I find the information on the fixed stars and outer planets in John Frawley's The Horary Textbook an invaluable starting point as "catch-all" concepts for horary interpretation.
Yet, over time, I have found conceptual subtleties that have proven accurate and useful when assessing situations and conveying the message to the querent.
Stars and outer planets emphasize themes in a situation, and they can also function as signposts by bringing attention to a certain house (by being on its cusp)—much like the Moon does by being in a particular house—allowing the astrologer to form a fuller picture of the context or confirm the context already given by the querent.
Here are the most common ones that come to my mind now. This is kind of “Lilly style,” that is, without context. So, carrying a jar of salt in the toolbox is helpful.
ALGOL
- Malfunction, distortion, or imbalance of the thinking faculty
- Make a fuss about something
- Fearful thoughts
- Exaggerate a situation or feeling
- Lose one’s temper
- Mental confusion
- Indecision
- Make an incorrect assessment of a situation
- Error in judgment
- Naiveté: you think you can, but you can’t
- Inappropriateness: you think you should, but you shouldn’t
- Supposition: you think you know, but you don’t
- You think you want it, but it’s not a good idea
The Moon on Algol is rather peculiar. Because it is dignified by exaltation, it often shows a genuine but inflated feeling or desire for something and a degree of discrimination. Still, the approach or timing can be wrong, making whatever it is considered inappropriate. The Moon on Algol can also show faulty thinking due to a heightened emotional state.
Algol conjunct with the significator of a health practitioner or the 7th cusp shows an incapable practitioner who is prone to making a mistake.
ANTARES
- Ending
- Separation
- Giving up on the subject
- Stops action at the onset
- Prevents a beginning
- Death
- Thinking of ending, death, separation, or giving up
- Problematic or harmful for most things, it can be a positive for L12 or L6
- Affliction by intense heat
- Antares on the 8th cusp or with L8 emphasize imminent or the danger of death.
UNULKAHAI
Similar to Antares in most contexts. But it also contains the concept of rebirth or renewal.
Example: A horary chart about the ship that blocked the Suez Canal had Unulkahai on the third cusp. It “died” and was “reborn” a few days later.
ALDEBARAN
- Beginning
- New direction
- Fresh start
- New phase/cycle
- Good for most things, undesirable for L12 or L6.
VINDEMIATRIX
- Pushing too far
- Excess
- Over-doing
- Over-expecting
- Too risky
- Out of reach
- An impossible task
- Attempting or doing the impossible
- Possible but beyond normal belief
- Over-valuation (of self if on ascendant or with L1 or Moon. Of the quesited if with the quesited or on its cusp)
Example of conflicting testimonies: a client asked if a treatment would be helpful. L1 and L10 were in mutual reception: yes, useful. But L10 was on Vindemiatrix. The treatment did not do all that he expected it would.
Vindemiatrix conjunct with the significator of a health practitioner or the 7th cusp shows a practitioner that is attempting to do more that what it can do, and make false promises.
SPICA
- Not to worry, you/things will be fine
- It is better this way
- Happy
- Successful
Here is an example of conflicting testimonies: Will the relationship work? The planets say no, but the querent’s significator is on Spica, or Spica is on the ascendant. It will be good that you will not be in this relationship, get this job, etc. The corollary is that something better may show up, or just something bad will be avoided.
ALCYONE
This is a particular star because the theme is “no.” Unless, in rare cases, this star is purely descriptive, whatever you’re considering will not turn out the way you expect or want. Or, simply, nothing will come out of whatever you’re thinking.
Undesirable outcome for or from a relevant significator/house.
Alcyone conjunct with the significator of a health practitioner or the 7th cusp shows a practitioner that is unable to diagnose correctly. That is, he/she is unable to “see” the cause of the problem.
REGULUS
- Material gain
- Win in a competition
URANUS
- Ending
- Separation
- Death
- Giving up on the subject
- Thinking of such
NEPTUNE
- Deceit of others
- Self-deceit
- Inability to see/blindness
- Inability to see clearly
- Inability to see the whole picture
- Faulty perception
- Obscurity
- Hiding information/evidence
- Cover-ups
- Mis-diagnosis
- Ignorance (not knowing/not possible to know)
- Inaccessibility/out-of-reach
Neptune conjunct with the significator of a health practitioner or the 7th cusp shows a practitioner that is unable to diagnose correctly. That is, he/she is unable to “see” the cause of the problem.
PLUTO
- Distortion
- Negative emotions
- Tainted
- Imperfect
- Decadent
- Degraded
- Contaminated
- Afflicted/Interfered with
- Upset
- Dragging down
The meaning of the myth can be literal in cases of sexual misconduct such as abuse or rape.
