History of the star: Northern Donkey, male. Among the stars of Cancer is a small grouping called the Aselli, or Asses and along with Praesaepe (M44) the Beehive or Manger, form a mini constellation in their own right, which appears on the back of the Crab’s shell. Asellus Boreali (this star, gamma),  - is the northern ass; and Asellus Austral (delta) is the southern ass. Popularly this configuration was also known as the "Manger", or "Crib" in which Christ was born [Cancer was the "Gate of Man"]. They were the Northern and the Southern Ass Colt, the Ovot, or Asses, of Ptolemy and the Greeks; the Aselli, or Asini, of the Latins, and now popularly known as "The Donkeys". Other names were "A Resting Place", "Ending of a stop", "The Aselline Starlets". 

A Greek myth tells us that these asses were ridden by Bacchus and Vulcan in the war between the Olympians and the Titans. The braying of these animals, aided and added to the gods shouts, frightened a group of fierce giants who were coming to avenge their brothers, the Titans, to such a degree, that they fled the scene of battle. The asses were placed in the heavens flanking the mysterious glow called the Manger or Beehive  - M44 (Praesaepe) to make sure they never lack food. Manilius alludes to these outstretched stars as a Yoke.

Gamma (Asellus Borealis), delta (Asellus Australis), eta, and theta were the Persian lunar station Avra-k, the "Cloud", and the Coptic Ermelia, "Nurturing" (the traditional astrological influences given for these two stars include; care and responsibility, with a charitable and fostering nature).

In this constellation, with some slight variations as to boundaries at different times in Hindu astronomy, — gamma (Asellus Borealis) and delta (Asellus Australis) – the Aselli - always being included and occasionally eta, theta, and Praesaepe, — was located the 6th nakshatra Pushya, "Flower", or Tishiya, "Auspicious", with Brihaspati, the priest and teacher of the gods, as presiding divinity. It was sometimes figured as a "Crescent", and again as the "head of an Arrow"; it was also called Sidhaya, "Prosperous".

The Arabic manzil (Moon Mansion) Al Nathrah, the Gap in the hair under the muzzle of the supposed immense ancient Lion that the Arabs had here, was chiefly formed by Praesaepe; but later gamma (Asellus Borealis) and delta (Asellus Australis) – the Aselli - were sometimes included, when it was Al Himarain, the Two Asses, a title adopted from the Greeks. The Arabs also knew it as Al Fnm al Asad and as Al Anf al Asad, the Mouth, and the Muzzle, of the Lion, both referring to the early figure.

[Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889].

Praeseppe, with gamma (Asellus Borealis), delta (Asellus Australis), eta, and theta in the Persian lunar station Avra-k, "the Cloud, and the Egyptian Coptic Ermelia, "Nurturing".

Influences of 6th Arabic manzil: Causes love, friendship and society of fellow travelers, drives away mice, afflicts captives and causes their imprisonment. With Moon transiting here; navigate. (Robson*).

The The astrological influences of the constellation: The Crab is associated with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18th Tarot Trump "The Moon". (Robson*).   

 The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

Shining at the hinge of the year by the blazing turning-point which when recalled the Sun rounds in his course on high, the Crab occupies a joint of heaven and bends back the length of day. Of a grasping spirit and unwilling to give itself in service the Crab distributes many kinds of gain, and skill in making profits; he enables a man to carry his investment of foreign merchandise from city to city and, with an eye on steep rises in the price of corn, to risk his money upon sea-winds; to sell the world's produce to the world, to establish commercial ties between so many unknown lands, to search out under foreign skies fresh sources of gain, and from the high price of his goods to amass sudden wealth. With heaven's favour he also sells seasons of idleness at rates of interest to his liking, wishing the swift passage of time to add to the principal. His is a shrewd nature, and he is ready to fight for his profits. [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.235.]

General influence of Aselli: According to Ptolemy both the Aselli are of the nature of Mars and the Sun, but Alvidas states that the North Asellus (Asellus Borealis) is like the Sun and Mars in sextile, and the South Asellus (Asellus Astralis) like the Sun and Mars in semisquare. Together they give care and responsibility, with a charitable and fostering nature, but danger of violent death, serious accidents and burns. (Robson*).

General influence of North Asellus: It gives patience, beneficence and courage, and makes its natives heroic and defiant leaders. (Robson*).

The two Asellus correspond to the Sun and Mars, both these fixed stars are therefore to count as a positive influence, if in conjunction with the Ascendant, MC or stellar bodies of the same character, but especially if grouped with the Sun or Mars. These people will have an aggressive nature and will not take insults easily. They may, by their own lack of caution, or by being dare-devils, put their life in danger and they will not hesitate to use brutal and violent means. When the Asellus are with the Ascendant danger by large animals (horses, bulls) may exist. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

The patient donkey is a lovable creature, but it can be very self-willed and unco-operative indeed, at times of its own choosing. The Aselli (this star and the other donkey Asellus Australis) display all the moodiness of Cancer at its most negative, while in Leo. A conjunction with the Moon, Mercury, Venus or Neptune, well aspected, will often reveal the poet, painter, musician unusually gifted, composer, psychic 'medium' or astrologer. In all cases too, there is a patience for which the donkey is respected, a quality necessary for all really reliable psychism. Perhaps when the donkey is being stubborn, he is seeing something in the path which his impatient master cannot, or will not see. (The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse).

Aselli rising: Burning fevers, bad eyes, blindness of left eye, injuries by beasts, quarrels, slander from low women or vulgar persons, martial preferment. (Robson*).

Aselli culminating: Disgrace and ruin, often violent death. (Robson*).

Aselli with Sun: Blows, stabs (operations nowadays), serious accidents, shooting, shipwreck, beheading, hanging, murderer or murdered, violent fevers, danger of fire, disgrace and imprisonment. (Robson*).

Asellus Borealis with Sun: Favorable for dealing with the public and influential people, business success. (Robson*).

Aselli with Moon: Inflammatory fever, pains in the head, blindness. (Robson*).

Asellus Borealis with Moon: Favorable for material success, honor through public positions, help from friends, favorable for gain, danger of accidents to the head, fevers, inflammatory ailments, and heart weakness. (Robson*).

According to Vehlow, the Chinese gave this group of stars (the manger, Aselli and Praseppe) the name "the spirit of the ancestors" and were of the opinion that if conjunct the Moon, they would have peculiar experiences with the realms of the dead. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

With Mercury: Power and authority after many difficulties, little gain, numerous expenses, losses by writings, mortgages and bonds. (Robson*).

With Venus: Proud, opinionated, help from an influential friend, favorable for gain. (Robson*).

With Mars: Courageous, generous, noble, just, power and authority. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Great gain and influential position, favors from churchmen and gain through legal and ecclesiastical matters, benefits from foreign affairs. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Somewhat sell-centred and self- seeking, loss through enemies, high public office, but eventual retirement with public censure. Favour able for gain, unrelenting nature, domestic disharmony caused by antipathy between one of the children and the native or partner. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Energetic, reformer, blunt in speech and often bitter, fixed ideas, honest, careless or broad in religion, many friends among the public, some of whom abuse confidence, enemies among the higher classes, governmental position, involved in disputes with corporations owing to socialistic interests, favorable for gain and domestic matters, likelihood of unexpected death abroad. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Proud, haughty, great sell-esteem, occult interests, prominent and influential position in a company concerned with stocks and shares or speculation, connected with schools or places of amusement, early difficulties with parents, favorable for gain but danger of loss by fire or theft, favorable for marriage but sometimes one of convenience. With Mars also, accidents and danger of fatal injuries. (Robson*).

References

Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology