station 7: dhirā'
the lion's outstretched paw, the dogs of the moon or the ancestral yardstick
Today the Moon finds herself in the 7th lunar station, Dhirā’, who governs 12º14 - 25º05 Cancer. This station is primarily related to Castor and Pollux (the heads of the Twins of Gemini) but is also draws in the Dog Stars (Procyon and Sirus), who I’m currently on a journe studying. This station has been strongly activated by Mars’ transit through the later degrees of Cancer repeatedly over the last 9 months so I think this station essay is especially relevant to the current moment.
On the paws of Dhirā’
Dhirā’ is an Arabic term that refers to the arm/leg of any animal or the forearm of a human. In this case, station 7 represents the first of 6 stations which represent portions of the enormous pre-Islamic Arab Lion constellation (who was much larger than the Hellenistic Leo that we’re probably more familiar with). Covering nearly 103º, the 8 stations of this ancient Lion would have represented just over a quarter of the entire ecliptic.
The Lion was envisioned sprawling out with one paw curled up next to his body and the other stretched out in front of him, perhaps flexing to show off his claws. Dhirā’ refers to these front legs.
Station 7 is one famous among magicians for “the acquisition of all good things,” a label that is shared with station 3 Thurayyā. It is, overall, a positive, helpful and beneficent station. It is especially well-suited to any kind of physical or spiritual healing or maintenance as well as any kinds of religious goals or scholarship, the kinds of work that are done as part of a larger institution (particularly one that is old and well-established). When this station is activated, it’s good to make requests from those with institutional power. Trust any kind of social connections formed under Dhirā’. Al-Buni teaches us that its ruling spirit, Shā’lak, is a virtuous, yielding and giving.
Some general themes which emerge in relation to station 7 include:
The role of the scholarly spiritual leader, exemplified in that of the imām or rabbi
The care and maintenance of the body and spirit through care for the hair/skin/nails, perfumery and any kind of spiritual hygiene
Commerce, research, measurement, writing, architecture and the instruments used for such endeavors
Loyal connections with supporters, especially within an institutional environment
The 7th station was the first station I ever interacted with—it was actually my first proper astromagical working.
I had dabbled in all kinds of astromagic previously, performing invocations of the planets and even producing talismans and other charms of a sort, but this working was my first after encountering Christopher Warnock’s work into Picatrix-style elected magic.
In the spring of 2019 when the Moon rose in al-Dhirā’ I filled a jar with yarrow, comfrey, plantain and colloidal oats and covered them with the nicest Palestinian olive oil I could find. After suffumigating and praying over it on my election, I allowed it to macerate for a month. I strained it and turned it into a bunch of skincare products for myself and my partner, including lotions, balms and salves. We also used it directly on our skin and hair. I even made a salad dressing with it once! My partner and I have natal Moons afflicted by Mars which has led to a number of dry, irritated skin conditions, and this oil was such a blessing to us. Sometimes after a hard day at work when I felt spiritually eroded from my service industry job, I would massage it into my forehead and temples and it seemed to have a restoring effect on my energy body.
At this point I almost had no idea what I was doing—the grimoire said this station was for all good things, so I used its talismanic oil for every challenging thing I wanted to be good, and it brought me so much relief. I found its spirit moisturizing, calming, and refreshing.
After I’d used all of that up, I proceeded to simply use the evening the Moon found herself with Dhirā’ each month to make herbal medicine whenever I needed it. I did this relatively indiscriminately to great results. Over the process I got so much better at the skills required to make these kinds of medicines. At the beginning of my studies Shā’lak was the perfect companion for all these studies of the beneficial, healing magic that myself and my family needed badly at the time.
I could tell my Dhirā’ stories all day. I have such gratitude for this station and its spirits.
Some Dhirā’ correspondences
Tropical coordinates: 12º14 Cancer - 25º05 Cancer
Letter: ز zāy
Indicators: Castor and Pollux are often reported as the primary indicator stars, however Procyon and Gomeisa also have a role in this station (see the starlore section below)
Plants: Al-Buni tells us that nettle and flaxseed are its incense. Bamboo via Hamade’s Procession of the Night Theatre teaches us that the 7th station is associated with bamboo in the Indic tradition. I have experimented extensively with rice and oats, but perhaps we could also try papyrus, lemongrass, vetiver, sugarcane and other culturally important monocots which contain lots of long parallel structures. You could experiment with all the grasses, really.
Substances: Things that are long and thin, things which are collected in bundles or sheaves. Things from religious centers such as churchyard dirt as well as spiritual icons or relics and things associated with them. Writing utensils, especially ink pens, and writing substrates, especially paper. Perfumes, especially those from grasses (like vetiver or lemongrass).
Animals: Especially dogs but wolves, foxes, and all other canines too. Also raccoons and other procyonids. These animals are distant relatives in the Caniformis suborder and you could probably experiment with any of those animals (so also bears, weasels, stoats, sealions and all the other “dog-like” carnivores)
Angel: شاءلك Shā’lak
Wanna read the rest?
It’s on my site :)