← Encyclopedia of Astrology · lesson 175/235
Aldebaran
Aldebaran is the bright orange-red star that marks the eye of the Bull in the constellation Taurus. It seems to sit among the V-shaped Hyades cluster, though it is in fact much nearer to us, and it is one of the brightest stars in the sky. Its Arabic name means "the follower", because it rises after the Pleiades. In astrology it is one of the four Royal Stars, read as a star of courage, integrity and honour.
In the zodiac
Aldebaran stands at about 10° Gemini today. Like every star it moves forward about one degree every 72 years through precession, so a chart from 1950 places it about a degree earlier, near 9° Gemini. It lies almost exactly opposite Antares, its fellow Royal Star.
Its nature
Ptolemy describes the "bright and somewhat reddish" star of the Hyades, which he calls the Torch, as having a temperature "like that of Mars". As the Watcher of the East among the Royal Stars, it was traditionally said to give honour, riches and courage. The old texts paired that promise with warnings of violence and sudden reverses, especially for those who gained their position by dishonest means.
Modern astrologers usually turn that warning into a condition: Aldebaran tends to favour success that rests on integrity, and the gains it brings are said to slip away if they are won by compromise. It is often read as steadfastness, eloquence and the nerve to stand by a principle.
In a chart
A planet within about a degree or a degree and a half of Aldebaran tends to take on its boldness and sense of honour. With the Sun it can describe a person who leads from conviction; with the Moon, strong feelings and loyalty; with Mars, real courage. On the Ascendant or Midheaven it often shows a public figure whose standing depends on keeping faith with what they say. The star colours the point it touches rather than acting alone.