Mysteries of the Stars: Pleiades

by Agni Jnana Yannanda, The One Who Speaks With The Stars
featured artwork Alma Nungarrayi Granites Seven Sisters Dreaming

Stars: PLEIADES from 4°25’ to 5°23’ Sidereal Taurus / Tropical 29° Gemini
ALCYONE, Pleiades, Sidereal 5° Taurus 00′ / Tropical 29° Gemini

During the Full Moon on November 15th, the Moon aligns with the constellation of Pleiades, the most mythical asterism of our skies, known in Vedic astrology as Krittikas, and reflected in the name of the Nakshatra Krittika. Pleiades are the original StarSeeds within our SoulFamily / Spirit / Galactic alliance. A strong connection to this part of the sky in an individual’s chart brings a profound psychic and symbolic understanding of the world, along with visions of a harmonious future for all. This alignment offers the potential and strength to act on those visions and fosters an overall sense of joy, love, fun, and mutual support.

The Pleiades’ archetypal energy embodies feminine mystery, cosmic connection, spiritual healing, unity, and wisdom from beyond the stars. They are beacons of enlightenment and compassion, offering a mystical guidance to those who seek to align with the divine, embrace their inner healer, or understand their place within the universe.

Stars of Feminine Power and Community Bonds

Pleiades are known and revered in many distinct cultures under various forms, but with the common myth representing women – seven girls, seven sisters or seven godmother. The Pleiades carry a strong feminine energy that represents the mysteries of life, creation, and rebirth. They’re tied to lunar cycles and considered a gateway to feminine intuition and inner wisdom, symbolizing the nurturing, mystical qualities of the Divine Feminine and encouraging self-exploration and spiritual growth.

The Pleiades also represent strength through unity, interdependence, and collective resilience. This archetype speaks to the power found within close relationships, communities, and the unbreakable bonds of family or spiritual kinship. The Pleiades remind us of our interconnection and the support we can draw from one another.

Pleiades and the Constellation of Taurus, with Aldebaran, The Eye of the Taurus.

Pleiades in the Vedic Tradition

Krittikas are the foster mothers of Shiva’s son Karikeya, they are also humanity’s GodMothers, ready to step into our lives with manifesting powers of all that brings equilibrium on individual and collective level. They should be seen as the protective deities during the current systemic transformation of the world.


Pleiades and Cosmic Guardianship

Frequently seen as a bridge between humanity and the cosmos, the Pleiades are said to connect earthly existence with higher realms. This star cluster often appears as a guide for spiritual seekers, representing cosmic guardianship and providing a sense of protection, inspiration, and direction for those who feel drawn to otherworldly or celestial realms.

Many ancient cultures, including the Greeks, Egyptians, Indigenous North American tribes, and the Maori, considered the Pleiades to hold divine knowledge. The archetype embodies the pursuit of enlightenment, particularly knowledge that goes beyond the material world. Those influenced by Pleiadean energy are often drawn to explore ancient wisdom, esoteric teachings, or universal truths.

Transformation and Healing

The Pleiades are associated with healing energies, especially those related to emotional or spiritual wounds. As an archetype, they encourage transformation, offering comfort and healing through times of personal or collective hardship. They act as symbols of renewal, urging one to let go of past traumas and align with a path of spiritual healing and rebirth.

The Origins of the StarSeeds

The star asterism sits within one degree of Taurus, Sidereal: between 4°25′ (Electra) with 5° (Alcyone, the brightest star of the constellation) to 5°23′ (Pleione). In the Tropical system they are between 29 degree of Taurus and 0 degree of Gemini. During the Full Moon on May 23rd, Venus and Jupiter are both on 29° Taurus, Tropical.

Nebra sky disc dates back to the Bronze Age (circa 3600 BC) and features the oldest known concrete depiction of the cosmos. The Pleiades (known as Krittikas in Jyotish) are represented by the 7 stars right above the Moon and the Sun.

The Pleiades are a star cluster, situated on the shoulder of the Bull, also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, or M45. Traditionally they were represented by six stars which are visible to the naked eye – see below Nebra sky disc, but there is another star, in many mythologies represented as the “lost” or “invisible” one. In Japan the Pleiades are called “Subaru”, in Persia “Soraya”, amongst Australian Aboriginal cultures they are known by many different names as each tribe has its own creation story associated with the Seven Sisters (Nyarluwarri or Yugarilya or the Maya-Mayi).

The Star Dreaming story of the Seven Sisters is one of the most popular ancient stories amongst Aboriginal Australia
Seven Sisters painting by Christine Jugarnu Collard and the Pleiades star cluster. (Image credit: Christine Collard, Yamaji Art) Source: AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC

Lakota – Unity within the Great Spirit Wakan Tanka

In Lakota tradition, the Pleiades, known as the Seven Sisters, carry a deeply symbolic story that connects the stars to the Lakota people’s spirituality and worldview. The Lakota tell of a time long ago when seven young girls were playing in the forest. They were pursued by a giant bear, Mato, who threatened their lives. In desperation, they prayed to the Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka, for protection. Hearing their prayers, the Great Spirit raised the ground beneath them, lifting them high into the sky, beyond the bear’s reach. The bear, frustrated, scratched at the rock with his claws, creating grooves that would later become the sacred Mato Tipila, or Bear Lodge (known as Devil’s Tower today).

The seven girls were lifted all the way up into the heavens, where they became the stars of the Pleiades constellation. For the Lakota, the Pleiades represent protection, unity, and the presence of the divine, connecting earthly and cosmic realms. This constellation is significant in Lakota ceremonies and is often associated with the Winter Solstice, when it is high in the night sky, reminding the people of the guidance, protection, and unity offered by the Great Spirit.

You can read the Full Moon update in this article:

Wishing you a peaceful Full Moon,

Agni Jnana Yannanda
The One Who Speaks With The Stars

Agni Jnana is a poet, artist, and astrologer with a focus on Vedic, Western, and Star astrology. Originally from Poland’s Masuria Lake District, she now resides in the Shawangunk Mountains of upstate New York.