Minkar (Epsilon Corvi) – Fixed Star

	Minkar
Period:	18011802180318041805180618071808180918101811181218131814181518161817181818191820182118221823182418251826182718281829183018311832183318341835183618371838183918401841184218431844184518461847184818491850185118521853185418551856185718581859186018611862186318641865186618671868186918701871187218731874187518761877187818791880188118821883188418851886188718881889189018911892189318941895189618971898189919001901190219031904190519061907190819091910191119121913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027202820292030203120322033203420352036203720382039204020412042204320442045204620472048204920502051205220532054205520562057205820592060206120622063206420652066206720682069207020712072207320742075207620772078207920802081208220832084208520862087208820892090209120922093209420952096209720982099
Sign (longitude):	j Libra 12°1
Constellation:	Epsilon - Corvus
Declination:	-22°45'28
Right Ascension:	12h11'25
Latitude:	-19.6727
Spectral class:	K3
Magnitude:	3.2

Minkar is located in the beak of the Crow (Corvus). In myth, Corvus was a sacred bird of Apollo, originally white but turned black due to failing in a task or bringing bad news. The constellation is associated with cleverness, messenger roles, but also deception, gossip, and repercussions of failure. The name Minkar comes from Arabic, meaning “nostril” or “beak”, indicating speech, breath, or oral expression — potentially signifying communication or the power of the word.

Positive Influence

When conjunct a personal planet or point in the natal chart, Minkar may bring:

• Sharp communication: Enhanced verbal or written abilities; possibly clever, witty, or persuasive.
• Keen observation: Attention to detail and the ability to “read” people or situations.
• Strategic thinking: An ability to navigate complex situations, sometimes using unconventional or indirect tactics.
• Messenger role: May act as a carrier of important messages — literal or symbolic — to others (e.g. in teaching, media, or spiritual contexts).
• Instinctive intelligence: A bird-like intuition for navigating interpersonal dynamics, survival, and timing.

Negative Influence

Potential challenges or shadow traits of a Minkar conjunction may include:

• Cunning turned to manipulation: Using intelligence or communication skills to deceive, control, or mislead.
• Gossip or betrayal: Involvement in secretive behavior, false reporting, or destructive talk.
• Moral shortcuts: Tendency to choose the easiest path for gain, even if ethically questionable.
• Outcast tendencies: If deception or error is discovered, the native may be publicly shamed or scapegoated.
• Difficulty with trust: Attracting or becoming individuals who struggle with honesty in communication.

Behavior Tactics

To work with Minkar constructively:

• Cultivate clarity and integrity in speech: Be mindful of what you say, how you say it, and the motivations behind it.
• Use cleverness for problem-solving, not manipulation.
• Avoid gossip or indirect communication: Aim for transparency to prevent misunderstandings or damaged relationships.
• Embrace roles as communicator or mediator, but recognize the responsibility that comes with delivering messages — don’t distort truth for advantage.
• Channel the raven/crow archetype: Think trickster but with wisdom — like Hermes, not Loki.

Summary

Minkar’s conjunction with planets in a natal chart brings intellectual sharpness, cunning, and communicative agility, but also risks of manipulation, gossip, or ethical ambiguity. This star thrives when the native uses their cleverness ethically and creatively, especially in fields like writing, teaching, media, or strategy. As a “beak” of the celestial Crow, the star reminds us that words have power — they can uplift, inform, or destroy.