Spica

Spica (Credit: New Forest Observatory)

Spica (Alpha Virginis) 24°10’ tropical Libra, 29°59’ sidereal Virgo

Spica (Alpha Virginis) is a spectrascopic binary star system whose primary star is a blue giant. The brightest in the constellation of Virgo, marking the sheath of grain, it is currently found at the projected zodiacal longitude of 24°10’ tropical Libra, 29°53’ sidereal Virgo. Spica is easily recognizable being the brightest of the blue stars with an apparent visual magnitude of +0.97 and for lieing close to the ecliptic. It is sixteenth brightest star in the night sky.

Virgo in Uranographia by Johannes Hevelius, 1687

Mythos & Star Lore

The Mesopotamians viewed the Virgo constellation as a form of Ishtar, with the month of her rising being referred to as "the errand of Ishtar" —the time of seeking her bridegroom in the Underworld. Babylonians also saw the constellation as Sapanit, the consort of Marduk, a goddess of fertility and pregnancy, with Spica symbolizing her girdle.

The Inca gazed at Virgo as the celestial body of Pachamama, the Earth Mother goddess of fertility, harvests and abundance.

The ancient Egyptians associated the constellation of Virgo with Isis forming the Milky Way by casting glittering heads of wheat. Spica was seen as the source grain she dispersed forth. In some places, Spica was also referred to in Egyptian Coptic as Khoritos, meaning “the Solitary One” due to the star being the singularly brightest in its part of the sky. Temples in Thebes, as well as Olympia and Athens in Greece, and Ephesus in Turkey were aligned to observe the heliacal rising of Spica.

Virgo carrying the ear of grain following Leo and Cancer in the Dendera Zodiac

The Greeks in classic times viewed the Virgo constellation as the figure of Demeter, goddess of the harvest and abundance, mother of Persephone. The Romans thus associated the constellation with Ceres. Spica was in turn connected with Persephone (Proserpina), goddess of fertility and consort of Hades. Rhea, mother goddess of fertility and consort of Kronos, was also symbolized by the constellation. Another variation as told by the poets is that Virgo represented Astraea, the virgin goddess of justice, purity and precision, weighing the deeds of humankind with the Scales nearby. In other accounts Virgo is also referred to as Erigone, the daughter of Icarius, who was placed in the heavens upon mourning her father's murder.

The original significance of the latin term Virgo, Virgin, is "virtuous and pure-spirited". Spica as the most brilliant star in the Virgin was seen as a beacon of purity and divine innocence, prosperity and fertility. The term Spica comes from the Latin, meaning "Ear of Grain".

Ceres Borghèse, Louvre

Hipparchus identified the precession of the equinoxes by observing Spica. Interestingly enough, he arrived at this discovery during a lunar eclipse by measuring Spica's angle to the Moon and comparing it to data recorded on an eclipse that occurred 150 years prior. Hipparchus was also well learned in Babylonian astronomical and mathematical knowledge, and is credited with compiling the first comprehensive star catalogue, which Ptolemy cited in the Almagest.

The Arabs called Spica "al-Simak al-A’zal", meaning "the Unarmed One" or Azimech (derived from the same phrase to signify "the Solitary One"), and Sumbalet from Sunbulah, meaning "Ear of Corn". It is the principal indicator star for the fourteenth lunar manzil of its namesake, al-Simak.

The Chinese call Alpha Virginis Jiǎo Su yi, which means "the First Star of Horn" as the determinative star for the lunar lodge Jiǎo.

The Indians named Alpha Virginis Citra, marking the nakshatra of the same name, which means "Brilliant Pearl".

Lunar Station

Spica is the host star of the fourteenth Lunar Station. The zodiacal boundaries are tropical 17°06 Libra - 0°26' Scorpio and 23°20' Kanya (sidereal Virgo) - 6°40' Tula (sidereal Libra).

Manzil: al Simak manzil • السماك • The Unarmed One • The angelic lord of this manzil is Ergediel. The indicator star for this manzil is Spica (Alpha Virginis) who was traditionally known to the Arabs as السماك الأعزل al-simāk al-ʼaʽzal 'the unarmed', for which the manzil is named and refers to the nature of the star. Ghayat al-Hakim describes the symbolic image of al Simak to be that of a Dog Holding Its Tail In Its Mouth, representing the futility of the chase. It represents the end of the second quarter of the lunar mansions and is associated with endings, conflicts or disputes, specifically the severing and dissolution of inappropriate or restrictive bonds. Elections were cast using this manzil for fortifying the love between lovers and for healing illness, but also for destroying harvest, destroying lust, destroying travel on roads, and for benefiting royal ascension to the throne, sailing safely and for the friendship of allies. Talismans of this manzil were prescribed for divorcing or separating couples, which are different from the talismanic workings of the star Spica.

Nakshatra: Chitra nakshatra  • चित्रा • The Bright One • The symbol for this asterism is a Bright Jewel or a Pearl, representing creativity, craftsmanship, luxury and wealth. The deity that presides here is Vishvakarma, the divine architect and craftsman of the devas. The planetary ruler is Mangala (Mars) and the determinative star is Chitra (Spica). Chitra is considered having a soft temperament favorable for friendship, marital love, purchasing and making of clothes, music, and auspicious deeds when the Moon is here.

Xiù: Jiǎo • 角宿 • The Horn • The symbol for this asterism is a Horn or Spike. The planetary ruler is Jupiter and the determinative star is Alpha Virginis, known as 角宿 Jiǎo Sù yī in Chinese, meaning "the First Star of Horn". Jiǎo xiù commences the Azure Dragon of the East, one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations that make up the 28 Lunar Lodges. The Azure Dragon represents the East direction and the season of Spring. It is known as 青龍 Qīnglóng, one of the Dragon Gods that embody the chthonic forces of the Wǔfāng Shàngdì (五方上帝 "Highest Deities of the Five Regions"). The Wufang Shangdi are depicted as the five changeable faces of heaven representing the cosmic activity that shapes the worlds as celestial altars.

Astrological Magic

"At her rising Erigone (Virgo) who reigned with Justice over a bygone age and fled when it fell into sinful ways, bestows high eminence by bestowing supreme power; she will produce a man to direct the laws of the state and the sacred code; one who will tend with reverence the hallowed temples of the gods." —Manilius, Astronomica

Ptolemy classified Spica to be of the nature of Venus and Mars combined. It bestows “success, renown, riches, a sweet disposition, love of art and science,” when well aspected, and “unscrupulousness, unfruitfulness and injustice to the innocent” when maltreated. If rising or culminating, Spica grants “unbounded good fortune, riches, happiness, ecclesiastical preferment, unexpected honor or advancement beyond native’s hopes or capacity”.

As one of the most auspicious of the Behenian fixed stars, Agrippa prescribed Spica talismans for procuring prosperity and good fortune by dispelling scarcity and mischief, for the casting away of "evil and anguish" and for "victory in lawsuits and overcoming contentions".

Spica sigil as drawn by Agrippa, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus

Plants & Gemstones

Spica’s plant sympathies are sage, trifoile, periwinkle, mugwort and mandrake. Its gemstone is the emerald.

Candles & Incense

Green or white candles, periwinkle and mugwort incense are appropriate for ritual fumigations.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

Ritual Communal Hours

Approximately an hour before sunrise the stars making their heliacal rising will begin their ascent on the eastern horizon. This is the star deity’s rebirth or return from the Otherworld and as such is the most appropriate time to commune with, make offerings and petitions to said deities.

The heliacal rising hours are also the most potent time, depending on all other astrological factors, for creating talismanic materia imbued with the star's influences and powers. The second best times for ritualistically working with the fixed stars is when the Moon conjoins said star and/or the star is culminating on the midheaven. Again, depending on all other astrological factors, Moon-Star alignments are also potent times for talismanic magic.

Heliacal Rising First Visibility Dates of Spica

October 29: Cotonou, Benin 06°24' N

October 29: Dakar, Senegal 14°45' N

October 30: Miami, FL 25°47' N

October 30: Alexandria, Egypt 31°11' N

October 30: Phoenix, AZ 33°27' N

October 30: Oakland, CA 37°48' N / Athens, Greece 38°00' N

October 31: NY, NY 40°45' N

November 1: Seattle, WA 47°37' N

November 2: Liverpool, UK 53°25' N

References

[1] Rosenberg, Diana K. Secrets of the Ancient Skies: Fixed Stars & Constellations in Natal & Mundane Astrology. Ancient Skies Press, 2012.

[2] Robson, Vivian. The Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology. Astrology Classics, 2005.

[3] Warnock, Christopher. The Mansions of the Moon: A Lunar Zodiac For Astrology & Magic. Renaissance Astrology, 2019.

[4] Warnock, Christopher. Fixed Star, Sign & Constellation Magic. Renaissance Astrology, 2019.

[5] Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius. Three Books of Occult Philosophy, translated by Eric Purdue. Inner Traditions, 2021.