The influence of the stars

by Rosa Baughan

When Taurus is rising at a birth, the native bears a mark in the front of the throat, sometimes in the form of a raspberry or red-coloured mole, which mark is always ill in its effects. Should the second part of the sign Taurus have been rising at the nativity, the person will have the mark at the side of the throat. If the third, the same mark will appear on the nape of the neck, but then it will be more raised than the two former moles.

Those born under Gemini have their marks in the arms. If the first part of the sign arose at birth, they bear its mark on the right arm, near the shoulder; if the second, on the same part of the left arm and if the third part of the sign arises at birth, the native bears the mark on the right arm, but below the elbow and generally near the wrist.

When the sign Cancer is in the ascendant, the mark is on the upper part of the right breast in the form of a flower or a hare's foot, of a whitish colour, and commonly having a hair or two springing from it. In the older days this mark was supposed to be an evidence of witchcraft in a woman and many poor creatures have lost their lives for this. Those born under the second part of the sign Cancer have the mark lower down on the breast and when the third part of Cancer is rising at a birth, the sign is nearly under the breast.

When Leo is in the ascendant at birth, the sign is on the left breast and, in the same manner, if the sign appears high up on the breast it indicates that the first part of the sign was ascending; if near the middle, the second; and if on one side, towards the left armpit, the third part of the sign must have been ascending at birth.

In nativities under Virgo the mark is on the upper part of the stomach, that is, between the two breasts, when the first part of the sign ascends; those born when the second part is rising have the mark near the navel; and those when the third part is rising quite low down on the stomach. Those that are thus marked are very inconstant. The moles given by Virgo are flat, and of a reddish colour.

When Libra is in the ascendant, the marks are raised like warts, and are small, soft, and hairy; when the first part of the sign is rising the mark is near the loins; when the second, towards the centre of the stomach and the third part of the sign throws the mark to quite the lower part of the body.

Those born under Sagittarius have the mark of the sign in the thighs and these moles are raised like bulbs and are very big. When the first part of the sign is rising, the mark is on the right thigh; when the second part is rising, on the left thigh and those who have the third part of Sagittarius rising at their birth are so marked on the right haunch.

Those born under Capricornus have the marks on the knees, which marks are quite flat. When the first part is rising, the mark is on the right knee; when the second, on the left, and when the third, the mole is under the knee.

It will be remembered that the sign Aquarius governs the legs; therefore those who are born with this sign ascending have the mark of it (which is a long-shaped mole) on the right leg (this mark shows extreme inconstancy); when the sign Scorpio is rising at birth there is a dark mole on the belly showing ill fortune.

The sign Pisces, or the Fishes, governs the feet; therefore those who have this sign in their ascendant are marked on the feet. Those born under the first part have the marks (which are ordinary flat moles) on the right foot; those under the second, on the left; and those on the third, on the soles of the feet or on the heels. These last are called the Royal marks; they are large moles inclining to red, and those who are marked in those places are assured of honours and dignities.