"Anything born in the moment of time carries the quality of that moment" Carl Jung [1875-1971] |
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The relationship between Astrology and Health is not a subject that many people take seriously today in an age of high-tech medicine and rational science. This was not always the case. Ancient healers blended the earth's wisdom by using plants and herbs and the heavens through the planetary energies of a person's natal chart to promote natural healing. Unlike doctors of today, they recognised the interconnectedness of Nature. |
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Science is a relatively new kid on the block compared with the wisdom of this ancient healing system. Astrology and Healing go back at least three thousand years whereas science and medicine have only been linked for a couple of hundred years. Today scientific medicine prides itself on how sanity and reason have triumphed over superstition but it may not realise that it is still using terms based on astrological concepts! For example, the term 'flu' used to describe influenza is short for 'la influenza' an Italian word referring to the Moon and Venus' influence on the body. An episode of flu causes a phlegmatic, cold and moist disease in the body. Lunar and Venusian diseases are cold and moist, so the body lacks heat and energy and is prone to increased catarrhal secretions. A herbalist would use warming herbs to treat these type of diseases and a medical astrologer would have had the added knowledge of knowing what herb or plant was compatible with the patient's planetary energies. |
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Hippocrates [460-377BC] the famous doctor philosopher, often regarded as the Father of Medicine, made a profound study of astrology and stated that "attention must be paid to the rise of the stars" when treating disease. |
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In England, the herbalist/astrologer Nicolas Culpeper did much to further the understanding of the association between astrology and herbalism. His 'Complete Herbal' is still in print today! By the 17th Century, with the advent of 'modern medicine', the medical tradition of using astrology to heal declined. It was Carl Jung, the enlightened Swiss psychologist who brought this system back into favour as a holistic tool to be used to try and understand people's health patterns and motivations when he used astrology with his patients. |
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How can we benefit today from this ancient traditional wisdom? If we believe that our personality is reflected by our astrological natal chart we can certainly gain insight by studying our horoscope. This will give us valuable information helping us to use this knowledge to encompass a holistic programme of health into our lives by eating the right foods and herbs to nourish our body, mind and spirit. It will help us to become connected with the energetic quality of our Sun and Moon signs and by eating the right nourishment as indicated by our chart we will be connecting with Nature's sacred energies, thus leading us towards healing and balance. |
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Chiron, astrology's alternative therapist, moves into the visionary sign of Aquarius, the sign of humanitarian values, from March 2005 onwards. It is my belief that there may well be a more tolerant attitude emerging towards unconventional therapies, we may even see a renaissance of medical astrology in the 21st century! |
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Marlene Houghton, CH Ed Dip NuTh |