CHAPTER IX

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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.

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