Yed Posterior
Yed Posterior
Keywords: closing grasp, secret insight, protective action, decisive withdrawal
General Meaning:
Yed Posterior (Epsilon Ophiuchi) forms part of the Serpent Holder’s hand in Ophiuchus. Its name means “the back hand.” This star represents the ability to pull back or release at the right moment, guarding against danger while keeping hold of valuable lessons.
High Expression:
- Protective instincts honed by experience
- Discerning when to withdraw or disengage
- Strategic defense and crisis management
Shadow Expression:
- Overcautious retreat or mistrust
- Difficulty in letting go of past injuries
Yed Posterior Conjunction:
Planetary Body + Yed Posterior (≤1° orb)
Description:
When a planet aligns with Yed Posterior, it gains discernment in knowing what to hold onto and what to release. This conjunction helps avoid danger through timely withdrawal.
Examples:
- Sun conjunct Yed Posterior: Identity shaped by strategic caution.
- Moon conjunct Yed Posterior: Emotional self-protection and wise boundaries.
- Mercury conjunct Yed Posterior: Carefully chosen words that avoid conflict.
- Venus conjunct Yed Posterior: Relationships managed with discretion.
- Mars conjunct Yed Posterior: Defensive maneuvers rather than open attack.
- Jupiter conjunct Yed Posterior: Growth by learning when to step back.
- Saturn conjunct Yed Posterior: Responsibility for safeguarding what matters.
- Uranus conjunct Yed Posterior: Unconventional methods of protection.
- Neptune conjunct Yed Posterior: Intuitive sense of hidden threats.
- Pluto conjunct Yed Posterior: Transformational endings handled with care.
Metaphysical/Esoteric Layer:
Meditation on Yed Posterior sharpens intuition about personal safety and the proper timing of retreat. It helps reclaim power without confrontation.
Ritual Application
Not a ritual for the star — a list of working types where this star lends support.
Ideal for:
- Banishing rituals or safe-guarding magic
- Learning from past mistakes without clinging to them
Not suited for:
- Reckless engagement or ignoring warning signs
Effective timing:
- When Ophiuchus rises in the evening or the Moon moves through early Sagittarius
Affirmation:
"I protect my path by releasing what no longer serves me."
🔭 Star Data (computed)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Designation | ε Ophiuchi |
| Constellation | Ophiuchus |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 16h 18m 19.3s |
| Declination (J2000) | -4° 41′ 33″ |
| Ecliptic longitude, J2000.0 | 3°30′ Sagittarius (λ = 243.505°) |
| Ecliptic longitude, 2026.0 | 3°52′ Sagittarius (λ = 243.869°) |
| Ecliptic latitude | +16.44° |
| Visual magnitude | 3.23 |
| Precession drift | ≈ +50.3″ per year in longitude (1° per ≈ 71.6 years) |
Conjunction window (≤ 1° orb, epoch 2026): a body is conjunct Yed Posterior when its longitude lies between 2°52′ Sagittarius and 4°52′ Sagittarius. Fixed-star contacts are traditionally judged by longitude (zodiacal conjunction); declination contacts are handled in Parallels and Contra-parallels.
Sign hub: Sagittarius · Index: Fixed Stars
Sources (star data)
- Swiss Ephemeris fixed-star catalogue
sefstars.txt(ICRS/Hipparcos-based positions, proper motions, magnitudes): https://github.com/aloistr/swisseph/blob/master/ephe/sefstars.txt — ecliptic longitudes computed for this vault with Astropy 8.0 (GeocentricMeanEcliptic, mean equinox of J2000.0 and of 2026-01-01) - IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN), approved proper names: https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming_stars/