SOLAR WRITER REPORT
Lee Lehman's Decumbiture Report
for
Hans Christian Andersen
Compliments
of:-
Christine
Bennett
Spit
Junction 2088
Tel:
1300 880 448
Email:
cb@ittakes2.com.au
Web:
www.ittakes2.com.au
Astrological
Summary
Chart
Point Positions: Hans Christian Andersen
|
Planet |
Sign |
Position |
House
|
Comment |
|
The
Moon |
Taurus |
9°Ta18' |
4th |
|
|
The
Sun |
Aries |
11°Ar49' |
3rd |
|
|
Mercury |
Aries |
13°Ar12' |
3rd |
|
|
Venus |
Pisces |
27°Pi14' |
3rd |
|
|
Mars |
Leo |
2°Le25' |
8th |
|
|
Jupiter |
Sagittarius |
6°Sg10' |
12th |
|
|
Saturn |
Libra |
12°Li54' |
9th |
|
|
Uranus |
Libra |
19°Li14' |
9th |
read
into 10th House |
|
|
Scorpio |
27°Sc51' |
11th |
|
|
Pluto |
Pisces |
10°Pi00' |
2nd |
|
Chart
Point Aspects
|
Planet |
Aspect |
Planet |
Orb |
App/Sep |
|
The
Moon |
Square |
Mars |
6°52' |
Separating |
|
The
Moon |
Sextile |
Pluto |
0°42' |
Applying |
|
The
Sun |
Conjunction |
Mercury |
1°22' |
Separating |
|
The
Sun |
Trine |
Mars |
9°23' |
Separating |
|
The
Sun |
Trine |
Jupiter |
5°39' |
Separating |
|
The
Sun |
Opposition |
Saturn |
1°04' |
Applying |
|
The
Sun |
Opposition |
Uranus |
7°24' |
Applying |
|
Mercury |
Trine |
Jupiter |
7°02' |
Separating |
|
Mercury |
Opposition |
Saturn |
0°18' |
Separating |
|
Mercury |
Opposition |
Uranus |
6°01' |
Applying |
|
Venus |
Trine |
Mars |
5°11' |
Applying |
|
Venus |
Trine |
|
0°37' |
Applying |
|
Mars |
Trine |
Jupiter |
3°44' |
Applying |
|
Mars |
Trine |
|
4°34' |
Separating |
|
Jupiter |
Sextile |
Saturn |
6°44' |
Applying |
|
Jupiter |
Conjunction |
|
8°18' |
Applying |
|
Jupiter |
Square |
Pluto |
3°50' |
Separating |
|
Saturn |
Conjunction |
Uranus |
6°19' |
Separating |
The
Purpose of this Report
The
purpose of this report is to present text relevent to
interpreting the Decumbiture chart. What is a decumbiture? It may be one of several events - the time a
person feels so sick that they retire to their bed (the traditional meaning),
or it may be the time of a sudden onset of a disease condition, such as a
seizure. It may be the time of admission to a hospital. Each of these would be
interpreted in the same way - as a starting point to the delineation of what
the disease condition may be, whether it is physical, mental or spiritual, how
readily it may be cured, and the general length of the disease. Please note
that this report should never be taken as a substitute for an examination and
diagnosis by a qualified health care practitioner.
The
difficulty that Astrologers have faced when confronted with medical questions
is that the astrological literature consists mostly of extensive lists of very
specific aphorisms (e.g., "...in questions relating to sick people, or Decumbitures, Whether the Lord of the Seventh, and Seventh
House itself, be free from Impediments? for if they
be, the sick may safely trust himself to the care of the Physicians, for
medicines will do very well. But if the Seventh House and its Lord shall be
Afflicted, Ptolemy saith 'The Physician must be
changed, for neither the physic nor care will do any good,' for the 7th
signifies the medicine, as 'Zael' saith.
Or at least the disease grows chronic and lasting. The like is to be expected
if the same positions happen at the beginning of any cure." [Bonatti]).
The
challege of this material is that none of the works
are very much systematized, much less critically discussed. It is left to the
individual Astrologer to "collect" all the relevant aphorisms that
apply to a particular Decumbiture, despite the fact
that these ideas are scattered over a number of references, in a number of
languages, with no indexing available!
This
program attempts to rectify this difficulty by automatically collecting all the
aphorisms that apply, and by presenting this information in a systematic
fashion. Only then can we really study this material, and make our way through
it critically. To date, we have no idea how systematically any of these
ideas were applied, because the historical examples that we have only present a
short list of aphorisms per chart. Did they ignore the rest, or never even
attempt them? Did every physician attempt to memorize literally hundreds of
considerations? We just don't know.
Types
of Medical Charts and Delineations
There
are several types of medical charts. The Decumbiture,
mentioned above, is the basic type. However, it was common to deal with disease
through the use of Horary Astrology. In this case, either the Patient, or a
Party related to the Patient, would consult the physician, and this would be
treated as a variant of the question: What is the cause of my illness, and will
I recover? This computer program also applies to this type of question, but
only if the Patient is represented by the 1st House.
When
is the Patient given by the 1st House in Horary? There are several ways.
·
The Patient asks the question. In Horary, the person asking
the question, or Querent, is always given by the 1st
House.
·
The Patient is unable to ask the question, and so designates
another party to ask on her or his behalf. Traditionally, this was a servant or
relative. Notice that this method requires that permission be granted to
the asking party.
If the question is asked by another,
it works better if the party asking is not likely to figure in the horary
otherwise. The reason for this is simple - the 1st house always shows the Querent, and this meaning can only be ignored if the Querent's interests are not vitally affected by the outcome
of this horary. Thus, it is unlikely that a son or daughter could ask this
question concerning a parent, and be so objective that the son or daughter's
response to the disease or threat of death could be ignored. In this case, the
emotional response of the child to the parent could mask the reading of the
First House for the vitality of the parent. It could instead show the state of
the Querent! As Saunders explained,
"It's
very necessary in this manner of Judgment, that you always have respect unto
the Question; for if the Question come direct, that the Party sick did send, or
was acquainted with the coming of the Messenger, or Urine, then ought you
always to have respect to the Ascendant, the Lord thereof, to the Moon, to the
8th House, and Lord thereof..." (page 41)
Saunders
also gives a special case for a parent asking about a child.
"And
also, whereas you may desire to know where the Ascendant shall be taken, when
the Father or Mother do make the Question for their
Son or Daughter, without consent of the Sick,
"This
you shall observe after our Experience in such a case -
"The
4th House shall be the Ascendant for the Querent, and
for the Urine.
"The
1st House and Lord thereof, shall be the Ascendant for
the Son or Daughter sick." (pages 42-43)
Actually,
Saunders addresses this issue in gory detail, pages 72-80, of which we have
only summarized here the most significant cases. Once it has been determined
that the 1st House really does apply to the Patient, we can proceed with our
delineation.
However,
before we do, a word about "acute" and
"chronic." Diseases were either viewed as being delineated
using the Moon or the Sun as timer, depending on whether the disease was acute
or chronic. Acute disease run their course in less than 30-90
days; chronic ones, longer. Much of what gets said concerning the Moon
can be used for the Sun if the disease has turned chronic.
And,
of course, a word about the urine and our 20th Century sensibilities... It was
standard procedure when a Patient was too sick to go to a physician for the
Patient to send a sample of a bodily fluid. It doesn't take a genius to figure
out that urine was the most likely candidate. When the physician received the
sample, he would cast a chart for the moment of receipt, hence the professional
term "urine caster," for the casting of a chart. The urine was also
examined for color, turbidity, and taste. This was the genesis of the modern
urine sample that is often requested for a medical examination.
Understanding
the system of disease presented here requires an understanding of the system of
Humoral Medicine that developed out of Hippocrates'
system. Many of the descriptions refer to the qualities - hot, cold, wet and
dry - by degrees. These degrees work in the same way that burn degrees work. A
1st degree burn, or a humor hot in the first degree, is much more minor than a
2nd degree burn, or a condition hot in the second
degree. The highest degree of quality is the 4th, which is a near fatal
condition: either an extreme burning fever for hot in the 4th degree, or a
metabolism so shut down as to be at death's door for cold in the 4th degree.
Thus, when
degrees are given for the qualities, we can see immediately how serious the
condition is. It is worth reminding ourselves that the more serious the
description, the more likely it is that significant medical intervention will
be necessary to get the condition under control.
This, then,
relates to the utility of the delineation of Death in the Decumbiture.
It is important for us to mentally insert the modifier "without aggressive
medical intervention" into each warning of Death. Consider that, in Saunder's day, pneumonia, measles, scarlett fever, chicken pox, not to mention gangrene,
were almost always death sentences. Any serious condition for which you were
given a full dose of antibiotics could have been fatal in earlier
centuries.
This does
not mean that fatality is no longer possible: of course it is. In the cases
where fatality is a strong possibility, there's a high probability that the
illness will represent a major crisis in one's life, if it doesn't in turn
result in death. We may also return to a comment I made in the beginning: that
part of the delineation of a disease condition is to classify it as physical,
mental or spiritual. This is not my opinion: it is a firmly grounded concept in
the philosophy of our tradition. A disease that is spiritual in origin may not
be "dangerous" to the body, but it can still kill. It is also not
going to be susceptible to the methodology of conventional medicine, because
the cure of the Body only tangentially affects the Spirit.
The curious conclusion
is that this traditional medical diagnosis may ultimately provide a bridge
between the more biochemically, bioenergetically,
or spiritually based approaches to Medicine, by suggesting an appropriate
treatment protocol.
How
to Use this Report
Because
this report draws on such a variety of sources and methods, it is difficult to
conceive of taking this report as a literal description of the disease. The lists of conditions covered by the Significators
is often overwhelming. On a first screen, the best plan is probably to
specifically watch for the organ part(s) and/or symptoms known to be included
in the condition in the delineation. If the description of the disease
specifically lists the condition as known, then the condition is more serious.
This
may seem like a strange way to proceed. But consider surgery. At approximately
the same time, in the same hospital complex, a laser catarract
procedure, an open heart surgery, a nose
job, an EKG, and a cancer surgery could be starting, not to mention the fact
that a child could be delivered. Suppose that the chart for this time
highlights eye conditions. Does this mean that the heart surgery isn't needed?
Not at all! But it suggests that the eye operation, although arguably the
simplest and least dangerous of the procedures listed is likely to be the one
with the greatest consequences.
So
does that mean that the eye patient dies on the table? Probably
not. However, there may be consequences: vision is not improved, or it
turns out that there was another condition present with the catarract
that now is allowed to manifest.
Another
factor to consider: in virtually all cases, there are astrological conditions
that would merit the statement, "danger of death," just as there are
likely to be conditions that would be listed as "recovery." This is
probably a good way of reminding us of the myriad possibilities present in each
moment. If the "danger of death" warnings exceed the
"recovery" ones, then the condition is probably grave enough to
require considerable attention.
The
Humors
The
classical medical model was given by Hippocrates a century before astrology had
been incorporated into Greek thought.
This model incorporated four basic qualities: Hot, Cold, Wet, and Dry.
These four qualities varied by season, gender, age, and person. The ideal of
Hippocrates was to lead a balanced life. If the body is balanced, then disease
is less likely to take hold. The method of creating balance was diet and
regimen.
I
have written extensively on the philosophical underpinnings of this model in my
book, Classical Astrology for Modern Living. This introduction reviews
some of the more pertinent points as they apply to lifestyle issues.
The
entire ancient scheme was based on the four qualities: Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry. "Hot" and "Cold" were one pair -
"Wet" and "Dry" the other. These qualities are
understood somewhat differently within the context of disease than they are in
a natal analysis.
"Whatsoever
is Hot, as the Fire is his Simple and Elementary Quality, doth heat, open,
digest, attenuate, ripen, subtilitate [i.e., to make
more subtle: remember that Fire is of the Spirit], and make thin, and simple,
and maketh soft.
"Whatsoever
in his Simple and Elementary Quality and Nature is Moist, as the Air, doth
moisten, putrifie and corrupt, make slippery,
lighten, and conglutinate [i.e., to congeal].
"Whatsoever
is Dry, as the Earth is in its Simple Quality and nature, drieth,
maketh barren, attracteth
and setleth, and is the worst in decreasing.
"Whatsoever
is Cold in his Simple Nature and Quality, as the
Water, doth make cold, thicken, and causeth
indigestion, congealeth, destroyeth,
maketh hard, knitteth
together. It doth not pierce and open, but shutteth, incloseth and stoppeth, and nourisheth not, but astonisheth
and extinguisheth the Radical Heat and Breath of
Life." (Sa-069)
Each
of the four qualities actually represents a cluster of concepts, and their
opposites. For example, the qualities Hot and Cold do not represent extremes of
a temperature continuum, as we would define them. They represent qualities
of energy, where Hot represents high energy or physical heat, and Cold
represents low energy or physical Cold. But these qualities are opposites in a
critically different way from the way we normally envision them. Take
temperature. From a purely chemical perspective, molecules in a hotter gas
vibrate more rapidly on average than molecules in a colder gas. Mixing Hot and
Cold gases will produce an intermediate result. In other words, in our thinking
the "Cold" portion is completely canceled out by a portion of the
"Hot" component. But this is not how it works - at least as far as
the qualities, and not chemistry, is concerned! People are, in fact, more than
capable of expressing opposite qualities without one canceling the other. In
psychological testing there is often an index of consistency, which is actually
a measure of to what extent an individual will give the same answer to the same
question. If such an index is deemed necessary, it becomes clear exactly how
capable we are of expressing "incompatible" ideas and emotions!
Opposites do not cancel each other out!
Thus,
people - or a disease condition - can have Hot and Cold qualities simultaneously.
In fact, having "half and half" would be to manifest equal quantities
of each, not to have a "zero-sum state" in which "Hot"
cancels "Cold," perhaps producing lukewarm. It may be useful to
envision Hot and Cold as being like two different colored marbles, red and
blue. Having more blue marbles doesn't take away the red ones: it just means
that, if you were to draw one marble out of a box at random, you would more
likely draw a blue one, but you could draw a red one.
In
addition to the simple (one element types), there are also combinatory disease
conditions. Saunders gives them as follows.
"Whatsoever
is Hot and Dry of Nature, is cholerick, generative,
attractive, durative, and conservative, drying, heating, and attracting; doth
harden, and cause watchfulness, because of heating and drying of the Brain and
Head; they do also exhaust and draw, gather together and collect, they also
cleanse and purge, provoke to siedge [i.e., siege: to
a crisis point in the disease], and make sweet, they do cleanse and scour the
Body replenished with cold and moist Humours.
"Whatsover is Hot and Moist, generates by reason of Heat,
and corrupteth by reason of Moisture, and bringeth not to perfection.
"Whatsoever
is Cold and Dry participateth of duration and destruction;
for if the Dry exceed the Cold, then it will be duratuve
[lasting], , but if the cold Quality in the same
subject exceed the dry, then destructive, & est
sicut Lignum arridum.
"Whatsoever
is Cold and Moist, is indigestible material, corruptive, and always
destructive, none generative, neque durat, neque fructum
sert, sed obstupes, expulsive, refrigerated, humid, corruptible, mortificant; creates heaviness, dulness,
and slowness in all things, provokes to sleep and drowsiness, Rots, consumes, separates
and divides, is of the nature of the Moon and Venus, ingenders
moist and watry Humours and
Impostumes [swellings], and repells
Humous by congelation and
thickening, dispersing them in sundry places." (Sa-070)
Each
type has what were called Natural or Unnatural characteristics. These, for
example, illustrate the natural and unnatural characteristics of choler:
"Natural
Choler [pronounced like "collar"] is hot and dry, temperate, and maintaineth the Attractive Virtue in all the Members of the
Body, to the maintenance of Life and Health, and the right Natural Choler is
reddish, cleer and pure.
"Unnatural
Choler, if it abound in the Gall, it overfloweth the
Liver, and causeth the yellow Jaundies,
and there are caused many bitter belchings in the
Stomach. If Unnatural Choler in the Liver commix it self with Blood in the
Veins, and ascend to the Brain, it maketh the Party
light-witted, and frantick, and drieth
the Radical moisture and humidity of the Brain, preventing sleep and
rest." (Sa-148)
The
important point is how to tell whether the humor is natural or unnatural.
Saunders explains this as follows:
"Choler
is one of the four Natural Humours in the body of
Man, and is ingendred in the Liver, and hath its
residence in the Gall. And by nature Choler is maintained the Virtue Attractive
in the members of Man, which is hot and dry, and is of the nature of Venus and
Sun, if it be Natural. But if it be Unnatural and
burnt, then it is of the nature of Mars, which is hot and dry, by Nature untemperate." (Sa-147)
The
critical point to notice is that natural choler is lodged in the Venus-ruled
parts of the body. Venus is cold and wet, so natural choler is lodged in those
areas of opposite nature. Also, the Sun is hot and dry, but much less so than
Mars, so that choler can naturally occur in temperance in organs of a like
nature. The natural condition is the healthy type; the unnatural is the
unhealthy type. Thus, when Mars-ruled organs become excessively hot and dry,
they are likely to become focal points for disease.
Hippocratic
medicine combines allopathy and homeopathy. The
allopathic approach would mean that if you have become out of balance because
your body is experiencing too much heat (that Mars transit to your Sun?), then
you need to take a Cold herb, Cold food, Cold exercise, or literally experience
Cold temperatures in order to cool yourself down. Homeopathy would give you a small
amount of a slightly hot to kick your system back to balance.
Hippocrates
believed that, in adults at any rate, the biggest problem that resulted in
disease was either eating the wrong foods, the wrong mixture of food, or too
much food in the absence of exercise. What bearing does this have on allopathy and homeopathy? Going back to basics, an allopathic
approach to the cure of a disease is to give a substance or create a
circumstance which is opposite in nature to the nature of the symptoms, or of
the disease itself. Thus, for a poison, we give an antidote which is
antagonistic in its effect on the poison itself. A homeopathic
approach is to give a similar or identical substance in small quantity,
essentially to "kick" the body back into balance. By definition,
allopathic medicines have higher dosages than homeopathic.
If
we then consider that Hippocrates is saying the biggest problem that puts
people in danger of disease is food, then immediately we have a clue that food
can only be an allopathic agent, because food is eaten in bulk.
Spices or medicines can be either, because the concentration is so much lower
relative to the concentration of foods, that it's possible to administer either
an allopathic, or a homeopathic dosage.
Nicholas
Culpeper addressed disease in a somewhat different
Manner. Speaking of Saturn, he said,
"The
great wisdom of a physician is to know whether Saturn cause the disease
by ... Sympathy or Antipathy, and then take notice, that as the cause is, so is
the cure., Sympathetical, or antipathetical:
and withal do not forget, that sympathetical cures
strengthen nature; Antipathetical cures, in one
degree of another weaken it; ... Antipathetical
Medicines are not be used, unless to such Patients whom Doctor Ignorance or
Doctor Carelessness hath had so long in hand, that Sympathetical
will not serve the turn.... If Saturn cause the
disease by Sympathy, cure it by the Sympathetical
herbs of Saturn. If he cause the disease by
Antipathy, note whether it be by Antipathy to Sun or Moon.... Make use of the Sympathetical herbs of these Planets ... for cure."
(Page 46)
What
we begin to perceive is that the concepts allopathic and homeopathic
may not be inclusive enough: Culpeper is clearly
talking about the broader terms antipathetic and sympathetic.
When Culpeper refers to antipathy, he is mainly
referring to the dispositor of the signs in which the
planet is in Detriment. So here, Saturn is in Detriment in Cancer and Leo;
thus, the antipathetic causes are the Moon or the Sun.
If
we apply the more modern parlance of "antagonistic" to the quainter
term "antipathetic," the situation becomes even clearer. Much of
modern medicine is based on the principle of antagonism: if the patient has
high blood pressure, give them something to bring it down; if the patient has
low thyroxin, then give them thyroxin (or a chemical relative) to increase the
amount in the system. Granted, this is being done within the context of a
completely different theory of disease. However, the older theories explain one
bane of modern medicine: the frequency of side effects. As Culpeper
says, treating a condition antagonistically weakens the system.
Therefore, we see side effects, which we can understand as being manifestations
of this phenomenon.
If
we are to understand how this whole system works within an astrological
framework, then we need to reintegrate the Humours
Theory within conventional astrological analysis. Here's how it works. In your
Natal Report from Solar Writer/Classical, there is a computation of your
temperament. This computation is based on a number of factors, but in a way
completely different from the approach of conventional astrology. The
conventional astrological analysis can be broken down into an equivalent method
for computing one or more dominant planets.
First,
it's necessary to determine which planets are predominant in the natal chart.
·
Any planet in an angular house should be considered
important, especially if it is conjunct the angle.
·
The Ruler of the Ascendant, the Sun, and the Moon are all
potential candidates if any one also disposes a number of
other planets, or conjoins a Royal or other significant Fixed Star.
·
In the absence of other indications, the most dignified
planet may be considered.
Once we have
decided upon the planet(s) to use, then we can translate them into qualities.
·
Saturn is Cold and Dry.
·
Jupiter is Hot and Moist.
·
Mars is Hot and Dry.
·
The Sun is Hot and Dry, but not as
much as Mars.
·
Venus is Hot and Moist.
·
Mercury adapts to its sign and conjunctions.
·
The Moon is Cold and Moist.
The signs of
the planets modify the effect of the planets, as follows:
·
Fire Signs are Hot and Dry.
·
Water Signs are Cold and Wet.
·
Air Signs are Hot and Wet.
·
Earth Signs are Cold and Dry.
The reason
that we mention this is because so much of the analysis of what is out of
balance requires basic understanding of these qualities. If you examine the Decumbiture analysis, you may see that Hot and Wet
qualities predominate in the disease description. If you are naturally Cold and Dry, then the nature of the disease is completely
antagonistic to your natural balance, and may wreck more havoc than the
reverse. Hot people tend to experience more fevers (and higher ones)
than Cold people. On the other hand, there are limits. A fever above a
certain degree will kill, just as reduced metabolism below a certain degree
(the cold equivalent) will kill.
Different
humors also react differently to disease in general regardless of the
nature of the disease. Thus we see that when the Natal Complexion is Choleric,
the disease is shorter. (Cu-061) When the Natal Complexion is Melancholic, the
disease is longer. (Cu-061)
In the Notes
section, we have correlated the so-called Faculties with the Qualities,
which is another way of doing this analysis. The Faculties have to do with the
body's reaction mechanisms to an excess of particular qualities.
This
program analyses the Decumbiture Chart, which becomes
a blueprint for how the disease process has developed. Thus, here we have
already started from the position that a disease has occurred. What we have
just seen is the theory behind the understanding of disease onset in the first
place. The rest of this report focuses on describing that disease.
Interpretation
of Planetary Placements
The
Moon
As
Culpeper says of the Moon, the stronger, the better,
the weaker, the worse. (Cu-066) One of the
specifically important considerations about the Moon is that she rules
relapses. (C1-091) The Moon also gives most changes in the condition, unless
the disease is chronic in nature. It is almost impossible to overrate the Moon
in the delineation of Decumbitures. In compiling this
survey of aphorisms, I found that approximately one quarter of the total
concern the Moon. A large proportion of the aphorisms relating to either danger
of death or likelihood of recovery come from the Moon.
The
formula for determining the gravity of an illness is rather simple: if the Moon
is in good condition, and either approaching benefic(s),
or improving in dignity, then the disease is neither serious, nor will it last
very long. If the Moon is in bad condition, but moving to benefics,
or improving in condition, then the condition of the patient will improve. But
if the Moon is either moving to malefics, or
deteriorating in condition, then the condition gets worse. If the Moon starts
out in a bad condition, and then deteriorates from there, the condition is
especially grave, because then the patient has no resources to fight the
disease.
"The
Moon is cold and moist, flegmatick by nature, and yet
more moist than cold, she having chief dominion over
all Bodies inhabiting this Globe of mortality.... She is most temperate, not
much disagreeing from Nature, because it is her own house...
"The
Moon hath of the Body humane, the Brain, the Lights [lungs], the Marrow, the
Neck, the taste, the swallowing, the Back-bone, the Stomach, the Menstrues [menstruation], and all the Excrements, the right
Eye of a Woman, and the left Eye of a Man, the force and strength of growing,
the left side of the Stomach, the Head, the Matrix [womb], the Vulva, and
according to some, she hath the Belly and Mother in Women..." (Sa-197/8).
The
Moon is in a Fixed Sign
Disease
is prolonged. (Cu-005) Long illness. (Li-0253) Less
medication is better. (C2-148)
...and
The Moon is leaving a Square with Mars
"The
grief diminisheth." (BL-073)
...and
The Moon is leaving a Square with the Ruler of the 4th House
"The
grief diminisheth." (BL-073)
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
"Argueth long and lasting griefs or infirmities."
(BL-073)
...and
The Moon is Square the Ruler of the 4th House
"Argueth long and lasting griefs or infirmities."
(BL-073)
The
Moon is Waxing
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
"...
beware the beginning of a sicknesse
when the Moon is thus unfortunated, and understand
that Mars doth more mischiefe when he is in masculine
Signes." (Li-286)
The
Moon is Debilitated by Aspect with Malefic
...and
The chart is Nocturnal
Danger of death. (Her-096)
The
Moon is in range 6 Taurus to 10 Taurus
If
the Moon is in Azimene Degrees in Acute Disease, it
gives continued sickness, if not sudden death. (BL-074)
The
Moon is Square Mars
Danger of death. (C1-087) Less dangerous than the conjunction, but still can create mischief.
(Li-254)
The
Moon is in Taurus
In
the Four-footed signs, Medication provokes vomiting. (C2-148) In the ruminating
signs, it's not good to give a purge, because the body tends toward vomiting.
(Her-074) If this occurs on a Critical Day, it bodes well for Recovery.
(Cu-067)
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
"The
disease proceedeth of too much ill blood, with
continual Feavers, the whole body obstructed,
inflammations of the neck, throat and hinder parts of the head, ache of the
bones, inordinate watching, a desire to drink water, and cool things:
blood-letting, and things that do cool, extenuate and mitigate, are convenient.
If that the violence of Mars be not repelled by some of the
fortunes, the sick will hardly live to the ninth day. But if the Moon be
with either of the fortunes, expect recovery after the sixth day."
(Cu-076)
The
Moon is in the 4th House
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
Danger of death. (Cu-070) Danger of death. (Sa-064)
The
Sun
The
Sun rules chronic diseases in the same way that the Moon rules acute ones.
(Cu-007)
As
the Ruler of a Disease, the Sun gives short diseases. (C1-091) It increases hot
and dry diseases, being somewhat hot and dry itself. (C4-088)
The
Sun is Trine Jupiter
Patient
survives, if Jupiter is not killing planet. (Cu-031)
The
Sun is Opposite Saturn
Disease long and tedious, if not mortal.
(Cu-070) Disease is melancholic, and will last longer than anticipated.
(Cu-056)
The
Sun is Opposite Saturn
Little hope of escape. (C4-083)
...and
The Sun is Trine Mars
"...
either Death, or an extraordinary long Sickness
succeeds." (Sa-064)
The
Sun is Trine Mars
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
"...
the Sickness is short, and Deathly speedy." (Sa-064)
The
Sun is in the 3rd House
...and
The Moon is in the 4th House
Great danger of death. (Li-283) Danger of death. (Sa-059)
...and
The Sun is Opposite Saturn
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
"...give
testimony to a tedious long sickness." (Li-258)
...and
The Sun is Debilitated by Aspect with Malefic
...and
The Moon is Debilitated by Aspect with Malefic
"...
give testimony of a tedious long Sickness..."
(Sa-064) Danger of death. (Cu-070)
The
Moon's Nodes
This
section contains aphorisms which apply only to a limited number of charts, and
if none apply to this chart, it will be blank.
Interpretation
of House Placements
Astrology
gathers themes under twelve areas, known as houses. In a health reading, only a
few of these houses are used. The 1st House shows the vitality of the Patient.
The 6th House shows the nature of the disease. The 8th House shows death, if
death is a likely scenario.
Sources
for text are shown as an abbreviation after each paragraph. Note that the text
is derived from these various classical sources, and does not represent exact
quotations, unless enclosed in quotations. The full source listing is given in
the References section. In this case, the report follows the source texts to
the greatest extent possible, since its purpose is to provide a comprehensive
listing of ideas which apply to a decumbiture, not to
filter and edit those ideas.
The
most common system of house rulerships gives the
house attributions as follows:
·
The Patient and her/his vitality is
given by the 1st House.
·
The End-of-the Matter is given by the 4th House.
·
The Illness and its cause is given
by the 6th House.
·
The Physician is given by the 7th House.
·
Death, or the possibility of it, is given by the 8th House.
·
The Physic, or treatment method, is given by the 10th House.
·
Hospitalization, or bewitchment, is given by the 12th House.
However,
there wasn't total consensus on these attributions. Ganivettus,
cited by Saunders (pages 35-36) gives this alternate list:
·
The Patient and her/his vitality is
given by the 1st House.
·
The Illness and its cause is given
by the 6th House.
·
The Physician is given by the 10th House.
·
Death, or the possibility of it, is given by the 8th House.
·
The Physic, or treatment method, is given by the 4th House.
The
following sections describe the affairs of each of the houses in relation to the
decumbiture chart. However, note that there are no
aphorisms for the 2nd, 3rd and 11th houses.
Affairs
of the 1st House: Health and Vitality
What
is vitality? It was seen as a force, with different persons having greater or
lesser degrees of it. A strong vitality was necessary - but not sufficient - in
order to have a long life. When we deal with vitality in the context of illness
delineation, we are really asking the question, Is the
vitality stronger than the disease, or than the threat of death? If your life
force is stronger than the disease force which is oppressing you, you live. If
not, you may die.
There
are also diseases specifically related to the 1st House: headaches, eye
disease, brain fevers or tumors, epilepsy, nervous weakness, bone marrow
diseases, jaw disease, tooth disease, nervous system disease, sense organ
disease (sight, smell, taste, etc.), nose problems, face problems, ear
problems, and baldness.
Ruler
of the 1st is Retrograde
Very ill. Relapse is possible.
(Cu-064) Patient may be cured, but will suffer a relapse after a short time
which may present grave danger or "desparate
infirmity." (Li-251)
Jupiter
is the Ruler of the 1st House
The
problem is in the Body, because that is what Jupiter affects. (Li-264)
...and
Jupiter is in a Cadent House
...and
Jupiter is Trine the Ruler of the 8th House
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
Danger of death. (Sa-041)
...and
Jupiter is more dignifed than Mars
...and
Jupiter is more dignifed than Saturn
Patient
recovers. (BL-073)
...and
Dispositor of Jupiter is in 12th
Disease
resulted from patient's own doing. (Cu-027)
Ruler
of the 1st is approaching a Trine with the Ruler of the 6th House
Disease
has not peaked. (Sa-044) Likely to be problems or
complications in the course of the illness. (Cu-063)
Ruler
of the 1st is Trine the Ruler of the 8th
Death
is likely cure. (Cu-064) "One fears for the sick." (Her-071) Danger of death. (Cu-068)
Ruler
of the 1st is Conjunct the Ruler of the 12th
Danger of death. (Li-256) "It's a very
ill sign of Life...it seldome succeeds well with the
sick Person then." (Sa-061)
Ruler
of the 1st is approaching a Trine with the Ruler of the 8th House
Likely to be problems or complications in the course of the
illness. (Cu-063)
Mars
is approaching a Trine with the Ruler of the 1st House
"...retards
the cure, prolongs the infirmity." (Li-251)
Mars
is Trine the Ruler of the 1st House
...and
Mars is in the 8th House
Danger of death. (Cu-069)
...and
Jupiter is Conjunct the Ruler of the 1st House
"A strong contest between nature and the disease."
(Cu-069)
Jupiter
is Conjunct the Ruler of the 1st House
...and
Jupiter is Retrograde
Promises cure, but with a "threatning
of length of the disease." (Cu-066)
Saturn
is approaching a Sextile with the Ruler of the 1st
House
"...retards
the cure, prolongs the infirmity." (Li-251)
Saturn
is Sextile The Ascendant
...and
Saturn is not Aspect The Moon
"...
the griefe lyes in the Spirits, not in the Body." (Li-284)
...and
Dispositor of The Sun is
Mars
...and
Mars is Debilitated by Aspect with Malefic
"...
the party is grieved in Minde,
but not sick in his Body." (Li-265)
Mars
is not Aspect the 1st House Cusp
...and
Mars is Square The Moon
The
problem is in the body, not the spirit. (Li-284)
...and
Jupiter is in a Cadent House
...and
Jupiter is Trine the 8th House Cusp
...and
The Moon is Square Mars
Danger of death. (Sa-041)
Affairs
of the 4th House: Stomach, Lungs, and the End-of-the-Matter
The
4th House rules diseases of the stomach and lungs, including pleurisy,
pneumonia, coughs, tumors, swellings, etc.
Affairs
of the 5th House: The Liver and the Humour of the
Disease
In
a modern context, we seldom associate the 5th House with anything
health-related, but Saunders assigned it to the rulership
of the Liver. The Liver was understood as the seat of whatever humoural imbalance occurs.
The
5th House also rules false pregnancy and diseases of the reproductive system.
Almuten of the 5th is The Moon
...and
The Moon is in an Earth Sign
"[T]he
Expulsive Virtue [is] weakened through too much cold and drowth
of Melancholy and Flegm, infecting the Blood, and
stopping the Liver, and it is called Acetosa
Phlegma, and Vitrea
Phlegma, by reason if the analogy it beareth in colour and taste to
Glass and Vinegar as being a little saltish, but soure and sharp like Allum-water,
and it is wonderful cold, tough and dry, making oppilations
[obstructions] and indigestion in the Liver, and little lust to meat, and the
Party is heavy, dull, earthy, and melancholy. If this Vitra
Phlegma ascend to the Stomach, the Stomach will
be cold, hard, heavy, and soure, inclining to vomit,
and yet cannot vomit, but hath much pricking, reaching, tearing and growing in
the Stomach, for such it is good to vomit. If this Vitrea
Phlegma affect the
Lungs, it causeth shortness of Winde,
Ptisick [tuberculosis], and extreme Coughs. If it ascend, and affect the Brain, it causeth
heaviness, yet little sleep, but pricklings and cold,
and aches in the Head..." (Sa-090)
...and
The Moon is in the 4th House
The
stomach is the primary location.
...and
The Moon is in Taurus
"[I]t
is cold, dry, sharp, stiff and soure..." (Sa-091)
Almuten of the 5th is in Rulership, Exaltation or Triplicity
"[H]e
signifieth the abounding and overmuch of this Humour and virtue..." (Sa-094) In other words, the
strength of the ruling planet means that the condition results from an excess
or surfeit, rather than a deficiency.
Affairs
of the 6th House: Illness, and the Nature of Disease
In
medical charts, the 6th House is used to describe the nature of the disease. Nature of disease described by sign, ruler, planets in, especially
if in aspect to luminary or Ascendant. (Cu-039) The 6th House also
specifically relates to sciatica, and other diseases of the same area of the
body.
Ruler
of the 1st is Dignified and not Combust
...and
Ruler of the 6th House is Mercury
...and
Mercury is Debilitated by Peregrine
Disease
is either decreasing, or will be routed. (Cu-062) The patient is stronger than
the disease, and the disease will tend to be cured without much effort on the
part of the physician. (Li-248)
Ruler
of the 6th House is Mercury
You
are subject to the following general health issues: inflammations, especially
of mucous membranes, sciatica, stammering, lisping, hoarseness, coughs,
snuffling in the nose, imperfection in the tongue, and all diseases of the
brain: vertigo, apoplexy, and madness, also diseases of the lungs, such as
asthma, tuberculosis, and other diseases that belong to the brain, tongue and
memory.
"Mercury
denoteth Disease proceeding of mixt
Humours, according to whom he configurated,
Distraction of Sense, Madness, all Vertigo's, Lethargy, or Giddiness in the
Head, Lightness, or any Disease of the Brain, Ptisick
[advanced tuberculosis], Stammering, and imperfection of the Tongue, vain and
fond Imaginations, all defects in the Memory, Hoarsness,
dry Coughs, superabounding of Spittle, all snaffling
and snuffling in the Head or Nose, the hand and foot Gout, Dumbness,
Tongue-evil [i.e., damage], all evils in the Fancy and Intellectual parts,
Suggestions of Evil-spirits, foolish and irrational Conceits, troubled
Thoughts, stuffing of the Pipes and Organs of Voice, black Jaundies
[hepatitis], Wind in the Bowels, lightness of Mind, Deliration, aridity of the
Tongue, Swellings in the Legs, Hands and Fingers." (Sa-021)
"Mercury
is naturally more Cold and Dry than Hot and Moist, but
of a superfluous Humidity, and is Moveable, Quick in Melancholick
causes, Thin, Melancholick and Subtil."
(Sa-068)
"...
the sick party hath his Brain disaffected, is
disturbed with an unquiet Fancy or Minde, with a Frenzie, Falling-sicknessse,
Cough, Ptisick, or the like." (Li-263)
Right
side of body is afflicted. (Cu-060)
"Mercury
is said to rule the Tongue and Memory, because of his Eloquence, and hath
attributed to him the Speech and Deliberation, the Lungs, the Spleen and Milt,
the Lights [lungs], the Stomach, the Bladder, the Matrix [womb], the right Ear,
the Brain, the Nostrils, the instruments of the Senses, and the Virtue
Receptive, the Animal Spirits, the Thighs, the Belly, the Flank and the Hands,
the Throat-bole, the Navel, the Pecten, the Veins,
the Nerves, the Thoughts and Diseases of the mind, the third sort of Madness,
and the third kind of Falling-sickness [epilepsy], the Cough, the precipitation
of the Matrix, and the perturbation of the mind, abundance of Spittle and Rheums, and divers[e] dry Diseases." (Sa-182)
...and
Mercury is in Aries
In
addition, you are specifically subject to the following health issues: head
diseases, vertigo, and uterine disease. Mercury in Aries rules the genitals and
legs. Disease is in a visible part of the body. (Cu-060)
...and
Mercury is in range 0 Aries to 17 Aries
"Mercury
... is temperate in heat and cold, but dry in the first degree, causing Diseases
of subtile, thin yellow Choler,
and of thin, subtile and sharp Melancholy, equally
commixed, causing Itches and froth, and Rheum in the Stomach." (Sa-182)
...and
Mercury is Opposite Saturn
The
patient is troubled by fantasies or madness. (AN1-199)
...and
Mercury is in a Cadent House
The
disease is neither very serious, nor will it last very long. (Li-250)
...and
Mercury is in a Masculine Sign
...and
Mercury is in the 3rd House
"...
the Disease is in the superiour
and fore-part of the body, as in the forehead, stomacke,
&c." (Li-263)
...and
Mercury is Debilitated by Peregrine
"a signe of a strong fit of
sickness." (Li-251)
Venus
is in Late Degrees
A
sudden change in the disease, but whether for the good or the worse is
dependent on other factors. (BL-073)
Ruler
of the 6th House is in range 0 Aries to 9 Aries
"...
the upper part of that Member is pained or
grieved." (Li-264)
Jupiter
is Trine the Ruler of the 6th House
Recovery soon. (Cu-063)
Ruler
of the 6th House is Mercury
Disease
is short-lived. (Co-183)
6th
House Cusp is in a Mutable Sign
Disease
is of average length, but reversals and relapses are likely. (Cu-061) A
mediocre length: neither too long, nor too short. (Li-248)
...and
Venus is in Late Degrees
Disease
is of average length, but reversals and relapses are likely. (Cu-061) A
mediocre length: neither too long, nor too short. (Li-248)
Affairs
of the 7th House: The Physician and The Portals of
Death
The
7th House specifically relates to diseases of the legs, Podagra
[foot gout], feet, and toes. "...in questions relating to sick people, or Decumbitures, Whether the Lord of the Seventh, and Seventh
House itself, be free from Impediments? for if they
be, the sick may safely trust himself to the care of the Physicians, for medicines
will do very well. But if the Seventh House and its Lord shall be Afflicted,
Ptolemy saith 'The Physician must be changed, for
neither the physic nor care will do any good,' for the 7th signifies the
medicine, as 'Zael' saith.
Or at least the disease grows chronic and lasting. The like is to be expected
if the same positions happen at the beginning of any cure." (Bon-068)
Jupiter
is Trine the Ruler of the 7th House
"...
refuse not in any wise the help of the Physician, for
he shall by Gods help Cure thee, to Gods Glory, and Credit." (Sa-034)
Saturn
is Opposite the Ruler of the 7th House
"...change
thy Physician, for he shall do no good, but be crafty in his Actions and
Judgment, and to thee unfortunate." (Sa-034)
The
South Node is in the 7th House
"[P]ain and weakness in the limbs,
in some part between the huckle-bone [anklebone] and
the top of the toes." (Sa-098)
Affairs
of the 8th House: Death
The
8th House relates to diseases that involve swellings or edemas. It also relates
to Death.
As
for death, astrology has long recognized that you can be plagued by many
illnesses, but not die from them, instead dying by some completely different
means. This idea used to fall under the rubric of "morbidity" versus
"mortality." One further point on mortality: one method of
delineating the nature of death is by using the planet ruling the 8th House,
sometimes called Anareta. Some sources gave other
options for a different planet to be Anareta. There
is even a Part of Anareta. Whichever definition is
preferred, the extent of dignity of the Anareta is
important. A poorly dignified Anareta results in a
sudden death. The idea was clearly that to die "well" meant to have
the time to accept the process, make your peace with God and your fellows, and
then to die in witnessed, genteel conditions, fully shriven or forgiven. A
sudden death did not allow for absolution or preparation, and was thus less
ideal. However, these days, with hosts of lingering illnesses possible, many of
us prefer the concept of "sudden!"
Ruler
of the 8th is in the 3rd House
...and
Ruler of the 3rd is approaching a Conjunct with the Ruler of the 1st House
"...Because
a Planet so affected becomes the destroyer of Life, and kills as well if it be
a Fortune as an Infortune,
and that whether there be a reception or not." (Bon-092)
Ruler
of the 8th is approaching a Trine with the Ruler of the 1st House
"...Because
a Planet so affected becomes the destroyer of Life, and kills as well if it be
a Fortune as an Infortune, and that whether there be
a reception or not" (Bon-092) Danger of death. (Sa-039) Likely
to be problems or complications in the course of the illness. (Cu-063)
...and
The Moon is Debilitated by Aspect with Malefic
Danger of death. (Li-256)
Ruler
of the 8th is Combust
"...
the sick shall recover and not dye at that time."
(Li-285)
Saturn
is Opposite the Ruler of the 8th House
Danger of death. (Cu-070) Danger of death. (Sa-064)
Affairs
of the 9th House: Cholic and Windiness.
This
house is only used in medical astrology occasionally, to refer to specific
conditions.
Saturn
is in the 9th House
...and
Saturn is Dignified and not Combust
The
medicine helped. (Sa2-007)
Affairs
of the 10th House: The Physic, also known as the
Method of Treatment
The
10th House specifically relates to diseases of the kidneys, bowels, and back,
also gonorrhea.
Affairs
of the 12th House: Confinement, Hospitalization, and Bewitchment
The
12th House rules herpes, palsy, and diseases of the nerves and connective tissue.
Ruler
of the 12th House is Jupiter
The
problem is in the Body, because that is what Jupiter affects. (Li-264)
...and
Jupiter is Conjunct the Ruler of the 1st House
Disease
resulted from patient's own doing. (Cu-022)
General
Notes
There
are a number of considerations that apply to all decumbitures.
Some of these are provided here.
One
of the concepts mentioned in the various sections has been the four Virtues:
digestion, attraction, retention, and explusion. The
virtues can be understood as processes, all of which are necessary for the
functioning of the body. It is theoretically possible (if highly improbable)
that one could have a temperament lacking a quality, such as cold. One cannot
lack a virtue. The shutting off of a virtue would result in death, and the
magnification of one virtue at the expense of the rest results in sickness.
"Digestion
hath its operation, and is maintained by Blood, making his operation in the
Stomach by the Liver, for so long as the Liver keepeth
his natural proportion, by heat and moisture of good blood, so long shall the
Body be in Health. And if the Party shall distemper himself by his Diet or
otherwise, whereby the Liver is oppressed with much Moisture, Drowth, Heat or Cold, then the meat in the stomach for want
of Decoction, by too much cold, or overmuch heat, fouleth
and corrupteth the Blood, and breedeth
distempers and Diseases of the Body, proceeding unnaturally from the excess of
Choler, Melancholy, Blood, or Flegm." (Sa-081)
Remember that according to Hippocrates, diet was one of the most common causes
of disease. Notice that the characterization of digestion highlights the
qualities hot and wet, the qualities of both the air signs, and specifically of
the planet Jupiter, which is given rulership of the
liver. Not surprisingly, Jupiter was believed to ruler the Digestive Virtue.
"The
second of the four Virtues aforesaid is Attraction, this operation is performed
by natural Heat and Choler [natural means healthy while unnatural relates to a
diseased conditon], which is ingendered
by good digestion, of the Liver, and hath its principal residence in the Gall,
and if this Humour becom[e]
ad[j]ust or abound [i.e., out of balance], the Blood
is infected thereby, and many distempers and informities
are caused...." (Sa-081) Venus rules the Attractive Virtue.
And
what is the Virtue Retentive? It "conserveth the
Nutriment in the Body till it be digested, and it is
maintained by Melancholy, naturally cold and dry, and hath its proper residence
in the Milt or Spleen...." (Sa-082) It is ruled by Saturn.
The
Expulsive Faculty is ruled by the Moon and the Water Signs. It is characterized
by moisture, and it works with Blood. "The Expulsive Virtue ... is that
which driveth out by siedge,
the dregs of the meat after digestion, and separateth
that which the Attractive Virtue hath drawn down into the Bowels or Bladder, or
that evacuateth, or driveth
out of the Veins any evil or unnatural Humours
gathered in any part of the Body or Members." (Sa-193)
In
a disease condition, if any of these four planets predominated as the ruler of
the 5th House, then that Virtue was believed to be the one out of balance,
either by being too strong or too weak. If the ruler of the 5th House is
dignified, then that Virtue is believed to be too strong. If the Ruler of the
5th House is in Detriment, Fall, or Peregrine, then
the Virtue was believed to be too weak.
"But
in all your ministrations for any Disease, let the Lord of the 6th House be
weak and infortunate, in his Fall
or Detriment, in a Cadent house, or in opposition to the 6th House. But if the
lord of the 6th be Retrograde, or a Retrograde Planet in the 6th, or in the
Sign of the 6th House, it is a sign that the Sickness will return again. Or if
it be a Sore or Wound, that it will relapse and break
out again." (SA-094)
"Touch
no part of the Body with an Instrument to take away any Blood, when the Moon is
in the Sign governing that Member." (CPt-020) This is the surgical
rendering of the general understanding that the Moon in sign ruling disease was
considered to be a very bad sign. (Cu-006)
When
the Moon is in the element ruling the part of the body afflicted, it's good for
administering a vomitative. (AN1-224) When the Moon
is in the element ruling the part of the body afflicted, and the Planet ruling
that part of body is angular, it's not a favorable outcome for purging.
(AN1-226)
If
the illness is ruled by Jupiter or Venus, this is unfortunate, because the
Benefic acts as a malefic. (Lou-083) If the illness is ruled by Mars or Saturn,
this is fortunate, because the Malefic acts as Benefic. (Lou-083)
Planets
are consider inimical
when houses or exaltations are opposite. (Cu-014) Or when qualities are opposite. (Cu-014) Or when planets are
opposite or square other planets, they are accidentally inimical. (Cu-014)
"At
the Erection of a Figure at the decumbiture, if it be
contrary to that Radix, the Sick person will be in danger, especially if no
good Planet assist" (CPt-044)
If
the Season is Spring or Summer, the disease is
shorter. (Cu-061) If the Season is Autumn or Winter,
the Disease is longer. (Cu-061)
"A
Disease or Sickness beginning when the Moon is in a Sign where an Infortune was at the Radix, or in squareuare
or opposition thereunto, will prove very grievous, and if she were then in ill
Aspect of an Infortune, it will be dangerous. But if
at the first falling Sick, she be upon the Radical place of a Fortune, there
will be no danger." (CPt-042)
Another
consideration is whether the planets involved are slow or fast (swift) of
course. There is a generic understanding of the meaning of slow versus swift,
with swift planets giving a faster than average duration for the disease, and
slow planets giving a slower than average course. We can see this idea clearly
in the following list of specific considerations:
·
The Moon: If the Moon is swift, the cure is effected
swiftly, if not immediately. (Li-0252) If the Moon is also in a sfot aspect to the Ruler of the Ascendant, the "Cure
comes gallantly on" - and very quickly. (Cu-065) If the Moon is slow of
course, and aspecting the Ascendant, the Moon
"…retards the cure, prolongs the infirmity." (Li-0251), or
alternately, the "Cure comes gallantly on" - but not very quickly.
(Cu-065)
·
The Ruler of the 1st House: If swift, then the sickness
moves quickly through its stages. (Cu-064) If it is slow of course, then the
sickness is slow in departing. (Cu-064) If in addition, the Ruler of the 1st
House is Saturn, then the sickness gets worse. (Cu-064)
·
If the Ruler of the 6th House is conjunct a Planet Slow of
Course, the "Cure is slow to a hair." (Cu-065)
·
If the Ruler of the 6th House is Saturn and Saturn is slow
in motion, the disease is extremely prolonged. (Li-248)
·
If either Mars or Saturn is in the 1st House and slow in
motion, the disease may be in the head. (Li-244)
Planetary
Hour
Planetary
Hour Ruler (Venus) is Venus
"He
that first visits his Patient [at this time] … shall have good words of the
sick, be well esteemed and paid for his paines.
Though he faile of the cure, yet shall he receive no
prejudice thereby. I meane, in
point of estimation." (Li-282)
Planetary
Hour Ruler (Venus) is Conjunct the Ruler of the 10th House
...and
Planetary Hour Ruler (Venus) is not the Ruler of the 6th House
...and
Ruler of the 10th House is Venus
...and
Venus is not the Ruler of the 6th House
"…
the finger of God is on the Party, and the Distemper
is supernatural." (Sa-043)
Mercury
Mercury
gives variable diseases. (C1-091)
Venus
Venus
gives mediocre or feeble diseases. (C1-091) Venus is more helpful to younger
patients than older ones. (Cu-006) Venus helps, if disease is of a hot nature.
(Cu-042) If disease is Mars-ruled, Venus is better than Jupiter. (Cu-006)
Mars
Mars
gives short, but acute diseases. (C1-091) Mars increases hot and dry diseases.
(C4-088)
Mars
is Oriental
A more dangerous position. (Sa-065)
Jupiter
Jupiter
gives short diseases. (C1-091) Jupiter helps, if disease is of a cold nature.
(Cu-042) If disease is Saturn-ruled, Jupiter is better than Venus. (Cu-006)
Jupiter
is Trine The Sun
"Fear
not the death of thy Patient." (Li-285)
Saturn
Saturn
gives long diseases. (C1-091) Saturn increases cold and dry diseases and
increases long diseases. (C4-088)
Saturn
is Occidental
"…if
the Disease proceed from … a hot Cause, he recovers [but be long weak]."
(Sa-065)
Saturn
is Retrograde
...and
Saturn is Opposite The Sun
Relapse.
(Cu-006)
References
Cited
What
follows is a glossary of terms, based on classical sources. Where a clear
ancient source for the definition exists, I have quoted it verbatim, according
to the following sources:
AG
= Agrippa, Henry Cornelius. 1651. Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Translated by J.F. London: R.W. for Gregory Moule.
AR = Argolus, Andreas. 1652. De Diebus Criticis et Aegrorum Decubitu. Apud
Paulum Frambottom Bibliopol.: Patiaii.
BL
= Blagrave, Joseph. 1671. Astrological Practice of
Physick. Obad. Blagrave:
BON
= Bonatus, Guido. 1676. The Astrologer's Guide.
Translated by Henry Coley. Facsimile printing of the
1886 edition in 1986 by Regulus Publishing Co., Ltd.:
C1
- C7. The Seven Segments of Cardan, as given in Meyssonnier. Numbers given are aphorism number.
CO
= Coley, Henry. 1676. Clavis Astrologiae,
or a Key to the whole Art of Astrology. New Filed and Polished in Three Parts.
Thomas Sawbridge:
CPT
= "Ptolemy's" Centiloqium in Partridge.
FI
= Maternus, Firmicus. 334. Ancient
Astrology Theory And Practice. Matheseos
Libri VIII. Translated By Jean
Rhys Bram. Noyes Press:
GA
= Gadbury, John. 1658. Genethlialogia,
or The Doctrine of Nativities Together with The
Doctrine of Horarie Questions. Printed
by J[ohn] C[oniers] for
William Larner. In production: Regulus Publishing Co., Ltd.:
iE = ibn Ezra, Abraham. 1148. The Beginning of Wisdom. An
Astrological Treatise by Abraham ibn Ezra. Edited
by Rachel Levy & Francisco Cantera: The Johns
H1
= Jones, W.H.S., Translator. 1939, 1984.
H2
= Jones, W.H.S., Translator. 1923, 1981. Hippocrates
II. Loeb Classical Library:
H3
= Withington, E.T., Translator. 1928,
1984. Hippocrates III. Loeb Classical Library:
H4
= Jones, W.H.S., Translator. 1931, 1992. Hippocrates
IV. Loeb Classical Library:
H5
= Potter, Paul, Translator. 1988. Hippocrates V. Loeb Classical Library:
H6
= Potter, Paul, Translator. 1988. Hippocrates VI. Loeb Classical
Library:
HER
= Hermes, cited in Meysonnier. Numbers given are
aphorism number.
LI
= Lilly, William. 1647. Christian Astrology. Reprinted
in 1985 by Regulus:
LOU
= Louis de Righes (sp?), as given in Meyssonnier. Numbers given are aphorism number.
MEY = Meyssonnier, L. 1657. Aphorismes
d'Astrologie tiree de Ptolomee,
Hermes, Cardan, Munfredus
& plusiers autres. Michel
Duhan:
MO
= Morin, Jean Baptiste (also known as Morinus). 1661. Astrologia
Gallica Principiis et Rationibus propriis
stabilita atque in XXVI Libros distributa, Nonsolum Astrologiae Judiciariae Studiosis, sed etiam Philosophis,
Medicis, et Theologis monibus per necessaria... Hagae- Comitis.
PA
= Partridge, John. 1679. Mikropanastron, or
an Astrological Vade Mecum, briefly Teaching the
whole Art of Astrology - viz., Questions, Nativities, with all its parts, and
the whole Doctrine of Elections never so comprised nor compiled before, &c.
William Bromwich: London. Pages 19-25
RA
= Ramesey, William. 1653. Astrologia
Restaurata; or Astrology Restored: being an
Introduction to the General and Chief part of the Language of the Stars. Printed for Robert White:
SA
and SA2 = Saunders, Richard. 1677. The Astrological Judgment and Practice of
Physick, deduced from the Position of the Heavens at
the Decumbiture of the Sick Person, &c.
Thomas Sawbridge:
SL
= Salmon, William. 1679. The Soul of Astrology. Horae Mathematicae
seu Urania: the Soul of
Astrology, containing that Art in all its parts, in Four Books, &c.
Glossary
of Terms
Accidental
Dignity: this is a mix of conditions, all of which relate to the strength
of a planet being increased (or decreased, with accidental debility) because of
the planet's placement, apart from its tropical zodiacal position. The kinds of
factors which are included in the tables of accidental dignity include: house
placement, whether oriental or occidental, in conjunction to fixed stars,
aspects to benefics or malefics,
closeness to the Sun, and speed.
Almuten/Almutem:
There are five Essential Dignities for any degree of the zodiac: the rulership (+5), exaltation (+4), triplicity
(+3), term (+2), and face (+1). If you take a particular house cusp, find the
planet which rules each of the five essential dignities of the position, and
assign the points to the planet. The planet with the highest point value is the
Almuten. For example: for 8 Aries 15: Mars is the
ruler (+5), the Sun rules the exaltation (+4), the triplicity
(+3) and the face (+1) = +8, and Mercury the terms (+2): the Sun is Almuten. Arabic sources give the word as "Almutem," but by the 17th Century, the word was
consistently being translated and used as "Almuten."
Antiscion:
"Some of the learned in this Art do hold that the Antiscions
of the Planets be equivalent unto a Sextile or a Trine-aspect, especially if they were
beneficial Planets; and their Contrantiscions to be
of the nature of Quadrate or Opposition. How to know the Antiscions
is no more than this; first, know the Antiscions of
the signs, which is no more but a sign being equally distant with another from
Cancer and Capricorn the two Tropicks; as Gemini hath
its Antiscion in Cancer, Taurus in Leo, Aries in
Virgo, Pisces in Libra, Aquarius in Scorpio, and Capricorn in Sagittary; for when the Sun is in 1° of Gemini, he is as
far from the Tropick point of Cancer as when he is in
29° of Cancer; and in the 5° of Taurus, as when the 25° of Leo, &c.... The Contrantiscion is known thus; look in what sign, degree and
minute your Antiscion falls, and your contrantiscion will be in the same degree and minute as your
opposite sign to your Antiscion. [RA]
Application,
"is when two Planets approach each other, either by Body or Aspect; and
this may be three several ways: First, when both Planets are direct, for Example,
Jupiter in 11 deg. of Aries, and Mars in 9 degrees of Aries, both of them
direct; here Mars apples to a conjunction of Jupiter.
"The
second is when two Stars are Retrograde, and apply to each other by a
Retrograde motion; thus Jupiter in 9 degrees of Aries. Retrograde, and Mars in
11 degrees of the same Sign Retrograde also, here Mars applies to the body of
Jupiter by Retrograde motion.
"Thirdly,
when one Planet is Retrograde in more degrees of a Sign, and another direct in
fewer; as suppose Mars in 12 degrees of Aries Retrograde, and Venus in 10
degrees of Aries, here Mars applies to Venus and Venus applies to Mars, and
this kind of application is of great force and efficacy in all manner of
Astrological Resolutions; but this must be remembered also, that a Superior
Planet cannot apply to an Inferior one, unless he be Retrograde. "[PA]
Beholding:
This word has shifted somewhat over time, but it refers to two planets which
are either in ptolemaic
aspect (conjunction, opposition, trine, square or sextile)
or antiscial, or contranticial
relationship.
"The
Bendings": the points square
the Nodal axis. If a planet square the Nodes is zodiacally between the North
Node and the South Node (i.e., start counting at the North Node), then it is at
the Northern Bending; if between the South Node and the North Node, it is at
the Southern Bending.
Besieging:
"this I think need no Explanation, for every Souldier
understands it; as suppose Saturn in 10 deg. Jupiter in 1 deg. and Mars in 13
deg. of Leo; here Jupiter is besieged by Saturn and Mars." [PA]
Cazimi:
"is when a Planet is in the heart of the Sun; that is, not distant from
him above 17 min. as Mars in 10 deg. 30 min. of Aries, the Sun in 10 deg. 15
min. of Aries; here Mars is in Cazimi." [PA]
Combustion:
"A Planet is Combust when he is not distant from the Sun 8 deg. 30 min.
either before or after him; for Example, Jupiter in 10 deg. of Aries, the Sun
in 14 deg. and Mars in 18, here both Jupiter and Mars are Combust; and observe
that a Planet going to Combustion is more afflicted than when departing from
it." [PA]
Essential
Dignity: Essential dignity was a system for assessing the strength of a
planet by its placement in the zodiac alone. There were five essential
dignities: by sign, exaltation, triplicity, term, and
face. A planet with dignity can act or do as it wants, whereas a planet without
dignity has difficulty getting from Point A to Point B except by a very
circuitous route.
Face:
One of the minor dignities, also called Chaldean decanates. The faces are
10° slices of the signs, marked by planetary rulers falling in the sequence
known as the Chaldean order. The Face is given +1
point.
In
a House; the 5° rule: Consider the movement of the planets diurnally.
For example, the Sun "rises" by going from the 1st House to the 12th
House. A planet on the 12th House side of the Ascendant may be said to be
angular if it is within 5° of the Ascendant: this is the so-called 5° rule.
Depending on the source, this may actually entail anywhere from 2° to 7-8°,
depending on the source, and whether the House moved into is Angular, Succedent, or Cadent (largest for Angular; smallest for
Cadent).
Joys:
This word was used two ways, which can lead to some confusion. One use was as a
synonym for "exaltation." The second was an indicator of which house
would be the top choice for a given planet. The joys by house are: Mercury =
1st House, Moon = 3rd House, Venus = 5th House, Mars = 6th House, Sun = 9th
House, Jupiter = 11th House, and Saturn = 12th House.
Occidental:
"is when a Planet or Star sets after the Sun is down." [PA]
Oriental:
"is when a Planet riseth before the Sun."
[PA]
Partile:
within the same degree number. Notice that this is not an orb size. The Moon at
6 Leo 01 is partile Mars at 6 Leo 59, while the Moon
in the same place, and Mars at 5 Leo 59 is within a degree, but not partile. Any aspect may be called either partile, or plactic, for those
that are not partile.
Peregrine:
"a Planet is Peregrine when he is in a Sign and degree where he hath no
Essential dignity, as Mars in 26 degrees of Gemini is Peregrine, because he
hath no dignity there, &c." [PA]
Quality:
the Greek system of components that underlaid their
elemental and physical systems: the qualities are hot & cold (active), and
wet & dry (Passive). Please refer to the table shown under
"temperaments" to see how these qualities corresponded to the system
of elements.
Reception
"is when two Planets are in each other's dignities, as the Sun in Aries,
and Mars in Leo, here is a Reception by House, it may be also by Exaltation, Triplicity, Term and Face." [PA]
Sect:
whether diurnal or nocturnal. The primary sect of a chart is whether the chart
itself is by day or night. A night chart has the Sun posited in the 1st through
6th Houses; a day chart has the Sun in the 12th through 7th Houses: right on
the Ascendant-Descendant is anyone's guess! In addition, planets were considered
to have intrinsic sect (Sun, Jupiter and Saturn: diurnal; Moon, Venus and Mars:
nocturnal; Mercury: mixed); signs had intrinsic sect (Masculine = diurnal,
Feminine = nocturnal), and planets had sect placement, according to whether
they were diurnally or nocturnally placed in the chart in question.
Sect
Light: The Sun, for a day chart; the Moon for a night chart.
Separation:
"is when two Planets have been in Conjunction or Aspect and are going from
it as Jupiter in 6 degrees of Aries and Mars in 7 degrees; here Mars separates
himself from Jupiter; but yet he is not quite separated from him till they are
distant from each other 8 degrees 30 minutes, which is the moiety of both their
Orbs; what their Orbs and Aspects are." [PA]
Temperament:
This was a system that Hippocrates used for relating a number of common
conditions found in people. He described four temperaments, and each type was
characterized by a similar psychology, metabolism, and pattern of illnesses.
The four types are given in the following table, taken from Classical
Astrology for Modern Living:
|
Air |
Libra,
Aquarius, Gemini |
Sanguine |
Wet,
becoming Hot |
|
Fire |
Aries,
Leo, Sagittarius |
Choleric |
Hot,
becoming Dry |
|
Earth |
Capricorn,
Taurus, Virgo |
Melancholic |
Dry,
becoming Cold |
|
Water |
Cancer,
Scorpio, Pisces |
Phlegmatic |
Cold,
becoming Wet |
Sanguine types are the jolly glad-handers; choleric type fly off the
handle; melancholics are morose, and phlegmatic are
lethargic.
Term:
One of the five essential dignities. The Term ruler was said to be "of the
body" of that planet, so if the Ascendant is in the Terms of Saturn, it
would represent a person serious, older, in a saturnine profession, etc. -
primarily physical or outward appearance. The Term was given +2 points, and is
considered a minor dignity.
Triplicity:
One of the five essential dignities. Triplicities run
by element, so there is one set of rulers for the fire signs, another for
earth, etc. Triplicity is worth +3 points on the
scale of essential dignities. The trick is that there are three different
systems. Two of them utilize a day, night, and mixed ruler; the third, which
was in common use by English astrologers in the 17th Century, used only day and
night. Among the most obvious differences between the two that will be seen in
this work is Jupiter being the mixed Triplicity ruler
of Air: thus, for a year with Jupiter In Aquarius,
Jupiter will often be the most dignified planet, and will virtually always be a
contender for use because of the dignity.
Under
the Sun's Beams: "a Planet is said to be under the Sun's
beams, till he is full 17 degrees distant from him." [PA]
Via
combusta: zone from 15 Libra to 15
Scorpio. Considered a dangerous area of the sky.
Void
of Course: "is when a Planet is separated from one,
and doth not apply to any other while he is in that Sign, and it is most
observable in the Moon." [PA]
Old
and New Medical Terms
Agnail:
Hangnail Ague: Malaria or malarial fever Alerative:
Restores Normal Body Functions Alexipharmic: Poison Antidote Alopecia:
Baldness Anodyne: Relieves Pain Apoplexy: Cerebral hemorrhage,
Embolism, occ. Paralysis of other Apostems:
Abscess Aposthumes: Abscess Ardent
Fever: A form of remittent malaria Aromatic: Fragrant Herb Avoid:
Void or excrete Axungia: Lard Biles: Boils Blain: Blister or Pustule
Blood Poisoning: Septicemia Bloody Flux: Dysentary,
or Bloody stools Cachexia: Severe
Wasting Cacoethe: Ulcerous tumor Cantharides:
Powdered Beetles (Spanish Fly) Carbuncles: Staphylococcal Inflammation Carminative:
Medicine: Expells Flatulence Casting: Vomiting
Catamenia: Menstrual Flow Cataplasm:
Poulstice Catarrhs: Inflammation: Mucous
Membranes Cathars: Purges Cathartic:
Purgative Cephalic: Medicine: Clears Head Ceruse: Lead Carbonate Cholagogue: Medicine: Incr. Bile Flow Choler:
Bile Choler, Red: Bile, Red Choler, Yellow: Bile, Yellow Cholic: Pain, Acute Abdomenal
Claustered: Clotted Clenge:
To clean Clysters: Enema Or Injection Consumption: Progressive
tuberculosis Continual Fever: One with little variation in temperature
on a daily basis Costiveness: Constipation Courses: Menstrual
Flow Defluxion: Inflammation: Mucous Membranes Delay: To dilute Detersive:
Medicine: Cleansing Diaphoretic: Sweating Induction Distemper:
Ailment Distillation: Discharge, Trickling Diuretic: Urine,
Increased Flow Draught: Medicine: Qty Taken in 1 Dose Dropsy:
Edema Emerods: Hemorrhoids Emmenagogue: Drug that induces menstruation Entrails:
Intestines Erysipelas: Streptococcus Excess of the Flowers:
Menstrual Flow Excess Excoriation: Abrasion Excrement Retention:
Constipation Expectorant: Promoting bronchial secretion and ejection Falling-Evil:
Epilepsy Falling-Sickness: Epilepsy Febrifuge: Medicine: Reduces
Fever Fistula: Abnormal Tube-Like Passage Fluor
Albus: Vaginal White Discharge Flux:
Excessive Flow Fuliac-Passion: Gut,
Pains Fundament: Anus or buttocks Gall: Bile Gargarism:
Gargle Gravel: Urine: Sand-Like Deposit Green sickness: Anemia Gripping
Of The Guts: Cholic Gristle: Cartilege Gulesought:
Jaundice Guts, Croaking: Flatulence Hamms:
Buttocks Haw: Growth on or in the eye Humor: Bodily Fluid Hypochondrium: Upper Abdomen Hyposarca: Dropsy: Edema Iliaca
Passion: Sciatica Impostumations:
Swelling, Abscess Impostume: Absess which is purulent Jaundice: Hepatitis Kernels:
Swelling, Hard. Can be specific reference to tonsils Kibes:
Chilblains, especially ulcerated ones on the heels King's Evil: Scrofula
Knop: Knob-shaped protruberance,
or a wart or pimple Lask: Diarrhea Laxes: Bowel, Looseness; diarrhea Leucophlegmatia: Dropsy: Pale, Tumid, Flabby Leucorrhaea: Vaginal Discharge Lights:
Lungs Lochia: Vaginal Discharge after
Labor Matrix: Womb Matrix Passions: Matrix Passions Mediastinum: Septum Megrim: Migraine Melicrat: Mixture of milk and honey Mesenterion: Mesenteries Milt: Spleen Mithridate: Medicine which protects against
Poison Morphew: Leprous or Scurvy
Eruption Morphy: Schleroderma
Mother: Womb or Uterus Obstruction Of Meseriacks:
Obstruction, Abdomenal Olibanum:
Frankincense Oppilations: Obstructions Opthalmia: Inflammation of the eye Oxymel: Mixture of Honey & Vinegar Palsy:
Paralysis Passion: Pain or suffering Pecten:
Anal Canal, Middle Pectoral: Medicine: Chest Peripneumonia:
Inflammation of the lungs Phlegmon: Suppurative inflammation, especially of connective tissue Phthisis:
Tuberculosis, Advanced Pin And Web: Eye Disease with Film Ploukes: Lumps or swellings Podagra: Gout, Foot Polypus: Polyps Posset: Cold Remedy, Milk Base Priapism: Lewdness Ptisick:
Tuberculosis Ptisis: Tuberculosis Push:
Pimple or Boil Putrid fever: Diptheria Pyles In The Ars:
Hemorrhoids Quartan Ague: Malaria Quinzies: Tonsilitis
Quotidian Fevers: Fevers, Recurring Reds: Menstrual Flow Reins:
Kidneys, Loins Rhagades: Skin Fissures Rheum:
Discharge, Watery Or Atarrhal Scalls:
Skin disease with scaling or scabs, especially on the scalp Schirrhi:
Tumors, Hard Scirrhus: Cancerous tumors
Scouring: Purging Secudines:
After-Birth Simple: Medicinal Herb Simpler: Herb Doctor Sloes:
Milk sickness Squinacy: Throat disease;
quinsy St. Anthony's Fire: Erysipelas Starting Of The Members:
Involuntary Movements Stomachic: Substance that acts as a stomach tonic,
promoting digestion Strangle: To poison Strangullion:
A qunisy or throat glandual
inflammation Strangury: Urination,
Painful Styptic: Hemorrhage Checking Agent Sudoric:
Induced Sweating Suffocation of the Matrix: Hysteria Surdity:
Deafness Syncope: Loss of consciousness Synochus
Putrida: Continuous Fever Tertian Fever:
Malaria Tetters: Skin euptions, usually herpes, eczema, psoriasis, or ringworm Throat-Bole:
Bolus Tonic: Remedial agent that increases body tone Troches:
Lozenges Tussis: Coughing Tympanies: Distention of abdomenal
wall from gas accumulation Venery: Sexual Intercourse Vermifuge: Substance that expels intestinal
worms or parasites Wen: Cyst,
Subcutaneous Whelks: Pimples Whites: Vaginal Discharge