Divine Warrior: On the Fixed Star Betelgeuse

“Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun,” Nicolas Poussin, 1658.

Today’s newsletter is a deep dive on the fixed star Betelgeus, found in the right shoulder of the Orion constellation. You don’t need to have much technical knowledge of astrology to appreciate the stars. We have been writing stories and praying to them since we have been looking up. This essay is meant to help readers connect more deeply to these divine messengers and better understand ourselves. If you want to know if Betelgeus touches your chart, see if you have any planets or significant placements within 2º of 28º Gemini. Even if not, you have so much to learn from this powerful star.

If you are still mystified by the fixed stars and how they fit into your chart, I have recently released an introductory class on the stars!

It gives a basic overview of what stars are, both astronomically and astrologically, traditional opinions on the stars, plus how to fit them into your astrology practice.

Learn more and purchase the class here.

If you want to learn more about how the stars touch and guide your beautiful life, and what your soul is asking of you, book a fixed star reading with me ⭐. You have to feel the magic of the stars yourself to believe it. P.S. everyone who purchases my intro course gets 20% off their next fixed star reading ;)

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Even among the hordes of stars in our sky, Betelgeuse is distinct. It is the ninth brightest star we can see and one of the largest visible stars to the naked eye. Its size is ten to twenty times that of the Sun, our own guiding star. Already, the red star, brightest of its color, seems to announce itself in magnitudes. But this star holding up the right arm of Orion is not without its contradictions. Though reaching a height of +1.6 apparent magnitude, it can also dim down to +0.0. At infrared wavelengths, however, which are invisible to the human eye, Betelgeuse is the brightest.

Then there’s the issue of this star’s supposed death. In 2019 and 2020, Betelgeuse appeared to be rapidly dimming, indicating a potential supernova, or the explosion of the star. By 2021, the dimming was attributed to dust being expelled by gas within the star— Betelgeuse is not dead yet.

Even with just the physical characteristics, you see themes we will be discussing emerging: great strength and power coupled with an unspoken intelligence. A fiery color in a visible seat of power, though also facing variable circumstances from which they always seem to resurrect.

Betelgeuse is such an interesting star because its significations seem overwhelmingly positive: fame, talent, strength, victory, success. It takes some digging and intimate contact to unpack the complexity beneath its assured exterior. Also, there are plenty of other star promising success; what is the exact flavor or common feelings, scenarios that Betelgeuse natives often face when rising to success?

Here, I draw from my ancestors and teachers and give you my humble journey.

Mythology

The name “Betelgeuse” comes from the Arabic “Ib ţ al Jauzah, the Armpit of the Central One”.¹ The Babylonians named Orion, the constellation of which Betelgeuse is a part, "The Heavenly Shepherd" or "True Shepherd of Anu," Anu being the chief god of the heavens.² Most of Betelgeuse's Arabic names points to its place on the body of this sheep herder. Names span from "Al Mankib, the Shoulder; Al Dhira, the Arm; and Al Yad al Yamna‘, the Right Hand".³

According to Greek myth, Orion was a giant Zeus, Poseidon, and Hermes fashioned for Hyreus out of an ox-hide in return for the mortal’s hospitality.⁴ The gods completed this request by urinating on the hide and burying it for nine months.⁵ Orion turned into a great warrior and huntsman, able to defeat any foe or wild beast. Its red hue also plays a role in how cultures mythologize it. The Hawaiians call Betelgeuse Kaulua-koko, which means “blood or rainbow-hued brilliant red star”.⁶ The Maori believe the red flashes the star throws when it rises out of the ocean indicate if it will be a year of leanness or of plenty.