3. Health
The signs and planets rule different parts of our body and our psychology. Stress and life-style issues can affect health and these are shown in the chart as the hard aspects between planets. Medical astrology is a specialist science but some suggestions are made here.
1. Examine the Sun Sign. The Sun is the source of pranic vitality and good vitalisation of the body cells and organs equals good health. Its energy is prophylactic - it kills all germs and frees from disease. This activity is reflected in the body by the immune system, which the Sun governs. It is a subset of the cardiovascular system and uses blood vessels to send out its army of white defender cells to fight infection. The Sun governs the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart organ, arteries, capillaries, veins, blood and bloodstream. The heart plays a similar role in our physical system as the sun does in the solar system. It distributes life, vitality and nourishment to every cell in the body through blood circulation.
A well placed and well aspected Sun in the natal chart promotes a positive psychological outlook on life and is the most positive indicator of good health. It indicates a heart that has an excellent ability to absorb prana, thus vitalising cell life and boosting the power of the immune system. Easy aspects to the Sun from Mars and Jupiter boost vitality. This is because the brute animal strength of Mars and the expansive power of Jupiter, support, promote and strengthen the Sun's power. Even hard aspects (square, semi-square, opposition, conjunction) are better than none. In this case, energy is available, though if misused can lead to burn-out.
Afflictions to the Sun indicate heart and circulation problems, depletion of vitality and lowered resistance to disease. The Sun sign often points to a part of the body that will suffer if vitality or immunity should falter. Sometimes solar function is potentially impaired if the Sun is in Virgo, Pisces, or the sixth and twelfth houses, which govern illness and hospitalisation. This does not mean that illness naturally follows such placements; there may be other compensating factors in the chart. What it does mean is that attention should be given to dict, exercise and living a moderate lifestyle to help strengthen vitality and health.
Interestingly, germs are living organisms that find their way into the human mechanism through the medium of the life force, which in its turn, uses the heart and the bloodstream as its agents of distribution.
2. Examine the Moon. In Alice Bailey's book Esoteric Healing, we are informed that most individual diseases are caused by our own psychology - primarily disturbed emotions (90% cause of disease). So, examination of the Moon- and also of Mars and Neptune (which are given as the rulers of the emotional solar plexus chakra), their signs and aspects; will give insight into emotional expression. Any hard aspects to these plancts could indicate potential health problems as a consequence of the misuse of the emotions. Disruptive emotions can cause congestion in energy flows in the body. This means that organs are not being adequately vitalised and this is a precursor to the onset of disease.
3. Examine the 6th and 12th house. These are the health houses. The 6th rules acute health conditions. The 12th rules chronic health conditions that require hospitalisation or other specialist ongoing attention. The sign on the sixth house cusp, the ruler and planets in the 6th; these can indicate a part of the body that could be more easily affected if ill-health should strike and the type of illnesses that could arise. For example, Gemini - mental and breathing disorders.; Saturn in the 6th or the ruler of the 6th - illnesses associated with cold and chills. Hard aspects from malefics to the 6th or to its ruler, or located in the 6th or 12th can increase the likelihood of illness. They represent stress that is not being alleviated.
4. Illnesses by hard aspects. Hard aspects and planet patterns such as the T-Square, these show tension in the personality. In such cases, people may suppress their emotions or have volcanic rages. Either way, there is a disruption to energy flow. The planets involved in such a pattern can show the type of diseases, the organs and systems that can be affected if the stress being generated is not alleviated.
5. Signs and planet rulership's of the body and associated illnesses. Aries and Mars: rule the head, brain, face and nose. Aries governs the pineal gland. Injuries to the head or brain, headaches, teeth, migraine, stroke, head fevers, eye problems, brain congestion. Mars: inflammation, infections, acute disease, fevers, blood problems, bruises, wounds, acidosis, burns, irritation, ulcers, surgery, sharp pain, muscular disorders, haemorrhages, accidents, fractures, infectious diseases.
Taurus and Venus: rule the limbic system, the throat, thyroid gland, the mouth and beginning of the alimentary canal. Earache, sore throats, swollen throat glands, mumps, abscesses, thyroid problems, laryngitis, gum disease, obesity through overeating.
Gemini and Mercury: rule the central nervous system, neurons, nerve fluid, the airways, lungs, breathing organs, respiration, speech organs, ears, hearing, eyes, thymus gland, shoulders, arms, hands and upper body- movement. Allergies, asthma, lung disorders, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, nervous disorders, neuralgia, mental stress, respiration problems, emphysema, speech defects, breathing disorders - asthma, problems with the hands, locomotive disorders.
Cancer and the Moon: rule the breasts, abdomen, stomach, the pancreas gland, female reproductive organs and processes such as menstruation, pregnancy and child-raising. White body fluids (including co-rulership of the lymphatic system), the watery sacs in body, tears, white blood cells, brain and bone matter and stem- cells. Water retention leading to obesity, flatulence, breast cancer, allergies, diseases caused by wrong diet. Moodiness, emotional-based problems.
Leo and the Sun: rule the cardiovascular system especially the heart, lower lungs, the immune system, co-rules the thymus, sternum, the spine and vertebrae. The Sun: rules vision via the eyes and cell-life. Autoimmune diseases, heart disease, problems with the blood, fevers, high temperatures, high blood pressure, sunstroke, sunburn, spinal meningitis, back pains, angina, anaemia, inflammation, low vitality.
Virgo and Mercury: rule intestinal digestion, the small and large intestines, the bowels, the colon, the pylorus, the duodenum, the appendix and co-rules the anus (with Scorpio), which is the end point of digestion. Malnutrition, appendicitis, colic, digestive and bowel problems, food allergies, parasites and wind.
Libra and Venus: rule the pancreas, kidneys, bladder, ureters, co-rule the adrenals with Scorpio, and rule the belt-area of the body including vertebrae in that region. Lumbago, urinary tract problems, kidney diseases of all types. Blood sugar imbalance, kidneys and pancreas disorders. Venus: female reproductive processes, genitals and the pancreas. Over-relaxes (prolapses), problems with periods, diabetes through overindulgence with sugar, addictions to sweet foods and laziness.
Scorpio, Mars and Pluto: rule the reproductive organs generally - primarily in men, the elimination organs, the adrenals and fight and flight impulse. Hernia, piles, venereal diseases, menstrual irregularities, prostrate trouble, kidney infections and adrenal troubles. Pluto: rules the will to survive. Malformation, massive infections, malignancies, obsessive anxiety disorders.
Sagittarius and Jupiter: rule the hips, thighs, mobility and problems such as sciatica and movement problems. Jupiter: rules the liver, the arteries and growth generally. Liver problems such as jaundice, hepatitis and cirrhosis of liver. Diseases caused through excess - obesity, gout, enlarged organs and cell overgrowth such as in cancer.
Capricorn and Saturn: rule the skeleton, skin, teeth, spine, knees and all joints. Rheumatism, bone dislocation, colds and chills, arthritis, knee problems, deafness, dental problems, stiffness. Saturn: chronic discases, problems with the skeleton - rigidity, calcification, crystallisation. Obstructions, malnutrition, skin diseases, hair loss, under-activity, weaknesses generally and depression.
Aquarius and Uranus: rule DNA, the ankles, blood circulation and corule the nervous system. Genetic diseases, gene mutations, leg cramps, ankle problems, varicose veins, anaemia and other problems with blood quality. Uranus: neurons and synapses. Spasms, epilepsy, sudden illnesses, cramps, convulsions, ruptures, seizures, twitching, restlessness. Stress-related illnesses, sudden accidents especially from electricity.
Pisces and Neptune: rule the feet and lymphatic system. Cystic fibrosis, bunions, viruses, allergies, mucus, devitalisation, general weakness, gout. Alcoholism, psychosomatic illnesses, delusions, drug and alcohol addictions. Neptune: the blood stream, hidden or obscure illnesses.