun the central Sun of our Galaxy |
Ambition, pride, emotionality, fame, leadership,
wealth, fires, drought, danger through impetuosity |
14° Cancer 05 |
Fortunate |
Jupiter/ Mars |
Canopus * |
Voyages, piety, scandal, violence |
14° Cancer 51 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
Castor * |
Sudden fame or loss, distinction, keen mind,
violence, mischief |
20° Cancer 14 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Mars/ Venus |
Pollux *
Caput
Hercules |
Contemplative speculation, audacity, astrology, ruin,
disgrace, death, calamity, the "Heartless Judge" |
23° Cancer 13 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Moon/ Uranus |
Procyon * |
Violence, sudden success then disaster, occult,
politics, dissipation |
25° Cancer 47 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Mercury |
|
Talitha |
Quiet, prudent, suspicious, mistrustful,
self-controlled, great anger when roused |
2° Leo 48 |
Neutral |
Saturn/ Mars |
The Aselli
The
Asses |
Death by fever, fire, hanging, beheading, or violent
catastrophe, ruin, disgrace, wounds, hurts to face, eye trouble,
blindness, imprisonment, great changes in society |
Nebulous Cluster in 1st decan of
Leo |
Unfortunate
|
Mars/ Moon |
Praesaepe * |
Inner drive, reclusive, blindness, murder, tragedy,
fires |
7° Leo 12 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Moon |
North Asellus *
Asellus
Borealis |
Patience, beneficence and courage, heroic and defiant
leader |
7° Leo 24 |
Fortunate |
Sun/ Mars |
South Asellus *
Asellus
Australis |
Military preferment, blindness, eye trouble,
shipwreck, mass murder, horrors, self-willed, uncooperative |
8° Leo 35 |
Unfortunate |
Sun/ Mars |
Giansar |
Penetrating and analytical mind, travel and many
friends, craft, ingenuity, and valour, but danger of robbery and
accidental poisoning |
10° Leo 20 |
Neutral |
Saturn/ Mars |
Acubens |
Astrology, writing, perseverance, domestic problems,
poison, liars |
13° Leo 35 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Mercury |
Dubhe |
Astrology, arrogance, psychic, destruction |
15° Leo 00 |
Fortunate |
Mars |
Merak |
Prudent, restrained, mistrustful, self-controlled
(but angry when roused), love of command, power to achieve, good
with animals |
19° Leo 06 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Mercury/ Mars |
Ras Elased Aust
Algenubi |
Cruel, heartless, bold, bombastic, brutish,
destructive, artistic appreciation. power of expression, spiritual
gifts, leadership |
20° Leo 42 |
Neutral |
Saturn/ Mars |
"Own Worst Enemy" |
An unfortunate degree. No freedom to act on one's own
behalf |
22° Leo |
Unfortunate |
|
Alphard * |
Sudden death by poison or drowning. Problems with
law, love affairs, drugs |
27° Leo 08 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Adhafera |
Crime, lying and stealing, suicide |
27° Leo 34 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Mercury |
Al Jabhah * |
Wealth, sound judgement, cleverness, prone to
violence, self-seeking, danger, loss, mutiny |
27° Leo 41 |
Neutral |
Saturn/ Mercury |
Regulus *
Lion's
Heart |
The most Royal Star. Raphael, the Healing Archangel,
the Watcher of the North. Nobility, ambition, alertness, great
power, status, leadership, sudden downfall, accidents, violence |
29° Leo 53 |
Fortunate |
Mars/ Jupiter/ Uranus |
|
Praecipua |
Generous, noble, peaceful, fearless nature, with the
ability to undertake prominent and responsible positions |
0° Virgo 53 |
Fortunate |
Jupiter/ Mars |
Thuban |
Prospectors of gold and silver or those who are
ministers of money; burning to death in own house |
7° Virgo 27 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Mars |
Zosma |
Keen intellect, depression, fearful, unhappy, feels
restricted, loss in childhood |
11° Virgo 16 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Mizar |
Connected with fires of a catastrophic extent and
mass calamities |
15° Virgo 42 |
Unfortunate
|
Saturn/ Venus |
Denebola * |
Criticism, perseverance, control, lack of
imagination, honours, undesirable associates, mental illness,
happiness turns to despair, disease, natural disasters,
catastrophes |
21° Virgo 38 |
Neutral |
Saturn/ Venus |
Coma Berenices * |
Eye problems |
23° Virgo 48 |
Fortunate |
Moon/ Venus |
Labrum |
Honours, riches, ambition, psychic, chronic illness,
dishonest income |
26° Virgo 38 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Venus |
Alkaid
Benetnash |
Associated with death and mourning, war, natural
catastrophes |
26° Virgo 56 |
Unfortunate |
Moon/ Mercury/ Saturn |
Markeb |
Voyages, educational work, broad knowledge, piety |
28° Virgo 54 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
|
Zaniah |
Order, congeniality, lovable nature, refinement,
honour |
4° Libra 31 |
Very Fortunate |
Mercury/ Venus |
Vindemiatrix |
Falsity, folly, disgrace, stealing, widowhood,
depression, witch-hunts, mysticism & the occult |
9° Libra 56 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Mercury |
Algorab |
Scavenging, destructiveness, repulsiveness,
malevolence, fiendishness and lying, suicide, greed, injuries |
13° Libra 27 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Saturn |
Merga |
Guardians, ministers of state, custodians,
treasurers, force behind the scenes, hidden masters, economists,
architects, designers, "The Sickle" |
15° Libra 27 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Saturn |
Seginus * |
Business, astrology, law, loss through friends,
deceitful, shameless |
17° Libra 39 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Saturn/ Venus |
Mufrid |
Prosperity from work, planning, strong desires, a
tendency to excess, a fondness for rural pursuits, occultism |
19° Libra 20 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Saturn |
Foramen |
Prosperity, leadership, ear & eye trouble,
indecision, shipwreck |
22° Libra 09 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
Spica * |
Wealth, fame, honour, glamour, the "Fortunate One" |
23° Libra 50 |
Very Fortunate |
Venus/ Mars |
Arcturus * |
Inspiration, fame, honour, benefits through travel,
success through work |
24° Libra 14 |
Very Fortunate |
Jupiter/ Mars |
|
Princeps * |
Ability to research keen, studious and profound mind,
business, government, law, science, arts, lies |
3° Scorpio 09 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Saturn |
Khambalia |
Deep research of any kind, police investigation,
espionage and esoteric subjects |
6° Scorpio 57 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Mars |
Acrux |
Interest in astrology and spirituality, metaphysics,
sacrifice |
11° Scorpio 52 |
Occult |
Jupiter |
Alphecca * |
Honour, dignity, literate, brilliant, poetic,
scandals, betrayal in love, sorrow through children |
12° Scorpio 16 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury |
Menken |
Wisdom, astronomy, divination, medicine, botany and
music |
12° Scorpio 18 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury |
South Scale *
Zuben
Algenubi |
Loss, theft, betrayal, abuse, venereal disease,
poisoning, drowning, anguish, revenge, criminality |
15° Scorpio 04 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Mars |
Serpentis
the "Accursed
Degree" |
A malefic degree, tragedy, misfortune, the "Accursed
Degree". This degree does not precess. |
19° Scorpio |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Saturn |
North Scale *
Zuben
Alschemali |
Honours, wealth, distinction, brilliant mind, success
in sports, politics, war, religion, writing, tragedy, violence,
melancholy |
19° Scorpio 23 |
Fortunate |
Jupiter/ Mercury/ Mars |
Alpha Serpentis *
Unukalhai |
Success followed by fall, suicide, insanity,
accidents, success in war, politics, writing, problems in love,
forgery, shipwreck, loss, earthquake |
22° Scorpio 04 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Mars |
Agena |
Good health, high morals, disillusion through love,
success with the masses |
23° Scorpio 48 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Jupiter |
Bungula |
Occult and philosophical learning, self analysis,
honours, stubborn, cruel |
29° Scorpio 36 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Jupiter |
|
Kornephoros |
Fixity of purpose, strength of character, ardent
nature and dangerous passions |
1° Sagittarius 05 |
Neutral |
Mercury |
Yed Prior * |
Success in astrology & 9th house matters,
shrewd |
2° Sagittarius 18 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Marfik |
Passionate, blindly good-hearted, easily seduced,
healer with herbs |
5° Sagittarius 36 |
Neutral |
Saturn/ Venus |
Antares *
Heart of the
Scorpion |
A Royal Star. The Archangel Oriel, the Watcher of the
West. Spirit of adventure, obstinacy, injuries to eyes, honours,
sudden loss, stubborn, suspicious, violent, several marriages |
9° Sagittarius 46 |
Fortunate |
Mars/Jupiter/ Mercury |
Rastaban * |
Impulsive, honourable, good for astrology,
government, writing, sports, finance, the arts, accidents, wounds,
blindness, criminality |
11° Sagittarius 58 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Mars/ Jupiter |
Sabik |
Wastefulness and lost energy, perverted moral,
success in evil deeds |
17° Sagittarius 58 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Atria |
Just, truthful, righteous and benevolent, interest in
architecture and freemasonry |
20° Sagittarius 54 |
Very Fortunate |
Mercury/ Jupiter |
Ras Alhague |
Trouble with women, drugs, poisoning, hallucination,
medicines, infections, mystical healing |
22° Sagittarius 27 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/Venus |
Lesath |
Danger, desperation, immorality and malevolence,
connected with acid poisons, accidents, catastrophes, operations |
24° Sagittarius 01 |
Unfortunate |
Mercury/ Mars |
Etamin |
Liking solitude, good concentration, dishonour,
downfall and loss of prestige, esoteric and philosophical studies |
27° Sagittarius 58 |
Neutral |
Mars/ Moon |
|
Spiculum |
Eye trouble, blindness, depression, hopelessly
doomed, morbid religious outlook, no concern for human life |
1° Capricorn 04 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Moon |
Alnasl |
Eye trouble, blindness (or bad eyesight) |
1° Capricorn 16 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Moon |
Polis |
Martial desires, high ambitions, domination, keen
perception, success |
3° Capricorn 13 |
Very Fortunate |
Jupiter/ Mars |
Kaus Borealis |
Promoters of idealistic and humane ideas, promoters
of mental stimuli, enterprise and a sense of justice |
6° Capricorn 19 |
Fortunate |
Mercury/ Mars |
Facies |
Blindness, violent death, leadership, war, coldness,
detached, perfectionist, earthquakes |
8° Capricorn 16 |
Unfortunate |
Sun/ Mars |
Vega * |
Luck in politics, artistic talent, fleeting fame,
double dealing, generosity, practicality |
15° Capricorn 19 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury |
Sheliak |
Artistic talent, sexual adventures, disgrace,
gaudiness, independent thought, trouble with authority, death by
violence |
18° Capricorn 53 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury |
Dheneb |
Martial Arts, ability to command, liberality,
beneficence |
19° Capricorn 48 |
Very Fortunate |
Mars/ Jupiter |
Peacock |
Vanity and love of display, together with a long life
and sometimes fame |
23° Capricorn 49 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury/ Saturn |
Terebellum |
Strength and power, rise in life, riches, cunning,
disgrace |
25° Capricorn 51 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Saturn |
|
Tarazed |
Spoil and plunder, imagination, strong passions,
will, clairvoyance, fame, powerful mind |
0° Aquarius 56 |
Fortunate |
Mars/ Jupiter |
Sham |
Combative, opinionated, jealousy, danger of death in
battle |
1° Aquarius 04 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Venus |
Albireo |
Contemplative, cultured, artistic, congenial
appearance and disposition |
1° Aquarius 15 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury |
Altair *
The Eagle |
Sudden but ephemeral fortune, impulsiveness, courage,
accidents, astrology, writing |
1° Aquarius 47 |
Neutral |
Mars/ Jupiter |
Algedi *
Giedi
Prima |
Beneficience, peculiar events, love affairs, great
good fortune |
3° Aquarius 46 |
Neutral |
Venus/ Mars |
Bos |
Keen intellect, good for business, military,
analysis |
5° Aquarius 34 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Venus |
Albali |
Danger, persecution and even death, but also said to
give good fortune |
11° Aquarius 43 |
Neutral |
Mars/ Mercury |
Castra |
Destructiveness, uncontrollable temper,
malevolence |
20° Aquarius 12 |
Unfortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
Nashira * |
Writing, government, religion, overcomes evil |
22° Aquarius 12 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
Kitalpha |
Gives friendship and sagacity but frivolity and love
of pleasure |
23° Aquarius 07 |
Neutral |
Mercury/ Venus |
Sadalsuud * |
Astrology, occult, government, business, psychic,
visionary, original |
23° Aquarius 46 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Mercury |
Gienah |
Soar to great heights, potential of sudden
downfall |
27° Aquarius 45 |
Neutral |
Venus/ Mercury |
|
Fomalhaut * |
A Royal Star. Archangel Gabriel, the Watcher of the
South. Congenital birth defects, magic, fame, occult, faith, "Star
of Alchemy", addiction, undesirable associates |
3° Pisces 52 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury/ Neptune |
Deneb Adige * |
Intelligent, creative, original, naive, astrology,
writing, the public, dog bites |
5° Pisces 16 |
Fortunate |
Venus/ Mercury |
Skat |
Good fortune, personal charm, lasting happiness,
pychic interests, sensitivity, occult interests, many friends |
8° Pisces 52 |
Fortunate |
Saturn/ Jupiter |
Achernar |
Sudden success in public office, religious benefits,
access to another realm |
15° Pisces 19 |
Fortunate |
Saturn
"the mouth of the
River" a constellation extending over several Signs.
|
Markab * |
Violence, honours and riches, "Star of Sorrow",
literary, legal problems, accidents |
23° Pisces 29 |
Unfortunate |
Mars/ Mercury/ Venus |
Scheat * |
Imprisonment, murder, suicide, drowning, extreme
misfortune |
29° Pisces 22 |
Unfortunate
|
Mars/ Mercury |
|
|
|