House Polarities

Every beginning student of astrology learns that the sixth house of the natal chart is called the health house, because of its close relationship to nutrition and potential health problems. However, as in any other astrological delineation, one must consider the whole chart in order to develop any meaningful conclusions. Again, the law of polarity is important in examining the house meanings. Generally speaking, the first six houses of thechart deal with a persons individual makeup and what he or she brings to any given situation. The seventh through twelfth house deal more with how the individual functions in the social milieu. In other words, the lower house in the polarity is what the individual brings to a particular situation, while the upper house indicates what he or she seeks from the situation. FIRST-SEVENTH. The first house deals with the general house and physical status of the body and its physiological needs. In particular, the first house deals with health shortly after birth and the environment into which the individual is born. The location of the Ascendant represents the moment of birth, which we will discuss in greater detail in Chapter Thirteen. The first house is also associated with health conditions that relate to the head, such as problems with the teeth, eyesight, and hearing, as well as baldness, acne, and mental disease. The seventh house in general relates to people we consult on a one-to-one basis; in medical astrology, this house represents doctors, psychologists, chiropractors, nutritionists, astrologers, and anyone else who is consulted about health problems. More specifically, the seventh house represents persons consulted on any sixth-house maters. Some astrologers will certainly dispute this, because traditionally Jupiter is associated with doctors, and the ninth house, the natural house of Jupiter, is the house of experts and people consulted for their expertise, such as priests, professors, and gurus. However, modern society recognizes that doctors are not infallible. They are no longer worshipped like tribal witch doctors nor revered, like the old country doc, as slightly lower than God. We consult a doctor on a one-to-one basis just as we consult an astrologer, and if one does not provide an answer to out problem, we go in search of another.***(seventh house - Libra - always in search of relationship) Thus I feel that the seventh house represents the healers we consult to restore our natural good health, which involves balance - Libra. In selecting a healer, it is wise to look for someone whose horoscope is compatible with out own seventh-house influences. SECOND-EIGHTH. This polarity is associated most specifically with the process of reproduction and the physical act of sex. Sexual problems normally turn up in this house polarity. The second house represents what each individual brings to the sexual act, and

the eighth house represents what he or she expects from a partner. In addition, the sign polarity on the cusps of these houses indicates the conditions that are most conducive to completing the sexual act. Frigidity is often related to Saturn in these houses; premature ejaculation, to Mars; fantasies, to Neptune; and so forth. Masturbation is a second-house phenomenon. Contrary to what other astrologers have reported, this polarity has little to do with the choice of a sexual partner; instead, it represents the coming together of the partners once the partner has been selected. The selection of sexual partner, either heterosexual or homosexual, is more a first-seventh phenomenon. THIRD-NINTH. This house polarity pertains to the mind, often representing conditions from which we must free or differentiate ourselves if we are to maintain good health. In fact, freedom and differentiation are good key words for this polarity. How free are we to express ourselves and allow others to express themselves? What do we think (third house) of our health problems, and what do others think (ninth house) of them? How free are we of ties to our blood-relatives and in-laws? All these questions are related to this polarity. While Saturn in one of these houses may well indicate a slow, careful, and methodical thinker, it may also indicate someone who is so tied to a particular point of view (cast in concrete) that he or she is practically incapable of changing to meet varying circumstances. A persons mental attitude has a very strong effect on the outcome of treatment for disease conditions; in fact, many healers are now coming around to the belief that most disease conditions have some mental health problem as their root cause. If the patient adopts the attitude that he will die from his condition, chances are quite good that he will, for the thought is usually parent to the deed or outcome. Perhaps we ought to readjust our thinking and refer to this house polarity as the mental health polarity, for often we must look here for the root cause of a health problem. The ultimate success of any one-to-one relationship (first-seventh), once the sexual component (second-eighth) is no longer the chief binding factor, depends on the partners ability to communicate with each other (third-ninth). More human relationships break up because of the inability to communicate than because of any other single factor! FOURTH-TENTH. This house polarity concerns a persons feeling of security within himself (fourth house) and the security or lack of it provided by others. Part of this security comes from the individuals foundation and ancestry and part from his ultimate success and acceptance as an individual (tenth house). The fourth house, for example, deals with the surname. A person whose surname begins with a letter near the beginning of the alphabet is conditioned by society to be first; a person whose name begins with a letter near the end is conditioned to be last and is therefore often more patient in awaiting the outcome of events.**** This polarity also deals with the influence of the mother and the father upon this individuals development and his ability to form partnerships and develop his own identity. As doctors learn more about the conditions leading to heart attack, arthritis, cancer, and other diseases, they are beginning to recognize that these diseases are related to the individuals ability to express emotions and feelings, and to the way the individual

sees himself in the society to which he belongs. From this house polarity, we gain insight into how the individual functions in society and whether he views himself as a success or a failure. Thus the keyword for this polarity is recognition. FIFTH-ELEVENTH. The result of sexual union (second-eighth) and the value the individual places on one-to-one relationships (first-seventh) is manifest in this house polarity, which concerns offspring and the ability to love another and accept love in return. The fifth house is the ceremony of courtship and all that we associate with nonsexual romance. It represents our creative abilities and instincts. The eleventh house represents nonsexual relationships with others, friendships, and social activities. It also represents the achievement of hopes and wishes stemming from our creative potential. Saturn in this polarity often creates some blockage in the free flow of energy until we learn that responsibility must accompany achievement. Jupiter here often leads us to expect too much from our efforts. Mars creates impatience in achievement; and Neptune leads us to look for the ideal, resulting in disappointment when the results are less than expected. This polarity is greatly concerned with our basic need to belong. SIXTH-TWELFTH. Because the sixth house is the midpoint of the horoscope, this is where the individual contacts the external world, which may best be seen from the nutritional viewpoint. The sixth house is where the individual puts food into the mouth, the point at which something external to the self is taken in and eventually integrated into the physical body. In general astrology textbooks, the twelfth house is usually spoken of as mans attempt to find his place (integrate himself) in the universe and answer the three basic questions of philosophy: Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Thus the real keyword for this polarity is integration in contrast to differentiation, the keyword for the third-ninth polarity. The individuals ability to find his place in society and in the universes scheme of things can be read in sixth-twelfth house polarity. But man has conflicting desires; not only does he want to find his place in society, he also craves recognition as a unique individual, as a being who is some way different from the herd. This conflict is illustrated by the fact that the third-ninth and sixth-twelfth house polarities are in square aspect to each other within the horoscope wheel. Secondary keywords for the sixth-twelfth house polarity are: work, health, and service. How well does the individual integrate himself in situations where he must work cooperatively with others, as in a job? How well does the individual integrate foreign substances (food) into himself? Service can be thought of as giving some portion of the self to others (sixth house) and accepting the service of others (twelfth house) in return. All of the many keywords that we commonly associate with the twelfth house - hospitals, jails, libraries, research (the prior discoveries of others), welfare - represent society serving us. Even pain and suffering, also associated with the twelfth house, really serve us by building character (first house).

I believe that a more intensive understanding of house phenomena will reveal that good health stems from the ability to integrate ourselves from everyone and everything else in the universe. The health of the body depends upon how well the various organs perform their different functions and at the same time work as units of the whole. The success of a society depends basically upon these same abilities. Individuals and societies that perform both functions well, survive; those that cannot, pass into obscurity. Through education, travel, and communication, we attempt to differentiate ourselves from other members of society (third-ninth) Through work and service we attempt to integrate ourselves into society (sixth-twelfth). When we are able to accomplish these tasks with minimal interference and frustration, our health is good; interference and frustration with these efforts can result in the physical manifestation of health problems. How well the physical body is able to function depends upon how well we serve it and upon how well the mind is able to function. We think of the mind and body as distinct and separate entities, and yet it is surely obvious, even to the untrained observer, that neither body nor mind can function without the other; they are inextricably interdependent. Astrology confirms this interdependence.

The Symbolism of the Planets

As we know from basic astrology, each of the ten planets symbolizes some energy that must be expressed in our life if we are to realize our truest and highest potential. Blocking or frustrating the energy usually causes pain in one form or another and, as we pointed out earlier, disease. In addition to the matters that are usually assigned to the different planets, each one rules a particular body system and one or more of the vital endocrine glands. THE SUN. The Sun principally symbolizes the body's basic vitality or life force. Its house position indicates in part the individual's vitality and resistance to disease. Sextiles and trines to the Sun tend to increase this resistance; squares, oppositions, and inconjuncts detract from it. When the sun is in an angular house, especially the first house, vitality is greatest; when it is in a cadent house, vitality is lowered, especially in the sixth or the twelfth hose. In a succedent house, the Sun indicates a neutral situation, neither particularly strong nor particularly weak. The Sun is also symbolic of the whole circulatory system, especially the heart. The Sun's sign location indicates the regions of the body that are the most subject to malnutrition and disease. Of course, since we can never neglect the law of polarities, we must also consider the region of the body ruled by the sign opposite the Sun. THE MOON. The Moon is symbolic of the emotions and their role in maintaining the

bodily health. It symbolizes all reflexes (acts that dont require conscious thought) and the habit patterns that we develop. Planets in conjunction with the Moon in the natal chart often indicate habit patterns that are difficult to break. The Moon, along with Cancer, the sign that it rules, is associated with all allergic conditions. It also represents the fluid portion of the body, including plasma, which is the fluid protion of the blood; all bodily secretions; the fluid waste products, sweat and urine; and the water that is part of the body. MERCURY. Mercury was called the messenger of the gods, and as you might expect, this planet rules the transmission of messages from one part of the body to the other. Messages are transmitted electrically via the nervous system and chemically via hormones in the bloodstream. Thus Mercury rules the central nervous system and the hormonal system. It is also symbolic of logic and conscious reasoning. Mercury also rules the thyroid gland and, along with Gemini, the respiratory system. VENUS. As the goddess of love, Venus rules physical sensations and the sensory organs. These organs connect the physical functions of the body with the mental functions, just as Taurus, ruled by Venus, connects Aries, the physical body, with Gemini, the mind. This process ends, of course, with Cancer, ruled by the Moon (the emotional reaction to external stimuli). Venus also rules the female genitalia and the venous portion of the circulatory system, the deoxygenated blood returning to the heart. Hair as an extension of the sensory system is ruled by Venus; as a protective device, it is ruled by Saturn. MARS. The god of war and battle implies physical action and movement, and its principle rulership is the muscular system. Since the heart is also a muscle, Mars is a secondary ruler of the heart, along with the Sun and Leo. Mars rules the red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the cells, providing them with energy, and it rules the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys. The hormones secreted by the adrenal glands mobilize the bodys defenses when the individual is externally threatened. Mars, representing the male principle, rules the male genitalia. Venus represents the female principle. JUPITER. Jupiter, the ruler of the gods, has as its principle function the growth and expansion of the body. It rules the arterial portion of the circulatory system; the pancreas, which governs fat production and the assimilation of carbohydrates; and the liver, which is the largest organ after the skin and which performs hundreds of different chemical processes that sustain life and growth. SATURN. This planet and the sign that it rules, Capricorn, in general are concerned with form, structure, and establishing limits. Therefore, in medical astrology, Saturn is the ruler of the skeletal system, which gives the body support and form, like the girders of a building. Saturn also rules the skin, which in addition to giving form and structure also establishes the boundary between the body and its environment, and protects the internal structures from water loss and invasion by foreign substances. Saturn rules the parathyroid glands in the neck, which regulate the metabolism of minerals necessary to bone formation. Whereas Jupiter represents the growth process, Saturn represents the process of aging.

URANUS. Because of their relatively recent discovery, the roles of the three outer planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are not as clearly established as those known to the ancients. However, their symbolism through medical astrology has been clearly defined through their observation. Uranus rules the involuntary or automatic nervous system, which controls the involuntary functions of the body such as digestion, respiration, and heartbeat. Its principle control is over the smooth muscles (note the relationship to Mars, which rules the muscles, and to Mercury, which rules the nervous system). In this capacity Uranus has been connected with ESP and other extrasensory abilities, especially intuition, which some feel is related to the automatic nervous system. Uranus is often considered to signify sudden, unexpected injuries to the body.<BR NEPTUNE. Nepune rules the spinal canal, and along with the Moon, the spinal fluid. It is the undisputed ruler of the pineal body, which is located near the top of the skull just beneath the fontanel (the opening in the skull that ossifies and closes shortly after birth). Neptune has also been associated with various ESP processes. PLUTO. Plutos body rulerships have not yet been completely settled, because the planet was not discovered until 1930. Its rulership of the excretory system is undisputed, and it is also thought by many to rule the pituitary gland, the master gland that controls growth, hormonal secretion, and development of secondary sex characteristics at puberty. Because Pluto rules the growth hormones, some astrologers have assigned midgets, giants, and other unusual growth anomalies with Pluto. Pluto rules abnormal cell growth tumors, birthmarks, warts, moles and the like. It is said to rule all replicative processes and thus also rules the enzymes, which catalyze chemical reactions within the cell, and the hereditary component, DNA in particular, of the cells nucleus. Pluto is also thought to rule all foreign biological substances that enter the body, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and parasitic organisms. This planet is perhaps best thought of as being the alpha and the omega of life, representing both conception, when sperm fuses with ovum, and the death of the physical body. It is certainly implicated in all hereditary processes. The principle of polarities applies to the planets as well as to the houses and signs. One way to lose weight (excessive fat, ruled by Jupiter) is to go on a high-protein (Saturn) diet. Muscular activity, ruled by Mars, burns up sugar (Venus.

The Aspects and Health

No discussion of traditional astrological concepts would be complete without some mention of the various aspects. All of the traditionally used aspects play some role in our

interpretation of health; however, the opposition, square, quincunx (or inconjunct), conjunction, and semisquare are the key aspects in isolating potential problems in the natal chart. While the source of a problem may well be some mental or psychological factor, the body often translates this frustration or tension into the physical manifestation of disease. OPPOSITION. The opposition has traditionally been interpreted as symbolizing the need for compromise in the house and sign polarity in which the opposition is located. Oppositional problems are resolved through compromise between the individual and another individual or other external factors. Such problems are interpersonal in nature. If the individual does not reach a successful compromise, the problems may manifest in the physical symptoms of disease. A third-ninth house opposition, for example, indicates that the individual should listen to what others have to say (ninth house) and also express himself through communication (third house). It takes two to make a conversation. A person who will not listen to others, or who is afraid to communicate his thoughts and feelings to others, may express this frustration physically as a disease. To be loved by others (eleventh house) requires that one love in return (fifth house). An opposition in this polarity may symbolize some problem in the free exchange of love, and when a successful compromise is not attained, again we may find a physical manifestation in disease. SQUARE. The square symbolizes tension and conflicting desires in the individual. It is more personal in nature than the opposition. A third-sixth house square, for example, represents some basic tension between the individuals need to differentiate and the need to integrate, which often results in physical manifestations. The tension is relieved by expressing both needs in situations where one will not conflict with the other, rather than by continually suppressing one of the forces. With a third-sixth house square, this could mean learning to serve others without losing ones personal identity in a blind masterslave relationship. You must know who you are and why you serve. QUINCUNX OR INCONJUNCT. This is the 150 aspect, which is often symbolic of health problems and is usually quite prominent in death charts. While we know that the quincunx is decidedly a health aspect, we still have much to learn about its underlying psychological roots in the personality. It seems to symbolize ones attempt to put together unrelated facets of life in a fashion that makes sense to the individual. Often it is symbolic of lots of smoke but little fire tremendous effort without discernible success. The frustration resulting from such effort can manifest in physical symptoms of disease. It is not uncommon for health problems involving the quincunx to be conquered suddenly, or a remission to take place when one of the slower-moving planets by transit conjuncts one of the planets forming the quincunx. Psychologically, the quincunx has been interpreted as the desire to have been to have that which we cannot have, or frustration of ones efforts to reach a desired goal, although it may be attained quite late in life and only after many defeats. CONJUNCTION. In traditional astrology, the conjunction symbolizes the fusion or joining together of two planetary forces. Depending upon the planets and the forces they

symbolize, as well as the way the individual handles the problem, the conjunction may be beneficial or may present a potential problem. A good example is the conjunction of the Sun with Neptune. On the one hand, this conjunction can indicate an individual with great imagination, someone who can see beyond the realm of the average person, or it can symbolize the hypochondriac who reads about some disease in Readers Digest and is certain that he has that disease. Conjunctions of a planet and the Moon must be carefully considered. The Moon represents our habit patterns, and a planet in conjunction with the Moon often symbolizes some habit pattern that cannot easily be broken. For example, the Moon conjunct Neptune often indicates problems with drugs, alcohol, or smoking, because once the habit is formed it is not easily broken. The individual doesnt realize how injurious the habit is until it is too late. A smoker may know full well that smoking can lead to lung cancer, but he fantasizes that it will never happen to me! SEMISQUARE. Most astrologers do not classify the semisquare (45) among the major aspects; nevertheless, in interpreting health problems it cannot be overlooked, for it is often and indicator of friction. In and of itself, the semisquare does not usually indicate major problems, but in combination with other factors in the chart, it sometimes indicates contributing causes of some health condition. In my experience, a semisquare between a transiting and a natal planet is of particular importance as a triggering influence that brings on an unhealthy condition. In any case, the semisquare aspect should not be ignored.

Astrological Signatures of Disease

Some disease conditions hemophilia, for example are congenital or natal in origin, having their onset at the time of conception; some, such as defects caused by thalidomide, develop while the fetus is in the uterine environment. The pattern, or astrological signature, of a congenital disease or condition is usually found wholly in the natal chart. A disease that develops later in life is usually shown by a picture or signature formed by the natal planets, which show a predisposition to the condition, with transiting and sometimes progressed planets completing the picture at the date of onset. At this point I want to examine an idea that is being pursued by many astrologers, which is that if one compares the accurate horoscopes of a number or persons who have a particular disease, one ought to find a consistent planetary picture in each one. It is an interesting assumption, which has led me up many blind alleys and resulted in countless hours of fruitless study. On the basis of my own long observation, I can only conclude that in the light of our present knowledge there is no single, consistent planetary picture for any disease condition. There are no cookbook signatures for any health problems, despite claims made to the contrary in such books as Medical Astrology by Omar Garrison. Anyone willing to test out the signatures Garrison provides can quickly verify my findings, as a number of my associates have already done.

However, there does seem to be some evidence that certain general health conditions are related to the sign polarity in which the Sun is located. For example, those with the Sun in Gemini-Sagittarius seem to have a particular sensitivity to respiratory problems, especially asthma. To a lesser extent, this also holds true for certain Ascendants. A large number of my clients with Capricorn rising have mentioned having hearing problems at some time in their lives. These are not categorical statements, and they are not substantiated by any hard evidence; however, it seems to me that pursuing such studies in an organized scientific manner would be of much more potential benefit than the search for specific signatures of disease. There is considerable controversy as to whether the positions of the major fixed stars have any real meaning in general delineation of the horoscope, or whether they can be safely overlooked. Again, according to my own observation, they cannot and should not be overlooked, though again this is a fertile area for serious statistical work. One fixed star, Praesepe at about 7 Leo, has particularly impressed me in this regard. According to Cornells Encyclopedia of Medical Astrology, this fixed star, or at least this particular degree, is often associated with blindness, either from birth, when a natal planet is located at 7 ( 1) Leo, or later, when this degree is set off by transit. More that this single factor is involved, of course, and many persons with a natal or transiting planet at 7 Leo have perfectly good eyesight; nevertheless, I have 23 charts in my collection for blindness, and every single one has a conjunction of some sort with Praesepe at 7 Leo! To any scientifically trained person,, this evidence, although not impressive in quantity at this point, would indicate a fruitful area of further investigation. I am certainly not willing to write off the fixed stars at this point, and I would not like my colleagues to do so either. A basic principle of astrological delineation is that any given condition or situation appears symbolically in several different ways in the natal chart. This principle certainly applies in any serious study of the chart for health purposes. There are usually a number of different combinations that lead to certain inescapable conclusions. The particular combinations are hard to catalog, and the only one who has come close to doing so is Dr. Cornell in his Encyclopedia of Medical Astrology. I am quite aware that astrologys companion science, cosmobiology, has also made some important attempts at cataloging certain health conditions as they relate to planetary midpoints and particular degrees of the zodiac. However, in my opinion, the cosmobiological findings need considerably more research before any of their conclusions can be considered as signatures for health problems.

The Role of Hormones

Scattered throughout the body are the endocrine glands, which secrete directly into the bloodstream very small amounts of hormones, which generally speed up or slow down

some vital chemical process in the body. Hormones have a profound effect on both the physical body and on the personality, and thus they strongly influence our behavior. This is perhaps most evident at the onset of puberty, when the body increases its production of sex hormones. The hormones have a regulative effect, which puts them under the general rulership of Aries and Libra. In fact, many of the endocrine glands are actually located in the Aries and Libra sections of the body. Afflictions related to these signs can put the endocrine system out of balance. In addition, each of the endocrine glands and the hormone it produces is ruled by a particular planet. However, hormones may also be thought of as chemical messengers. Secreted in one area of the body, they signal a reaction in another area to speed up or slow down. This puts the hormones under the general rulership also of Mercury, the messenger. The human body is bilaterally symmetrical; that is, many organs and structures occur in pairs, one on each side of the body. The right and left organs act as backups for each other. The Sun is the general ruler of all the organs on the right side of the body; the Moon is the general ruler of those on the left - with one very important exception. The Moon controls the right half of the brain; the Sun, the left half. Other than that, the right eye, ear, nostril, breast, arm, kidney, testicle, ovary and leg are under the general rulership of the Sun; the corresponding organs on the left are controlled by the Moon. All of these co-rulerships may seem a bit confusing. Max Heindel, in his book The Message of the Stars, helps sort it out with a good analogy. Heindel says: It is as when we say that all who live in the United States of America are citizens of that country, but some are subject to the laws of California, others to those of Maine. Aries - Libra, Mercury, the Sun and/or the Moon correspond in this analogy to the whole country, while planets that rule particular endocrine glands correspond to the states. In general, an oversecretion of one of the endocrine glands is related to Jupiter; an undersecretion is indicated by Saturn; tumors of these glands are generally Pluto-related; and infection or inflammation is related to Mars. The connection is generally a square, opposition, quincunx or sometimes a con-junction between the ruler of the gland and the appropriate planet, with a sixth or twelfth house involvement.

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland, which is ruled by Uranus and Scorpio, is called the master control gland of the body. Not only does it regulate growth and reproductive functions, it also regulates the other endocrine glands as well. It is a tiny red pea-shaped gland located deep within the brain for protection. It has two distinct lobes, each of which has a special function. The anterior, or front, lobe rules the reproductive forces and the nerve fibers. The hormones it secretes trigger ovulation in the female and the onset of puberty in both

sexes. Afflictions to Uranus, especially from Aries, can cause such medical conditions as precocious puberty (the premature development of secondary sex characteristics - as early as age five or six) and overstimulation of the other endocrine glands, producing all sorts of physical malfunctions. The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland controls circulation of fluids within the body, especially to the kidneys. Over-or undersecretion of the hormones in this lobe can cause a person to develop as a midget or as a giant. The natal charts of such freaks of nature usually show Uranus as the causative agent, acting too freely on the pituitary gland. This gland is vital to the control of nutrition and assimilation of food and is often implicated in diseases like arthritis. Uranus is in its fall position in Taurus, which sometimes indicates diminished activity of the posterior lobe of the pituitary, principally through the pituitarys close relationship to the thyroid gland, which is located in the Taurus region of the body. Occultists consider the pituitary very important in understanding our spiritual nature, for it is thought to be a spiritual center of our being. And it is said to be stimulated or awakened by trine or sextile transits of Neptune or Uranus to the natal position of Uranus. In any case, medical authorities are now reasonably certain that the posterior pituitary regulates the nutrition and growth of the body. Jupiter represents the principle of growth, which is frequently shown in natal charts through Jupiter aspects of Uranus. The South Node of the Moon, when close to the Ascendant, may retard physical growth, according to a study reported by George White in his book, The Moons Nodes and Their Importance in Natal Astrology.

The Thyroid Gland

Closely linked to the pituitary is the thyroid gland, the master regulator of the rate of metabolism. Located in the throat area, the thyroid is ruled by Mercury and Taurus. Its hormone, thyroxin, is secreted directly into the bloodstream. The thyroid glands role in maintaining good health can hardly be overestimated, since thyroxin regulates the body temperature, controls growth rate and regulates the rate at which food is oxidized. To a very great extent, this gland influences our mental and emotional balance. The hormone thyroxin is composed of the amino acid tyrosine, which comes from the protein we eat, and the mineral iodine, which must be present in the daily diet. As we shall discuss later, iodine is ruled by the Sun, and people who have the Sun in Taurus or Scorpio frequently require more iodine in their diet for normal thyroid function. Thyroid disorders fall into two general classes: 1) lack of sufficient iodine in the diet to produce the required amount of thyroxin, and 2) a body disorder that creates such a demand for thyroxin that the thyroid gland cannot fulfill it. Astrologically, the first

condition is often symbolized by a malefic aspect of Saturn to the Sun (which rules iodine), while the latter condition is generally a malefic aspect of Jupiter to the planet that rules the body region demanding the excessive amount of thyroxin. In the first case, the thyroid gland usually enlarges to try to produce the necessary amount of thyroxin (and iodine), and we see what is commonly called goiter. A classic astrological indicator of goiter is an afflicted Venus in Taurus with a sixth-house involvement. Atrophy of the thyroid gland produces cretinism in children and myxoedema when it occurs later in life. Intelligence is impaired, idiocy is not uncommon and physical development is severely impaired. The astrological signature of this condition is generally a severe affliction to Mercury, generally from Saturn. On the other hand, an oversupply of thyroxin causes hyperthyroidism, with excessive nervousness, hyperactivity and protruding eyeballs. Usually this condition is indicated by a Mars or Jupiter affliction to Mercury, especially the square. Iodine is best supplied to the diet through foods from the oceanfish, shellfish and ocean plants like kelp. It is also found in sea salt, which is of great benefit to those who live far from the ocean. Drinking water contaminated with cyanides can also contribute to goiter, as can excessive amounts of barbiturates, when there is insufficient iodine or vitamin C (ruled by Saturn) in the diet. The foods that contain trace amounts of natural cyanide, such as cabbage and almonds, also contain large amounts of vitamin C to counterbalance the cyanide. But this helps only when we do not cook all of the water-soluble vitamin C out of the food.

The Islets of Langerhans

The pancreas, once thought to be an endocrine gland, has subsequently been found to have two maj or functions, one for digestion and one for hormonal control of carbohydrate metabolism. The pancreas produces a fluid that is rich in enzymes that are essential to final digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Pancreatic fluid is released into the small intestine, not the bloodstream. However, within the pancreas is a series of tiny glands, not related to the pancreas, called the islets of Langerhans, named for the man who discovered them. These glands secrete directly into the bloodstream the hormone insulin, which plays a vital role in carbohydrate metabolism. Insulin controls the sugar level in the bloodstream and the rate at which the body stores sugar temporarily as animal starch or glycogen. Its effect is like the wick of a candle, in that the wax (sugar) will not burn without a wick (insulin). Undersecretion or total lack of insulin produces the metabolic disease called diabetes. Oversecretion of insulin causes the condition called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. In this latter disease, the islets of Langerhans have been oversensitized and thus stimulated to produce excessive insulin. Because the blood sugar level remains low, the hypoglycemic person is continually hungry and tired.

The islets of Langerhans, glycogen, insulin and fat are all ruled by Jupiter. Sugar (glucose) is ruled by Venus. Because fat retards insulin production, it must be practically eliminated from the diet of diabetics and added to the diet of hypoglycemics. In the natal chart, Jupiter is at the heart of both disease conditions. With diabetics, Jupiter is restricted in its expression, typically by some Saturn affliction, while with hypoglycemia, Jupiter is afflicted (sensitized) by Neptune. In diabetes it is also quite common to find Jupiter in Aries, Libra or Scorpio natally and in the first, sixth or twelfth house, or the afflicting planet in one of these houses, particularly the sixth. If this pattern is not found in the natal chart, it often occurs in the progressed chart at the onset of diabetes in later life. Recent medical research has established a definite link between diabetes in later life and mumps in youth. The mumps virus apparently sensitizes the islets of Langerhans in some manner that is not yet completely understood. A rather high percentage of older diabetics had mumps in their youth, and it is strongly recommended that those who have had mumps in their youth have their blood sugar level carefully checked in an annual checkup.

The Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are two pea-shaped glands located above each kidney. Located in the Libra zone of the body, they are ruled by Mars. Anatomically they are divided into two distinct regions, the outer cortex and the inner medulla. Each region performs its own function and secretes its own particular hormones into the blood. The adrenal cortex secretes the hormone cortin, and the medulla, adrenalin. Both hormones are required for sugar metabolism. Cortin turns glycogen slowly back into glucose to maintain the proper blood sugar level between meals. Its effect is the opposite of insulin. Adrenalin has the same effect as cortin, except that it is much more immediate, -almost instantaneous. It is released when the body is threatened and prepares it for fight or flight. The adrenal cortex also produces sex hormones called ketosteroids and adrenocorticosteroids, which the body manufactures from cholesterol. Perhaps the best known of the corticosteroids is cortisone, which is vital in the bodys resistance to disease. Cortisones planetary ruler has not yet been firmly established, but it is probably Mars. The adrenal cortex and the anterior portion of the pituitary gland are closely linked. The anterior pituitary produces a substance called ACTH (adreno-cortico-tropic hormone), which stimulates the production of corticosteroids by the adrenal cortex. Either underactivity or overactivity of the adrenal glands can have serious health consequences, especially in a persons resistance to disease. In both men and women, the adrenal glands produce female sex hormones. In the male, the adrenal sex hormones are balanced by the male sex hormones produced by the testes. Insufficient adrenocortical hormone production has recently been linked to alcoholism. A persons tolerance for alcohol is directly linked to the amount of this hormone pro-duced by the body. Overindulgence in alcohol damages the adrenal cortex, resulting in diminished hormone

production and then addiction. Individuals with adrenocortical insufficiency show decreased metabolism, low blood pressure, a characteristic hair distribution and a craving for salt or sweets. The characteristic astrological pattern for adrenal hor-mone insufficiency is an affliction to Mars from Jupiter, Saturn or, most frequently, Neptune or a combination of these. A Neptune-Mars square, opposition or inconjunct is often found in the natal charts of alcoholics as well as in the charts of teetotalers who recognize that they cant tolerate alcohol.

The Testes and Ovaries

The ovaries and testes, in addition to producing ova and sperm, also produce sex hormones, which are released into the bloodstream. The testes produce the two major male sex hormones, testosterone and androsterone. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, female sex hormones that control the menstrual cycle to a large extent. Both organs are in the Scorpio region of the body and are ruled by Mars. The actual act of conception, the fusion of sperm and egg, with its hereditary results, is ruled by Pluto, the alpha and omega of the planets. Again, malfunction of these glands is generally indicated by Mars afflicted by Saturn, Neptune or occasionally Uranus, with Mars or the afflicting planets located in Scorpio or Aries natally, by progression or by transit.

The Thymus Gland

Until recently, the thymus gland, which is located in the upper thorax near the throat, was badly misunderstood and underrated by the medical profession. This gland is largest during puberty, after which it begins to shrink, so it was thought to be unimportant during adulthood. Earlier medical astrologers assigned this gland to Venus, which was a serious mistake. The thymus gland is actually ruled by Neptune, which explains in part why it took so long for medicine to ascertain its true function, for Neptune obscures all it comes in contact with. Pisces, ruled by Neptune, rules the lymphatic system as well as the feet. It is in the lymphatic system rather than the circulatory system where the white blood cells fight off viral or bacterial infection, as evidenced by the swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, scalp or groin when such battles are taking place. The thymus gland secretes a

hormone called thymosin, whose basic function is to alert the bodys defense mechanism to attack by foreign organisms. Children who have underactive thymus glands are particularly susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, to the point that some must receive injections of thymosin (also Neptune ruled), which is produced from beef thymus glands. The thymus requires lots of vitamin A. Little is known about hyperactivity of the thymus gland, but underactivity is generally related to a malefic aspect to Neptune from Saturn, often with one of these planets in Taurus (the neck region).

The Pineal Gland

Of all the ductless or endocrine glands, the pineal gland, a small, reddish body in the posterior portion of the skull cavity, is causing the greatest disagreement among astrologers as to its function and significance. Cornell describes it as the third eye - the spiritual center of the body - the organ of spiritual sight and spirituality - the seat of the soul in the body - the organ of thought transference, and many people feel that this gland is related in some way to extrasensory perceptive powers. Its ruler is probably Neptune, or possibly Uranus. We know that for a short period after a baby is born, the top of its skull is not completely ossified, or enclosed by bone. Until recently it was presumed that the only reason for this was to give the skull flexibility during the birth process and to pre-vent brain damage. While this is probably true, recent research has revealed that during the first days after birth a certain amount of diffuse light penetrates the skull through the fontanel and triggers a whole series of enzyme reactions as light strikes the pineal body. Apparently these enzymatic reactions are essential in starting the babys metabolic processes. A new school of astrological thought in England holds that the more light this region is exposed to before the skull closes, the more psychically sensitive the child will become. Also they believe that astrologers are wrong in using as the birth moment the time when the child takes its first breath; rather they perceive the true birth moment as the time when the top of the skull emerges into the light. This is an interesting theory, which is supportable biochemically. The temporary opening in the skull, the fontanel, has been much written about in occult literature. Science still has much to learn about the pineal body, ruled by Neptune, for its function is quite obscure.

The Spleen

Most astrological discussions of the endocrine glands include the spleen, located in the Virgo region of the body, even though it doesnt seem to produce any specific hormones. Its planetary ruler is generally conceded to be the Sun, and any afflictions to the spleen are generally related to Saturn. The spleen and bone marrow are the sources of white corpuscles, which are so necessary in fighting invasions of bacteria and virus. As we pointed out earlier, this fight occurs in the lymphatic system, ruled by Pisces - Virgos opposite sign. Esoteric astrology places great emphasis on the spleen, claiming that the solar forces enter the body through this organ. The spleen is said to be the focal point of the astral body and the connecting point between the physical and astral worlds. The lower dorsal vertebrae, the area of the spine that houses and protects the nerves to the spleen, is also said to be important, in that any blockage here to the splenic nerves impedes the vital energies entering the body. To the medical doctor and the physiologist, the spleen is vital to the normal protective mechanisms of the body. As aging occurs and the bone marrow is used up, the spleen becomes even more important as the source of blood cells. It is involved in many forms of anemia as well as leukemia, and injury to or removal of the spleen affects the bodys defense against disease.

The Parathyroid Glands

No discussion of hormones or the endocrine glands would be complete without some discussion of the two pairs of parathyroid glands, located in the neck close to the thyroid gland. They play an especially vital role in the metabolism of calcium. Their discovery is comparatively recent. Saturn, which rules calcium, is thought to be the ruler of the parathyroid glands, but Pluto is also thought to influence them strongly, because Mars and Pluto co-rule phosphate. We have seen in this chapter the vital role that hormones play in good nutrition and health. The body forms these hormones from the foods we eat, many from unsaturated fats and proteins. Mercury is the general ruler of all hormones, because hormones secreted in one part of the body act as chemical messengers to other areas. Each hormone and the endocrine gland that secretes it is ruled by a particular planet and by the sign that controls that body region. In the older astrological literature, the rulerships of the various endocrine glands are quite confused, because at that time physiology was not well understood. For example, Heindel and others speak of the spinal

fluid as an etheric substance, which we know is untrue; it is a liquid of high protein content. However, while their specific knowledge of physiology was somewhat lacking, the ancients were remarkably accurate in as-signing many rulerships. When Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto or Mars (or sometimes Neptune) is located in the sixth or the twelfth house and in malefic aspect to the planet that rules one of the endocrine glands, there may be overactivity, underactivity, tumors or inflammation of that gland. This seems to be true also when the afflicted ruler is located in the sixth or the twelfth house. In many cases the disease condition can be corrected or alleviated by taking particular vitamins, minerals or cell salts that are associated with the afflicted planet and/or the sign on the cusp of the sixth and/or the twelfth house - usually a combination of substances related to the signs on the sixth and the twelfth house cusps.