Fixed Stars in Aries

I mentioned in February, in THIS POST, that it might be worthwhile to do a monthly post about Fixed Stars in each zodiac sign. That was back in Aquarius-time, and I forgot Fixed Stars in Pisces. Now's as good a time as any to start though, at the beginning of the zodiac with Aries.

There are various and variable lists of Fixed Stars in Aries around the internet, I'll show one here, it might not be exhaustive. Exact positions of Fixed Stars move very slowly. Most lists give positions for the year 2000, some give comparisons with 1900, or 2010. A good overall list, with ancient interpretation, is an updated one from Rob Tillett See HERE. A word of caution: ancient astrologers were either a tad gloomy or way over excitable about a person's prospects. Take the interpretations with a large pinch of salt!

Anyway, here's a compact list of stars in tropical zodiac sign Aries, extracted from THIS website

 Hat-tip HERE for illustration

Two stars stood out, for me, as deserving a little more scribbling: Alpheratz , the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda, located northeast of the constellation of Pegasus; and Erakis also called Mu Cephei, known as Herschel's Garnet Star, a red supergiant star in the constellation Cepheus, and one of the largest and most luminous stars known in the Milky Way.

I don't have a planet close to Erakis (I think 1 or 2 degrees would be the widest to consider a conjunction for Fixed Stars), but my natal Saturn at 12.55 Aries could qualify as conjunct Alpheratz. Alpheratz was at 13.28 of tropical Aries when I was born (it's now around 14.26).

From HERE

Alpheratz is a purplish-white double star of the2nd magnitude located at 14 degrees Aries 26minutes. It is benevolent, with the overall nature of Venus. A part of two constellations, both Andromeda and Pegasus, Alpheratz has the added distinction of being among the fifty stars catalogued by the Elizabethan astrologer William Lilly in his book Christian Astrology. Alpheratz is also noted by the 1st-century astrologer Manilus in his work Astronomica where it appeared on the title page in a drawing of the constellation Andromeda..........
......When a fixed star conjoins a luminary or planet it will dominate the outcome of events or the path of an individual’s destiny. Consider only the conjunction when placing a fixed star in a birth chart, and the orb is just three degrees.

Some keywords showing the significance of Alpheratz’ influence in the
natal horoscope are listed (See site linked above). What relevance might be attached to my natal Saturn conjunct Alpheratz? -

With Saturn
Frugal, seeks popularity, domestic harmony, to health problems involving the head.

Hmmm! Well, I seek domestic harmony anyway! I did have a scalp problem last summer, during the Uranus/Pluto square times, but I also had a foot problem soon after too, so.... If throat counts as head my recent fall to Earth might count too.

The article linked above goes on to say:

Alpheratz will exert a great deal of influence during 2014–15. Uranus will be in orb of a conjunction with this fixed star most of the year. The aspect will be strongest when Uranus is at 14 degrees of Aries during April 30 – May 19, 2014; September 26 – October 20, 2014; and again February 20 – March 11, 2015. The total lunar eclipse on October 8, 2014, will also be in very close proximity to Alpheratz. At these times those practicing ritual magic can invoke the myth archetypes of the rescue of Andromeda by Perseus as well as the power of flight through calling upon Pegasus.
Magical workings to save those in distress, especially for the sake of love, and travels for the sake of pure and virtuous motives would be favored.
– Dikki-Jo Mulle.

There's mention of Alpheratz in natal charts in an archived post of mine about Shel Silverstein. (Scroll down to the astrology paragraphs there.)

Erakis called the Garnet Star & aka Mu Chephei, currently at around 9.50 tropical Aries.
Click on image for larger, clearer version.

 Hat-tip HERE for illustration

From HERE

Conjoining Algenib and marking mid-sidereal Pisces [tropical Aries] is the Supergiant Garnet Star, Erakis. Most people naturally tend to notice the bright stars of Cepheus when looking into the heavens, but the blood-red Garnet Star of Cepheus is often missed — a beauty, especially through binoculars. Similarly, we miss seeing the opportunity for attainment or solution when only watching the obvious around us.

The Garnet Star lies at the head of King Cepheus forming a triangle with Alderamin and Zeta Cepheus. Erakis imparts a quality of royalty, prominence, largeness, passion, prosperity, abundance and wealth; and the appreciation of such. North of and conjoining Algenib, Erakis exemplifies the role or crown of the King — to govern without being lost in the drama of that which he may need to govern. As a supergiant star (about 1420 times our Sun's radius), Erakis imparts a significant astrological influence along with fortuitous Algenib, especially regarding financial affairs and opportunities.

Astrological reflections of the constellation Cepheus, of which Erakis is a part, as given by Manilius are listed at Constellations of Words.


Sidelight: Frank Herbert, in his famous novel Dune used a similar-sounding name for planet Arrakis (see Wikipedia). Perhaps the author took inspiration from Fixed Star Erakis.

Dune tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose noble family accepts the stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis. As this planet is the only source of the "spice" melange, the most important and valuable substance in the universe, control of Arrakis is a coveted — and dangerous — undertaking. The story explores the multi-layered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion, as the forces of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of Arrakis and its "spice"

Man & Star ~ Shel Silverstein & Alpheratz

Here's a fun poem, astrologically suspect, but never mind! It was written by multi-talented Shel Silverstein, about whom more follows.

The Man Who Got No Sign

Well, there was Gemini Jim and Scorpio Sal,
And they were living by the Golden Gate.
Freezing their nose
And wearing leather clothes
And dealing every way but straight.
They had a Leo dog and a Capricorn cat,
And everything was going fine.
Until, into their life,
On a moonless night,
Come the man
Who got no sign.


He roared right in
Like some evil wind
And he rolled himself a righteous smoke.
And as the thunder crashed,
And the lightning flashed
He took a toke
And spoke...
He said he was born in an astrological warp,
When the stars refused to shine.
On the cusp of nowhere and nevermore:
He's the man that got no sign.

So he told a story of an endless search
To find his missing part.
But Scorpio Sal, she just smiled at him, and
Tried to do his chart.
But Pisces Ben, who was Jim's best friend,
Said, "Man...you must be blind.
You better grab your knife,
And take the life
Of that man
What got no sign."

And so, it happened...
And his blood ran...
Soaked the ground...

The arrest was made by Sheriff Slade,
An Aquarius through and through.
But the jailer was a Sagittarius
And he beat Jim black and blue,
And as they dragged him up the courthouse stairs,
They said, "Jim, how do you plead?"
Jim said, "Man, the moon's in Virgo, so
Blame no fault on me!"

Well, the jury all was Libras,
So you know they were more than fair,
But his lawyer was Aries,
And an Aries just don't care.
And the judge, he was a Cancer,
And a Cancer's got no friends.
But the hangman
Was a Taurus,
And that's where
The circle
Ends...

A couple of commenters on my post about John Lennon (7 December) used the term "Renaissance Man" to describe John, due to his varied talents (see also last paragraph of this post).

While Renaissance Men in the true sense of the word (e.g. Leonardo da Vinci) don't exist anymore, some well known individuals exhibit characterisitics of what I'll call Renaissance Man-lite. Shel Silverstein was one of that ilk. Poet, songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books (including "The Giving Tree", "A Light in the Attic", "Where the Sidewalk Ends"). I was surprised to learn that he wrote Johnny Cash's famous song "A Boy Named Sue", and many others recorded by country stars. "The Unicorn", which seems to have gathered the mistaken reputation of being an Irish song, is one of his, as is Marianne Faithfull's "Ballad of Lucy Jordan". His song "Sylvia's Mother" made Dr. Hook, and lead singer Dennis Locarriere internationally famous. There are numerous other examples. He wrote and drew cartoons regularly for Playboy Magazine, illustrated his own books, and other publications.



Shel Silverstein, born 25 September 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. Died in May 1999.



Extract from biography HERE

"A poet who crossed Ogden Nash's playfulness with Mad Magazine irreverence; a cartoonist who jacked up Dr. Seuss style fantasies with Jules Feiffer's neurotic social relevance; and a folk singer who wrote with the taboo-inducing bite of comic Lenny Bruce. Contradictory and difficult, he was a renowned children's author who was reportedly impatient with children, as well as a shy, private man whose work and image portrayed him as a bearded, shaved head attention-seeking extrovert. As a performer, the raspy, grating voice that so brilliantly underscored the nature of his spoken word pieces made him sound like an undisciplined madman when he sang. However, it was as a songwriter where he arguably made his biggest mark on pop culture. "

"Shy and private" connects to that stellium (cluster of 3 planets) in Cancer - it's a hefty dose of the tendency to shyness and need to withdraw which is often found in folks with this sign prominent in their charts. His Mercury in Virgo, one of its own signs, connects strongly to writing ability and a streak of perfectionism.

I'm not going to try to interpret the whole chart, I'm looking mainly for something special which might relate to his particular brand of versatility and Renaissance-lite.

I'm going for this: at the time he was born, Uranus lay conjunct Fixed Star Alpheratz, also known as Sirrah. This was true for anyone born between (approximately) May 1930 to March 1931. This star's ancient interpretation in general is

"Freedom, love of movement, speed, intellectual and can indicate riches and honors. Strong motivation, willfulness and the ability to take action. Well known, before the public and popularity with the masses; fame. Harmonius nature, good for relationships."

When conjunct Uranus, the inventor, technology, the rebel, the genius, change-bringer, catalyst for humour, the star's interpretation has to be blended with Uranian traits. In mid to late 1930 we can pinpoint some good examples of how the blend can manifest, when all other conditions are suitable:

Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins (Buzz Aldrin too, but born a little earlier in January)
Rebellious left-wing British author Harold Pinter
Genius financier Warren Buffet
Computer billionnaire and politician Ross Perot
Another Rennaissance-lite man, Clint Eastwood (actor, director, musician)
and our current subject, Shel Silverstein, quirky and irreverent, socially-relevant Rennaissance-lite man.
James Dean, born February 1931, a rebellious icon if ever there was one, comes into this group too.

I see Shel Silverstein's particular brand of Rennaissance-liteness rooted in the Uranus/Alpheratz conjunction. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

Hey! Here's a thought - if John Lennon were to have been born a little earlier than 6.30 pm (which some say he must have been, because it was 6.30 when his aunt reported the event) birth time of 6.20pm would bring his ascendant conjunct Alpheratz at 14 Aries! Hmmm, that's.....spooky!