About the star : Polaris has long been an important star to sailors, caravans of old winding their way over the desert by night and others who navigated their way by the stars. Located almost directly overhead as seen from the North Pole, it is situated at the tip of the tail of the Little Bear, Ursa Minor and the Lucida of that constellation. Perhaps more than any star other than the Sun; Polaris has been regarded as the most important star in the heavens. It has been known by many names in the past; "the Pathway"; "the Pointer" - indicating the way; "Navel of the World", "Gate of Heaven", "Hub of the Cosmos", "the Highest Peak of the World Mountain", "Lodestar"; "the Steering Star"; "the Ship Star"; and Stella Maris "Star of the Sea".

Greek navigators of old called Polaris; Kynosoura, which means "the Dog's Tail". The name came into our English language as Cynosure, which means "an object that serves as a focal point of attention and admiration" or "Something that serves to guide".

The Arabs of old regarded Polaris as a hole in the sky in which the Earth's axis found its bearing. The Norsemen saw Polaris as holding the Universe together, Moguls calling it "the Golden Peg". In Damascus it is called Mismar, a "Needle" or "Nail" and Al Kutb al Shamaliyy, "the Northern Axle", or "Spindle", the Pin fixed in the under stone of a mill around which the upper stone turns.

Indians called it Grahadhara "the Pivot of the Planets" representing the great god Dhruva.

The Turks know it as Yilduz, the Star par excellence; and have a story that its light was concealed for a time after their capture of Constantinople.

The proximity of the stars of the two bears (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor) to the North Celestial Pole gave the impression that they were wheeling around this point, pulling perhaps a plough behind them, tilling the heavenly fields and driven on by Bootes the Bear Driver who chases or herds the Bears around Polaris. Another version of this story has it that the oxen were tied to the polar axis and were driven on by Bootes, assisted by his two dogs Canes Venatici, in order that the rotations of the heavens should never cease.

In spite of Polaris's usefulness in navigation, the Arabs looked on the star as an evil star, calling it Al Kiblah, because it was the star "least distant from the pole". To them it was also Giedi or Al Jadi, Al Jadi, or Juddah, "the Young He Goat", "the slayer of the man" who had slain the Great Warrior of the Sky; who forever lies in the huge coffin outlined by the stars marking the big dipper (Ursa Major), all the other stars mourn for their lost hero and each night march around the sky in a never-ending funeral procession. The villain, Polaris, alone is kept motionless, an outcast forever fixed to the coldest part of the northern sky. Muslims used this star to orient themselves toward Mecca, the place Muslims must face during worship.

To our eyes Polaris appears to be motionless at the center of the field of circumpolar stars, a "still point in the turning world". All the other stars appear to circle around Polaris. But as early as 320 BCE the Greeks has realized that Polaris did not mark the pole exactly. Until then many people had believed that the heavenly Pole was absolutely and eternally fixed. Polaris has long been moving nearer the North Celestial Pole as it is still doing now. It will be closest to that position around 2100 AD. Because the earth wobbles on its axis like a slowly spinning top, the Pole Star once was Thuban, the third star from the end of the tail of Draco. And in a little more that 5000 years from now, Alderamin, the brightest star in the constellation Cepheus, the King, will be the Pole Star.

In past ages, whichever star held the position of Pole Star was worshipped as the star of that age. Polaris is now the star of our own age. The planet, Uranus, was discovered a degree (longitude) away from this star. Polaris (along with the other stars in Ursa Minor) has a Uranian influence [Greek Kynos-oura = dogs-tail; Oura-nus; Ouranos = Greek for Uranus].

This constellation is represented by "The Universe" of the tarot which signifies "Eternal life", enlightenment, re-integration, perfection, completion. It gives a "do or die" spirit; and a desire to reach the highest peak; "conquer the World" which on another level symbolises conquering the Self; the egoic self.

Influence of the constellation :

It is said to give indifference and improvidence of spirit and to lead to many troubles. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Tau and the 21st Tarot Trump "The Universe", "The World". (Robson).

General influence of the star: It causes much sickness, trouble, loss of fortune, disgrace and great affliction, and may give legacies and inheritances attended by much evil. The Arabs were of the opinion that the contemplation of Polaris cured ophthalmia. (Robson).

The Chinese considered the Pole Star as the 'Great Honorable Lord of the Heavens'. Other races too had high admiration for it and one can draw the conclusion that, in a relevant position in the natal chart, it will give spiritual powers to the bearer and he will be highly respected. The Pole Star serves as a guide and indicator. If it is conjunct with planets in the angles, the native will have a good sense of discretion and is able to follow 'his intellect'. He clearly recognizes his aims and will pursue and achieve them. (Ebertin).

Ptolemy gives it a Saturn-Venus rating entirely right for the star which serves so well to guide us in our wanderings and this is just what it tell us about people when we find it strong in their charts. According to its aspects, they are excellent, or not so good at, receiving and giving guidance, and give it they always will and to any and all who will listen. (Dr Eric Morse).

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

With Sun: Many troubles and evils. (Robson).

With Moon: Hatred of the vulgar, ill will of women and danger from thieves. (Robson).