Behenian fixed star

The Behenian fixed stars are a selection of fifteen stars considered especially useful for magical applications in the medieval astrology of Europe and the Arab world. Their name derives from Arabic bahman, "root," as each was considered a source of astrological power for one or more planets. Each is also connected with a gemstone and plant that would be used in rituals meant to draw the star's influence (e.g., into a talisman). When a planet was within six degrees of an associated star, this influence was thought to be particularly strong.

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa discussed them in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy (Book II, chapters 47 & 52) as the Behenii (singular Behenius), describing their magical workings and kabbalistic symbols. He attributed these to Hermes Trismegistus, as was common with occult traditions in the Middle Ages. Their true origin remains unknown, though Sir Wallis Budge suspects a possible Sumerian source.

The following table uses symbols from a 1531 quarto edition of Agrippa, but other forms exist. Where the name used in old texts differs from the one in use today, the modern form is given first.

Fixed stars

The fixed stars (from the Latin stellae fixae) are celestial objects that do not seem to move in relation to the other stars of the night sky. Hence, a fixed star is any star other than the Sun. A nebula or other starlike object may also be called a fixed star. People in many cultures have imagined that the stars form pictures in the sky called constellations. In Ancient Greek astronomy, the stars were believed to exist on a giant celestial sphere, or firmament, that revolves daily around Earth.

Origin of name

The phrase originated in classical antiquity, when astronomers and natural philosophers divided the lights in the sky into two groups. One group contained the fixed stars, which appear to rise and set but keep the same relative arrangement over time. The other group contained the naked eye planets, which they called wandering stars. (The Sun and Moon were sometimes called planets as well.) The planets seem to move and change their position over short periods of time (weeks or months). They always seem to move within the band of stars called the zodiac by Westerners. The planets can also be distinguished from fixed stars because stars tend to twinkle, while planets appear to shine with a steady light.

Fixed Star

Fixed Star is the seventh album from Arthur Loves Plastic and was released in 2001.

Release notes

"Ms. Arthur embraces the thrill of the dancefloor in these remixed tracks from Teflon Diva, Slice, and Klondyke 5."

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Bev Stanton. 

The Internat Archive version of Fixed Star includes full length versions of all the tracks, rather than the segued versions that appeared on the original release.

References

External links

Fixed Star (Mami Kawada song)

"Fixed Star" is the 13th single released by the J-pop singer Mami Kawada. It was scheduled to be released on February 20, 2013, one week after the release of her compilation album Mami Kawada BEST ~BIRTH~. The track is used as is the ending theme song of the movie Toaru Majutsu no Index: Endyumion no Kiseki.

Track listing