Fomalhaut
DSS image of Fomalhaut. Credit NASA, ESA, and the Digitized Sky Survey, Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble)
Fomalhaut (Alpha Piscis Austrini) 4⁰11' Pisces, sidereal 10⁰00' Aquarius
Fomalhaut (Alpha Piscis Austrini) is a bluish-white variable star marking the mouth of the Piscis Austrinus (Southern Fish) constellation found at the projected zodiacal longitude of 4⁰11' tropical Pisces, sidereal 10⁰00' sidereal Aquarius. The brightest star in the Southern Fish with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.16, and the eighteenth brightest in the night sky.
Ignace Gaston Pardies, Star Map Plate 2: Cetus, Aquarius, Andromeda. etc, Paris, 1693
Mythos & Star Lore
The brightest star of Piscis Austrinus (Latin for “the Southern Fish” and not to be confused for the equatorial constellation of Pisces) is found below the constellation of Aquarius. The name Fomalhaut is derived from the Arabic فَمُ الْحُوت famu l-ḥūt, literally meaning “the Fish’s Mouth.”
One of the four Persian royal stars that herald in the seasons and guard the four corners of the sky, Fomalhaut was seen as the “Watcher of the South” due to its southernmost position. The Persians called this star Haftorang/Hastorang. Its heliacal rising signaled the coming of the winter solstice. In modern times, Fomalhaut’s heliacal rising begins before the northern hemisphere’s spring equinox in latitudes closer to the equator.
In both Babylonian and Greek skies, the two fish of Pisces were regarded as the offspring of Piscis Austrinus. Mesopotamian cosmologies associated Piscis Austrinus with the deity Oannes, who gifted wisdom to humankind. The Phoenicians and Assyrians also saw the constellation as the fertility goddess Atargatis (Derketo in Greek) shapeshifting into her mermaid form. There are indications that Fomalhaut's heliacal rising was also part of ceremonial worship in the temple of Demeter at Eleusis.
In ancient Egypt this star and constellation held symbolism with the legends of Isis. In some stories Piscis Austrinus represented the fish that swallowed Osiris' phallus when Set dismembered his brother’s remains and cast them into the Nile. In other accounts, this fish rescued Isis when she almost drowned gathering Osiris' parts.
Coin with depiction of the veiled mermaid Atargatis holding an egg and flanked by barley stalks
Lunar Station
Fomalhaut is found below the zodiacal boundaries of 25th Lunar Station: 0°26' - 13°46' tropical Pisces, 6°40' - 20° Kumbha (sidereal Aquarius). Though the principal host stars for this Station are Sadalmelek (Alpha Aquarii) and Sadalachbia (Gamma Aquarii), which are found north of Fomalhaut.
Lead votive of mermaid goddess Atargatis
Astrological Magic & Significance
When the Southern Fish rises into the heavens, leaving its native waters for a foreign element, whoever at this hour takes hold of life will spend his years about sea-shore and river-bank he will capture fish as they swim poised in the hidden depths; he will cast his greedy eyes into the midst of the waters, craving to gather pellucid stones (pearls) and, immersed himself, will bring them forth together with the homes of protective shell wherein they lurk. No peril is left for man to brave, profit is sought by means of shipwreck, and the diver who has plunged into the depths becomes, like the booty, the object of recovery. And not always small is the gain to be derived from this dangerous labor (implying that a diver’s life was usually an unenviable one) pearls are worth fortunes, and because of these splendid stones there is scarcely a rich man left. Dwellers on land are burdened with the treasures of the sea. A man born to such a lot plies his skill along the shore; or he purchases at a fixed wage another’s labor and sells for a profit what it has brought him, a pedlar in the many different forms of sea products. —Manilius [1]
Ptolemy classified Fomalhaut to be of the nature of Venus & Mercury. It is considered to be a fortunate and powerful star with the capability to "cause malevolence of sublime scope and character, and change from a material to a spiritual form of expression." [2]
Plants & Gemstones
Fomalhaut is especially sympathetic with aquatic plants and seaweed such as Rapan algae and Coraline algae, as well as Blue Lotus or other Lotus varieties. Its gemstone is Aquamarine and Nacre. It has sympathy with the precious metal white gold.
Candles & Incense
White, light blue or light green candles are appropriate. Burning mint, galbanum, frankincense or myrrh are appropriate incenses.
Red Coraline Algae
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
References
[1] Manilius. Astronomica.
[2] Robson, Vivian. The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology. Astrology Classics, 2005, Abingdon, Maryland.
