Medicines...are by certain dispositions
of the Heaven increased.
Book I, ch. 52
Three Books of Occult Philosophy
Cornelius Agrippa
Traditional medicine was
very closely intertwined with astrology. Astrology was
used in the theory and philosophy of traditional medicine,
in diagnosis and in treatment.
One of the most important concepts was that of the
sympathy and connection of the Macrocosm, the Greater World of the Cosmos, and the
microcosm, the little world of each individual human. Paracelsus says,
"What is the difference between the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter in Heaven
and the same planets in man? The difference is only one of form. That is why there
are not four arcana, but only one arcanum; however, it has four aspects, just as
tower has four sides...And just as a tower cannot be lacking in one side, so a
physician must not lack any of these aspects."
Paracelsus: Selected Writing (Bollingen, 1988). page 61.
The harmonic arrangement of the operations of the Heavens
and their relationship to man is graphically illustrated in the Zodiacal Man, as seen
to right, which assigns each sign to a part of the body. While a beautiful symbol
of harmony, the Zodiacal Man, was also quite useful. For example, traditional electional
astrology advised that surgery for a particular part of the body should be avoided
when the Moon was in the sign that ruled the part. See, e.g. Aphorism 20 of the
Centiloquim Ptolemie, the hundred aphorisms attributed to Ptolemy.
Medical astrology was a very highly developed form of
traditional astrology. William Lilly devotes more pages
to discussions of rules of the sixth house, which dealt with medical diagnosis, than
any other house in his magnum opus, Christian Astrology. A number of specialized
books dealing just with medical astrology, were printed in the 17th century, including
Richard Saunders, Astrological Judgment and Practice of Physick [1677],
Nicholas Culpepper, Astrological Judgment of Diseases [1655] and
Joseph Blagrave, Astrological Practice of Physick [1671].
Not only the diagnosis, but also the cure of diseases
can be determined astrologically. Traditional astrology classified each disease as
being under the rule of one or more planets. Each plant and
herb were also classified as being under the rule of a particular planet
and thus as having the virtues of that planet.
In the Mysterium Sigillorum, "Mysteries of Sigils, Herbs and Stones" Israel
Hibner explains, for example,
that if one takes an herb ruled by Saturn and gathered when Saturn
is afflicted, it will contains the "Antipathetick" influences of that planet and
causes the diseases ruled by Saturn. If however, the herb is gathered when
Saturn is strong and dignified, it has the "Sympathetick" influences of Saturn and
cures Saturnine diseases. Mysterium Sigillorum at 68.
Therefore, understanding the planetary rulership of diseases
and of herbs and plants, and knowing how to make an astrological election to
pick the proper time to gather the herbs, is key to traditional astrological medicine.
I am pleased to offer Mysterium Sigillorum as the first book in the Renaissance Astrology Facsimile
Series. It offers a complete guide to the planetary rulership of diseases, as well
as plants and herbs, a history of the medicinal use of herbs as well as a
fascinating section on planetary talismans. Just follow the
Mysterium Sigillorum link to order.
It is also important to elect times for the proper taking
and application of herbal medicines. Here is a very interesting extract from
the 1656 Medicina Magnetica of de Iryngio, which gives extensive rules for
gathering and applying herbal medicines.
Here is further information on
Astrological Talismans
and Astrological Magic. If you
wish to delve even deeper into this fascinating area I offer an
Astrological Magic Full Course, a
Planetary Magic Mini-Course
and a
Mansions of the Moon Mini-Course as
well Astrology and Magic Books and
my discussion group Spiritus Mundi.
