OF THE INFLUENCES OF THE FIXED STARS
The fixed stars are so called because they appear to keep at the same
distance from one another in the heavens. All of these stars have their
respective influences analogous to those of the planets. The following
table of the principal fixed stars, with their several magnitudes and
natures, will be found useful. It is only those of the first and second
magnitude which much affect us; the influence of those stars marked as
of fourth magnitude is very slight. The time of the rising and setting
of the fixed stars varies according to the latitudes of the places of
observation. Their longitudes increase at the annual rate of 50
seconds, but their latitudes vary very little. The right ascension and
declinations of the numerous fixed stars are given every year in the
Nautical Almanack.
TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL FIXED STARS, WITH THEIR MAGNITUDES AND
NATURES.
_Stars._ _Magnitudes._ _Natures._
South End of the Tail of the Whale 2 Of the nature of Saturn.
The Star in the Wing of Pegasus 2 Mars and Mercury.
The Head of Andromeda 2 Jupiter and Venus.
The Whale's Belly 4 Saturn.
The Girdle of Andromeda 2 Venus.
The Bright Star in the Head of Aries 3 Saturn and Mars.
The Left Foot of Andromeda 2 Venus.
The Bright Star in the Jaw of the Whale 2 Saturn.
Caput Algol 2 Saturn and Jupiter.
The Pleiades or Seven Stars 5 Mars and the Moon.
The Middle Star in the Pleiades 3 Mars and the Moon.
Oculus Taurus 3 Venus.
Aldebaran 1 Mars.
Rigel 1 Jupiter and Venus.
The Foremost Shoulder of Orion 2 Mars and Mercury.
The She-Goat 1 Mercury and Mars.
The Middle Star in Orion's Belt 2 Jupiter and Saturn.
The Highest Star in the Head of Orion 4 Jupiter and Saturn.
The Star in the Horn of the Bull 3 Mars.
Propus 4 Mars.
The Right Shoulder of Auriga 2 Mars and Mercury.
The Foot of Gemini 2 Mercury and Venus.
Castor 2 Mars, Venus and Saturn.
Pollux 2 Mars.
The Smaller Dog Star 2 Mercury and Mars.
Præsepe[8] 1 Mars and the Moon.
North Asellus 4 Mars and the Sun.
South Asellus 4 Mars and the Sun.
Cor Leonis or Regulus 1 Mars.
Heart of Hydra 1 Saturn and Venus.
Vindemiatrix 3 Saturn, Venus and Mercury.
The Back of the Lion 2 Saturn and Venus.
The Tail of the Lion 1 Saturn, Venus and Mercury.
Crater 4 Venus and Mercury.
Arcturus 1 Jupiter and Mars.
The Virgin's Spike or Arista 1 Venus and Mars.
The South Balance 2 Saturn and Venus.
The North Balance 2 Jupiter and Mars.
The Left Hand of Ophiucus 3 Mars and Saturn.
The Highest Star in Head of Scorpio 2 Saturn and Venus.
The Left Knee of Ophiucus 3 Saturn and Venus.
Cor Scorpio 2 Mars and Jupiter.
Antares 1 Mars.
The Right Knee of Ophiucus 3 Saturn and Venus.
The Bright Star of the Vulture 2 Saturn and Mercury.
The Mouth of Pegasus 3 Venus and Mercury.
The Tail of the Goat 3 Saturn.
Marchab 2 Mars and Mercury.
Fomalhaut 1 Venus and Mercury.
Scheat-Pegasi 2 Saturn.
[8] The nebulous mass in the body of the Crab.
To know when any of these fixed stars will affect the horoscope we must
note the sign and degree on the cusps of the houses, and if (on
consulting the Ephemeris) any of these stars should be found to be
ascending or descending within five degrees of the signs upon the cusps
of the several houses, they must be entered in the same manner as the
planets, and their qualities weighed according to the nature of the
planet or planets with which they correspond, as shown by the table
given.
The influences of the fixed stars are not much considered by the modern
astrologers, yet in certain positions their power is undeniable. The
conjunction and opposition are the only aspects to be considered in
regard to them, as they do not operate on the planets by sextile,
square, or trine aspects. When a fixed star happens to be in
conjunction with the Sun at birth, certain effects are distinctly
traceable. For example, the Sun conjoined with Aldebaran, Hercules,
Antares, or any fixed star having the nature of Mars, threatens a
violent death, or, at best, constant illness to the native. The Sun,
with the Pleiades, Castor, Pollux, or Præsepe, shows a cruel and
headstrong disposition in the native and the _probability_ of violent
death. The star Arista, with the Sun, gives great and lasting good
fortune. All the stars of the nature of Saturn, conjoined with the Sun,
bring calamity and disgrace. When a fixed star, whose latitude does not
differ much from that of the Moon, is in conjunction with her, certain
effects are produced; for instance, when she is conjoined with
Aldebaran or Pollux violent death is indicated; when with the Pleiades
injury to the eyes or blindness. The Moon with Antares and in
opposition to Saturn with Aldebaran, shows death by strangulation. The
Moon, with Aldebaran or Antares either in the ascendant or in the
mid-heaven, gives brilliant honours, but not without many attendant
dangers and hair-breadth escapes. Fixed stars of the _first_ magnitude,
near the cusp of the seventh house, show a rich wife, but her
disposition will sympathise with the planetary qualities of the star.
Fomalhaut and Rigel, in either the ascendant or mid-heaven, give fame
after death. Sirius, the Dog Star, in conjunction with the Sun, either
in the ascendant or mid-heaven, gives preferment and honours from
royalty. Caput Algol, in conjunction with the Sun in the eighth house
and in square to Mars, shows decapitation.