They fascinate me. They always have.

They are static. They are everywhere. They are infinite. They are mysterious.

Those are elements of my endless dreaming.

Holding a title of aristocracy that is mine for life (and that which I have rightfully earned), I marvel at the constellation named after the Greek Princess Cassiopeia, the Queen of Ethiopia.

Perhaps it is because she and I are to have seemingly possessed similar traits – arrogance and vanity.

They proved to be her downfall. Perhaps they will prove to be mine.

However, I don’t view myself as arrogant, even though I am a Leo. I always justify my erudition as such: “If it is true, it is not bragging”.

I look upon the Big Dipper, always predominant in the northern sky. Long ago when I live in Europe, I begged for the formation to sweep down and scoop me up. I prayed that it would transport me beautifully to somewhere out of the misery I endured.

It disappointingly failed me.

Orion’s Belt has always been fodder for humor, having frequently referred to it as being held up by suspenders.

That’s “braces” to my European friends.

My own zodiac sign, the Leo, is found in the sky between Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east.

It is said that Leo is one of the oldest constellations and that which is most easily identifiable as the brightest and most distinctive.

This can also be applicable to those of us that fall under its draw.

We are ever-lasting; defiant, resilient, powerful, and that which is to never be overlooked.

Stars have long-been the basis of romantic movies, songs, and beliefs of immortality.

There may be some modicum of truth to all of that – the infinite and unfathomable potential of that which we have greater fascination than knowledge.

It was the Canadian-based rock group, Rush (bow to the GODS), that simultaneously marveled at the wondrous effect of the balls of fire and condemned them in two separate songs:

In the song Dreamline from the album “Roll the Bones” released in 1991 they muse:

“We travel in the dark of the new moon, a starry highway traced on the map of the sky”.

Conversely in the song “Ghost of a Chance” from the same album they prophesize: “I don’t believe in the stars or the planets or angels watching from above. But I believe there’s a ghost of a chance we can find someone to love, and make it last”.

Not sure that I necessarily agree with them, but that is another philosophical rant for another time.

However stars are regarded, they are miraculous and inexplicable elements that  – or should – keep us in suspended animation.

Though there are countless numbers of scientific explanations, ancient Greek and Roman names given, or unexplained deaths that could not be more removed from those of a human body; the concept of stars and their purposes are breathtaking concepts.

And beautiful diamonds upon which to gaze when enamored.

…on the rare and brief occasions that are to be appreciated…