Regulus: The Heart of the Lion Talismans

Regulus, the alpha star at the heart of the Leo constellation, is also known as Cor Leonis, Latin for “Heart of the Lion.” This regal star grants the qualities of a true leader, blending the might of Zeus with the courage of Ares. As one of the four Royal Stars, Regulus bestows courage, resilience, and a natural authority capable of overcoming adversity with a noble, independent spirit. As Hermes describes in Liber Hermetis Quadripartitis, a lion carved on garnet brings abundance, honor, joy to the heart, and triumph over sadness. According to the Bodleian Manuscript, Regulus talismans dispel anger, relieve melancholy, temper the spirit, and attract favor. Crafted for those who seek to embody the heart of the Lion.

Regulus Talisman: A Personal Reflection

 Of all the talismans I’ve created over the years, Regulus feels one of the most grounding. Similar to Deneb Algedi, who has more of a protective energy whereas Regulus carries a braveness that felt like being washed in serenity when I first put them on. I feel they bring a grace to the feet so one might better feel the ground that holds them. Also I noted that the fiery heart of the Lion does not inflame what is already inflamed, but rather the heat of the flaming heart tempers an inflamed body and mind.

I found myself thinking of the song “Be Brave” by Tropic of Cancer, an unusual connection given its cold-wave sound. Perhaps it was the title, or maybe the cooling synths and ambient drone mirrored the calming and tempering effect of Regulus, soothing the fires of a restless mind and body. “Be brave,” whispers Regulus.

Unlike other stars, Regulus doesn’t carry you on ecstatic flights or whisper prophecies into your ear. The heart of the brave lion speaks directly, heart to heart. The Lion is known as a creature of courage. “Be brave,” whispers the king of the jungle, as its gossamer tendrils reach into the heart, building new pathways and mapping out frozen and abandoned terrain. Regulus is said to aid in actualizing one’s creative destiny and to bring warmth to the heart.

The making of the Talisman

The Regulus Talismans are created in the form of a lion’s head, a basilisk’s tail and a garnet heart. I chose a basilisk tail because the word “basilisk” comes from the Greek basilískos and has the same meaning as Regulus - “little king”. The Lion was meticulously hand-carved in wax and cast in sterling silver, with the underside engraved with the sigil and alchemical symbols of Regulus.  The talismans were set with garnet cabochons, which according to Hermes on the Fifteen Fixed Stars, is the corresponding gemstone for Regulus. Beneath each garnet is a small rolled beeswax ball of mugwort grown in my garden, pieces of Banyan tree root harvested in Australia, and soil collected from the Temple of Zeus at Nemea during the first days of Regulus’s heliacal rise.

Nemea Dirt

A few days after the heliacal rise of Regulus in September 2024, I visited the Temple of Zeus in Nemea and collected dirt from the temple grounds. Nemea is the ancient home of the Nemean Lion, later immortalized as the constellation Leo with Regulus as its heart. Ptolemy associates Regulus with the nature of Zeus (Jupiter), whose qualities of nobility and expansiveness echo Regulus’s influence. The Temple of Zeus in Nemea is a sanctuary that inspires joy and laughter.

Banyan Tree Root

I used dried Banyan root that I harvested in Australia in 2022. The Banyan tree symbolizes longevity, strength, and prosperity and is associated with the Magha nakshatra. In Vedic tradition, Regulus marks Magha nakshatra, which resonates with guardian ancestral spirits who offer protection. This connection fosters a sense of familial pride and loyalty to one’s spiritual lineage. 

According to Bepin Behari, Magha’s deities, the Pitris, function like guardian spirits who intervene when there is a major diversion from the right course; they give protection in the event of calamity, they nurture cultural tradition and preserve ancestral knowledge. However, the shadow side of Magha warns against arrogance, attachment to status, and the pursuit of approval at the expense of authenticity.

In "Procession of the Night Theatre: An Exposition on the Lunar Stations," J.M. Hamade explores the Magha nakshatra's connection to ancestral veneration, particularly honoring ancestors of prominent stature who laid the foundations for future generations. Hamade writes: "These are the beings who laid the foundations on which all future generations walk. After death, these souls become guides for those in the living world as they transition into the beyond. Consequently, this station focuses heavily on the veneration of ancestors. It is this recognition of continued presence that defines it so well. The interpenetration of death into the world of the living is a fundamental reality. It is the past that dictates the future so that it may become the past."

Mugwort

Mugwort is the plant associated with Regulus, as identified in the Bodleian Manuscript. According to Daniel Shulke in The Green Mysteries, commercially purchased mugwort often loses much of its aromatic quality and magical potency, so he suggests growing it oneself—a practice I have adopted. Known in Chinese medicine as a blood-mover, mugwort resonates with JM Hamade’s interpretation of Regulus as the heart in the“center of the body and the director of blood life-force.”

Drawing from Shulke’s research, mugwort in magical work is associated with powers including clairvoyance, banishing, divination, oneiromancy, summoning, protection from malefica, invigoration, beautification, and longevity. In medieval tradition, mugwort was also carried as a charm to revive fatigued travelers, offering both protection and a boost to one’s journey.

Astrological Election

“The fifth portion of Leo has a star shining forth with lucid splendor. If the Moon were found to be waxing in light in this star, possessing the pivot of the Hour-marker or the Midheaven portion ally, it decrees kingdoms and the greater absolute rule of power.” 
 -Firmicus Maternus, Mathesis, 4th century AD, book 6.2 translated by Benjamin Dykes

The talismans were inspirited under a blue flame on May 5, 2025, at 1:33 PM Pacific Time, and quenched in volcano water collected from the Paradise River, which originates from the Paradise Glacier on Mount Rainier. Offerings of food, water, wine, flowers and a suffumigation of mugwort and frankiscene were made. Invocations were perfomed. 

In this astrological election the waxing Moon, increasing in light and vivifying heat is at the same degree as Regulus upon the ascendant. The Sun as lord of the ascendant is in his joy of the 9th, with the Moon’s next aspect being a flowing trine aspect with the Sun. The 9th place topics of divination, philosophy, higher education, pilgrimage, and divinity are further emphasised by Mercury as the lord of the Moon forming a conjunction with the cusp of the 9th house, moving with increasing speed in their Morning Star phase. Jupiter for good measure is also lending his bonifying influence to the election while occupying the 10th place. Mercury is receiving the great benefic through a sextile aspect, while Jupiter also makes a superior square aspect by whole sign with the Moon.|

The trials of the Royal Stars 

As Firmicus Maternus documented in the 4th-century Mathesis, Regulus has long been considered to be one of four Royal Stars that grant eminence. However, Bernadette Brady popularized the concept that each of the royal stars will grant success only when its nemesis is faced. The nemesis of Regulus is revenge. Known as the “Heart of the Lion,” Regulus brings leadership, and the promise of great power and influence. Yet, to retain these gifts, one must resist the pull toward revenge when challenged or undermined. For Regulus, the way to lasting success is through grace. Succumbing to vengeful impulses can erode its influence, leading to a loss of respect, standing, and dignity. Regulus teaches that true strength lies in rising above pettiness, preserving integrity, and embodying the noble spirit that this star bestows.

One of Regulus’s key attributes is its ability to grant honor and respect, attracting favor from powerful allies and strengthening one’s position, which in turn discourages adversaries from interference. Regulus promotes restraint rather than revenge, advocating for wise, composed responses to opposition over impulsive reactions. This restraint preserves one’s standing, revealing that true power lies in dignity and grace. Additionally, Regulus’s influence tempers anger and alleviates melancholy, helping the bearer regain composure in adversity and fortify the spirit against negativity, fostering an aura of quiet authority.

Yet, Regulus is not about passively accepting harm from others. Revenge is an act of vindictiveness; justice, of vindication. The effort to avenge can become corrupting, reducing the avenger to the level of the perpetrator. In contrast, justice is rooted in honor and fairness, seeking restoration of balance rather than retribution.