Constellation Canis Minor Astrology

Constellation Canis Minor the Lesser Dog, is a southern constellation sitting below constellation Gemini, between constellation Orion and constellation Hydra. It spans only 6 degrees of the Zodiac in the Sign of Cancer, and contains 2 named fixed stars.

Canis Minor represents Maera, the hound of Icarius, who drowned himself on account of his grief at the death of his master (see Bootes). According to another account it was Helen’s dog who was lost in the Euripus.

Ptolemy gives no information as to the influence of the constellation Canis Minor itself but merely describes that of its chief star Procyon. By other authors however, it is said to cause frivolity and either love of dogs or danger of dog-bites. It is noteworthy that the ideas of water and drowning seem to be universally associated with this constellation. In addition to the Greek ideas embodied in the legends its Euphratean name was the Water Dog, and its Chinese equivalent Nan Ho, the Southern River, certain of the stars being called Shwuy Wei, a Place of Water. Together with Canis Major this constellation is associated by the Kabalists with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18th Tarot Trump, “The Moon”. [1]

Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog… was not known to the Greeks by any comparative title, but was always Prokuon (pro, before + -kuon, dog), as rising before his companion Dog (Sirius, Canis Major), which Latin classic writers transliterated Procyon, and those of late Middle Ages as Prochion and Procion… With mythologists it was Actaeon’s dog, or one of Diana’s, or the Egyptian Anubis; but popularly Orion’s 2nd Hound, often called Canis Orients, and thus confounded as in other ways with the Sirian asterism.

In Canis Minor lay a part of Al Dhira’ al Asad al Makbudah, the Contracted Fore Arm, or Paw, of the early Lion; the other, the Extended Paw, running up into the heads of Gemini. Like its greater neighbor, Procyon foretold wealth and renown, and in all astrology has been much regarded… Canis Minor lies to the southeast from the feet of Gemini, its western border over the edge of the Milky Way, and is separated by Monoceros from Canis Major and Argo… In astrology, like its constellation, it portended wealth, fame, and good fortune. [2]culminates on the 24th of February.

Procyon rises at the moment when Cancer’s twenty-seventh degree ascends from the waves to the stars. He bestows upon those born under him not hunting, but its weapons. To rear keen scented whelps and to tell their class by their pedigree, their qualities by their place of origin; to produce nets and hunting-spears tipped with strong points, and pliant shafts with knots smoothed out and to manufacture and sell at a profit whatever the art of hunting is likely to require: these are the gifts Procyon will bestow. [3]

The same facts are to be remembered concerning the Greek picture, and Latin name of this constellation. The Egyptian name in the Denderah Zodiac is Sebak, which means conquering, victorious. It is represented as a human figure with a hawk’s head and the appendage of a tail. This small constellation has only 14 stars according to the Britannic catalogue. One of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, one of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star, α (in the body), is named Procyon, which means REDEEMER, and it tells us that this glorious Prince is none other than the one who was slain. Just as this chapter begins with two persons in one in the Sign (GEMINI), one victorious, the other wounded; so it ends with a representation of two princes, one of whom is seen triumphant and the other as the Redeemer. This is confirmed by the next star, β (in the neck), which is named Al Gomeisa (Arabic), the burthened, loaded, bearing for others. The names of the other stars still further confirm the great truth; viz., Al Shira or Al Shemeliya (Arabic), the prince or chief of the left hand, answering to the star in Sirius. One right, the other left, as the two united youths are placed. Al Mirzam, the prince or ruler; and Al Gomeyra, who completes or perfects.

References

1. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.35.
2. Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Richard H. Allen, 1889, p.131-134.
3. Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 5, 317
4. The Witness of the Stars, E. W. Bullinger, 34. Canis Minor (the Second Dog).