About the star :

A double white and purplish star that marks both the head of Andromeda, the Chained Woman, and the navel of Pegasus, the Horse.

Alpheratz, Alpherat "the Broken Down".

irrah, another name, is from the Arabians' Al Surrat al Faras, the "Horse's Navel", as this star formerly was associated with Pegasus and called delta Pegasus, whence it was transferred to the Woman's hair; and someone has strangely called it Umbilicus Andromedae.

In all late Arabian astronomy taken from Ptolemy it was described as Al Ras al Mar'ah al Musalsalah, "the Head of the Woman in Chains".

In England, two centuries ago, it was familiarly known as Andromeda's Head.

With beta Cassiopeiae (Caph) and gamma Pegasi (Algenib), as the Three Guides, it marks the equinoctial colure, the prime meridian of the heavens.

In the Hindu lunar zodiac alpha Andromeda (Alpheratz), alpha Pegasus (Markab), beta Pegasus (Scheat), and gamma Pegasus (Algenib) were "the Great Square of Pegasus"; a large asterism that constituted the double Hindu nakshatra (mansion of the Moon), — the 24th and 25th, — Purva and Uttara Bhadrapadas, the Former and the Latter, Beautiful, Auspicious, or Happy Feet, sometimes also called Proshthapada, (this star was noted as the junction star of the Bhadra-pada nakshatras) with various meanings; "Carp", "Ox"; "Footstool Feet," "Couch" or "Bed", "Bifaced Figure", or "Twins", "Stand" or "Support": The regents of these nakshatras being Aja Ekapat, the "One-footed Goat", and Ahi Budhya, the "Bottom Snake", "two mythical figures, of obscure significance, from the Vedic Pantheon."

It marked the Arabic 25th mansil (mansion of the moon) Al Fargu, from Al Farigh al Mu'ah.h.ar, the "Hindmost Loiterer"; or, perhaps more correctly, "the Hind Spout of the Water-jar", for Kazwini called it Al Farigh al Thani, the "Second Spout"; a "Well-mouth" and its accompaniments being imagined here by the early Arabs.

The Persian title for this lunar station, Miyan; the Sogdian, Bar Farshat; the Khorasmian, Wabir; and the Coptic, Artulosia, all have somewhat similar meanings. [Influences of 25th mansion: Increases harvests, revenues, gain, heals infirmities, hinders building, upholds prisons, causes danger to seamen and destruction of enemies. With Moon transiting here; marry, take medicine, pursue business but do not travel or lend money (Robson)].

In astrology alpha portended honor and riches to all born under its influence. (Allen).

Influence of the constellation :

It is said to bestow purity of thought, virtue, honor and dignity upon its natives, but to cause battle with chimerical (wildly fanciful, highly improbable) fears and a tendency to become easily discouraged. It gives love between husband and wife and reconciles adulterers. If Mars afflicts the luminaries from Andromeda and especially if in an angle, it causes death by hanging, decapitation, crucifixion or impalement.

By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Pe and the 17th Tarot Trump, "The Stars". (Robson).

General Influence of the star : According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Jupiter and Venus, and to these Alvidas adds Mars also. It gives independence, freedom, love, riches, honor and a keen intellect. (Robson).

Harmonious nature which makes for popularity. If it is in affinity to propitious stellar bodies and with the personal points MC, Asc, Sun, Moon, one can count on becoming well known in public and popularity with the masses. If connected to the Sun, the native can easily become unpopular and can be toppled over. Also if transiting Saturn passes over the fixed star in conjunction with another stellar body (planet) a weakening of popular appeal is indicated. In this way E. Ebertin noted that, in many cases, directors and administrators, who had in their cosmogram. Sun in conjunction with this star, lost their posts, when in 1938 and 1939 transiting Saturn passed over this conjunction.(Ebertin).

With a malefic: and the Moon at the same time with Sirius, death by a fiery cutting weapon or from beasts; if the Moon be with Vega, violent death. (Robson).

Because this star was formally located in Pegasus, it is believed to take more of the nature of that constellation than from Andromeda.

Influence of Pegasus: The constellation gives ambition, vanity, intuition, enthusiasm, caprice and bad judgment. (Robson).

Pegasus portends events concerning ships and the ocean and also changes in the weather. In medieval times it was said to indicate vain individuals with a great deal of ambition, but with very poor judgment. (Noonan).

Remember, only the parallel and conjunction are important and the orb must be no more than 1 degree.

With Sun: Honor, preferment and favors from others. (Robson).

With Moon: Energetic, persevering, honor, wealth, many good friends and business success. (Robson).

With Mercury: Active mind, benefits from judges, lawyers or churchmen, pioneer work bringing prominence, accused of selfish motives, writes on science, religion or philosophy. (Robson).

With Venus: Neat and tidy appearance, quiet life, good health, fond of pleasure and society, fortunate for speculation. (Robson).

With Mars: Sharp mind, energetic, business success through own endeavors. (Robson).

With Jupiter: Philosophical or religious mind, benefits from professional men, ecclesiastical honor and dignity, favorable for gain. (Robson).

With Saturn: Open and affable but miserly, seeks popularity, pretends to be religious for business ends, favors from clergy and lawyers, likelihood of wealth, domestic harmony, liable to diseases in the head and tumors that finally cause death. (Robson).

With Uranus: Just, honorable, good speaker, domestic harmony if male, but not so fortunate for female, benefit from practical application of ideas, interest in occultism, considerable psychic power if female, favorable for gain. (Robson).

With Neptune: Sincere, earnest, humane, good speaker and writer, engaged in charitable work, religious reform or animal protection, knowledge of human nature, money sought and obtained chiefly for charitable purposes many friends, domestic harmony, not very favorable for children. (Robson).