Dorsum (Theta Capricorni) – Fixed Star

	Dorsum
Period:	18011802180318041805180618071808180918101811181218131814181518161817181818191820182118221823182418251826182718281829183018311832183318341835183618371838183918401841184218431844184518461847184818491850185118521853185418551856185718581859186018611862186318641865186618671868186918701871187218731874187518761877187818791880188118821883188418851886188718881889189018911892189318941895189618971898189919001901190219031904190519061907190819091910191119121913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027202820292030203120322033203420352036203720382039204020412042204320442045204620472048204920502051205220532054205520562057205820592060206120622063206420652066206720682069207020712072207320742075207620772078207920802081208220832084208520862087208820892090209120922093209420952096209720982099
Sign (longitude):	x Aquarius 14°11
Constellation:	Theta - Capricornus
Declination:	-17° 8' 6
Right Ascension:	21h 7'19
Latitude:	-0.5887
Spectral class:	A0
Magnitude:	4.2

Dorsum is not a star deeply rooted in ancient myth in the same way as stars like Regulus or Aldebaran, but its placement in the back of the Sea-Goat in the constellation Capricorn carries symbolic meaning. Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, represents ambition, structure, endurance, and karmic lessons. The “back” or “spine” (which the name Dorsum literally means in Latin) metaphorically relates to burdens, responsibility, and resilience — carrying the weight of duty or collective expectations.

Positive Influence

When positively aspected or conjunct benefic planets, Dorsum can manifest as:

• Tenacity and resilience – the ability to endure hardship and persist through long-term challenges.
• Capacity for carrying responsibility – often found in charts of people in leadership roles or who shoulder others’ burdens.
• Pragmatic intelligence – especially in real-world matters like finance, logistics, or administration.
• Steadfast loyalty – people with this conjunction may be rock-solid supporters or team players.

Negative Influence

Traditional sources (like Robson and Ebertin) suggest Dorsum has a Saturn-Mars nature, which can manifest in harsh or even dangerous ways when poorly placed or in conjunction with malefic planets:

• Accidents and harm through carelessness, especially involving movement, machinery, or sharp tools.
• Coldness or rigidity – emotional distance or harsh, overly structured thinking.
• Oppressive responsibilities – taking on burdens to the point of burnout or martyrdom.
• Suppression of emotions – often seen in people who are “too strong for their own good.”

Behavior Tactics

To navigate the energy of Dorsum effectively:

• Consciously lighten burdens – don’t take on more than is truly yours to carry.
• Channel the structural discipline into personal development rather than external control.
• Practice somatic awareness – since the “back” is symbolically emphasized, physical posture and stress management are key.
• Create boundaries – learn to say no and delegate when necessary.
• Develop emotional expression – especially if the chart is Saturn-heavy, cultivating vulnerability is crucial.

Summary

The fixed star Dorsum, while not flamboyant, carries potent Saturnian undertones of endurance, duty, and structural force. It rewards maturity, pragmatism, and loyalty but punishes emotional repression and excessive burden-carrying. Its conjunction with planets in a natal chart often marks someone who bears weight quietly and persistently, sometimes to their own detriment — a silent pillar or an unsung backbone.