About this star:

Among the stars of Cancer is a small grouping called the Aselli, or Asses and along with Praesaepe (M44) the Beehive or Manger, form a mini constellation in their own right, which appears on the back of the Crab’s shell. This group has been associated with a disproportionate number of important historic events, that have brought about great changes in society. Particularly represented are events relating to the introduction of communism, which may be symbolic of the two Asses eating out of a communal Manger, or the busy beehive representing a commune. Asellus Boreali, gamma, is the northern ass, and this star, Asellus Austral, delta, the southern ass. Popularly this configuration was also known as the "Manger", or "Crib" [crib and crab may be relatives] in which Christ was born - (it has been suggested that this is because Cancer was the "Gate of Man"). They were the Northern and the Southern Ass Colt, the Ovot, or Asses, of Ptolemy and the Greeks; the Aselli, or Asini, of the Latins, and now popularly known as The Donkeys. Other names were "A Resting Place", "Ending of a stop", "The Aselline Starlets".

The Arabians similarly knew them as the Two Asses and called this star "the Mare Ass" (female donkey).

A Greek myth tells us that these asses were ridden by Bacchus and Vulcan in the war between the Olympians and the Titans. The braying of these animals, aided and added to the gods shouts, frightened a group of fierce giants who were coming to avenge their brothers, the Titans, to such a degree, that they fled the scene of battle. The asses were placed in the heavens flanking the mysterious glow called the Manger or Beehive - M44 (Praesaepe) to make sure they never lack food.
Manilius alludes to these outstretched stars as a Yoke.

Gamma (Asellus Borealis), delta (Asellus Australis), eta, and theta were the Persian lunar station Avra-k, the Cloud, and the Coptic Ermelia, Nurturing. (The traditional astrological influences given for these two stars include; care and responsibility, with a charitable and fostering nature).

In this constellation, with some slight variations as to boundaries at different times in Hindu astronomy, — gamma (Asellus Borealis) and delta (Asellus Australis) – the Aselli - always being included and occasionally eta, theta, and Praesaepe, — was located the 6th nakshatra Pushya, "Flower", or Tishiya, "Auspicious", with Brihaspati, the priest and teacher of the gods, as presiding divinity. It was sometimes figured as a "Crescent", and again as the "head of an Arrow"; it was also called Sidhaya, "Prosperous".

The Arabic manzil Al Nathrah, the Gap in the hair under the muzzle of the supposed immense ancient Lion that the Arabs had here, was chiefly formed by Praesaepe; but later gamma (Asellus Borealis) and delta (Asellus Australis) – the Aselli - were sometimes included, when it was Al Himarain, the Two Asses, a title adopted from the Greeks. The Arabs also knew it as Al Fnm al Asad and as Al Anf al Asad, the Mouth, and the Muzzle, of the Lion, both referring to the early figure.

Inconspicuous though it be, the Babylonians used delta to mark their 13th ecliptic constellation Arku-sha-nangaru-sha-shutu, the Southeast Star in the Crab; and Brown says that the Aselli, with eta, theta, and Praesaepe, were the Akkadian Gu-shir-kes-da, the "Yoke of the Enclosure".

In astrology they were portents of violent death to such as came under their influence; while to the weather-wise their dimness was an infallible precursor of rain. (Allen).

Influence of the constellation:

The Crab is associated with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18th Tarot Trump "The Moon". (Robson).

General influence of Aselli:

According to Ptolemy both the Aselli are of the nature of Mars and the Sun, but Alvidas states that the North Asellus (Asellus Borealis) is like the Sun and Mars in sextile, and the South Asellus (Asellus Astralis) like the Sun and Mars in semisquare. Together they give care and responsibility, with a charitable and fostering nature, but danger of violent death, serious accidents and burns. (Robson).

al the poet, painter, musician unusually gifted, composer, psychic 'medium' or astrologer. In all cases too, there is a patience for which the donkey is respected, a quality necessary for all really reliable psychism. Perhaps when the donkey is being stubborn, he is seeing something in the path which his impatient master cannot, or will not see. (Dr. Eric Morse).

Aselli culminating: Disgrace and ruin, often violent death. (Robson).

Aselli with Sun: Blows, stabs (operations nowadays), serious accidents, shooting, shipwreck, beheading, hanging, murderer or murdered, violent fevers, danger of fire, disgrace and imprisonment. (Robson).

Asellus Australis with Sun: Unfavorable for dealing with the public and influential people trouble in business. (Robson).

Aselli with Moon: Inflammatory fever, pains in the head, blindness. (Robson).

Asellus Australis with Moon: Ill-health, defective sight, hearing or speech; bad for business affairs, loss of friends and trouble through enemies. (Robson).

With Mercury: Mental affliction. Difficulties brought about by children. Much worry and disappointment. Bad for success in spite of help from friends. Loss by fire of valuable papers. (Robson).

With Venus:Trouble through friends, unfavorable for love and marriage, enmity of women, too fond of pleasure and society. (Robson).

With Mars: Energy, courage, misapplied powers, little success, public disfavor. (Robson).

With Jupiter: Legal and ecclesiastical troubles, hypocrisy, dishonesty, false friends, danger of imprisonment. (Robson).

With Saturn: Untrustworthy, dishonorable, low morality, bad habits formed early in life. (Robson).

With Uranus: Seeks applause, suffers from own mistakes, seldom sees own faults, official positions of short duration, downfall brought about by enemies, self-seeking, or ruin through speculation, bad for gain and domestic matters, danger of accident causing lingering death. (Robson).

With Neptune: Ambitious but indolent; if male, handsome, pleasant and affable and a lady's man; if female, rather masculine in appearance and character; many love affairs causing general suffering, losses through speculation, unmerited favors from friends, advantageous marriage but domestic disharmony, fevers and violent diseases, sometimes causing death in infancy. (Robson).