Praesepe is at 07°21′ Leo with an orb of 1°30′

The Sun joins Praesepe on July 30

Fixed star Praesepe, M44, the Beehive Cluster, is a 3.1 magnitude open cluster in the head of the Crab, Cancer Constellation. The traditional name Praesepe comes from the Latin word for Manger.

Praesepe Astrology

PRAESAEPE. 44 M Cancri. Praesaepe represents the manger of the asses ridden by Bacchus and Vulcan (see ASELLI). A coarse extended cluster situated on the head of theCrab. Popularly termed the Beehive, Manger or Crib, and known by the Chinese under the name Tseih She Ke, Exhalation of Piled-up Corpses. With the Aselli it was the “cloudy spot of Cancer” mentioned by Ptolemy as causing blindness. It is of the nature of Mars and the Moon, and causes disease, disgrace, adventure, insolence, wantonness, brutality, blindness, industry, order and fecundity; and makes its natives fortunate though liable to loss through others, and the founders of large businesses. ^[1]

PRAESAEPE. 44M Cancri. A mass of more than 40 stars. Praesaepe represents the burrows ridden by Bacchus and Vulcan. This star mass tends to make its natives insolent, adventurous, wanton, impulsive, restless, inclined towards dissipation, fortunate but liable to loss through others, eyesight problems, violence. ^[2]

The Praesepe, also known as the Beehive or the Manger, threatens mischief and blindness and is said to cause disease and disgrace. If the nebula is not visible in a clear sky it presages a violent storm. As with most of classical astrology much of the effects of the planets, signs, constellations, and fixed stars can only be gleaned through direct observation of their condition in the night sky. ^[3]

Praesepe, the “manger”, a cluster of stars in Cancer, designates a part of the zodiac which since ages past has had a bad omen. Because the Aselli are so near, a total of five to eight degrees in Leo are hit by it. The Praesepe appears as a think stellar nebula and, in the telescope, is seen as an open cluster of vast expanse. There are about 500 stars of the 6th to 17th Magnitude with a diameter of 13 light years. The astral influence of these far-distant worlds is equivalent to a combination of a Moon-Mars emanation. Also acting is a Neptunian influence, both in Praesepe and in the Aselli. Elsbeth Ebertin pointed out that countless soldiers who became blind during World War I actually had in their cosmograms relevant connections to this fixed star. These days, opthamologists have enormous skills and many a case will not be as serious in its outcome, therefore, a conjunction to Praespe should not be feared so much. According to Vehlow, the Chinese gave this group of stars the name “the spirit of the ancestors”. ^[4]

Praesepe, or Praesaepe, is not one star but a whole cluster of some 75 of them, at a mean distance of some 520 light-years from us. It is easily seen on a good night, a faint misty patch about the size of the Pleiades. The name means ‘a Stable’ or ‘a Pen’ (for animals), and it may be considered the stable for the Aselli. The three stars, Praesepe and the Aselli, lie within 1°29′ overall, so that astrologically we must really take them as a single unit of their combined qualities: three parts Mars, two of the Sun and one of Moon in the celestial recipe book. Praesepe, then, adds the lunar ingredient, which we can define as (a) providing a home or base from which the Aselli operate and (b) giving a mundane effectiveness to the more remotely celestial qualities of the Donkeys. The busy atmosphere of the Beehive presents the same idea. But the inclusion of a lunar quality with the others also emphasizes the moody and unpredictable quality which we already saw from the siting of the Aselli in the Constellation of Cancer. People with the three of these stars strong in their horoscopes, favorably aspected, do show a capacity for cooperation with others, the secret of much of their success in life, symbolized by both the regime of a Beehive and by a Stable that is one home for two Donkeys. ^[5]

Fixed star Praesepe rules below the right eye. ^[6]

Constellation Cancer

Ptolemy’s observations are as follows: “The two stars in the eyes of Cancer are of the same influence as Mercury, and are also moderately like Mars. Those in the claws are like Saturn and Mercury.” By the Kabalists Cancer is associated with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18th Tarot Trump “The Moon.” ^[1]

Cancer (Cnc), or the constellation of the Crab, presages thunderstorms, famine, and locusts. The stars in the eyes (according to Ptolemy) have a nature similar to that of Mercury and Mars; those in the claws to that of Saturn and Mercury; the nebula to that of Mars and the Moon; and the Asses to that of Mars and the Sun. ^[3]

Fixed Star Praesepe Conjunctions

Ascendant conjunct Praesepe: Blindness especially of the left eye, ophthalmia, injuries to the face, sickness, violent fevers, wounds in the face and arms, stabs, violent lust, imprisonment, exile. If at the same time the Sun opposes Mars or the Ascendant, violent death. ^[1]

Not good for the head or eyes. ^[4]

Pablo Picasso 0°03′, Karl Jaspers 0°16′, Edwina Currie 0°19′ (and Saturn), George W. Bush 0°31′

Midheaven conjunct Praesepe: Disgrace, ruin and violent death. ^[1]

David Berkowitz 0°03′ (and S.Node), Oliver Stone 0°27′, Robin Williams 0°30′

Descendant conjunct Praesepe: Zendaya 0°07′, Bruce McLaren 0°47′

Part of Fortune conjunct Praesepe: Helen Keller 0°04′, Caitlyn Jenner 0°58′

Sun conjunct Praesepe: Evil disposition, murderer or murdered, blows, stabs, serious accidents, shooting, shipwreck, execution, banishment, imprisonment, sharp diseases, fevers, hemorrhage, lawsuits, danger of death from fire, iron or stones, injuries to the face, wounds, bad eyes, and if in an angle blindness. ^[1]

The native may display much vitality, put all their energy behind any and all talents they possess, and no matter what they seek, once their minds are made up, they never give up seeking and striving to reach their self-set goals. Natives with this conjunction have an inborn drive that constantly pushes them forward. Negative Sun conjunctions may produce wantonness, insolence, and defiance. These natives may be very difficult to deal with and difficult to understand. Natives with adversely aspected Mercury, in particular if Mercury is adversely aspected to both the Moon and Neptune, tend to have a ‘cloud’ over their minds. In general, regardless of the Praesaepes native’s successes, lurking in their mental’ background are doubts and fears that could be triggered by one minor occurrence, and the result could be tragic. Praesaepe natives may be quite fortunate, but subject to losses because of actions of others, be they friends or acquaintances and this could be accidental or on purpose. Praesaepe natives require good early training, else natives, in particular those with adverse Sun aspects, will be subject to self-destruction. Tragedies of some sort are possible, these can be to the native, or affecting the native and altering the course of their lifestyle. Natives with this conjunction can develop the ability to attract friends, become very popular and if in public view gain high public preferment. These natives have an inner pride, and if tragedy strikes, or chronic, difficult-to-diagnose or possibly serious late in life, such natives could become reclusive. ^[2]

Benito Mussolini 0°18′ (and Mercury), Arnold Schwarzenegger 0°30′

Moon conjunct Praesepe: Wounds, stabs, imprisonment, injuries to the face, sickness, blindness or eye injuries especially if Saturn or Mars be with Regulus. ^[1]

Natives with a positive Moon will tend to be dynamic and individualistic with plenty of ‘spirit’; generally quite liberal with strong opinions. They tend to take to cooperative activities quite naturally and may be very outspoken. Leaders they are, even heroic leaders that may be classified with the best. The more negative nativities have the same spirit of independence but generally misdirect their energies. They tend to be quite outspoken to where they may be misunderstood. Serious problems could be encountered; these natives could be falsely accused and subjected to embarrassment, even judicial sentences. In general, such natives suffer some sort of an eclipse, deserved or not. This conjunction may be good for material success, even public honors and assistance from friends. ^[2]

If the Moon is poorly placed, an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases is present. One can observe a craving for and abuse of stimulants, luxury food, and narcotic drugs, e.g., heavy smoking. With a really afflicted Moon, a great danger to eyesight is indicated. If other stellar bodies are linked here, the result can be quite critical. According to Vehlow, the Chinese gave this group of stars the name “the spirit of the ancestors” and were of the opinion that mainly if persons had a conjunction with the Moon, they would have peculiar experiences with the realms of the dead. The same can be said for spiritual seances. The Neptunian influence is shown thereby. ^[4]

Moon and Mars conjunct Praesepe (must be exact by degree): It creates extreme emotional upheavals over the ego. These individuals are extremely sensitive to self and are self-centered and selfish. They constantly imagine that others are saying terrible things about them, and they respond in an angry manner. They are so overwhelmed with their own ego that they put up every emotional shield imaginable to protect it. Men with this degree surround themselves with women who are submissive and offer no challenge to their ego. These persons do not usually desire children or a large family, and will always surround themselves with others who do not offer them any competition. ^[6]

Mercury conjunct Praesepe: Positive nativities may tend to be heroic, courageous, of a forceful nature and the more negative natives will have the same characteristics, but also subject to wantonness and in any case these natives may become quite outspoken and never at a loss for words. Poor decisions could create eventual losses, more so with this conjunction than otherwise. ^[2]

Roman Polanski 0°01′, Benito Mussolini 0°10′ (and Sun), Frida Kahlo 0°17′

Venus conjunct Praesepe: The native is prideful, tends to become opinionated, and the more negative nativities tend to have a false sense of intelligence, may be subject to disgrace or disgraceful actions, this could entail violence, in particular if Mercury is adversely aspected to Neptune and the Moon. Emotions could overcome the native’s better judgment, and rash actions would ensue. ^[2]

Mars conjunct Praesepe: These natives tend to be courageous, noble and authoritive. Negative nativities could be given to emotional outbursts, subject themselves to ruin or ruinous actions and violence. ^[2]

Heinrich Himmler 0°23′, Joe Exotic 0°46′

Saturn conjunct Praesepe: Salman Rushdie 0°02′, Xul Solar 0°06′, Andre Chouraqui 0°07′, A. E. Housman 0°08′, Liu Cunren 0°12′, David Bowie 0°15′, William Bonin 0°16′, Andrea Dworkin 0°19′, Susan Sarandon 0°20′, Chiang Kai-shek 0°28′, Stephen Arroyo 0°31′, Stuart Wilde 0°33′, Johann Heinrich Jung 0°48′, C. D. Broad 0°51′, Edwina Currie 1°00′ (and AC).

Neptune conjunct Praesepe: Sidney Gottlieb 0°48′.

Pluto conjunct Praesepe: Sirhan Sirhan 0°02′, Mick Jagger 0°09′, Rudy Giuliani 0°11′, Jimi Hendrix 0°38′, Joe Biden 0°41′, Martin Scorsese 0°42′, Bonnie Parker 0°51′.

South Node conjunct Praesepe: Amelia Earhart 0°22′, Joseph Stalin 0°26′, David Berkowitz 0°36′ (and MC).

References

1. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.187.
2. The Power of the Fixed Stars, Joseph E. Rigor, 1979, p.110-112.
3. Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990, p.40.
4. Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1971, p.38-39.
5. The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse, 1988, p.52.
6. The Fixed Star Health and Behavior Imbalance, Ted George and Barbara Parker, 1985, p.57.

• All fixed star positions are for the year 2000. Add one degree per 72 years to correct for precession.