Jeff Buckley's Fixed Stars Revisited and Expanded
With a Little Help From Vivian Robson
“The influence of the fixed stars differs from that of the planets in being much more dramatic, sudden and violent. As a rule planetary effects are gradual and operate, comparatively slowly, one might almost say softly, whereas the stars appear to exercise most of their influence in sudden, hard, vehement bursts, producing tremendous effects for short periods, and, after raising the natives to a great height, dropping them suddenly and bringing a series of dramatic and unexpected disasters. In other words, the fixed stars may elevate from poverty to the extreme height of fortune or vice versa, whereas the planets do not do so (1).”
The stars do not operate alone except when found on an angle. When a planet and a star are conjunct, the star’s effects are transmitted by the planet. The extent and magnitude of the effects are greatly magnified when the nature of the star and planet are the same. If their natures are different then the effects upon the planet are decreased or modified (p.94).
The following are descriptions of eight fixed stars associated with Jeff Buckley’s natal chart.
Almach (Alamak) — located at the left foot of Andromeda, it is of the nature of Venus. It gives honor, eminence, and artistic ability (p.128). A magnitude-2 star, at 13° Taurus 46`, it is located 7` of arc past Jeff Buckley’s Medium Coeli (MC) or Midheaven.
Menkar — located in the jaw of the whale, it is of the nature of Saturn. Menkar brings disease, disgrace, ruin, injury from beasts, sickness, and loss of fortune (p.176). A magnitude-3 star, at 13° Taurus 51`, it is 12` of arc past his MC.
Ras Elased Australis (Algenubi) — located in the head of the Lion in the constellation Leo. It is of the nature of Saturn/Mars and has been called “He who rends”. It gives a bold and destructive nature with artistic appreciation and power of expression (p.123). A magnitude-3 star at 20° Leo 14`, it is 1° 4` past Jeff's ascendant.
Denebola — located in the tail of the Lion, it is of the nature of Saturn/Venus. It is associated with nobility and good judgment; it can also bring despair, regret, and anxiety (p.160-161). A magnitude-2 star, at 21° Virgo 9`, it falls 11` of arc before Jeff's Mars.
Unukalhai — is in the heart of the snake in the constellation Serpens. It is of the nature of Saturn/Mars. It is associated with intrigue, jealousy, and accidents. With Neptune: Brings “…genius, courageous, persistent, intuitive, evil environment, often criminal, trouble through opposite sex, bad for gain and marriage, violent death” (p.213-214). A magnitude-3 star at 21° Scorpio 36`, it falls 26` of arc before Buckley’s Neptune. When Jeff died on May 29, 1997. Unukalhai had moved 26` of arc to become exactly conjunct his natal Neptune.
Agena — is located in the right foreleg of the Centaur. It is of the influence of Venus/Jupiter. It gives position, friendship, refinement, morality, health and honor. With Mercury: Gives great mental ability, sarcasm, material gain, speaking, writing, and championing the masses (p.116-117). A magnitude-1 star, at 23° Scorpio 19`, it falls 13` of arc before Jeff's Mercury.
Toliman (Bungula) — located at the left forefoot of the Centaur. It is of the nature of Venus/Jupiter. It gives beneficence, friends, refinement, and a position of honor. With Venus: “Popular, artistic, and musical abilities, benefits from friends, danger from love affairs” (p.148-149). A magnitude-1 star at 29° Scorpio 03`, it is 1° 16` past Jeff's natal Venus.
Markab — located on the wing of Pegasus, it is of the nature of Mars/Mercury. It gives honor, riches, fortune, danger from fevers, cuts, blows, stabs, and fire, and a violent death. With Saturn: “Born in poverty, prison, or asylum, may be abandoned, hard life, in prison for crime, few friends, unfavorable for domestic matters, death under similar conditions to birth” (p.174-175). The constellation Pegasus is associated with drowning, accidents, and catastrophes. A magnitude-2 star at 23° Pisces 01`, it is located 3` past Jeff's natal Saturn and both are in his 8th house of worries, obsession, and death.
Stars 1-3 are of the nature of Venus, Saturn, and Saturn/Mars, because these stars fall on angles they do not modify any planetary energies. They do however emphasize the malefic energies found elsewhere on the chart.
Star 4 Denebola is of the nature of Saturn/Venus, primarily Saturn as it is listed first. This malefic Saturn energy combines with his natal Mars to emphasize the more negative qualities of anxiety, regret, and despair.
Star 5 Unukalhai is of the nature Saturn/Mars and brings out the already malefic energies of Neptune and its connotations of intrigue, jealousy, accidents, and violent death. This conjunction placed in the angular 4th house of beginnings/endings, drownings, and family legacy would seem to be especially unfortunate considering the tragic ending of Jeff Buckley’s life.
Star 6 Agena is of the nature of Venus/Jupiter. Here the Star modifies the planet Mercury, associated with the intellect and communications, it adds refinement, friendship, and honor.
Star 7 Bungle is also of the nature of Venus/Jupiter and here modifies the planet Venus to make her even stronger in the characteristic strengths of music, art, and friendship. Interestingly when Bungle is combined with Venus it brings danger from love affairs, perhaps due to having too much of a good thing.
Star 8 Markab is of the nature of Mars/Mercury, primarily Mars. Combining with the malefic planet Saturn brings increased danger from violent accidents and death. In Buckley’s natal chart Mars and Saturn form a close opposition to each other. The opposition brings themes of conflict and division. Both planets are positioned close to malefic stars allowing for dramatic expansion of negative energies. The Mars/Saturn opposition is strikingly mirrored in the pairing of the stars. Mars with Unulkalhai and its Saturnine influence; Saturn with Markab and its Martian influence. It is unfortunate that the circumstances surrounding Jeff Buckley’s death confirms these particular celestial influences of violence and intrigue.
See the full article on the Astrology of Jeff Buckley. Revision in progress…
