ARCTURUS..."the Star of Joy"

ARCTURUS in AUTUMN (1926) from "Dark of the Moon" by Sara Teasdale

When in the gold October dusk, I saw you near to setting,

Arcturus(* see notes at end), bringer of spring

Lord of the summer nights, leaving us now in autumn

Having no pity on our withering.

I felt it in my blood, restless as dwindling streams that still remember

The music of their flood.

There in the thickening dark

a wind-bent tree above me....

Loosed its last leaves in flight....

I saw you sink and vanish, pitiless Arcturus

You will not stay to share our lengthening night.

"As we express our gratitude, but we must never forget to live by them..." J.F. Kennedy

NOTES: Arcturus...a giant red star in the Bootes constellation. The 4th brightest star in the northern night sky.

Arcturus is almost 38 light years from the sun. It is a very old star. Ageless.

In ancient Greek, Arcturus means "Guardian of the Bear". It is considered a guardian of the north. A watcher. In the bible, Arcturus is mentioned in Job 9:9 "which makes Orion, Arcturus and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south". The Hebrews associated it with divine power, greatness and majesty of God.

In ancient times, Ptolemy and even Geoffrey Chaucer noticed the great red star in autumn. In 1635 , the astronomer, Morin, watched Arcturus in the daylight, thru a telescope. The star is easy to see in June, but especially in autumn, as it is so bright. In eastern Canada , Arcturus was called by the Mi'kmaq as "Kookoogwess" ( the owl).

Arcturus has found its place since ancient Mesopotamia, India, many cultures.....but what the one I like best is from ancient Polynesia, where  it was named the "Star of Joy"...
 

Photography 2025