MODULE TWELVE: ADITTIONAL CELESTIAL BODIES
Day 2: Fixed Stars
Fixed stars are prominent stars in the sky which throughout history were used for navigation purposes and to measure and plot the seasons and times when to plant crops and many other uses regarding the earths cycles. Over time the fixed Stars also became recognised for their corresponding psychological energies in relation to events and the way cultures sought to explain the various happenings which later became translated into myths and beliefs associated with their stories of how they experienced and viewed life.
The fixed stars are called “fixed” because their positions appear to remain as fixed points in the night sky. They have just as much relevance as the planets and there is a lot of information on each one however it does need to be recognized that the information you read about it’s wise to only just make use of the things that can benefit you, rather than all what’s said about them. A lot of it stems from ancient times and is not relevant to today. It’s coloured by conditionings and beliefs which were born out of the unknown and uncertainties, and half-truths—even so the key to understanding fixed stars which can be a study in itself and relates to sidereal astrology more so is they serve as extra points of meaning in the chart, some of which can be quite significant.
They are you could say stronger rays within a constellation that are further out in the cosmos and through the electromagnetic forces that make up the fabric of space connect to the planets—so where you find them in a house in your chart will indicate extra energies you can utilize and synchronize with for further development and benefit in the things to do in that area of your life. Unless you’re going to take the study of them up as a main interest in astrology the fixed stars have a lot of mythology, so it’s probably best to see them as extra energies that you could come to know more about once you’ve read up on the subject—especially the ones that interest you and then using self-awareness of them and testing out their energies and experimenting with them each time a transiting planet or planet makes an aspect to one of them in your chart. The ones within 1 or 2 degrees of orb of a planet, or angle in your chart are significant and worth investigating.
The fixed stars work through the planets so it through the planets that they are more noticeable but as additional celestial objects they certainly can describe some powerful forces acting within us and therefore can be utilized if the time and study and desire is taken to find out more about them.
So if you log onto Astro.com go to my Astro and then once on your extended chart selection page scroll down to the bottom where you’ve got additional objects and where the asteroids are—and you will notice in the same window the fixed stars which are the more common and popular ones used in the chart. You’ll also notice if you scroll down further to the bottom of the page it says fixed stars which you can click on and choose any ones from that larger list which contains all the fixed stars.
To find out more about the fixed stars meaning Bernadette Brady’s book called “Brady’s Book Of Fixed Stars” has some very good information all about them plus there are bits and pieces on the internet also that have good information on them.
As we are doing tropical astrology which means its Earth centred whereas sidereal astrology means everything is viewed from the Sun as the centre the focus is basically on the planets as the mainstay with the fixed stars a supporting backdrop for greater expression of the planet and power of its electromagnetic currents.
Module Twelve/ Day Two - Activity
1) Watch the video first then from the windows in the additional object section of the extended chart selection page, choose a selection of fixed stars you would like to put in your chart. To select more than one hold down ctrl and select three or 4, then click on to show the chart. Take note of the area of life it’s in and any aspects it has especially the conjunction and the oppositions. Then look for additional things that stand out and remember for transits the orbit should be really no more than 1 to 2° for really getting the subtle effects that these stars have in their expression.
One thing to note also is you may find some of the fixed stars degrees in the chart are actually slightly different to their current astronomical positions. It will only be ever so slightly however it sometimes add extra interpretation if they happen to be on the cusp or very close in an aspect to another planet.
2) With the fixed stars you put on your chart do a one-page interpretation for each one.
So for example you would interpret the fixed stars meaning first—and then connect that to the interpretation of the planets wherever they are in the chart that they are officially associated with according to their lore and the text books—and then how its expressed through the sign on the cusp of the house it’s in and wherever its natural planetary ruler is and then the type of activities within the respective house it’s in, and also if it happens to be conjunct another planet. *note: Conjunctions are the only aspect recognized in fixed stars interpretation as stated in most reliable documentation on the fixed stars.
3) Use the fixed stars in “creative astrology” and have some fun with them. Get to see how they have their benefits when they are used creatively. Each with their different expressions can be an invitation to find out more about oneself and gain some extra knowledge and wisdom through what they represent. Remember their meanings are coloured by the conditionings of each culture, so if its “creative astrology” you’re doing you may want to experiment and add some intuitive meanings of your own and observe if they match.