Vega (Vultur Cadens)

December 17, 2003

As a long time student of astrology I freely admit I've never paid any attention to fixed stars before, but as with most things age brings opportunities to explore concepts that weren't so important when we were younger.  I have Vega conjunct Chiron (like most of my birth cohort) in my 12th house.  All my planets are on the other side of the chart forming what's known in astrology as a bundle pattern.  Vega and Chiron in the 12th house shift this into what I'd call a shadow bucket pattern.  So according to my reading this would create a situation where all my conscious effort would be focused on the activities represented by the bundle pattern (which in my case is largely relationship oriented) while all my unconscious energy would be focused on issues having to do with healing a wounded shadow. 

Another possible meaning (and here I'm taking the extreme liberties that only a writer and a teller of tales should ever take) might be that the shadow wound lies in the original past life from a time when Vera was the polestar (12,000 thousand years ago).  I had a dream once where I found myself leaving another planet and coming to earth in the time of Atlantis and this would tie in rather nicely. Obviously this makes no rational sense but it could make for good fiction and since a writer needs to get ideas from somewhere dreams and astrology offer great sources)  On a more objective basis, if I actually wanted to work with this concept psychologically; I might treat this information as being "the original wound".  As my souls original fall from grace.  Now there's an interesting concept -- that original sin means our original sin - not the fall of Adam and Eve.  I could then go on to say that this life -- because I'm conscious of this I have an opportunity to at least consider righting the wrong I committed.  I should say here that this is where those of us with a reasonably full deck part company with the "get a life crowd".  I can ask myself these questions without falling off the edge.  Does this concept add value to my real day to day life?  Would I be a better person in the real world and to my family and friends if I let this concept influence my life?  My gut says there's something here but only time will tell. 

Another meaning might lie in the fact that Vega is part of the summer triangle.  The Summerland is another word for the land of the dead in Celtic myth (closest to the Christian concept of heaven).  This might point to issues with death but I think it might actually come closer to issues with a past life where I was suppose to help guide the souls on their journey to the Summerland (12th house can relate to shamanism, soul leading, and Chiron is the wounded healer).

Obviously these particular meanings and significance won't apply to anyone else BUT the whole reason you learn astrology is to understand the unique patterns in your own chart.

High overhead is the brightest star of the summer constellations, Vega. It isn't the brightest star out. That honor belongs to Arcturus to the west. And of course Jupiter outshines everything else. Vega is a member of a bright three star group called the Summer Triangle. This isn't a constellation, but an informal constellation called an asterism, like the Teapot and the Big Dipper. Vega is the westernmost of star of the Summer Triangle. High in the east is Deneb, the second star, while in the southeast is Atair completing the triangle. Each of these stars is in a separate constellation.

Vega used to be the North Star, but 12,000 years of Earth’s precession has altered its place in the celestial sphere.

Vega from Arabic Al-Waqi' (1), "The stooping" eagle or "The swooping Vulture", and is often referred to as "The Vulture Star", "The Sitting Vulture", "The Falling Grype" and figured with upturned head with a lyre in its beak from the story of Orpheus [who might be described as the prototype of our modern pop-star] who was torn apart by the Maenads, raving mad-women [or fans], they cast the lyre in the river. Jupiter sent a vulture to scoop it out of the river and then placed it in the sky.

The Chinese called Vega She-niu, "the weaver", and her beloved shepherd, Altair, who meet once a year, crossing the Milky Way.

The Egyptians associated the star with Ma'at, sister of Isis, the Vulture, whose task it is to weigh the soul of the deceased against a feather (her symbol as goddess of justice, truth and good order).

The Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Daleth and the 4th Tarot Trump, The Empress