Lunar Mansion 12: Al Sarfah, or The Dragon

About Lunar Mansion 12

The Arabic name for Lunar Mansion 12 is Al Sarfah, which means "the changer (of the weather)." In the Tropical Zodiac, Lunar Mansion 12 extends from 21°25’40″ Leo to 4°17’09″ Virgo.

I nicknamed this mansion The Dragon. When the Moon is here, it's an auspicious time to pursue self-improvement through conflict

Do: Challenge yourself. Take responsibility for your own actions. Be inspired by others to improve yourself.

Don't: Disown your demons. Give in to envy and jealousy.

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Spell for Lunar Mansion 12

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Lunar Mansions in History

Astrologers throughout the ages have commented on the meaning of the lunar mansions. Here's what's been written about Lunar Mansion 12.

From Al Biruni, 11th Century

Al sarfrah is a bright star at the tip of the tail of Leo, but according to the Arabs on the tail itself, (and is regarded by them and the astrologers as the scrotum.) Al-dafirah (Coma Berenices) is the group of small stars like the Pleiades forming the tuft of hair, hulbah, at the tip of the tail.

From Abenragel, 11th Century

Indian Astrology: Good for starting all building, for arranging lands, sowing and planting, for marriage, for putting on new clothes, for women’s jewelry, for making a journey in the first third of day.

Dorotheos: Good to buy a slave, who will be good, loyal and honest, to start building, to give oneself to pleasures and jokes, to come before a king or famous man, to take medicines, to cut new clothes, to wash or cut hair. Not bad to marry a corrupted woman, and, if marrying a virgin, the marriage will last a while. A voyage undertaken will involve delay in return. If captured, he will be injured in prison, but captivity will end well.

From Picatrix, 11th Century

The twelfth Mansion is Azarfa, and it is for the separation of two lovers as you may wish. When the Moon has passed around to this Mansion, fashion in black lead the image of a dragon fighting with a man, and in front of this figure write the name of the lord of this Mansion. Cense the image with the hair of a lion mixed with asafoetida, and say: You, Abdizu, break apart and separate them, NN from NN. Bury this image in the place that you wish, and it shall be as you desire. And know that Abdizu is the name of the lord of this Mansion.

From Henry Cornelius Agrippa, 16th Century

Alzarpha. tail of Leo. Prospers harvests and plantations, betters servants, captives and allies, but hinders sailors the separation of lovers. A dragon fighting with a man.

From Vivian Robson, 20th Century

Al Sarfah. beta Leo [Denebola]. The Changer (of the weather). Gives prosperity to harvest and plantations, hinders seamen, good for the bettering of servants, captives and companions. With Moon here, travel, navigate, sow, plough, marry and send messengers.

From Peter Stockinger, 21st Century

Al-Sarfa, The Lion’s Tail. Favorable to send messages, and to agriculture in general. It brings elevation in the life of people who serve another one. Make talismans favorable to crops and to promote optimistic circumstances.

From Christopher Warnock, 21st Century

In Hindu philosophy, our primal energy, the Kundalini, is envisioned as a snake lying coiled at the base of the spine. Al Sarfah depicts conflict with a dragon, the archetypal serpent, and thus suggests that the true conflict, although it may manifest outwardly, is within ourselves. This Mansion gives heed that we are externalizing the problems and even evils that exist within us and projecting them onto the people and things in the outer world. 

Keywords: Strife, combat, separation, constriction, hindrance of movement, conflict.