You may spot the phrase ‘fixed star’ in an astrology book. It refers to a star in the sky's familiar background pattern, rather than a planet moving across that pattern.
‘Fixed’ means fixed by comparison
The stars seem to hold their positions relative to one another, so we can recognize their patterns. Over time, planets change position against that background. That contrast gave fixed stars their name.
Real stars do move
The name does not mean stars are motionless. They have their own motion through space, but most are so far away that their positions change very little to our eyes over a short time. The sky's nightly sweep is mainly an effect of Earth's rotation.
An optional chart detail
Some Western astrology traditions also mention named fixed stars when looking at a chart. You can learn the planet, sign and house labels first. A star's name by itself cannot tell you someone's character or future.
A few common questions
Do I need fixed stars to begin reading a birth chart?
No. Begin with the chart's basic labels. Fixed stars are an extra topic you can explore later if you are curious.
Sources & further reading
Astrology sources describe their own traditions and methods; they do not establish predictive accuracy. The writing exercises are original Lodestar editorial material.