Every person is born under a celestial object. It might be a Star, Cluster or Nebulae. The last two are referred to as Deep Sky Objects (DSO). In this Blog I am writing about stars only. Whether a birth star is a Lucky Star or not depends on two considerations: One relates to astronomy; the other relates to cosmics. In an earlier Blog I wrote about the astronomical considerations. In this, I give you a bird’s eye view of the chief cosmic considerations about your birth star.
1. Name of a star
Most of the big and bright stars are already named. About 70 percent of such names originate from Arabic sources, while about 20 % are derived from Greco-Latin sources. The balance is contributed by diverse sources including Hebraic, Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian, Turkish, Chinese and host of others. Let me give you few illustrations:
· Aldebaran (alpha Taurus) from Arabic means “followers”
· Hydor (lambda Aquarius) from Greek means “water”
· Ascellus Borealis ( gamma Cancer) from Latin means “ northern donkey”
· Sargas ( theta Scorpion) from Babylonian
· Nunki ( sigma Sagittarius) from Sumerian means “ voice from the sea”
· Yildun (delta Ursa Minor) from Turkish means “ dance”
There are variations of names as well. Few examples:
· Al-Ras Al- Asad Janubiah ( epsilon Leo) known as Al-Ras-Al- Asad Australis
· Tejat Posterior ( mu Gemini ) Tejat from Arabic means “unknown “ and posterior from Latin means “ rear”
· Tarazed ( gamma Aquila) from Persian means “ Scale”; also referred as Al-Meezan from Arabic with similar meaning
· Kochab ( beta Ursa Minor) origin is disputed between Hebraic and Arabic
Stars found after the Middle Ages were not named. In order to classify the stars Bayer used individual letters of Greek alphabet. This was done purely on the basis of visual magnitude. Since the alphabet has only 24 letters modern astronomers use numbers instead of names or alphabet. For cosmic purposes it is the name that matters a lot.
2. Colour of a star
The colour of a star and its surface temperature are co-related. From ancient times colour of star was accorded great significance. Few examples are given:
· White – Deneb Adige ( alpha Cygnus) – denotes immense wealth
· Pale Yellow – Al-Gorab (delta Corvus) – denotes misery
· Blue – Denebola ( beta Leo) – denotes power & glory
· Red – Antares ( alpha Scorpion) – denotes bravery & victory
· Orange – Altarf ( beta Cancer) – denotes cold & calculated personality
3. Location of a star
Position of star is of prime importance. Greek astronomer Ptolemy discoursed on the subject of the cosmic relevance on the basis of each star’s location in a particular constellation. He identified more than 1000 stars in 48 constellations. Ptolemy used direction, part, limb or position to identify the location. For example, in the case of stars in Aries constellation, he employed head, mouth, back foot and tail as specific locations. Depending on this location, each star has different cosmic effect, he concluded. This leads us spontaneously to the subject of constellations.
4. Constellations
Basically, a constellation is a group of stars, seen from the earth as forming a particular pattern in the sky. In ancient times, constellations were named mainly after living beings: Greek Gods, Mythological figures, Heroes, men and women, animals, birds, Fish, serpents, dragons and many others. Virgo & Hercules are good examples. Very few of them were named after a device such as pair of scales as in the case of Libra. Of course, utility items such as sword, bow and arrow were in the list; mode of transport such as ships found their way to the heaven.
Arab and Greek astronomers were locating stars by observing the sky in the northern hemisphere by naked eye or using early telescopes. As the middle age passed, astronomers were travelling to continents in the southern hemisphere and by using modern equipments they were able to find several stars. By this time the life style has changed from agriculture to industrial age. Hence new found stars were grouped under constellations with such names as Circinus (comapss) and Telescopium (telescope), both of these formed by La Caille in 1752. Not that the astronomers were entirely mechanical in their mind-set. Still they had a sense of breathing in their thoughts. Pavo (peacock) constellation formed by Bayer in 1604 bears evidence to this.
As technology progressed, the need to re-capitulate constellations arose. Argo Navis (Ship), an ancient constellation was sub-divided into four individual constellations; Carina (Keel), Vela (Sails) Puppis (Stern) and Pyxis (Compass Box). In the modern times the International Astronomical Union has recognized 88 constellations to bring the burgeoning of constellations to an end.
It must be pointed out that these 88 constellations are now divided into eight constellation families. The Zodiac family consists of the 12 zodiacal constellations such as Aries. The Hercules family has 19 constellations the largest number for a single family whereas Orion family has only 5 constellations including the famous Orion the hunter. Astronomers Bayer added 11 new constellations while La Caille was proficient with 13 of the new ones.
5. Asterism
In addition to be grouped under a constellation, some of the stars get into prestigious clubs known as “asterism”. An asterism is technically a sub-group within a major constellation. The asterism is known for a particular pattern, or symbol or form. Few of these are explained below:
· Sickle of Leo: a sickle shape asterism traversing from head to the body of the lion. The stars are Regulus ( alpha), Algeiba (gamma), Aldhafara (zeta) & Al-Ras Al-Asad Australis (epsilon) all in the Leo constellation
· Belt of Orion: a belt shape asterism in the waist of the hunter. The stars are Mintaka (delta) Al Nilam ( epsilon) & Al Nitak ( zeta) all in Orion constellation
· Circlet of the Fish: a circle in the mouth of the western fish. The stars are Fom Al-Samakah ( beta) , gamma,, theta, iota, kappa, lambda and 19 Piscium all in the Pisces constellation
6. Formation
Stars do make a formation within and across constellation into various shapes such as triangle, square, round etc.
1. Within constellation: The stars located in the western and northern part of the Cancer constellation forms a Square. The stars are: eta, theta, zeta and mu Cancer. Incidentally all these stars are located between 8.12 hrs to 8.50 hrs of Right Ascension (RA)
2. Across constellation: The stars Markab (alpha) Scheat (beta) & Algenib (gamma) from the Leo constellation form a major Triangle by joining Alpharetz (alpha) of Andromeda constellation.
7. Lunar mansions
Stars find their home in Lunar Mansions, known in Arabic as Al-Manzil al-Kamar. There are 28 lunar mansions. The boundary line of each mansion is defined by several writers, such as Abneragel( Ali bin Ali-Rajal) , Dorotheos, Agrippa, Al-Biruni and Ibnu Arabi.
8. Zodiacal signs
Lastly, stars are also at home in a particular zodiacal sign. The ancient 12 signs are accepted without contest. Yet, it must be made clear, that the Sun travels in its ecliptical path across these 12 signs plus Ophiuchus ( Serpent carrier) & Cetus ( Whale) constellations as well.
Both Lunar mansions and Zodiacal signs are given in zodiacal degree rather than in the astronomical measure of Right Ascension. At present time these two measures do not tally. The Vernal Equinox of 21st March originally fell on the Aries sign. At present, it is in the Pisces sign. In time to come as we move on to the Aquarian age it would fall on Aquarius sign. This is due to what we call as the precession of the earth given as the difference between the solar time and the star time. Nothing to despair! We have two consoling facts:
1. Due to the tilt of the earth in its axis, at present 23 degree 44 minutes we have different set of circumstance. The tilt itself is variable and the International Astronomical Union periodically computes it. As a consequence we have differences in seasons and climate; more than that, the change of North star. Right now the North Star is Polaris. After 5000 years the North star would be Alderamain ( alpha Cepheus) and in 12000 years time it would be Vega ( alpha Lyra)
2. The Universe is on constant move. Our Solar System is moving. Milky Way Galaxy, to which our solar system belongs is moving. To cap it all, the Local Group of Galaxy to which the Milky Way belongs is also on the march.
Therefore, movement is a fact of life on earth and in the heavens. We can map the movement on the Lunar mansion as well as in the Zodiacal signs as well and get on with our work.
Though there are many other cosmic considerations, the above 8 items are the chief ones that need to be evaluated to find out the impact and influence of your Birth Star.
Muthu Ashraff
Cosmic Adviser
Mobile: +94 777 265677
E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com
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