Phecda at 00°29′ Virgo has an orb of 2°10′
The Sun joins Phecda on August 23
Fixed star Phecda, Gamma Ursae Majoris, is a star located on the thigh the Great Bear, Ursa Major Constellation.
Magnitude 2.44, spectral type A0Ve, color white. Many sources list Phecda as an astrometric binary star system with a class K companion. However, a number of recent studies have failed to detect the companion, so the effect is possibly deceiving. [1]
The name Phecda or Phad is derived from the Arabic phrase fakhth al-dubb, meaning “the thigh of the bear.” In Chinese astronomy it is known as Tiān Jī (天璣), or the Star of Celestial Shining Pearl. In Hindu mythology it is Pulastya, one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages). [1]
2000* | 2050 | Name | Orb |
27♌54 | 28♌36 | Al Jabhah | 1°40′ |
29♌50 | 00♍32 | Regulus | 2°30′ |
00♍29 | 01♍11 | Phecda | 2°10′ |
07♍27 | 08♍10 | Thuban | 1°40′ |
08♍20 | 09♍02 | Felis | 1°00′ |
Phecda Astrology
Fixed star Phecda has the spectral type A0, indicating the planetary nature of Venus. Noonan [2] says the Venus-like stars in Ursa Major and Ursa Minor stress the harsher nature of Venus because both bears have an “evil reputation”.
AL HECDA. γ Ursae Majoris. A large yellow star in the great Bear. This star is also called Phact. Spectral class KO. This star imparts to its natives a drive to excell, get ahead, much activity, power, authority and negatively destruction, bad morals, anxiety, turbulence, self-destruction. [3]
Phachd, Gamma Ursae Majoris. Phecda, the third-largest star of the Great Bear, also called Phacd (Thigh of the Bear) corresponds to Mars, with the added touch of Uranus and Neptune. As it is so very far distant from the ecliptic, its influence perhaps is not felt very much. In conjunction with a planetary malefic, it is said that this star is a possible cause of “a great blood bath”. In conjunction with Neptune, and provided relevant configurations with Moon, Venus and Mars are also present, it is an indication of a pathological sex nature. The power of this fixed star is a distinct one in mundane astrology. [4]
At 0° Virgo is the next Ursa Major star, γ Al Phecda. The name is, again, anatomical: the Thigh of the Bear. In the Dipper it is at the bottom of the pan, below the handle joint, Only 32′ past Regulus, it should not be seen as a major symbol in itself, but rather as a reminder to those in power that strength, as in Bear, is only a part of their majesty; provision for others, as in the Big Dipper, is what they are holding in trust. And if that Dipper does happen to be panning for gold, so well and good, but that too is to be shared if any of it is to be safely kept by the finder. A Jupiter-Venus simile seems needed here, to modify the Mars-Jupiter of the Star of Kings. [5]
Constellation Ursa Major
According to Ptolemy, Ursa Major is like Mars. It is said to give a quiet, prudent, suspicious, mistrustful, self-controlled, patient nature, but an uneasy spirit and great anger and revengefulness when roused. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Zain and the 7th Tarot Trump “The Chariot.” [6]
Astrologically both Bears were said to presage an evil influence. They are particularly injurious as regards to the affairs of nations and kings. [2]
Fixed Star Phecda Conjunctions
Ascendant conjunct Phecda: Drake 0°12′, Donald Trump 0°15′, Lorraine Warren 0°38′, Billy Bob Thornton 1°20′, Alan Leo 1°27′ (and Saturn), Nancy Pelosi 1°38′, Martin Luther 1°42′.
Midheaven conjunct Phecda: Prince 0°09′ (and Pluto), Jimmy Page 0°23′, Mata Hari 0°31′, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 0°33′ (and Neptune), Bernadette Brady 0°38′, Clint Eastwood 1°30′ (and Neptune), Emily Dickinson 1°43′.
Descendant conjunct Phecda: Audrey Hepburn 0°51′, J. P. Morgan 1°49′, William S. Burroughs 1°56′
Part of Fortune conjunct Phecda: Liza Minnelli 0°44′, Priyanka Chopra 1°15′, Michael Jackson 1°27′, Mariah Carey 1°31′, Nicholas Culpeper 1°38′, John Maynard Keynes 1°42′.
Sun conjunct Phecda: Dave Chappelle 1°05′, Dua Lipa 1°31′ (and Venus).
Moon conjunct Phecda: Alexei Navalny 0°03′, Margaret Thatcher 0°47′, Winston Churchill 0°54′, Walt Whitman 1′04, Richard Branson 1°50′, Klaus Barbie 1°52′.
Mercury conjunct Phecda: William Bligh 1°16′, Huw Edwards 1°42′.
Venus conjunct Phecda: Heinrich Himmler 0°07′, Alexander the Great 0°10′, Nayib Bukele 0°29′, Emmett Till 0°57′, Dua Lipa 1°07′ (and Sun), Monica Lewinsky 1°35′.
Mars conjunct Phecda: James VI and I 0°07′, F. Scott Fitzgerald 0°18′, Steven Spielberg 0°40′, Imelda Marcos 0°58′ (and Neptune), Caitlyn Jenner 1°02′, Elizabeth Montgomery 1°24′, Princess Diana of Wales 1°43′, Ariana Grande 1°46′.
Jupiter conjunct Phecda: Bill Maher 0°09′ (and Pluto), Whoopi Goldberg 0°11′ (and Pluto), Tom Hanks 0°29′, Gavin Newsom 1°32′, Ronaldinho 1°59′, Louis XVI 2°00′.
Saturn conjunct Phecda: Emmanuel Macron 0°17′, Billy Joel 0°23′, Alan Leo 0°54′ (and AC), Volodymyr Zelenskyy 1°21′.
Uranus conjunct Phecda: Jim Carrey 0°10′, Johnny Depp 1°37′.
Neptune conjunct Phecda: In conjunction with Neptune and provided relevant configurations with Moon, Venus and Mars are also present, it is an indication of a pathological sex nature. [3]
Imelda Marcos 0°09′ (and Mars), Anne Frank 0°35′, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 0°40′ (and MC), Audrey Hepburn 0°51′, Jane Roberts 0°53′, Andy Warhol 1°07′, Rolf Harris 1°17′, Clint Eastwood 1°24′ (and MC), Martin Luther King 1°25′, Anton LaVey 1°33′.
Pluto conjunct Phecda: Prince 0°04′ (and MC), Nancy Spungen 0°59′, Whoopi Goldberg 1°19′ (and Jupiter), Bill Gates 1°30′, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán 1°39′, Nicole Brown Simpson 1°46′, Ellen DeGeneres 1°46′, Bill Maher 1°51′ (and Jupiter), Sid Vicious 1°57′.
North Node conjunct Phecda: Joe Biden 0°02′, Arthur Koestler 0°13′, Elizabeth I 0°18′, Jimi Hendrix 0°20′, Boy George 0°32′, Martin Scorsese 0°49′, Robert Hand 1°23′, Princess Diana of Wales 1°45′.
South Node conjunct Phecda: Harvey Weinstein 0°26′, Chris Brown 0°51′, Roman Polanski 0°56′.
References
- Phecda (Gamma Ursae Majoris): Star Facts.
- Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990, p.5, 7.
- The Power of the Fixed Stars, Joseph E. Rigor, 1979, p.119
- Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1971, p.48.
- The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse, 1988, p.146.
- Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.65.
- All fixed star positions are for the year 2000. Add one degree per 72 years to correct for precession.