The 12 Paths of Healing: An Introduction to the Astroherbology Series

Ever since I created The Lunar Apothecary and started to talk about astroherbology, I have met amazing folks who are just as inspired by roots and stars as I am.

I've also had lots of folks asking to know more and this series is, in part, my answer. I have learned so much and to keep the conversation going I wanted to start a series exploring the medical astrology correspondences of each sign with a focus on herbal healing. For those of you who are thinking wait, what is astorherbology? - come this way.

Find the Astroherbology Profiles for each sign of the zodiac:

• Aries

• Taurus

• Gemini

• Cancer

• Leo

• Virgo

• Libra

• Scorpio

• Sagittarius

• Capricorn

• Aquarius

• Pisces

Every post will use the same template and I wanted to begin the series by taking a look at just what I'm going to be writing about. 

Element: Western astrology has four elements – Earth, Air, Fire, Water – and each sign is predominant in one of these elements.

Mode: There are three modes in astrology which describe the movement of energy. Briefly, Cardinal signs have fast-moving and quick to start energy, Fixed, is sturdy and foundational, while Mutable tend to be fluid and flexible.

Guardian Planet: Also known as Ruling Planets or Rulership, I use the language Guarding and Guardian because a) it pleases my collective heart and b) I think it more accurately describes the relationship between signs and the planets that love them.

Direction: The wheel of the zodiac corresponds with the terrestial wheel of the year, so each sign can be directionally situated.

An Ottoman Calendar made for Sultan Abdulmecid I, drafted by Mehmet Sadullah, Turkey, dated 1260 AH/1844 CE.

Season: See above!

House: There are twelve astrological houses and each sign corresponds with one of them, embodying the energy of the that house.

Lunar Mansion: The Lunar Mansions or Mansions of the Moon is one of the oldest forms of astrology worldwide. There are 28 Lunar Mansions and the Moon visits a new one every two days or so completing the cycle in about a month’s time. Each Lunar Mansion is corresponds with one or two of the signs of the zodiac. I think the Lunar Mansions are incredible tools of healing and magick and I explore each one in the Lunar Apothecary.

Solar Gemstone: There are several gemstones associated with each sign and I will list the one that I most often use in my practice.

Tarot: The Tarot is based off of the astrological system codified by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Each card has an astrological correspondence that can be used for timing in readings as well as remedy making.

Tissue State: The tissue states are a way of describing physical and energetic qualities of a person, herb, and imbalances similar to the five element systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine or the three doshas of Ayurveda. These are my current correspondences between tissue states and signs that I have developed as part of my ongoing explorations as an astroherbologist.

Body Systems : Each sign has resonance with certain parts and systems of the body. To learn more check out Starmaps: The Astrological Body.

Imbalances + Diseases: Every sign has the opportunity to become weakened or imbalanced when overexposed to food, environments, thoughts, and practices that pull them out of their happy flow. I’ll be listing the ways these imbalances manifest and the diseases each sign is more prone to.

Disease Degrees: Each degree of the zodiac has an associated disease and these correspondences have been observed and recorded by herbalist such as Elsbeth and Reinhold Ebertin, Charles Carter, and Judith Hill.

Remedies: These suggested activities and healing modalities that can help bring a sign back into balance.

Gifts: Every sign has healing gifts and energies to offer.

Rituals: These are suggested ritual and magickal actions you might take to tap into the energy of a sign.

The phases of the moon from the 17th-century Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae (The Great Art of Light and Shadow).

Guardian Herbs: These are herbs that embody the energy of a sign. Aries herbs, for example, are generally warming and invigorating such as Ginger (Zingiber officinalis).

Remedy Herbs: These are herbs that help bring errant, imbalanced or weakened signs back to a place of balance.

Flower + Gem Essences: I think Flower + Gem Essences are accessible, easy-to-use, and effective remedies so I’ve included some of my favorite for each sign.

The Sun in {Sign}: I will be including brief descriptions of people whose natal Sun is in the sign being discussed. There are many talented astrologers provided wise and in-depth description of each sign of the zodiac, so I will be focusing medical astrology traits of each sign.

I will also be briefly discussing one Guardian Herb, Remedy Herb, and Flower or Gem Essence of each sign. If you are interested in more in-depth plant profiles and recipes and exploration of herbalism from a lunar-perspective, I invite you to join the The Lunar Apothecary.

Starmaps : The Astrological Body

We are made of star stuff and there's a map for your own personal galaxy.

The arts of medicinal astrology and herbalism have developed as cooperative and blended studies over the centuries. Ancient and modern herbalists have looked to both root and star to discover the source of strengths and imbalances, of all sorts that have appeared within the human body. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in astroherbology within the modern community of traditional western herbalists with a focus on inclusivity and queering dominant paradigms (learn more!) - also known as working magick against the sorcery of overcultures worldwide. Magick on, wild ones.

What I love about astroherbology, is that we have a star map for our bodies that helps us to grasp the maxim of As Above, So Below. 

Our heritage as traditional western herbalists includes the natal or birth chart, which corresponds with the Astrological Body Map, one of our oldest diagnostic tools. While some modern herbalists may squirm at the mention of astrology still being used today, I think it is inspiring to know that our ancestors realized that the scope of the human experience was far greater than their physical form. I should note here, too, that when I speak of the human body I am referring to the entirety of a person's experience in the world including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realities. 

In some ways, astrology was one of the earliest codified explorations of consciousness and the art continues to require us to look beyond our immediate understanding of reality to a much larger galaxy of possibility. If anything, astrology offers a useful language of myth to help us understand our lived experiences.

So what can we do with an Astrological Body Map?

from Solar Biology by Hiram E. Butler

The Astrological Body Map can be used:

• To illustrate the zodiac's interaction with our body.

• To understand out natal chart in a whole new way!

• To map out imbalances of the body, giving us a visual tool to use for healing work.

• In ritual and charm work, including sigils, matrix-making, and remote healing,

The Astrological Body Map that I've created below highlights the predominant areas of the zodiac within the body including dominant colors of each sign as well as listing out the primary body systems that each sign has guardianship over. You'll notice Aries, which is the first sign of the zodiac, rests at the top of the body with all the other signs descending in sequence, finally ending with Pisces. Already we have an easy way to begin to remember the correspondences of the stars to our selves. 

Click on the image below to enlarge.

Lovely, right?

How beautiful it is to see all those stars singing throughout every part of us. It is important to remember that we are more than just our Sun sign in astrology (which is the sign that most folks are familiar with in their natal or birth chart). We are a combination of all of the signs - some sing more strongly in us than others, but they're all part of the chorus.

In further explorations of the Astrological Body Map, I'll be posting a tutorial for you to explore your natal chart in relation to your own body's starmap.

In the meantime, I encourage you to start experimenting with the information given and asking yourself questions about the whats and whys of the Astrological Body Map.

What is the relationship between Gemini and the lungs (hint: think about breath and story)?

How might the classic Virgo personality tie the intestines up in knots?

What are descriptions of the signs that I've heard that match up to map (think about Aries being described as "headstrong")? 

Be sure to check out my Introduction to Astroherbology if you haven't already and take a look at some classical renditions of the Astrological Body Map on my Astroherbology Pinterest Board. Get tucked into in-depth astroherbology profiles of each sign of the zodiac:

• Aries

• Taurus

• Gemini

• Cancer

• Leo

• Virgo

• Libra

• Scorpio

• Sagittarius

• Capricorn

• Aquarius

• Pisces

Enjoy exploring your stars!

Brightening : A Spring Equinox Tarot Spread

The Spring Equinox is a time of brightening. 

It is a time of equal day and equal night when the Sun matches the Earth's axis. From here on until the Summer Solstice the days will grow longer, the light lingering and the fields growing ripe with herb and grain. We are firmly in the season of ascent and the quiet of winter gives way to the cacophony of a buzzing earth. Our Spring Equinox examines the current balance of our lives, the gifts of the season, and how we prepare for the ascent into the growing bright.

1. INHALE. What are you breathing in? In other words, what are the sources of your vital energy during the season of spring. This card may point to balances or imbalances in consumption of food, time, stress, sleep, and other day-today activities.

2. EXHALE. What are you breathing out? What are you shedding and undoing – how are you clearing from your own body its winter coat in order to allow space the fresh energy of spring?

3. ASCENT. How are you preparing for the ascent to Beltane?

4. GUIDE. Tools of the journey. These may be skills to use or guide(s) to help you navigate the ascent into the bright half of the year.

5. SEED. What are you planning to plant this season – what seeds have you saved from last year's harvest or gathered anew that you are planning to grow?

6. BUDDING GIFTS. What buds of spring are blossoming in your life? This card shows spring gifts, whether your own new or blooming skills or gifts from an outside source. It also may be a reminder to pay attention to the gifts you have already received.

7. BALANCING OUT. What needs to be balanced by expanding your energy outwards?

8. BALANCING IN. What needs to be balanced by retracting your energy inwards?

Looking for more magickally inspired Tarot spreads? 

You're invited to peruse my tarot + divination series. Or do you want to learn about herbalism and tarot? Check out The Tarot Apothecary. Find all the tarot spreads in my Wheel of the Year series via the links below:

• Hallowing: Samhain Spread

• Darkest Night: Winter Solstice Spread

• Quickening: Imbolc Spread

• Brightening: Spring Equinox Spread

• Fire + Fields: Beltane Spread

• Bonfire Offerings: Summer Solstice Spread

• First Harvest: Lammas

• Balancing: Autumn Equinox Spread

Moonpath: Week 4

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.
Maya Angelou

Last week, we met Cedar Snufflegort. She's becoming an herbalist and using some Moonpath techniques to help her along the way. Already, she's learning how to protect her braincave from monstrous memes (and you can, too!). If you're just joining us, make sure to check out our first post on what the Moonpath is and how to join us!

Through all of our weeks on the Moonpath I've been talking about the importance of creating small goals (and no more than three!) that can be easily accomplished within a seven day period.

Now I'm going to suggest that you throw all of that out the window.

Here's the thing. Sometimes you need to go all in and take on a gigantic task within a short period of time. Perhaps it's because you only have a limited amount of time to accomplish a task. Or maybe you've been putting it off and off for the perfect moment to arrive, when really you just need to do it. (Hence the espresso patronum cup at the top of the page.)

The important point of the wild, throw-your-schedule-out-the-door, and let's-get-it-done tactic is that it is to be done once in a blue moon - not as an ongoing approach to life. Why? Because when we're using up all of our resources at a high level of performance all the time we can burn out. Then nothing gets done.

The gifts of the just-get-it-done approach are many:

• You're done! 
• Working in the intensity of a short period of time can be an excellent crucible for not only accomplishing the task at hand but inspiring you further for new adventures!
• No, really, you're done!

Have you ever thrown caution (or planning!) to the wind and just got-it-done? I have. More than once, actually, including when it came to writing hundreds of pages of classroom material, learning to draw and then creating illustrations, dozens of study guides, and building a private learning community for the Lunar Apothecary (which I did in about 2 sleepless and, truthfully, delirious months). It's not something I necessarily recommend, but then again, it was what I needed to do. Sometimes you make your rules and then sometimes you break them. Post about your get-it-done adventures below!

Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted : An Intro to Astroherbology

What is Astroherbology?

Astroherbology is the art of using astrological wisdom to inform and influence medicinal and magickal herb and wellness choices. The practice of medical astrology has been around as long as we have been practicing medicine but the form of medical astrology practiced in the west was largely, but not exclusively, formalized in ancient Greece but reflects the greater cultural contributions of Mediterranean, North African, Central and West Asian peoples. It was largely through the work of Arab scholars and healers that Greek healing tradition was preserved, expanded upon, and introduced to Europeans, paving the way for famous medical astrologers and herbalists like Nicholas Culpeper. (1) There are medical astrology traditions throughout the world, including those within Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, but my training is with the traditional western herbalism system so that is the foundation from which I teach and which my writings on astroherbology are based.

How does it work?

The primary tool of the astroherbologist is the natal or birth chart of the person that they are serving. The natal chart represents the tools, dispositions, weaknesses, and strengths that person is born with. A natal chart is static and unchanging, but an astroherbologist would pay attention to the current movements of the stars and planets and their affects on the natal chart as these pass over and aspect the natal chart. Yup, you’re the center of the universe in a medical astrology reading (but you already knew that…).

Just like a regular herbologist, an astroherbologist or medical astrology practitioner, will examine your intake form, physical observations (such as tongue, pulse, and skin conditions), and ask lots of questions about your current health concerns. All of this information will be compared to the natal chart and the astroherbologist will begin to track inherent weaknesses and strengths as well as the current affects of planets passing over your chart right now and in the near future. Your general feeling of sluggishness might have appeared suddenly because of a transit of Neptune over your chart. Or a natal chart may have lots and lots of fire, but little water, so a client may want to do more water-based activities (cool baths and swimming, tea-based medicines, and visiting the jimjilbang regularly) to balance out an overheated state that has led to chronic inflammation in the body. Astroherbology is especially effective in tracking down illnesses that seem to have no easily identifiable root cause as well as helping clients become aware of upcoming transits that might hinder or benefit health (such as prepping and living in your Saturn Returns with lots of adaptogens as your herbal allies, clever one).

Why does it work?

The sacred mystery of medical astrology is summed up succinctly by the simple words from the Emerald Tablet:

 As Above, So Below

"As Above" is the celestial while "So Below" is the terrestrial - the celestial reflects the terrestrial and vice versa. Just why the stars show us patterns of our earthly experience and why our earthly experience can be seen in the stars is where everything gets more complicated. Part of it is observational and seasonal - the starry display of the sky changes as our planet gently rotates, marking the change of seasons which affect not only the great macrocosm of the universe, but the microcosm of our own personal universe composed of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual experiences. Some say that the stars and planets themselves affect us by “throwing of rays” of energy and color that harmonize, neutralize, and disrupt our energy and the energy of our home planet. Others suspect that there is something occurring on the quantum level that we don’t understand yet. To be honest, I don't know why exactly astroherbology works. What I do know is that it is very useful. Astroherbology has provided me with traditional and brand new language to describe imbalances, healing journeys, and tools that we’ll need along the way. It is a fantastic storytelling device as well as actually working. In an eerily accurate sort of way or wonderfully right-on depending on what sort of mood you’re in.

If you've ever read your horoscope, you've experienced the story-telling powers of astrology. Through the story-telling of astrology we can learn about the gifts of the Moon in the sign of Mighty Goatfish (also known as Capricorn) and tap into the revolutionary powers of a Waxing Quarter Moon in Aries. We can learn more about ourselves and experience our experiences in ways that affirm our gifts, our intuitions, and our inherent value as humyn creatures.

How do I learn more?

I've written a series profiling each sign of the zodiac from an astroherbology perspective - check it out! 

You can also learn more about the relationship between the stars and our physical forms with my exploration of the Astrological Body.

There are a number of books on the market covering medical astrology and particularly astroherbology. I recommend getting a copy of Nicolas Culpeper’s Complete Herbal since modern western astroherbology and magickal herbology pulls much of its astrological correspondences and inspiration for further categorization from his work. And Culpeper can be a lot of fun (think melancholic, rebellious, and snarky Englishman who wasn’t very popular with the authorities) and is just an all-around useful foundational text for Traditional Western Herbalism. Judith Hill is a medical astrologer and herbalist who has written many book on the subject and teaches an online course of the art. She has also teamed up with Matthew Wood and created a The Renaissance Medicine Conference that is full of interesting classes. The Portland Astrology School is also beginning to offer more and more classes on herbs, essences, and astrology including their first Medical Astrology Conference. They are also a queer affirming space that addresses so many of the issues that kept me away from studying astrology for so long – the patriarchal heteronormativity of it all turned me off for a long time until I began to find more astrologers practicing in a binary-free, queer, and multi-cultural way (speaking of which - holy heck, check out Chani Nicholas right now for an example of such profoundly resonant and healing astrological work). Speaking of queering things up, have you heard about the Queer Astrology Conference yet? Now you have and I hope very much you're able to make it there one of these years! If you’re wanting to get your toes wet and learn about astroherbology from a lunar perspective (the Moon is our truest self and story in astrology), come check out my course on Moon-centered herbalism to help you discover who you are as a healer.

What's next?

So begins my new series on astroherbology! I'll be covering each of the signs of the zodiac throughout the year starting with Aries. Below I've also listed a short list of useful books and websites for the study of medical astrology and astroherbology. Study along with me, set some learning goals in a supportive community, and let's go to the stars, clever ones!

Footnotes

(1) A History of Herbal Medicine for Herbalists by Candis Cantin

References + Resources

The following are a selection of resources geared towards the beginner that I have found useful. The list below is in no ways exhaustive. I have yet to find a medical astrology resource that is does not rely on gender-binary and heteronormative language, so apply your filters as needed. If you have found such a resource or have further medical astrology and astroherbology recommendations for beginners or advanced students alike, please comment below!

• Skyscript's Guide to Free Astrology Books including a number of medical astrology texts.

• Medical Astrology + Astrological Medicine by Peter Morrell

• Aux Mailles Godefroy is an incredible resource not only for medical astrology, but for anyone interested in the arts and sciences of European Renaissance period. 

• Encyclopaedia of Medical Astrology by H.L. Cornell, M.D. 

• Medical Astrology by Judith Hill

• Earth Mother Astrology by Marcia Starck

• Astrology: Key to Holistic Health by Marcia Starck

• A Handbook of Medical Astrology by Jane Ridder-Patrick