Also called: star · 8-cornered star · Star of Shiva · sitara

Where on the hand: On any mount — base or apex matters — on the index finger and thumb, and at named points on the Sun, Fate, Life, Head, Heart, Health and Mars lines.

What it looks like: Five or six short lines all crossing at a single common point, radiating outward — a true asterisk. Distinguished from the cross by having more than two lines, and from the lotus by the rays being straight and short, not curved and petal-like. It must be small and self-contained, not a chance junction of long lines.

A symbol of good and sudden brilliance in a person's life — except on the Saturn and Moon mounts, where it inverts to catastrophe. Sudden, unearned elevation. The star has the finest-grained location map of any geometric sign.

Read with care: Several star placements carry frightening claims: 'terrible fatality' at Saturn's apex, violent death or murder on the Mars line, a potentially fatal head wound when on the Head line in both hands, and drowning or suicide by drowning where the Head line slopes to the Moon. These are recorded as tradition and must not be presented as prediction or medical information. RECONCILED. The two entries disagreed on the Moon mount. The dominant reading is that the star inverts to catastrophe on SATURN, and is favourable on the Moon (celebrity through imagination, artistic or literary fame). The blanket 'inverts on Saturn and Moon' was the error. Both entries were also filed in opposite categories.

a sure sign of the fulfilment of desireson the star at the base of the Jupiter mount