Wednesday, September 02, 2015

Fixed Stars in Virgo

Continuing the series of monthly posts on Fixed Stars in each tropical zodiac sign.

Data for Virgo from Astroweb (HERE), showing star positions in 1900 in the left-hand column and in 2000 on the right.



The images below give a rough idea of how some of the Virgo fixed stars are "patterned". Clicking on them should afford a better view. Names of the two constellations Corvus and Crater, being translated, mean crow and cup/chalice respectively. In mythology:

The constellation CORVUS represents the crow or raven who was given a chalice by Apollo and sent to collect the waters of life. Instead of flying straight to his task, the bird spent many days waiting around for the fruit of a fig tree to ripen before eating it. When he did eventually return to his master, he excused his tardiness by claiming that a watersnake had delayed him. Apollo was so annoyed that he cursed the wretched bird with eternal thirst and threw him into the heavens. The cup, CRATER, was also placed there, carefully guarded by the watersnake, HYDRA. (See here)



I'll scribble on about Zosma (on the "hip" of the lion), and Alkes - the latter only briefly - it conjoins my natal Neptune; the former because I've come across it more than once before over the years, while researching posts.

Alkes sits on the bottom right-hand edge of the chalice Crater. Astrologically, according to Constellation of Words

Alkes has always portended eminence to those born under its influence. When rising the star indicates dedicated environmentalists whose love for rivers and streams lead them to be very protective regarding water resources. At a less intense level the native may become a landscape architect, a builder of canals, or in some other manner do business in merchandise connected with water. [Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990, p.53.]

OR, from Darkstar Astrology
“This sacred cup is also associated with prophetic ability as various vessels cross-culturally have versions of it. ie: the Holy Grail or the Cauldron of Bran. Therefore Alkes can be a gift, something precious carried by an individual to pass down the generations of the family, like artistic, musical or psychic ability. Alkes’ talent is usually of a Neptunian nature.”

Not particularly fitting for me, except that the star Alkes is conjunct natal Neptune in my chart, so maybe I missed my way as an artist, musician or psychic, and have scribbled on about others, who didn't miss their ways in those spheres, instead.

Onward to Zosma then.

The fixed star commonly known as Zosma (translates as "girdle" "loincloth" or "enzonement") is also known as Delta Leonis or Duhr. It is located in the constellation Leo, on the lion's rump, and lies about 58 light-years from Earth.

Astrologically Zosma is said to be "of the nature of Saturn and Venus". Interpretations indicate a generally negative "vibe": benefit by disgrace, selfishness, egotism, immorality, meanness, melancholy, fear of poison, a shameless and egotistical nature, to keen intellect, loss in childhood, and prophetic ability (the latter links also to another nearby star Coxa). Other interpretations indicate the concept of victim or saviour, stemming from the fact that Zosma lies on the lion's back - that part broken by Hercules in Greek mythology.

I've noticed Zosma in the charts of George Michael, Ann Coulter, blues singer Seth Walker, actor Ralph Fiennes, and Piers Morgan.

Because Pluto is a very slow mover, millions of people, those born from late 1987 to mid-1988, could find Pluto conjunct Zosma in their natal charts. Only when it's linked to personal planets, rather than just to Pluto, is it likely to make itself felt; it could then appear to bring "a certain something" into clearer focus.

Ralph Fiennes Pluto/Zosma links by harmonious trine to his Mercury in Capricorn, and might also link by sextile to Moon in Scorpio, but we can't be sure without time of birth. In this case the Zosma focus seems to be a similar syndrome to George Michael's: a strange need to be caught doing something "naughty". (See my blog post of 2009 HERE)

Ralph Fiennes stirred controversy in February 2007 when staff aboard a Qantas airline flight from Australia to India caught the actor leaving the same airplane lavatory as 38-year-old female flight attendant Lisa Robertson. At first denying any allegations of a mid-air tryst, Robertson later confessed to having unprotected sex in the stall with Fiennes, whom she had met just hours before.

Glen Beck is another individual with Pluto close to Zosma, and opposite Chiron. One of Zosma's traditional interpretations is "loss in childhood".
"His early life was pitted with tragedies. His mother committed suicide when he was 13. One of his brothers-in-law also committed suicide. Another sibling reportedly had a fatal heart attack.
Beck is a self-described reformed alcoholic In the aftermath of those three family tragedies, Beck said he used "Dr. Jack Daniels"and marijuana to cope."
(See my blog post HERE)

Piers Morgan, a former UK newspaper editor, occasionally seen on TV in the USA in various roles, has Mars and Uranus conjunct Zosma. I seem to remember there were hints of disgrace/embarrassment hanging around Mr. Morgan during his newspaper career in the UK. He was eventually fired from UK's Daily Mirror for publishing some faked photographs.

Well then....so far it looks as though Zosma, linked into a natal chart, indicates a person to whom I'd personally like to give a dope slap up the side of the head for managing to blot their copybooks....especially in the case of George Michael who could have been one of the truly greats.

A rapid skim through data available at Astrotheme threw up a handful of others, well-known in the UK and USA, who have Zosma attached to a personal planet. There's no obvious commonality (from what we know of them), other than that they are or have been famous, and would therefore have a goodly share of ego - but that applies to just about anyone who has become famous, Zosma or no Zosma. Shrinking violets seldom seek or achieve fame.

John Travolta (Moon 11.11 Virgo)
Madonna (Moon 11.33 Virgo)
Cass Elliot (Moon 11.56 Virgo)
Freddy Mercury Sun 11/55 Virgo
Astrologer Liz Greene Sun 11.33 Virgo (maybe here the "ability to prophesy" part of traditional interpretation kicks in ?)

I suspect that finding Zosma conjunct or closely aspecting a personal planet will not, alone, be a sufficient indicator for any of the traditional interpretations to "kick-in". There would need to be other supporting evidence in the chart. Zosma, properly positioned, might add weight to an otherwise uncertain potentiality. Planets at or close to 11 Virgo are worth noting!

There's a 2014 piece on Zosma by Milos Tomic at Mountain Astrologer - see HERE.

(Clicking on "Zosma" - last link in the Label Cloud in my sidebar will afford easy access to all Zosma mentions in past posts (2009-2011) including those already linked above.)

14 comments:

mike said...

Interesting about Zosma. I just checked Josh Duggar's March 3, 1988, birth date and Moon is somewhere in Virgo, possibly conjunct Zosma. Maybe that explains his fortuitously revealed sexploits that assisted bringing-down the conservative, family-values, family name (about time!). I suppose that close to 100% of all individuals had or have something going-on that could bring them down with shame, embarrassment, or at least discomfiture, if revealed...Zosma may be the boarding-pass. At least they have fun prior to the big reveal. Madonna is of interest, in that she turned many sexploits into part of her persona and turned the tables on her critics...her Moon squares Saturn, so maybe two negatives becomes a positive...LOL...her Moon and Zosma are in the first house very close to her ASC, so it would seem natural for her to incorporate this into her act.

My Moon is 1* from Denebola, so I'd better take care that I'm not in the same heap as the Zosma-influenced! My South Node is right on Markeb and Saturn is 1* away...drowning is imminent...good thing I'm full of hot air.

Anonymous said...

Twilight, just a reminder (you probably knew) of the interesting fact that your Neptune conjuncts the Neptune of the US Sibley chart at 22 Virgo 25 detr in the 9th. My Sun 22 Virgo 50 12th ;P

Twilight said...

mike ~ I had to Google for Josh Duggar - then recalled the 19 kids thing. He does seem "Zosma-ready" doesn't he!? I like your idea of Zosma being the boarding pass to embarrassment - or worse. Also Zosma must be carrot-scented, for the media donkeys love it!

LOL! Yes, better watch what you're doing! Lynn Koiner has a bit on Denebola.

Denebola was the topic of discussion at the kitchen table on November 11. His observation of this fixed star is that it demands the individual to maintain a very high level of ethics. Denebola gives much but, if your ethics are not at a very high level, Denebola will take it all away with the swift action like that of a sword.

Traditionally, she is connected with Saturn and Venus— Venus is giving great gifts, such as glory and success, but Saturn demands responsibility and high ethics. Denebola does not give second chances. This is a star for the advanced soul, not for the beginner.

http://www.lynnkoiner.com/astrology-articles/global-gatherings-part-3

Twilight said...

Sabina ~ I didn't know that :-) So we're both, the US and I, prone to some pretty wild imaginings then. ;-)

You have Alkes conjunct Sun !- I wonder if you feel that you relate well to its traditional interpretations? Arty, musical, linked to water in some way, prophetic ?

Sonny G said...

if any of you learned folks could tell me where my Zosma is or if I have one, I'd appreciate it:) or one of the Denebola things either. thanks

Twilight said...

Sonny ~ If you have your natal chart handy look for any planet at 10 or 11-ish Virgo (Zosma) or 20-21-ish Virgo(Denebola)

LB said...

Twilight and Sabina ~ Maybe you already noticed, but Bernie's North Node is at 22 Virgo 44.

Bernie was born in Brooklyn, New York (on the water). As mayor of Burlington, Vermont (also on the water), he was closely associated with changes to Burlington's Waterfront. The article linked below describes some of the controversy by offering different viewpoints as to how the Waterfront's public spaces came to be. Please don't shoot me ~ I'm only the messenger.:)

http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/flashback-did-bernie-sanders-really-save-the-burlington-waterfront/Content?oid=2670432

So Bernie definitely has a strong connection to water. As far as being musical, you can listen to snippets of a recording of folk songs he contributed to back in 1987 and decide for yourself:

https://soundcloud.com/todd-r-lockwood

Here's the link to the Huffington Post article with more about the recording:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/17/bernie-sanders-folk-songs_n_5837402.html

Twilight said...

LB ~ I was trying womanfully not to notice and have to bring up Bernie again. ;-)
Thanks for the above anyway. Interesting!

LB said...

Twilight ~ I understand.:)

Anonymous said...

Zosma you say? ... Upside the Head?

"Ha Ha! ... You missed me! ... Gnädige Frau!"
- wolfgang m (asc)

"Ah ... oh no! ... it's the old 'Venusian Contusion' comin at me!"
- robin w (venus)


kidd.

Sonny G said...

thanks Annie..

I don't see any virgo or any 11* or 22* anything.. well, expect my NN but that's not virgo:)

Twilight said...

Anon/kidd ~ LOL!! Yes missed him! Ol' Wolfgang didn't get up to anything untoward, far as we know. He missed that side of Zosma - as Zosma at 7.54-ish Virgo was a tad distant from his 12* asc. when he was born, he probably didn't inherit its worst urges to be naughty.

Robin, however....well, I'd offer a dope slap there - if I didn't feel so sad.

Twilight said...

Sonny ~ Good - you're not missing much, on the whole. ;-)

mike (again) said...

Sonny - You have the South Node of the Moon at 22* Virgo...the astrological symbol looks like an upside-down horseshoe and it's always opposite the North Node. Some astrology software omits the South Node and show only the North Node. Look at this link and find the North Node at 22* Pisces...your South Node is opposite, but not shown. This link is not "your" chart, but very close (the Moon's position changes 1* every 2 hours):

http://planetwatcher.com/#-600127080

Alkes is directly conjunct your S Node...Avior, Cor Caroli, and Copula are within one degree.