I recently received an email from a client who is beginning to incorporate the Fixed Stars into their astrology practice and had a few questions about talismans.
I realized that I'm so absorbed in the Stars—live and breathe them—that I sometimes forget it is still a niche within astrology. I thought I would share with you what I shared with them.
How to Choose a Fixed Star Talisman
Should I be looking for an aspect in my natal chart to a Star?
After making talismans full-time for years, I have come to understand that the nature of the star is the most important aspect to consider when deciding on a talisman. A star does NOT need to show up in paran or conjuntion to a planet in your natal chart for you to develop and be in relationship. Does the star possess qualities you want to cultivate within yourself? This is the first question I ask myself in my work with the stars.
All this said, a star that you have a connection to, either by a projected degree conjunction or paran, will be more familiar to you. This connection can also help you work with the planet they are associated with and vice versa. This can be particularly beneficial when you are just starting out with fixed star talismans. At the end of the day, I always recommend divination when making a decision.
In the natal chart, I only look at conjunctions with personal planets and the angles, within a 2-3 degree orb depending on the magnitude of the star. However, you don't need to get that specific right away; just look within up to 3 degrees. I also consider parans. The only accurate paran chart is from Bernadette Brady's Starlight program.
Resources for learning about Fixed Stars
There are so many resources available, and many books on the fixed stars, my most favourite resource however is world mythologies, which takes some effort on your behalf.
Bernadette Brady has books on learning about your parans that can help you understand them, but I recommend not taking all of her delineations as gospel. If you're looking for free resources, the website Constellations of Words has decent information, though it's now full of ads, which makes the experience less enjoyable than it once was. Astrology King is another resource with Fixed Star lists.
Seeking Professional Guidance
If you ever want your Star paran chart read and explained, or want to explore conjunctions between natal chart placements and the projected degree of fixed stars, my partner Gray Crawford is a highly experienced astrologer. He is a regular speaker at NORWAC and a faculty member at Kepler College. He has been personally certified by Demetra George in assessing planetary conditions in natal charts, with the added recognition of "distinction" in his certification. This means he can expertly assess the challenges and strengths of placements in a natal chart and how they relate to fixed star relationships. Gray runs monthly classes on the Fixed Stars on his Patreon and also offers specific Fixed Star readings.