Do You carry Your Karma in Your chart, and does it cause You to experience physical health symptoms? I find considerable truth in these descriptions, read on and see what You think... An "affliction" is something like a square, an opposition, a conjunction with Saturn (or just Saturn in general, it's got a bad rap in Astrology)...
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Aries rules the head, the cerebral hemispheres, the various organs within the head, and the eyes, but the nose is under the rulership of Scorpio.
Thus any affliction in Aries will react upon the head, producing headaches, neuralgia, coma and trance conditions, diseases of the brain and cerebral hemorrhages.
Taurus rules the neck, throat, palate, larynx and tonsils, lower jaw, ears, and occipital region. The cerebellum is also under the rule of Taurus, so are the atlas and cervical vertebrae, the carotid arteries, jugular veins, and certain minor blood vessels.
The diseases to which these regions are subject are goiter, diphtheria, croup and apoplexy. As each sign always reacts upon the opposite, afflictions in Taurus may also produce venereal diseases, constipation, or irregular menses.
Gemini rules the arms and hands, shoulders, lungs, and the thymus gland, also the upper ribs, therefore afflictions in Gemini cause pulmonary diseases, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, asthma and inflammation of the pericardium.
Cancer rules the esophagus, stomach, diaphragm, pancreas, the mammae, lacteals, upper lobes of liver, and thoracic duct, hence afflictions in Cancer produce indigestion, gas in the stomach, cough, hiccough, dropsy, gloom, hypochondria, hysteria, gall stones, and jaundice.
Leo rules the heart, the dorsal region of the spine, the spinal cord, and the aorta, therefore the afflictions in Leo cause regurgitation, palpitation, faintings, aneurysm, spinal meningitis, and curvature of the spine, also arterio-sclerosis and angina pectoris, hyperaemia, anemia and hydraemia.
Virgo rules the abdominal region, the large and small intestines, the lower lobes of the liver, and the spleen, therefore afflictions in Virgo produce peritonitis, tapeworm, malnutrition, interference with the absorption of the chyle, typhoid fever, cholera, and appendicitis.
Libra rules the kidneys, the suprarenals, the lumbar region of the spine, the vasomotor system and the skin, hence afflictions in Libra produce polyuria, or suppression of the urine, inflammation of the ureters which connect the kidneys with the bladder, Bright's disease, lumbago, eczema and other skin diseases.
Scorpio rules the bladder, urethra, and genital organs in general, also the rectum and the descending colon, the sigmoid flexure, the prostate gland, and the nasal bones; hence afflictions in Scorpio produce nasal catarrh, adenoids, and polypi, diseases of the womb and ovaries, various venereal diseases, stricture, and enlargement of the prostate gland, irregularities of the menses, leucorrhoea, rupture, renal stones and gravel.
Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs, the femur, ileum, the coccygeal and sacral regions of the spine, the iliac arteries and veins, sciatic nerves, hence afflictions to Sagittarius produce locomotor ataxia, sciatica, rheumatism, and hip diseases. Furthermore, as each sign has an influence upon its opposite, afflictions in Sagittarius may also cause pulmonary troubles. It is also noteworthy that broken bones are caused by this sign.
Capricorn governs the skin and the knees, but it has also a reflex action on the stomach, which is governed by the opposite sign Cancer. Hence afflictions in Capricorn produce eczema and other skin diseases, erysipelas, leprosy, and digestive disturbances.
Aquarius rules the ankles, the limbs from the knees to the ankles, and has also a reflex action on its opposite sign Leo, hence afflictions in Aquarius produce varicose veins, sprained ankles, irregularities of the heart action and dropsy.
Pisces rules the feet and toes. It also has a reflex effect on the abdominal region governed by the opposite sign, Virgo, hence afflictions in this sign indicate trouble and deformities of the feet, intestinal diseases and dropsy. It also produces a desire for drink and drugs which may bring about delirium tremens. Consumption is sometimes found to be a secondary result of cold in the feet contracted by an afflicted Pisces.
The Sun rules in the very first place the vital fluid which is specialized through the spleen, transferred to the solar plexus, and thence distributed over the whole body. This vital fluid is invisible to ordinary humanity, but to those gifted with the spiritual sight it appears as a rose-colored fluid which is like the electricity in the wires of a telephone or telegraph system. When the wires designed to carry electricity are minus the electric fluid they are dead and the telephone or telegraph instruments do not respond. Similarly, when for some reason the invisible vital fluid ceases to flow through any part of the human organism in sufficient quantity, that part of the body will not perform its proper function, and therefore disease results, continuing until some obstruction has been removed and the path cleared for the vital fluid. On that account an afflicted Sun always causes disease, particularly in a man's horoscope, and in a woman's nativity the Moon, which is the collector of solar forces, takes the same office or function. The heart and the pons varolii, or vital knot, situated in the brain, are the principal parts of the body ruled by the Sun. When the Sun is well aspected in Leo or Aries radiant health may be looked for. But on the other hand, when he is afflicted he produces the various ailments according to the sign wherein he is placed at the time. These disabilities may be set down as follows:
The Sun afflicted in Aries, the sign which rules the head, gives a tendency to aphasia, loss of identity, brain fever, cerebral hemorrhage, and meningitis, cerebral anemia or congestion of the blood, faintings and headaches.
The Sun afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to quinsy, diphtheria, and polypus of the nose. In the Pleiades (Taurus 29), eye trouble.
The Sun afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to pleurisy, bronchitis, and hyperaemia of the lungs.
The Sun afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to anemia, dropsy, dyspepsia, and gastric fever.
The Sun afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to palpitation of the heart, backache, and spinal affections. In the Ascelli (Leo 6), eye trouble.
The Sun afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to interference with the assimilation, peritonitis, typhoid fever, and dysentery.
The Sun afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to Bright's disease and eruptions of the skin through overheated blood, for Saturn rules the skin and Libra is his exaltation sign.
The Sun afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to renal calculus, genito-urinary and menstrual disturbances, uterine and ovarian affections.
The Sun afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to sciatica, paralysis of the limbs and pulmonary diseases. If the Sun is in Antares (Sagittarius 8) and afflicted by one or more of the malefics there is danger of disease of the eyes.
The Sun afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to rheumatism, skin diseases, and digestive troubles.
The Sun afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, dropsy, palpitation of the heart, and poor circulation.
The Sun afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to perspiration of the feet, also intestinal troubles, typhoid fever, et cetera.
On account of her rulership of Taurus and Libra, Venus is responsible for a number of affections of the throat and kidneys, also maladies due to gastronomical indiscretions, lack of exercise, sedentary habits, poor circulation of the venous blood, excess of amorous indulgence and dissolute living, hence she brings obesity, tumors, cysts, poor circulation, venereal diseases, tonsillitis, and various other disorders. Her general effect when placed in the twelve signs may be classed as follows:
Venus afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to catarrh in the head, mucus, and, by reflex action in Libra congestion of the kidneys.
Venus afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to mumps, headaches affecting the occipital region, goiter, tonsillitis, and glandular swellings of the throat. By reflect action in Scorpio this also brings venereal diseases or other troubles peculiar to the genitals.
Venus afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to corrupt blood, pulmonary inefficiency, whitlows, warts, and dropsy.
Venus afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to distended stomach, gastric tumor, and nausea.
Venus afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to spinal affections, backache and enlarged heart.
Venus afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to weakened peristaltic action of the intestines, tumors, tapeworm, and worms in children.
Venus afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to uremia and polyuria; by reflex action in Aries, headaches.
Venus afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to varicocele, venereal diseases, uterine prolapsis or tumors, painful menstruation and other female complaints, and by reflex action in Taurus, throat affections.
Venus afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to tumors and kindred diseases in the hips, and by reflex action in Gemini, bronchial and pulmonary affections.
Venus afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to gout in the limbs, and, by reflex action in Cancer, digestive troubles, nausea and vomiting.
Venus afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, and, by reflex action in Leo, heart trouble.
Venus afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to tender feet, bunions, chilblains, gout, and, by reflex action in Virgo, abdominal tumors and intestinal disorders.
Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, therefore his afflictions manifest in diseases related to these signs, as bronchitis, pulmonary and respiratory troubles. He also rules the right cerebral hemisphere, the motor segment of the spinal cord, and the vocal cords, hence locomotor ataxia and nervous and vocal disorders are among his manifestations; so is deafness. The following effects may be noted when he is afflicted in the twelve signs:
Mercury afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to brain fever, nervous headache, vertigo, neuralgia, and, by reflex action in Libra, nervous disorders of the kidneys, and lumbago.
Mercury afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to stuttering, hoarseness and deafness, and by reflex action in Scorpio, nervous affections of the genito-urinary system.
Mercury afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to gout in head, arms, and shoulders, bronchitis, asthma, asphyxiation, pleurisy, and, by reflex action in Sagittarius, nervous pains in the hips.
Mercury afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to nervous indigestion, phlegm, flatulence, and drunkenness.
Mercury afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to pain in the back, fainting, and palpitation of the heart.
Mercury afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to flatulence, wind colic, short breath, and nervous debility.
Mercury afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to suppression of urine, renal paroxysms, lumbago, and, by reflex action in Aries, vertigo, nervous headaches and eye trouble.
Mercury afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to pains in bladder and genitals, menstrual trouble, and, by reflex action in Taurus, stuttering or hoarseness and deafness.
Mercury afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to pain in the hips and thighs. By reflex action in Gemini, cough, asthma and pleurisy.
Mercury afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to rheumatism, especially in the knees; pains in the back, skin diseases, melancholy; by reflex action in Cancer, nervous indigestion, flatulence.
Mercury afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to shooting or gnawing pains in the whole body, varicose veins, corrupt blood and, by reflex action in Leo, palpitation, and neuralgia of the heart.
Mercury afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to gout in the feet, or they are tender and subject to cramp, or, by reflex action in Virgo, a general weakness, lassitude, worry, and sometimes tuberculosis, deafness.
The Moon rules the esophagus and stomach, the uterus and ovaries, the lymphatics and the sympathetic nervous system, the synovial fluid. When afflicted she produces dropsical and menstrual troubles, uterine and ovarian afflictions, dyspepsia, eye trouble, and lunacy, according to the sign, house and nature of the afflicting planet. She has particular rule over the mother during pregnancy.
The Moon afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to insomnia, headache, lethargy, and weak eyes.
The Moon afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to sore throat, and if in Taurus 29 with the Pleiades and afflicted by Saturn, Mars, Uranus, or Neptune, eye trouble results; by reflex action in Scorpio, menstrual or other trouble with the genitals.
The Moon afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to catarrh of the lungs, asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, rheumatism in the arms and shoulders.
The Moon afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to cancer of the stomach, dropsy, obesity, bloating, digestive troubles, and epilepsy.
The Moon afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to backache, disturbed circulation, convulsions, and heart trouble; if in Leo 6, eye trouble.
The Moon afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to disorders in the bowels, abdominal tumors, dysentery, and peritonitis.
The Moon afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to Bright's disease, abscess of the kidneys, uremia; by reflex action in Aries, headache or insomnia.
The Moon afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to disturbed menses, bladder troubles, hydrocele, and other genito-urinary disturbances; by reflex action in Taurus, throat troubles.
The Moon afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to blood affections, hip disease, and, sometimes, a broken femur; by reflex action in Gemini, asthma.
The Moon afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to articular rheumatism, lack of synovial fluid, eruptions of the skin, and by reflex action in Cancer, digestive troubles.
The Moon afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, ulcers of the leg, dropsy, and, by reflex action in Leo, hysteria, fainting, and heart trouble.
The Moon afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to drink, drug habits, tender feet, and, by reflex action in Virgo, abdominal disorders of various kinds.
Saturn is the planet of obstruction, crystallization and atrophy. By his action the circulation or passage of bodily fluids, such as the blood, lymph, or urine, is impeded, and by this stagnation waste materials are retained instead of being eliminated. Thus they form various deposits in the body, building the skeleton, which is constructive, hardening the arteries and articulations, which is destructive. Saturn rules the gall bladder, where he forms the painful gallstones, and by virtue of his exaltation power in Libra he crystallizes the renal stones and gravel which cause such suffering to those who have these concretions. By retention of the urea he causes the painful rheumatism and gout which often manifest in deformity of the joints that so often disfigures and disables the sufferers therefrom. He rules the pneumogastric nerve, and by his restrictive action through that medium he may at any moment slow down the heart action, stop digestion, suppress the urine and stool under the emotions of fear and worry generated by him. Thus he has the power to bring every bodily function to a standstill.
Saturn also rules the teeth and the skin. By his action the teeth decay, leading to malnutrition, the synovial membranes are hardened, making the spine and limbs rigid; he makes the skin tough as the years go by. Saturn is at home in Capricorn, and by his reflex action in Cancer he interferes with the peristaltic action which is necessary in the digestion of food; he then causes antiperistalsis, or vomiting. His general activities in the body are destructive and tend to end the life of the organism.
Saturn generally hurts by falls, bruises, and colds. He predisposes to chronic and deep-seated ailments, and his victims are difficult to reach because he imbues them with fear, worry, and pessimism, so that they refuse to believe in the possibility of a cure and cannot be induced to take a cheerful look on life.
The presence of Saturn in any part of the horoscope constitutes an affliction in itself, therefore we may note the following effects in the twelve signs, whether he is aspected by squares, oppositions, trines or sextiles, but naturally his effects are somewhat more inimical when in evil aspect.
Saturn in Aries gives a tendency to headache, colds, catarrh, deafness, and chills, cerebral anemia, dental decay, tartar, faintings, and, by reflex action in Libra, renal disorders.
Saturn in Taurus gives a tendency to phlegm, diphtheria, quinsy, mumps, croup, decay of the lower teeth, choking, and by reflex action in Scorpio, stricture, constipation and similar disorders.
Saturn in Gemini gives a tendency to rheumatic pains in shoulders and arms, bronchitis, pulmonary consumption, asthma, and, by reflex action in Sagittarius, sciatica and hip diseases.
Saturn in Cancer gives a tendency to pyorrhea, dyspepsia, gastric ulcer and cancer, nausea and belching, scurvy, jaundice, gallstones, anemia, and stricture of the esophagus.
Saturn in Leo gives a tendency to curvature of the spine, muscular inefficiency of the heart, weak back, arterio-sclerosis, and sclerosis of the spinal cord.
Saturn in Virgo gives a tendency to weakened peristalsis of the intestines, abated absorption of chyle, obstruction of the ileum caecum and transverse colon, appendicitis.
Saturn in Libra gives a tendency to locomotor ataxia, renal stones, gravel and sand, Bright's disease, suppression of urine, malnutrition, and, by reflex action in Aries, headache, toothache, and other disorders of the head.
Saturn in Scorpio gives a tendency to sterility, suppression of the menses, stricture, constipation, hemorrhoids, and, by reflex action in Taurus, nasal catarrh, hoarseness, phlegm, and other throat affections.
Saturn in Sagittarius gives a tendency to contusions of the hips and thighs, sciatica, gout, and hip disease; by reflex action in Gemini, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and other Gemini affections.
Saturn in Capricorn gives a tendency to articular rheumatism, eczema, erysipelas, and other diseases of the skin; by reflex action in Cancer, jaundice, gallstones, and dyspepsia.
Saturn in Aquarius gives a tendency to weak ankles, easily sprained, and, by reflex action in Leo, curvature of the spine, sclerosis and other affections of the heart, back and arteries.
Saturn in Pisces gives a tendency to cold feet, rheumatism and bunions, also tuberculosis due to cold and wet feet, and, by reflex action in Virgo, dropsy.
The liver is the great center of the Jupiterian activity; there he forms glycogen from the waste products of the portal blood-stream. The great central vortex of the desire body is also in the liver, and when an extra effort is to be made, Mars draws upon the glycogen storehouse of Jupiter for fuel. Saturn too is active in the liver, forming the gall, urea, and uric acid.
It is somewhat difficult for the average student to segregate and combine the varied functions of this organ, but if we bear in mind that Cancer is the exaltation sign of Jupiter and the opposite sign Capricorn is the home of Saturn and the exaltation sign of Mars, we shall more readily understand that the great benefic, Jupiter, endeavors to store in the liver the glycogen so necessary to the bodily activity. This, Mars, the opposing exaltation ruler, recklessly scatters by expenditure of muscular energy, and he is aided and abetted in his destructive activities by Saturn, who produces gall and urea which he deposits during the muscular work as uric acid in the various parts of the body where it manifests as gout and rheumatism. Saturn also makes the liver torpid and causes constipation.
Jupiter rules the adrenals and arterial circulation, hence his afflictions cause formation of adipose tissue, fatty degeneration of muscles, tumors, and morbid growths, enlargement of organs, waste of sugar and albumen as in diabetes and kindred diseases. Blood-poisoning, hyperaemia and apoplexy are due to afflictions of Jupiter.
The following effects may be noted when Jupiter is afflicted in the twelve signs.
Jupiter afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to dizziness, cerebral congestion, sleepiness, thrombosis, fainting, ulcerated gums of upper jaw, and, by reflex action in Libra, diabetes and depression due to lack of adrenal secretion.
Jupiter afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to gourmandize, hence plethora and apoplexy, ringworm and carbuncles follow; also ulcerated gums of mandible; by reflex action in Scorpio, catarrh of the nose and nosebleed.
Jupiter afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to pleurisy, blood affections, congestion of the lungs, pulmonary apoplexy; by reflex action in Sagittarius, broken bones, gout and rheumatism in hips and thighs.
Jupiter afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to gourmandize, causing dilation of the stomach, dyspepsia, liver complaints, jaundice, and dropsy; by reflex action in Capricorn, which rules the skin, pimples and similar eruptions.
Jupiter afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to apoplexy and fatty degeneration of the heart, the valve action is weakened, the circulation sluggish at times and at other times there are palpitation and feverish conditions; by reflex action in Aquarius, swollen ankles.
Jupiter afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to enlarged liver, often ulcerated, jaundice.
Jupiter afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to melancholy due to diminished adrenal secretion, renal abscess, diabetes, skin eruptions due to sluggish action of kidneys; by reflex action in Aries, congestion of brain, coma and vertigo.
Jupiter afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to enlarged prostate gland, uterine tumors, urethral abscess, dropsy, hydraemia, excess of urates and strangury; by reflex action in Taurus, apoplexy and nosebleed.
Jupiter afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to rheumatism and gout; by reflex action in Gemini, pulmonary apoplexy and corrupt blood.
Jupiter afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to various skin diseases, and, by reflex action in Cancer, digestive ailments, dropsy, jaundice, and fatty degeneration of the liver.
Jupiter afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to milk-leg, swollen ankles, and, by reflex action in Leo, apoplexy and palpitation.
Jupiter afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to swollen, perspiring feet, and, by reflex action in Virgo, enlarged liver, abdominal tumors, jaundice, and diseased intestines.
The ancient Egyptian sages called Cancer the sphere of the soul, and when the mystic Sun of life goes through this moist, fruitful lunar sign the seed-atom of the ego's physical body is planted. While the embryonic body grows unconsciously as a plant grows, the mystic Sun of life passes through Leo, Virgo, and Libra. In the fourth month of gestation it passes through the second of the water signs, Scorpio. Then the spirit dies to its heavenly home and is immured in its earthly prison house by Mars, who chains it with the silver cord and thus brings about the quickening. Then the Sun of life proceeds through Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and when after the nine months have been completed it has passed through the last of the watery signs, Pisces, the flood-gates of the womb are opened and the ego is launched upon the sea of life under the auspices of the martial sign Aries, where the giver of life, the Sun, is exalted.
During the gestatory period Mars has given to the body iron, especially in the form of hemoglobin, and with the first breath oxidation of this substance commences to produce the heat so necessary to life and consciousness. This operation is continued all through life, and thus to the Martian ray falls the important task of supplementing the Sun in the maintenance of the vital spark until the mystic Sun of life has completed its circle and reached the sign where the quickening took place. Then Scorpio gives the body its death-sting, Mars and his friend Saturn cut the silver cord, and the free soul soars as an eagle into the empyrean seeking the celestial spheres which are its true home. Therefore Scorpio is symbolized both by a scorpion and an eagle.
On account of his mission as aide to the Sun in the maintenance of life, Mars every aims to cleanse the body of filth and waste accumulation so that the fires of life may burn brightly, hence, when the gourmandizing habits of Jupiter and Venus have clogged the system, or the obstructive tendencies of Saturn have poisoned the body by stoppage of elimination, Mars lights the fire of fever and inflammation to burn out the refuse and give the system a new lease on life and energy. Thus many of the pathogenic effects of Mars aim at a constructive end.
But Mars not only aids the vital process of the life-giving Sun, who is exaltation ruler of Aries; he is himself exaltation ruler of Capricorn, where Saturn, the planet of death, holds sway, and between those two thieves the Sun, the Lord of Life, is crucified, suffers and dies, while they part his physical garment. The role of Saturn in this process has been described in the appropriate chapter, and of Mars it may be said that by his recklessness he predisposes to accidents by burning, scalding, wounds, or gunshot. He rules the genitals through Scorpio, and depletes the vitality and causes genital disorders by passional excesses, hemorrhage, rupture of blood vessels. Excessive menses and hemorrhoids show his activities in the blood; hernia and contagious diseases are also manifestations of the martian ray. As mars is a malefic, his presence in any sign or house constitutes an affliction in itself, regardless of his aspects, but naturally his pathogenic effects are worse when he is aspected by square or opposition than when he is fortified by sextile or trine.
His effects in the twelve signs may be more specifically stated as follows:
Mars in Aries gives a tendency to sunstroke, cerebral hemorrhages or congestion, inflammation of the brain, brain fever and delirium, shooting pains in the head, insomnia, and wounds in the head; by reflex action in Libra, inflammation of the kidneys, renal hemorrhage and renal calculi.
Mars in Taurus gives a tendency to mumps, enlarged or inflamed tonsils, suffocation, adenoids, diphtheria, polypus and nosebleed, goiter, inflammation of the larynx; by reflex action in Scorpio, excessive menstrual flow, scalding urine, venereal ulcers, enlargement of the prostate gland and strangury.
Mars in Gemini gives a tendency to hemorrhage of the lungs, pneumonia, bronchitis, cough, wounds or fractures of hands, arms, and collarbone; by reflex action in Sagittarius, fractured femur, and sciatica.
Mars in Cancer gives a tendency to milk-fever, inflammation, ulceration and hemorrhage of the stomach, dyspepsia.
Mars in Leo gives a tendency to muscular rheumatism in the back, overheating of the blood, enlargement of the heart and palpitation, pain in the heart, suffocation and fainting (angina pectoris), inflammation of the pericardium.
Mars in Virgo gives a tendency to typhoid, inflammation of the bowels, peritonitis, worms, diarrhea, cholera, and ventral hernia, appendicitis.
Mars in Libra gives a tendency to inflammation of the kidneys, excess of urine, hemorrhage of the kidneys, and renal stones; by reflex action in Aries, brain-fever, sunstroke, pains in the head.
Mars in Scorpio gives a tendency to excessive menses, scalding urine, gravel, sand, and renal stones, inflammation and ulceration of the ovaries and uterus, also of the vagina and urethra, varicocele, enlargement of the prostate gland, stricture and strangury, venereal ulcers and hemorrhoids; by reflex action in Taurus, inflamed tonsils or larynx and nosebleed.
Mars in Sagittarius gives a tendency to fracture or dislocation of the femur, sciatica, and ulcers of the thighs; by reflex action in Gemini, pneumonia, bronchitis and coughs.
Mars in Capricorn gives a tendency to carbuncles, erysipelas, smallpox, chicken pox, measles, pimples, itch and other eruptive or inflammatory skin diseases; by reflex action in Cancer, dyspepsia and ulcerated stomach.
Mars in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, fracture of the leg and blood-poisoning; by reflex action in Leo, heart failure, overheated blood, fainting and palpitation.
Mars in Pisces gives a tendency to deformities of the feet, or accidents to them, corns, bunions and perspiring feet; by reflex action in Virgo, ventral hernia, inflammation of the bowels and diarrhea.
Uranus rules the ether which is the medium by which the light rays are transmitted, hence he has considerable influence over the eyes and is responsible, when afflicting the Sun or Moon, for various diseases of the eyes, or even blindness. This is especially the case when the Sun or Moon is placed in the Pleiades (Taurus 29), or the Ascelli (Leo 6) or Antares (Sagittarius 8).
Modern astrologers have not yet had time to tabulate the full effects of Uranus in all the signs, and as for the pathogenic effects still less is known, but he is said to be exalted in Scorpio and Our own experience seems to indicate that Uranus has a very marked evil influence on the sex which is ruled by this sign, producing most deep-seated venereal diseases. By reflex action or affliction to planets in Taurus (ruled by Venus) where the organ of coordinated action is located, he produces erratic movements, as seen in St. Vitus dance, contortions, spasms, tetanus, cramps, hiccough and hysteria.
As ruler of the ether and gases he is responsible for injury and shock by electricity which travels through the ether. Nitrogen, a gas, is the base of a number of compounds whose characteristic Uranian instability makes them highly explosive, and Uranus is thus responsible for such deaths and injuries as occur on that account, especially if placed in the Eighth House.
Uranus in Taurus gives a tendency to diminished pituitary secretion and consequent abnormal growth.
Uranus in Gemini gives a tendency to spasmodic asthma, colds, and a dry, hard cough.
Uranus in Cancer gives a tendency to hiccough, produced by the erratic action of the diaphragm, also to a hard, dry stomach cough and cramp of the stomach, gas and flatulence.
Uranus in Leo gives a tendency to palpitation, spasmodic heart action, spinal meningitis and infantile paralysis; by reflex action from Aquarius similar effects are now observable.
Uranus in Virgo gives a tendency to flatulence, and abdominal cramps.
Uranus in Libra gives a tendency to intermittent action of the kidneys and venereal eruptions of the skin; by reflex action in Aries, sudden and violent headaches, shooting pains in the head, and hallucinations.
Uranus in Scorpio gives a tendency to miscarriages, abortions, and venereal diseases, and in the Fifth House he causes painful and difficult parturition, generally involving the use of instruments and often the infant is severely or fatally injured or stillborn.
Uranus in Capricorn usually works by reflex action in Cancer, but as the children with this position are still young (this is written in 1918) the full effects are as yet unknown.
Neptune, the octave of Mercury, works principally upon the nervous system (ruled by Mercury) and at times produces frenzy where the person is beside himself on account of religious or other excitement. At other times he produces lethargy, coma, catalepsy, trance or mediumship, where the bodily energies are in abeyance while the psychic powers are in a state of hyperactivity. He rules the spinal canal, which is filled with ether during life. (It is true that surgeons tap it and draw out a fluid, but they may also draw water from a steam boiler because the steam condenses to water.) This luminous gas is called the spinal spirit fire by occultists, and by vibrating the pineal gland, also ruled by Neptune, spiritual sight is produced, but it depends upon the rate and pitch of these vibrations what the person sees. By prayer, concentration and meditation, a state of ecstasy may be produced where he sees the celestial hosts, or if a lower rate of super-normal vibration is produced by drink or drugs he sees demoniac shapes as related by sufferers of delirium, which is due to Neptune, especially in the watery sign Pisces. The pathogenic influence of Neptune is most evil in the Sixth House (or the sixth sign, Virgo) indicating disease, or in the Twelfth House (or the twelfth sign, Pisces) which governs sorrow, trouble and self-undoing. If these two houses are occupied by Taurus and Scorpio, the signs ruling the throat and genitals, there is an abnormal and perverted passional desire which gives a tendency to self-abuse, and perversion of a still worse nature. The mind, ruled by Mercury, the lower octave of Neptune, is morbid in its brooding upon unsavory subjects, and parents with children having Neptune in the Sixth or Twelfth Houses will do well to watch them carefully, especially if Neptune is in opposition to Uranus; that covers a number of those who are now, in 1918, reaching puberty, for Neptune has been going through the psychic sign Cancer while Uranus was in the opposite sign Capricorn.
We have found that Neptune square Saturn and Jupiter brought mental disturbances; Neptune conjunction Mars in Aries, square Uranus and the Moon in Cancer caused temporary instability of a periodic nature; Neptune conjunction Moon square Uranus caused spirit control. We have also seen many other indications, but the full effects of Neptune have not yet been systematically observed. We are working to that end, however, and hope in future years to be able to present a fairly full tabulation.
It is well known to the esoteric astrologer that the human body has an immense period of evolution behind it and that this splendid organism is the result of a slow process of gradual upbuilding which is still continuing and will make each generation better than the previous until in some far distant future it shall have reached a stage of completion of which we cannot even dream. It is also understood by the deeper students that in addition to the physical body man has finer vehicles which are not yet seen by the great majority of human beings, though all have within them latent a sixth sense whereby they will in time cognize these finer sheaths of the soul. The occultist speaks of these finer vehicles as the vital body, made of ether, and the desire body, made of desire stuff, the material whence we draw Our feelings and emotions, and with the addition of the sheath of mind and the physical body these complete what may be termed the personality which is the evanescent part distinct from the immortal spirit that uses these vehicles for its expression. These finer vehicles interpenetrate the dense physical body as air permeates water and have particular dominion over certain parts thereof, because the physical body itself is a crystallization of these finer vehicles in the same manner and upon the same principle that the soft fluids of a snail's body gradually crystallize into the hard and flinty shell which it carries upon its back. For the purpose of this dissertation we may say broadly that the softer parts of Our bodies which we commonly call flesh may be divided into two kinds, glands and muscles. The vital body was started in the Sun Period. Crystallization from that time on in that vehicle has developed what we now call glands and to this day they and the blood are the special manifestations of the vital body within the physical vehicle, and therefore the glands as a whole may be said to be under the rule of the life-giving Sun and the great benefic, Jupiter. For it is the function of the vital body to build and restore the tone of the muscles when tense and tired by the work imposed upon them by the restless desire body which was started in the Moon Period. The muscles are therefore ruled by the wandering Moon, which is the present vantage point of the angels, the humanity of the Moon Period, and by the impulsive and turbulent Mars, where the so-called "Fallen Angels," the Lucifer spirits, dwell; that is to say as a whole, for the student must carefully note that individual glands and particular groups of muscles are under the rulership of other planets as well. It is as when we say that all who live within the United States of America are citizens of that country, but some are subject to the laws of California, others to those of Maine.
We know the Hermetic axiom, "As above, so below," which is the master key to all mysteries, and as there are upon the earth, the macrocosm, a great many undiscovered places, so also in the microcosm of the body do we find unknown countries that are a closed book to the scientific explorers. Chief among them has been a small group of the so-called "ductless glands," seven in number, namely:
They have a great and particular interest for occultists, and they may be termed in a certain sense "the seven roses" upon the Cross of the body, for they are intimately connected with the occult development of humanity. Four of them, the Thymus Gland, the Spleen and the two Adrenals, are connected with the personality. The Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland are particularly correlated with the spiritual side of Our nature and the Thyroid Gland forms the link between. The astrological rule over these seven glands is as follows:
The Spleen is the entrance gate of the solar forces specialized by each human being and circulated through the body as the vital fluid, without which no being can live. This organ is therefore governed by the Sun. The two Adrenals are under the rulership of Jupiter, the great benefic, and exert a calming, quieting and soothing effect when the emotional activities of the Moon and Mars or Saturn have destroyed the poise. When the obstructive hand of Saturn has awakened the melancholy emotions and laid its restraint upon the heart, the Adrenals' secretions are carried by the blood to the heart and act as a powerful stimulant in its effort to keep up the circulation, while the Jovial optimism struggles against the Saturnine worries or against the impulse of Mars, which stirs the desire body into turbulent emotions of anger, rendering the muscles tense and trembling, dissipating the energy of the system; then the secretion of the Adrenals comes to the rescue, releasing the glycogen of the liver in a more abundant measure than usual to cope with the emergency until the equipoise has been again attained, and similarly during whatever other stress or strain. It was the knowledge of this occult fact that prompted the ancient astrologers to place the kidneys under the rulership of Libra, the Balance, and in order to avoid confusion of ideas we may say the kidneys themselves play an important part in the nutrition of the body, being under the rulership of Venus, the Lady of Libra, but Jupiter governs the Adrenals, with which we are now particularly engaged.
Both Venus and her higher octave, Uranus, govern the functions of nutrition and growth, but in different ways and for different purposes. Therefore Venus rules the Thymus Gland, which is the link between the parents and the child until the latter has reached puberty. This gland is located immediately behind the sternum or breast bone; it is largest in ante-natal life and through childhood while growth is excessive and rapid. During that time the vital body of the child does its most effective work, for the child is not then subject to the passions and emotions generated by the desire body after that comes to birth at or about the fourteenth year. But during the years of growth the child cannot manufacture the red blood corpuscles as does the adult, for the unborn, unorganized desire body does not then act as an avenue for the martian forces which assimilate the iron from the food and transmute it into hemoglobin. To compensate for this lack there is stored in the Thymus Gland a spiritual essence drawn from the parents, who are symbolized by Venus, the ruler, and with this essence provided by the love of the parents the child is able to accomplish the alchemistry of blood temporarily until its desire body becomes dynamically active. Then the Thymus Gland atrophies and the child draws from its own desire body the necessary martian force. From that time, under normal conditions, Uranus, the octave of Venus, and ruler of the Pituitary Body, takes charge of the function of growth and assimilation in the following manner:
It is well known that all things, Our food included, radiate from themselves continuously small particles which given an index of the thing whence they emanate, its quality included. Thus when we lift the food to Our mouth a number of these invisible particles enter the nose and by excitation of the olfactory tract convey to us a knowledge of whether the food we are about to take is suitable for this purpose or not, the sense of smell warning us to discard such foods as have a noxious odor, etc. But besides those particles which attract or repel us from food by their action upon the olfactory tract through the sense of smell, there are others which penetrate the sphenoid bone, impinge upon the Pituitary Body and start the Uranian alchemistry by which a secretion is formed and injected into the blood. This furthers assimilation through the chemical ether, thus affecting the normal growth and well-being of the body through life. Sometimes this Uranian influence of the Pituitary Body is eccentric and therefore responsible for strange and abnormal growths which produce the unfortunate freaks of nature we occasionally meet.
But besides being responsible for the spiritual impulses which generate the before-mentioned physical manifestations of growth, Uranus, working through the Pituitary Body, is also responsible for the spiritual phases of growth which aid awakened man in his efforts to penetrate the veil into the Invisible Worlds. In this work it is, however, associated with Neptune, the ruler of the Pineal Gland, and it will therefore be necessary, in order to properly elucidate, that we study the functions of the Thyroid Gland, ruled by Mercury, and of the Pineal Gland, which is under the domination of his higher octave, Neptune, simultaneously.
That the Thyroid Gland is under the rule of Mercury, the planet of reason, is readily realized when we understand the effect which the degeneration of this gland has upon the mind, as shown in the diseases of Cretinism and Myxedema. The secretions of this gland are as necessary to the proper functioning of the mind as ether is to the transmission of electricity, that is to say, upon the physical plane of existence where the brain transmutes thought into action. Contact with and expression in the invisible worlds depends upon the functional ability of the Pineal Gland, which is altogether spiritual in function, and is therefore ruled by the octave of Mercury, Neptune, the planet of spirituality. But Neptune operates in conjunction with the Pituitary Body ruled by Uranus, the planet of wisdom, as has already been stated.
Scientists have wasted much time in speculation upon the nature and function of these two little bodies, the Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland, but without avail, and principally because, as Mephistopheles says so sarcastically to the young man who wants to study science under Faust:
No one can really and truly observe the physiological functions of any organ under such conditions as exist in the laboratory, on the operating table, or in the dissection or vivisection chamber. To arrive at an adequate understanding one must necessarily see these organs exercising their physiological functions in the living body, and that can only be done by means of the spiritual sight. There are a number of organs which are either atrophying or developing; the former show the path we have already traveled during Our past evolution, the latter are finger-posts, indicating Our future development. But there is still another class of organs which are neither degenerating nor evolving; they are simply dormant at the present time. Physiologists believe that the Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland are atrophying because they find these organs more developed in some of the lowest classes of life, such as worms, but as a matter of fact they are wrong in their ideas; these organs are only dormant. Some have also suspected that the Pineal Gland is in some way connected with the mind, because it contains certain crystals after death, and the quantity was much less in those who were mentally defective than in people of normal mentality. This conclusion is right, but the Seer knows that the spinal canal of the living is not fluid with fluid; that the blood is not liquid, and that these organs have no crystals in them when the body is alive; these assertions are made with full knowledge of the fact that the blood and the spinal essence are liquid when drawn out of the physical body, living or dead, and the contents of the Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland appear crystalline when the brain is dissected; but the reason is similar to that which causes steam drawn from a steam boiler to condense immediately upon contact with the atmosphere, and molten metal drawn from a smelter's furnace to crystallize immediately upon withdrawal therefrom.
All these substances are purely spiritual essences when inside the body; they are then ethereal and the substance in the Pineal Gland, when seen by the spiritual sight, appears as light. Furthermore, when one Seer looks upon the Pineal Gland of another who is then also exercising his spiritual faculties, this light is of a most intense brilliancy and of an iridescence similar to but transcending in beauty the most wonderful play of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis, ever witnessed by the writer, and he has seen them many times. It may also be said that the function of this organ seems to have changed in the course of human evolution. During the earlier epochs of Our present stay upon the earth, when man's body was a large, baggy thing into which the spirit had not yet entered, but was there only as an overshadowing presence, there was an opening in the top and the Pineal Gland was within it; it was then an organ of orientation, giving a sense of direction. As the human body condensed, it became less and less able to endure the intense heat which prevailed during that time and the Pineal Gland gave warning when the body was brought too near one of the many craters and active volcanoes which were then erupting the thin earth crust, thus enabling the spirit to guide it away from these dangerous places. It was an organ of direction which operated by feeling, but feeling has since been distributed over the skin of the whole body, and this is an indication to the occultist that some day the senses of hearing and sight will also be similarly distributed so that we shall both see and hear with Our whole body and thus become still more sensitive in those respects than we are now.
Since then the Pineal Gland and the Pituitary Body have become temporarily dormant to make man oblivious to the invisible world while he learns the lessons afforded by the material world; but the Pituitary Body has manifested the Uranian influence sporadically in abnormal physical growth, producing freaks and monstrosities of various kinds, while Neptune, working also abnormally through the Pineal Gland, has been responsible for the abnormal spiritual growth of medicine men, witches and mediums of spirit controls. When they are awakened to normal activities these two ductless glands will open the door to the inner worlds in a sane and safe manner, but in the meantime the Thyroid Gland, ruled by Mercury, the planet of reason, holds the secretion necessary to give the brain balance.
In the future the ductless glands are destined to play a prominent role; their development will accelerate evolution greatly, for their effects are mainly mental and spiritual. We are now nearing the Aquarian Age; the Sun as therefore beginning to transmit the highly intellectual vibrations of this sign which accounts for the intuitions, premonitions and telepathic transmission now so prevalent. In the final analysis these phenomena are due to the awakening of the Pituitary Body, ruled by Uranus, the lord of Aquarius, and every passing year will make them more manifest.