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Fixed Star Lessons: Number Two
Regulus, the Heart of the Lion
This is a worthy fixed star to use for our second lesson in this series on the fixed stars. Its interpretation is clear and unambiguous and like the sign Leo; its position is right next to the ecliptic so it poses no special problems for the beginner.
Regulus is one of the famed Royal Stars of the Persians, along with Antares, Aldeberan, and Fomalhaut. Its’ current position is in the last minutes of 29 Leo.
In his Tetrabiblos Ptolemy cited about thirty stars in his major work and likened them all to the planets of astrology. Interestingly, Ptolemy stated that Regulus agrees with Mars and Jupiter. Later authors thought Regulus similar to Jupiter primarily, with an assist from the red planet Mars.
Of all the starry planets, Jupiter is the most regal. It moves across the night sky brightly and deliberately, like nobility. Jupiter is the "great benefic," who bestows good fortune material and a sense of possibility psychologically. Assisting is Mars, which has a further enterprising nature and is affiliated with fighting and warfare.
Regulus, placed as the Heart of the Lion, or Cor Leonis, of the constellation Leo, is affiliated with courage, liberality and generosity, nobility, and high and lofty ideals. That's the good news. Robson states also that it can give temporary success ("military honor," he says) followed by eventual failure, which may culminate in imprisonment or a violent death. Bernadette Brady, using Greek and Egyptian legend, finds a middle course, stating that one can "gain great success by facing a particular nemesis." (pg. 263)
If Regulus is rising, culminating, or conjunct the Sun or another planet within a degree, it may be especially powerful in your chart. Look to see if you have planets or angles near 29 Leo.
It would be even more powerful if your work in life entails competition for success and fame. This star may give notoriety and fame but not lasting success or happiness. For example, it's conjunct Moon in George Wallace's chart and conjunct the Midheaven in Jackie Kennedy's. For a person more like one of us, if Regulus is prominent, expect high-minded ideals and a competitive spirit, which results in success which may not be lasting.
Regulus is conjunct the ecliptic, so that the degree of Regulus rising or culminating in your birthchart corresponds to that star actually being right there. As we will discover in future segments of this series, that's not often so!
Remember that fixed stars "move" about one degree every seventy-two years. (Actually the Earth is wobbling very slightly over the centuries, which also accounts for Precessional Ages.) In a few years Regulus's position moves into the zodiacal sign Virgo!
This also means that about 4300 years ago, in 2320 BCE, Regulus would have been the star conjunct the Sun at the Summer Solstice. (Multiply 72 degrees a year by 60 degrees from 0 Cancer to Regulus's current position.) This star would be extremely important in timekeeping for the various nascent civilizations of that time.
In the coming segments, we'll broaden our investigation of fixed stars to include the other three Royal Stars -- Antares, Aldeberan, and Fomalhaut.
Home Back One-- Introduction Two--Regulus Three--Aldebaran & Antares Four--Fomalhaut & Sirius