Aldebaran lies in the southern eye of Taurus. A leading star among the stars, it is also known as the Follower of the Pleiades. Its name derives from Al-Dabaran, meaning ‘the Follower’. Around 3000 BC, it was one of the four Royal Stars, or Watchers of the Heavens, recognised by the Persians. As the Watcher of the East, it marked the vernal equinox; the other three were Regulus, Antares and Fomalhaut. Aldebaran was the starting point of the earliest zodiac, and its rising at the vernal equinox marked the beginning of the Babylonian year. For this reason, it was known as ‘the Foreteller’, since the fate of the coming year was determined from the state of the heavens when Aldebaran rose at that moment. Aldebaran entered the sign of Gemini in 1286. Ptolemy calls it a ‘torch’ on account of its bright, reddish light. Situated in the southern, or left, eye of Taurus, it was known to early authors as the ‘Bright Eye of the Bull’, the ‘Bull’s Eye’, or Oculus Tauri; some also called it Cor Tauri—the Heart of the Bull—a name referring not to its position but to its prominence.
Aldebaran is a star of the solar spectral type, some twenty-eight light years away from us and receding at a speed of approximately 30 miles per second.
Influence:
Ptolemy states that Aldebaran is of the nature of Mars, an influence also evident in William Lilly’s description of its effect on the native’s behaviour:
“Oculus Tauri (Aldebaran), at 4°30′ Gemini, makes the native fierce, resolute, delighting in military affairs, restless and seditious. The Moon in conjunction with it signifies an honest man, especially when upon the Ascendant. But if the Lord of the Ascendant, together with the Moon, be in conjunction with this fixed star, it signifies a murderer, the more certainly if the planet be masculine and the Sun afflicted. Saturn with the Bull’s Eye commonly produces great misfortunes, and denotes a strange and very wicked mind.”
On directing the Sun to Aldebaran, he further writes:
“It promises a fortunate beginning, or favourable steps towards good fortune. The native relies upon military commanders, who will bestow many honours upon him; yet the end shall be tragic, for he shall again lose both fame and estate, and may moreover be imprisoned or banished.”
Aldebaran is usually associated with success in the East and in all matters connected with the East. It may confer a leading position in some field, but also enmity arising from collaboration, partnerships or open enemies. Its energy is particularly pronounced: as the Watcher of the East, it signifies success through new ventures and, more generally, good fortune in every beginning, much like the rising sign. It grants a position of responsibility and public success. There is danger from severe weather.
Alvidas attributes to Aldebaran a nature signifying integrity, popularity, courage, ferocity, a tendency towards rebellion, a responsible position, public honours and gain, and power or wealth acquired through others, whose benefits rarely remain secret. There is also danger of violence and illness.
On the Ascendant: “On the Ascendant of the horoscope and in conjunction with the Moon, it makes a good companion; but if conjunct both the ruler of the Ascendant and the ruler of the Moon, it indicates a murderous nature, especially if the ruler of the Ascendant is a masculine planet and the Sun is simultaneously afflicted.”
I could not find many examples of Aldebaran on the Ascendant, so I do not think this placement, in itself, gives the ambition usually associated with the star. Instead, there may be a touch of complacency and contentment with what one has, more in keeping with the zodiac sign Taurus. What I found in my files of friends and family was a flair for fashion, but also a tendency towards self-indulgence. The Ascendant represents the physical body and forms part of the relationship axis, so this star’s sensual appetite finds particularly strong expression here. There is a powerful sexual drive, together with a love of food and luxury goods. These people may simply be content to focus on their relationships rather than trouble themselves with anything beyond their kitchen or bed.
On the MC: ” honour, preferment, good fortune, and favours from women”.
In striking contrast to Aldebaran on the Ascendant, we find an abundance of prominent people with Aldebaran on the MC. This bears out Robson’s interpretation of great success here. Those who act honestly and have some altruistic motive behind their work seem able to avoid the risk of sudden collapse and misfortune that Aldebaran usually brings. With this placement we find fame and renown, the occasional wasted talent, and falls from grace into ruin—most likely through excessive self-indulgence in the good life Aldebaran initially provides. Charm, skill and refinement can take these people far, provided they resist temptation and do not become too complacent.
With the Sun: “great energy and perseverance, high material honours, but danger of losing them; danger from quarrels and the law; fame and riches ending in disgrace and ruin; liability to illness, fevers and a violent death. If conjunct both the Sun and Mars, great susceptibility to infectious fevers.”
Since the Sun rules the head and Aldebaran lies in the head of the Bull, it is hardly surprising that people with this placement are regarded as leaders or icons. At times they are prone to idealisation, though they may also overstep the mark in pursuing the object of their desire. They can easily be drawn or seduced into scandals involving the opposite sex. The Bull’s insatiable sexual energy is strongly expressed, but it is usually channelled into the arts, where these people are especially prolific. Those who use their wealth to help others will remain relatively untouched by this star’s unfortunate consequences. Those who become greedy, however, risk ‘disgrace and ruin’. The Sun carries great responsibility here, and these people must act with integrity.
With the Moon: “favourable for business, honour and confidence, especially in the first or tenth house of the horoscope, but danger of calamity. Favourable for domestic, public and religious affairs; danger of violent death. If Mars or Saturn is simultaneously with Antares, the native may die by hanging or a sword thrust. With the Sun or Moon: whether culminating or rising, it brings great fame through violence, attended by difficulties and hardships.”
The Moon rules our subconscious drives and emotional needs, so Aldebaran will bring out a weakness for the opposite sex much as it does on the Ascendant. Men and women alike will have a wild, bull-like libido. Unless mastered, this lust can bring about the native’s downfall. The mother may have died suddenly or violently. Her premature departure from the infant’s life leaves a longing for the mothering missed in childhood, which is why one spouse or lover is often never enough. The Moon here needs a great deal of physical love and affection.
With Mercury:“afflicts health and the home; prominence in matters ruled by Mercury, material gain, and many learned friends.”
These people seem to take it upon themselves to speak out against evil. They may veer between sinner and saint, possessing the archetypal Mercurial gift for switching abruptly between conflicting principles. Their dual personalities may confuse others, but they also have a talent for ‘building bridges’ and mediating between opposing forces. They may also enjoy playing devil’s advocate.
With Venus: “honour through literature, music or art; creative abilities, favourable for health and marriage.”
There is a suggestion of scandal here, as Venus once again brings out this star’s insatiable desire. There is potential for considerable artistic accomplishment and talent, with an ability to create beautiful, harmonious and sumptuous surroundings. Those without artistic gifts of their own may discover Venusian beauty in others instead. They may then become excessively materialistic and find it difficult to let go of people or possessions.
With Mars: “great military preferment attended by many dangers; liability to accidents, fevers and violent death. If the Moon is simultaneously with Antares, especially on the angles of the horoscope, death comes through a thrust, blow or fall.”
Aldebaran with Mars gives great ambition, business acumen and the courage to take real command. This is someone who must win at any cost—a born survivor. The danger of ‘violent death’ here may simply arise from their daring behaviour. These people are highly impulsive risk-takers, but, as the saying goes, ‘Who dares wins’, and more often than not, they do. The likelihood of misfortune depends on the rest of the chart and whether other factors can cool the hot blood of this placement. Passionate and intensely sexual, their libido does much to propel them towards high positions—Antares – the Heart of the Scorpion. They do not shrink from using sex to get ahead.
With Jupiter: “great ecclesiastical honours and high military rank.”
This placement seems to give great success and inspiration in whatever field these people find themselves. I think this is chiefly due to their unwavering faith and determination to follow their dreams, whatever the obstacles. Success is even more likely if Jupiter is well placed near an angle or closely aspects one of the personal planets.
With Saturn: “much affliction, a strange mind, great wickedness, sarcasm, eloquence, a good memory, a studious and reserved nature, legal ability, success in domestic and business affairs, and loss of Mercurial friends. If the Moon is simultaneously with Antares, it indicates a violent death, probably by hanging.”
These people have a powerful desire and drive to make a name for themselves and rise above the limitations or unhappy memories of their upbringing. This may be because they were born into poverty, or because they are fleeing the demons of childhood. ‘Great wickedness’—I believe this is something they have experienced at the hands of others, most likely an authority figure or their father. Yet they are also capable of malice themselves if they fail to deal properly with the demons they may be trying to suppress. Saturn tends to make the shadow deeper and darker than any other planet. Remember that Antares opposes this star, so the battle between good and evil may play a part in their career, whether artistic or political.
With Uranus: “scientific interests, a love of nature, a critical mind, justice, success in domestic affairs and politics, public honours, and an interest in occultism that may bring disrepute; a lingering death.”
With Neptune: “connections with science, art and occultism, and mediumistic abilities; a good intellect; losses through fire, electricity or speculation, but gains through metals, machinery and scientific instruments, especially if Mars is strong; much travel, disturbances to domestic happiness, unfavourable for children, and danger of accidents and sudden death. With the Lot of Fortune or its ruler, poverty. With a malefic planet in the fourth, seventh, eleventh or twelfth house of the horoscope, and the Moon simultaneously with Antares, death comes through a sudden sword stroke, a thrust or a fall.”
According to Dupor:
Aldebaran with Mars: fire, storm, poison, shipwreck; with the Moon—danger to the eyes. If in the twelfth, blindness and collapse as well. Aldebaran in the seventh: a wealthy marriage; Sun–Moon–Ascendant: great but dangerous honour; Sun–MC: great honour and a tragic end; with Neptune—poisoning; Aldebaran with Venus in the seventh: divorce owing to perversions; on the cusp of the fifth, seventh or eleventh—homosexuality; with Saturn: danger of gynaecological diseases and stones; on the Ascendant—an unstoppable rise in any event. Sun or Moon: danger from ambush, strange obstacles; with Jupiter—military or civic honours, and a position of command if on the MC; with Mercury—fame as a poet, painter or singer; with Venus as well—music.