Stellar Brothers

[canismajorette]

No: HPFGUIDX 85478

So, Sirius Black has a brother named Regulus.  Until Phoenix, about 
this we were in the dark - the dark of the nighttime sky, one might 
say.  

Indeed these two brothers are named for prominent stars located in a 
relatively compact region of the celestial sphere.  Sirius is of 
course Alpha Canis Major, the brightest star in the constellation of 
the Greater Dog.  Regulus is Alpha Leo, the brightest star in the 
constellation Leo.  Canis Major (Latin for the Greater Dog) and Leo 
(Latin for Lion) are located on either side of the sidereal 
constellation of Cancer, the Crab.  As the celestial sphere goes, 
this is fairly close together.  In fact, there are hours of the night 
when these two stars can be viewed at the same time. This would not 
be the case for all stars, some of which are on opposite sides of the 
celestial sphere and hence never visible together. 

The portion of the sky in which Sirius and Regulus are located is of 
paraticular importance in the ancient Egyptian religion.  Recent 
research has shown that both of these stars were used as sighting 
guides for the orientation of sacred temples.  The books of Graham 
Hancock, Robert Bauval, and Adrian Gilbert go into the matter 
extensively.  Of course, they also point out the central role played 
by the constellation of Orion in Egyptian temple orientation, and 
that fact should not be forgotten.  All the same, here in the Potter 
works, JKR has chosen to name characters for two stars of known 
esoteric importance to ancient Egyptian religion.

Another context in which these two stars appear in relation to each 
other occurs in the works of 20th century metaphysical writer Alice 
A. Bailey.  On p. 300 of her volume entitled "Esoteric Astrology," 
first published in 1951, she writes, "The influences of Sirius, three 
in number, are focussed in Regulus...."  

I'm a professional astrologer and an avid student of all branches of 
that art, and I have never seen these two stars discussed as related 
in any such particular way EXCEPT in this passage in Alice A. Bailey. 
This makes me wonder most curiously if Rowling could possibly have 
read this passage, or perhaps more appositely, if it is possible that 
she has NOT read this passage.

Now, it certainly should be said that each of these stars has a rich 
tradition of lore and legendry associated with it. Centuries of 
astrological and astronomical literature attest to that fact.

 I have written a 420 page scholarly, nonfiction, study in this vein 
concerning the star Sirius, which by the way was first published in 
1997, and which was written back in the dark ages of 1995 and 1996 
when Sirius and Regulus Black were but golden snitches in the 
penseive of JKR!  So, the idea did to write that study did not arise 
because of the Rowlian character by the same name.  

Even so, you can bet I was astounded upon reading JKR to find the 
hidden significance of Sirius so cleverly worked into a narrative 
that would captivate anyone willing to sit still long enough.  This 
is one of the many reasons I am convinced that JKR has an incredible 
grip of world esoteric traditions, including some of the least known 
forms of astrological literature, which Alice Bailey's Esoteric 
Astrology assuredly is.  

The book I have written is still in print. It deals with the 
signficance of the star Sirius in Egyptian religion, the classical 
mysteries of antiquity, the Masonic Tradition, and in the works of 
Alice A. Bailey, who singled this star out as of immense importance 
to the cause of evolution on our planet.  

So, I submit that this passage in Bailey relating Sirius to Regulus 
bears further exploration as we seek to understand the greater 
implication of Sirius Black and his brother, Regulus.  

The influence of Sirius in the Bailey material is equated with the 
most sublime powers in the universe.  On Regulus, she says a rather 
unanticipated thing.  On p. 238 of Esoteric Astrology, she predicts 
that Regulus will eventually emanate an influence which will result 
in the improvement of conditions for children on this planet.  
Certainly the Rowling literature is improving conditions for children 
on this planet, I would say!  

Well, there are many loose ends here, and just the beginning hint of 
an Ariadne's Thread that might lead to the heart of the maze. 
Interested parties please respond.