The star Unukalhai lies in the remarkable constellation Serpens (the Serpent), the only constellation divided into two parts. Its western portion is called Serpens Caput (the Serpent’s Head), and its eastern portion Serpens Cauda (the Tail). Between them lies the constellation Ophiuchus. It was Ophiuchus, the Serpent-Bearer, that prompted those absurd claims that the zodiac now has thirteen signs and that this somehow disproves astrology. Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of astrology cannot take such claims seriously. Turning to the myth itself, we find that Serpens is associated with the story of Asclepius, who was charged with restoring to life Glaucus, the son of King Minos, who had drowned. While Asclepius was pondering how to accomplish this, a snake entered the room. He killed it, but shortly afterwards another snake appeared, carrying a herb, which it laid upon the dead snake, restoring it to life. Seeing this, Asclepius took the life-restoring herb and used it to revive Glaucus. We undoubtedly associate this constellation with the possibility of being “plugged into” a vast source of energy linking “this world and the next”. If that energy is channelled correctly, as indicated by a favourable placement and disposition in the chart, the person becomes profound in their understanding, capable of healing and even of “bringing back the dead”.
Unukalhai is a pale yellow star in the Serpent’s neck. Its name derives from Unku-l-Hajja, meaning “the Serpent’s Neck”. It is also sometimes called Cor Serpentis, or “the Heart of the Serpent”.
Influence: According to Ptolemy, Unukalhai is of the nature of Saturn and Mars. Simmonite gives Saturn and Venus; Pearce, Saturn, Venus and Mars; and Alvidas, Mars and Saturn in opposition to Venus. It brings immorality, accidents, violence and danger of poisoning.
On the direction of the Moon to this star, William Lilly records the following:
It signifies that the native may be given to witchcraft and the use of poisons, and declares that he shall be subject to poisonous potions and the bites of adders and serpents, etc.; that he shall hardly escape chronic diseases, and that some one of his mistresses may die.
Robson suggests that the principal concern is the risk of poisoning, particularly through drugs or alcohol, and also speaks of “wisdom, craft, deceit, malice, a feeble will and danger of poison”. This need not mean that the native will become a drug addict, but such people are unusually sensitive to toxins and suffer more than others when exposed to smoke, heavy metals, chemicals and alcohol. Some people, however, crave precisely those things to which they are allergic, suggesting a fatal attraction. This star seems to exert an exceptionally hypnotic influence. Robson takes an extremely negative view of Unukalhai, associating it above all with violence and poisoning, tricksters, criminals and immorality. When Vivian Robson uses the expression “evil surroundings”, he suggests ways of life that are fundamentally unchristian. This therefore encompasses multiple marriages, radical feminists, bohemians, nonconformists and outlaws. The Serpent reveals to the Serpent-Bearer how to restore the dead to life, something no ordinary mortal is supposed to do. This is the true meaning of occult knowledge. What I find truly fascinating is that the Serpent’s heart is located in its neck. During my research, I noticed so many singers, especially those with a deeply hypnotic, ethereal quality to their voices! The two women in ABBA are an excellent example: Frida’s Sun is conjunct Agnetha’s Moon, and both lie on Unukalhai. They really did sound like a single extraordinary voice.
Traditionally, the star signifies danger from poisoning, violence and snakes. The essential point is that the person represented by a planet on Unukalhai possesses something extraordinary within them, within their nervous system, through which they can readily endanger another person’s life, but also heal them. This is a place of wisdom and knowledge. With favourable placement and disposition, especially if Neptune, Uranus and Saturn are well placed, it can be a place of exceptional healing transformation, making it particularly significant for doctors, surgeons and healers of every kind. In general, all those who serve others through healing or by teaching what they have perceived can expect only the best from this star. When poorly placed, Unukalhai can bring deception, lies and betrayal, as well as chronic illnesses whose causes are difficult to trace. Another important association is its symbolism of a woman, and often of many women. If it describes a particular woman, she is a seductress or mistress, passionate but usually unfaithful, who holds a certain power over men, generally erotic in nature. It also describes women whose “love” can be bought.
When Unukalhai is in close contact with planets in the natal chart, particularly by conjunction, it usually manifests in one of the following ways:
With the Sun: many quarrels and disappointments, an unhappy life, deeply affected by a death in the family or the loss of friends,
With the Moon: clever, but in evil surroundings; hated by the authorities; involvement in intrigues and conspiracies; banishment, arrest or hanging for a crime, most likely poisoning.
With Mercury: dishonesty, accusations of forgery or the theft of documents, poor health, escape from fatal situations at the last moment, danger from the bites of venomous animals.
With Venus: enmity, jealousy towards members of one’s own sex, unfavourable for family matters, favourable for earnings, death under mysterious circumstances, probably through poisoning
With Mars: violence, quarrels, a tendency to lie, crime, violent death, probably through poisoning
With Jupiter: duplicity, a tendency to deceive, banishment, arrest or exile.
With Saturn: concealed insanity, drug addiction, secret crime and often motiveless poisoning, cunning, learning, intelligence, studiousness; often a doctor or nurse; usually unmarried; possible suicide or confinement in an asylum or prison.
With Uranus: intermittent fits of insanity, prosperity and luxurious surroundings, inheritance often slips from one’s grasp, unfavourable for marriage, often violent death or suicide, criminal tendencies.
With Neptune: cunning, perceptiveness, courage, steadfastness, intuition, evil surroundings, often a criminal, trouble with the opposite sex, unfavourable for earnings and marriage, sudden death.