Dignified leadership: fixed star Regulus

Regulus is the alpha star of constellation Leo, and is currently projected at 0° tropical Virgo. It is the Heart of the Lion, sometimes called Cor Leonis. Its name “Regulus” means “Little King”.

The Lion is a very old constellation, although it wasn’t always known as a lion per se. Its most well-known stars nowadays are Regulus (the heart), Zosma (in the back) and Denebola (in the tail).

In a Babylonian star catalogue circa 1115-1077 BCE1, the “Lion star” is associated with god Lātarāk. From Wikipedia, emphasis mine:

Lātarāk was a Mesopotamian god. He was most likely depicted as a figure clad in a lion’s skin, or perhaps as a lion-like monster. He was regarded as a protective deity, invoked to defend doorways and ward off diseases.

The protective aspect of the lion is obvious to me from how common lion statues are, towering over entrance gates. They’re typical guardian statues in France, at any rate. This association with doorways does not surprise me in the slightest as a result.

The above passage was also striking to me because a colleague, Chloe Margherita, has written about her experiences of healing when working with Regulus. The warding off of diseases is perhaps not the first thing to come to mind when considering lions, but it’s interesting that it did show up in that way for Chloe.

[Edit 29/03: colleague Whitney Hill highlights that regarding lions and diseases, see also goddess Sekhmet, Lady of Plagues—bringer and healer of them. Thanks Whitney! Looking forward to deepening my study of lion-related lore in future articles.]

In Babylonian star-lore, the Lion was Urgulu. But already, the brightest, blueish star we now know as Regulus is identified with the King. This association is very, very old.

Even once this constellation became identified with a lion in more ancient times, said lion used to be much bigger than we consider it to be now—see below.

Regulus means “Little King”, and this is as on the nose as it gets in terms of delineations: this is a Royal star and a star of royals. While there are other markers for royalty ties (hello Sirius!), Regulus is definitely among the top 5 in that regard. It is a star of high honours, visibility and leadership—whether deserved or not. At best, Regulus is dignified, jovial, brave, and leads by example.

Ptolemy writes that Regulus is akin to Mars and Jupiter. More modern associations establish a correspondence with the Sun (see Kaitlin Coppock’s writing). I think all three are worth considering, but I favour the older associations. Note that either way, these planetary associations are shortcuts to understand a star, not rulerships: stars are not ruled by any given planets.

So what can Mars + Jupiter tell us about Regulus? Renn Butler summarises this combo with (among other things) “positive exuberant energies, wholesome physical confidence, fortunate action” as well as “impulses towards self-glorification and self-aggrandizement, a philosophy of might makes right, big-shot swagger”. He also highlights enthusiasm, themes of righteous force, grand brawls, pride, boldness, cockiness, over-the-top bravura.

Here’s what Marcus Manilius, astrologer-poet of the first century CE, writes about the Lion (emphasis mine):

Who can doubt the nature of the monstrous Lion, and the pursuits he prescribes for those born beneath his sign? The lion ever devises fresh fights and fresh warfare on animals, and lives on spoil and pillaging of flocks. The sons of the Lion are filled with the urge to adorn their proud portals with pelts and to hang up on their walls the captured prey, to bring the peace of terror to the woods, and to live upon plunder. There are those whose like bent is not checked by the city-gates, but they swagger about in the heart of the capital with droves of beasts; they display mangled limbs at the shop-front, slaughter to meet the demands of luxury, and count it gain to kill. Their temper is equally prone to fitful wrath and ready withdrawal, and guileless are the sentiments of their honest hearts.

—Astronomica, Marcus Manilius, trad. Goold

This is something of a far-cry from the ever-benevolent, radiant, generous image Regulus sometimes seems to have among magical practitioners who work with Regulus materia. Manilius puts a distinct emphasis on the martial aspect of Leo.

Some salient points:

• the Lion as a monster

• warfare, fighting, pillaging

• pride, dominion

• adornment, showing off, luxury

• roaming, exploring, disregarding common boundaries

• changeable temper

• honesty, candor

Arguably, this does not paint the most likeable portrait.

I’m reminded of what Pallas K. Augustine wrote once about the Sun, which I feel applies to Regulus—something along the lines of not being relatable, but making up for it with generosity.

I think Regulus allure can sometimes play on people’s desire to be rich and famous, exploit that desire by providing a proxy. A lot of people will never ever be billionaires, are actively exploited by billionaires, but will defend billionaires’ rights to exploit them because they think being a billionaire is cool and enviable. It’s not—ruthlessly, decadently profiting from other people’s labour is not a good look. But that power does rely on keeping up the delusion of being self-made, of being inspirational. No amount of cleverness or hard work could ever justify the obscene amounts of wealth the ultra-rich hoard while other people are starving. And yet, some people will die on the “You just don’t like to see people succeed and that’s why you criticise the rich” hill. No, I just don’t like exploitation, and I don’t consider domination to be a success. I would like to see everybody well-fed and thriving. This is why I hate billionaires: they are not generous. Billionaires are the Leo worst case scenario.

What about the best case scenario, then? It’s worth looking to astrological magic to get an idea of what Regulus virtues can look like. Idola Stellarum writes that Regulus talismans can be created with “the intent of granting their bearers emotional and psychological peace, instilling glory and favor, and imbuing the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and most especially temperance”. People working with Regulus usually report feeling more at ease with themselves, more confident. There’s increased capacity to put oneself out there without fear of the cringe. And, of course, people tend to look more favourably on them.

I tried to find some examples or Regulus people beyond the obvious. I didn’t feel like pouring over the natal charts of abusive narcissists, so neither Donald Trump nor Drake make the cut, even though they were born with Regulus right on the Ascendant.