Pisces: The Astroherbology Profile

It's time to explore the sign of Pisces! You're getting a snapshot into the ever expanding astroherbology magick of the The Lunar Apothecary - sweet! 

I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. To learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Series. Looking for the other signs of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Aquarius!

Looking for inspiration for Pisces season? Come this way!

Element: Water
Mode: Mutable
Guardian Planet: Jupiter (traditional), Neptune (modern)
Direction: East
Season: Winter, Early Spring (NH), Summer, Early Autumn (SH)
House: 12th House / Cadent
Lunar Mansions: The 26th Mansion, 27th Mansion + 28th Mansion
Solar Gemstone: Amethyst
Tarot: The Moon, the Hanged Man, 8 of Cups (2/19 - 2/28), 9 of Cups (3/1 - 3/10), 10 of Cups (3/11 - 3/20), King of Cups
Tissue State: Damp/Relaxation (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Feet and toes. All body fluids including synovial fluids, mucus, and blood. Lymphatic, glandular, and endocrine systems. The ability of tissues and body systems to relax. Respiratory system. Pineal gland. Abdomen. 

Imbalances + Diseases: Diseases that are cold and moist, including influenza, tuberculosis, colds, and imbalances with excess mucus and discharge such as runny noses and watery eyes. Lung sensitivity in general. Excess and over-developed sensitivity. Low vitality and sickly constitution.  Lymphatic swellings and diseases of the lymph, endocrine, and glandular systems. Auto-immune diseases. Fungal and viral diseases. Environmental and chemical sensitivities and allergies. Chronic fatigue. All diseases of the feet including gout, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bunions, and ingrown toenails. Club feet. Unusual feet. Swelling and water-retention. Narcolepsy. Addiction and drug abuse. Boils, sores, and break-outs of the skin. Forgetfulness. Alzheimer’s and senility. Putrid blood. Disordered eating, especially overeating or emotional eating. Low libido. Mononucleosis. Obscure diseases of a psychic nature. Indecisiveness, careless, and vague. Moodiness and melancholy that can lead to escapism. Unable to establish roots and groundedness. Impractical, lacking discipline, and self-destructive. Prone to following the whims of others which stems from gullibility and, at its worse, develops into delusion. Overwhelmed by the emotions of others or confusing the emotions of others for their own. Heightened psychic sensitivity preventing them from socializing with others. Depression. Feelings of victimhood and martyrdom as well as lack of faith in self.

Disease Degrees: 1 degree: right calcaneum; 2 degrees: left calcaneum; 3 degrees: nerves of the right foot, appendicitis; 4 degrees: nerves of the left foot, appendicitis, asthma; 5 degrees: asthma, right cuboid bone; 6 degrees: left cuboid bone; 7 degrees: right talus; 8 degrees: left talus; 9 degrees: right metatarsals, rheumatic fever; 10 degrees: left metatarsals, rheumatic fever; 11 degrees: lymph vessels of the foot, Bright’s disease; 12 degrees: plantar artery of the right foot, Bright’s disease; 13 degrees: plantar artrery of the left foot; 14 degrees: right cutaneous veins; 15 degrees: left cutaneous veins; 16 degrees: cruciate ligaments of right foot; 17 degrees: cruciate ligaments of left foot; 18 degrees: extensor muscles of right toes; 19 degrees: extensor muscles of left toes, digestive disorders, excessive eating; 20 degrees: right fibula muscles, digestive disorders, excessive eating; 21 degrees: left fibula muscle, typhoid fever; 22 degrees: achilles tendon of right foot, insanity, typhoid fever, appendicitis, fevers; 23 degrees: achilles tendon of left foot, spine, appendicitis, fevers; 24 degrees: right distal tibia-fibular joint, fevers; 25 degrees: left detail tibia-fibular joint, gout, neurasthenia, cancer; 26 degrees: plantar nerves, suicide, gout, neurasthenia, cancer; 27 degrees: phalanges of right foot, eczema, Bright’s disease, acute nephritis; 28 degrees: phalanges of left foot, tuberculosis, eczema, Bright’s disease, acute nephritis, diabetes, low blood sugar, bleeding, depression; 29 degrees: toenails of right foot, eczema, Bright’s disease, acute nephritis, diabetes, low blood sugar, bleeding, depression, drowning; 30 degrees: toenails of left foot, bleeding, drowning, depression.

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Pisces: Immunomodulating and stimulating herbs, adaptogens, and warming herbs that dry out excess damp. Gentle medicines such as massage, flower and gem essences, reflexology, meditation, and energy healing. and attention to incorporating super nutritive foods into the diet. Plenty of sleep. Learning how to create firm boundaries and how to ground. Developing empathetic discipline and identifying the feelings of others versus personal feelings. Pursuing the poetic and indulging in romance from a place of self-worth and determination.

Gifts of Pisces: Mysticism, empathy, psychic dreaming, clairvoyance, idealism, receptivity, intuition, otherworldly transcendence, adaptability, dissolution of separateness, and unselfish humility.

Rituals of Pisces: Past life exploration, psychic development, blessing of water tools such as cups, cauldrons, and bowls, settling disputes and reconciliation, sacred bathing rituals., and marking the ending/beginning of a cycle.

Pisces Guardian Herbs: Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus), Chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris), Rainbow Kelp (Iridaea cordata), Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Milky Oat (Avena sativa), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Angelica (Angelica archangelica), Chickweed (Stellaria media) and Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus).

Pisces Remedy Herbs: Elder (Sambucus nigra), Milky Oat (Avena sativa), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Willow (Salix alba), Nettles (Urtica dioica), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Ginger (Zingiber officinalis), Maca (Lepidium meyenii), Pine (Pinus spp.), Chicory (Chicorium intybus), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Mullein (Thapsus verbascum), Lavender (Lavandula officinalis), Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Linden (Tilia europea), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Elecampane (Inula helenium), and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis).

Flower + Gem Essences: Clematis (Clematis vitalba), Scarlet Monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis), Rock Rose (Helianthemum Nummularium), Southern Cross (Xanthosia rotundifolia), Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Amethyst, and Aquamarine.

The Sun in Pisces

The final sign of the zodiac is sometimes said to be a combination of all that has gone before which makes sense for a sign known for dissolving the separateness. Pisces folk can be a very sensitive and intuitive sign, valuing attributes such as compassion and the art of giving as primary in their development of self-esteem. Their hearts easily crack open when they come across pain, suffering, and the hardship experienced by so many creatures, humyn, plant, and animal alike, reflecting their inherent empathy. The fish can appear as dreamy and perhaps somewhere between the worlds - which they probably are - but that shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness or lack of understanding of our consensus reality. They’re tuned into the undercurrents of any given situation making them especially valuable in getting to the secret heart of the matter - if they are able to translate their findings into a language we can all understand.

Now, the great gift of Pisces folks - their ability to dissolve separateness - is also the source of their downfall. Setting up boundaries for their own wellbeing, whether good relationship boundaries or psychic boundaries so that they aren’t continuously overwhelmed by intuitive input, is essential but can be very difficult for the fish. They need to learn that setting up healthy boundaries does not make them less compassionate or able to connect but quite the opposite. With clearly defined boundaries that protects their wellbeing and cultivates healthy relationships they will have greater space to stretch their compassion muscle, develop their psychic senses without leading to overwhelm, and experience healing vulnerability without be treated like a doormat. 

Within a medical astrology context, Pisces folks need to guard their vitality carefully as they’re not always engaged with their physical form as much as their soul’s journeying. Pisces guards the fluids of the body including the blood and mucus and when imbalanced they can find themselves experiencing poor circulation and lowered immunity, as well as wet, damp illnesses such as phlegm-y chest colds and tuberculosis. Similar to the sign which precedes them, Aquarius, Pisces folks need to be conscious of the environmental, chemical, and psychic pollutants in their environment. I’ve seen more than one fish folk flinch when they’ve walked into a room where there has been a fierce argument or fight whether it happened 5 minutes ago or 50 years ago - Pisces folk are often tuned into such subtleties of the environment which can be great for picking up psychic information but completely overwhelming if they don’t know what’s going on or how to shield themselves properly. A nutritive diet full of grounding foods can be very helpful as well as regular time spent working with gentle healing modalities such as reflexology (Pisces guards the feet), energy healing, and flower and gem essence therapy. With careful attention to their boundaries, Pisces folks become even more adept as dissolving that which divides us providing space for folks to find one another in love and compassion amidst the turmoil of our modern world that seeks to continuously convince us that we should remain divided. 

Pisces Guardian Herbs

Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) via wikipedia

Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)

A creature of the sea and watery places, Pisces Guardian herbs include the domain of sea plants such as seaweed. Bladderwrack is a common form of kelp that has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. The plant is both a Remedy and Guardian herb of Pisces, helping the body absorb nutrients and expel toxins which is key to Piscean health. As a metabolic tonic, Bladderwrack improves the rate of the metabolism and has been used to support a healthy body weight. As a cleansing plant, Bladderwrack pulls toxins from the body including radiation and other environmental toxins, aiding our more sensitive Pisces folk. The herb is useful in treating hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions as it supports healthy thyroid hormonal production. Regular consumption of Bladderwrack improves the body’s overall ability to heal, promotes quality sleep, lowers chronic high blood pressure, and improves the condition of the hair and skin. The herb cleanses thekidneys, clears lymph congestion, addresses bacterial and fungal infection, detoxifies body tissue, stimulates the adrenal glands, and assists in the recovery from long-term illness. The herb is also useful in reducing enlarged prostates. Historically, Bladderwrack has been used in the treatment of tuberculosis, another common Pisces complaint.

Topically, Bladderwrack can be used as a skin tonic, improving the skin’s complexion and suppleness. Use the herb in a bath to assist in breaking down cellulite. In general, Bladderwrack can be used as a compress for arthritis, bruises, sprains, hardened glands, and inflammation.

Pisces Remedy Herbs

Pinus densiflora via wikipedia

Pine (Pinus spp.)

The mighty Pine stands as a sturdy ally for our Pisces friends. The leaves of the tree are an excellent (and tasty!) source of vitamin C, helping Pisces folks to keep their immune system happy and healthy. Pine has such a strength of vitality - have you ever stood tall in a forest of Pine gazing up at their amazing heights? You should - you’ll learn about our tree friend through such an experience. The resin of Pine can be used in tincture form as an excellent expectorant helping to clear excess mucus from the lungs, a common Piscean complaint. You can also create a salve with the resin which can be applied topically to the body to improve circulation and warm tired and sore muscles. 

I am a particular fan of Pine pollen which can be enjoyed in powder form and easily added to smoothies and drinks. Pine pollen is a golden sunbeam of nutrition! Full of vitamins and minerals, Pine Pollen contains 20 amino acids, including the 8 essential amino acids and minerals such as Calcium, Iron and Zinc. A friend to the prostate, Pine Pollen is a wonderful preventative ally of prostate disease. Pine Pollen also helps to regulate metabolism, increase energy, and dispel brain fog (you see how it can be a great friend of our fish folk).

Sun in Pisces Flower Essence

Amethyst by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

The key phrase of Amethyst Gem Essence is “I go with the flow.” The cleverness of the purple stone is that it teaches us to go with the flow but not get overtaken or overwhelmed by the current. The stone is centering and grounding without blocking necessary psychic permeability which is a powerful tool for Pisces folk. Along with its  centering properties, Amethyst is also helps address those anxious thoughts that wake us up in the middle of the night and spur on arguments between loved ones. Amethyst helps us to float gently when the waters feel tumultuous, eventually leading to a current that guides us gently back to shore.

Ready to learn more?

• Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources.

• Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

• Looking for inspiration for Pisces season? Come this way!

• The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.

Create Your Own Poetry-Inspired Tarot Spreads

I like reading poetry, I like writing poetry, and I have memorized more than one poem as part of my devotional practice, dispensing them like blessings throughout my day. It is incredible how a simple collection of words, ordered in an uncanny or fantastically simple way, can spin open a heart whether written by someone last week or a thousand years ago. 

I think that Tarot is a poetic art and inspires us to get honey-tongued with our interpretations so that we might illuminate our depths and help others do the same. The ordering of words in the art of Tarot could be seen as the choice or creation of a spread. Many a tarot reader (and herbalist) will tell you that it is less about what cards are cast (or what healing imbalances are readily observable) and more about what questions are asked (and not asked). It can be difficult to determine what questions will be the most appropriate and revelatory, but feeling inspired to form a foundation on which to cast our cards can help us spark to life the right questions for us to be asking. The journey with Tarot (and our plant kin) asks us to expand the playing field of possibility and our ability to interpret our surroundings and inner landscape with inquisitiveness, courage, and confidence. The patch of scraggly trees on the corner of your block can become a sacred grove when our perception is rearranged and so it is with poetry that every day words take on new depths of vulnerability and consequence when they are arranged in ways to break us open, pull us together, and help us feel something that normally such words would not inspire for us.

If you haven't noticed yet at this point, I think the art of tarot and herbalism inform one another. Check out my free Tarot Herbal Wisdom series to learn more about the healing art of plant medicine and the power of casting cards.

So, clever one, if you're looking to stretch your card spread creating muscles and find new ways of discovering wisdom-rich questions, I've created the following poetry-inspired activity for you!

First, gather your deck of choice (it can be a Tarot or Oracle deck or similar divinatory tool that you can use with spreads), a pen, piece of paper, and a poem of choice. 

As an example, I've chosen the following short poem from the collection of the Zi Ye (or Songs of Ziye) which are poems and Chinese folk songs typically said to be written by women from the 6th - 3rd centuries BCE.

All night I could not sleep
because of the moonlight on my bed.
I kept on hearing a voice calling:
Out of Nowhere, Nothing answered "yes."

It's an intriguing poem, describing restlessness and yearning but great possibility. Who hasn't felt spiritually restless on their journey, staring into the dark and yearning for answers? So let's translate the wisdomspark of the poem into a Tarot spread.

There are a number of ways to create a poem-inspired spread. If the poem is short enough and it makes sense to do so, you can make every line of the poem a different card position. So I could create a spread asking the following four questions:

• A description of my current state of  spiritual restlessness. This first card acts like a mirror helping the querent understand what they are experiencing.
• The source of my spiritual restlessness. Just as the moonlight in the poem distracts them from sleep, we can find our own source of spiritual distraction.
• What messages are trying to get through that I am ignoring and/or confused by. In the poem there is a voice calling out from the great vastness of Nowhere and it is named as Nothing. What is calling out to the querent? Alternatively, you could ask What is preventing me from listening to my inner wisdom and/or the wisdom of my guides, God/dess/es, ancestors, etc?
• The card of possibilities. The impossibility of Nowhere becoming Nothing and saying "Yes" is the power of this poem so it feels appropriate to cast one card that allows for possibility and unexpectedness.

That is just one way of interpreting the Zi Ye poem into a spread. If you've chosen a much longer poem where a line-by-line spread would prove cumbersome, you can still identify the overarching themes of the poem. Certain words or lines may stand out to you more than others - follow those to the questions you might ask. The following is a longer poem by Hadewijch II, an unidentified 13th century Christian  female mystic (side note: my little witch-heart fell deeply in love with the writings of female Christian mystics in junior high school and I consider Hildegard von Bingen to a vastly important but too often unrecognized source of wisdom in the Traditional Western Herbalism lineage - let's change that).

All things
are too small
to hold me,
I am so vast

In the Infinite
I reach
for the Uncreated

I have
touched it,
it undoes me
wider than wide

Everything else
is too narrow

You know this well,
you who are also there

Her words make me think of an energetic combination of the Hanged One and Tower cards in the Major Arcana of the Tarot.  For me, she describes something coming undone, chaotic but utterly still. 

Cards from the World Spirit Tarot

There are a couple of themes that stand out to me in Hadewijch II's poem. First, the idea of growing out of your current situation and life choices so far. Then there is the effort of reaching for something that has not yet come into being but it is still having an effect. Finally, there is an undoing of loneliness as Hadewijch II identifies with you or her community or her God as being on the journey as well. Four (maybe five) cards might be cast then, with the following inquiries:

• What have I grown out of? or What is coming undone?
• What am I reaching for that is still coming into being?
  • Another card you might pull at this point could be: How is what is still coming into being affecting me now?
• hat restricts me from reaching and needs to be released?
• Who is on this journey with me? or A message from my inner wisdom, guides, God/dess, ancestors, etc. The last question depends on your spiritual framework or the note you want to end the spread on. You might be seeking solidarity with what is coming into being and want to know who is along with the ride.

Ok, ready to work with your own poem? Read through your chosen poem a few times, jotting down themes and reflections that come up for you. It may take a few rounds for the questions to emerge. Just write down whatever comes up for you - flow is better than restriction at this point. Once you feel like you've gathered enough themes from the poem, begin to transform those themes into questions. So, if longing is a theme of your poem you might ask "What am I longing for?" Arrange the questions into a spread and cast your cards. You might find that in your first casting that you find more nuance in the questions or even the ordering what is asked - the cards can be very helpful in letting us know that if there were to be cast just a little differently - and therefore opening up more space - that more insight might emerge. Play, be poetic, and experiment, clever ones!

I hope that you are inspired to play with your own spread-skills having read through how I create poetry-inspired Tarot spreads. If you do end up creating a poetry-inspired tarot spread be sure to share your experiences and links in the comments. You can also use the #PoetryInspiredTarot to share your creations via social media (I hang out on instagram most often). Most of all, enjoy the process and happy spread creating!

Listening to Hawthorn : A Heart-Opening Podcast

Clever ones, I'm on a podcast!

But how did I get there?

First, let me introduce you to Natasha Richardson, the wise herbalist behind London-based Forage Botanicals.

Natasha Richardson of Forage Botanicals

She got in touch with me about a year ago as she was going to be visiting my part of the world and suggested we meet up. I'm so glad we did because a) she's a very clever herbalist, b) she's very funny, and c) she's creating incredible healing spaces infused with the sort of slow down, get connected, and find yourself energy we need these days. Yeah, I signed-up for her fan club on the spot. 

A little while ago Natasha started a beautiful herbal home-study course called Listen which is like walking into a dream-garden of herbal wisdom with some very practical tools for the developing herbalist. She also has a podcast of the same name that is free for everyone whether or not you are part of her Listen community. Each podcast features a single herb and an conversation with an herbalist about the healing qualities of the plant being discussed. A few months back she invited me on to share my thoughts about Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) which I thought was very fortuitous since I have just spent the past few years in relationship with the plant in the context of my own family's healing needs. 

I also felt a moment of slight overwhelm because this would be the first time I would be on someone else's podcast (I record podcasts of my own for the Lunar Apothecary) and while I would happily stand up and speak in front of a room full of folks, one-on-one stuff has always been way more intimidating (I'm going to say it has something to do with my Leo Moon - discuss). But Natasha is such a kind spirit and so much fun to talk to and I had first learned of Hawthorn's healing gifts through a conversation with an enchanted Hawthorn herbalist so I knew that my nerves needed to take a backseat to some necessary storytelling. The whole podcast was, in fact, a Hawthorn-style conversation as my nervousness gave way to laughter gave way to insight. And now I've done my first podcast interview and hope to do more (with less "ums" and "you knows"). 

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) via wikipedia

You should immediately download the whole Listen series - I have had so much fun listening to it myself and how many times do we get to sit in on conversations between passionate plant people talking shop? It's amazing! And if you love the free resource that Natasha is providing, be sure to support her other work, whether signing up for her Listen herbal home-study course, one of her amazing workshops or give yourself the gift of clarity on your healing journey by scheduling a wellness plan. Looking for some visual inspiration? Be sure to connect with Natasha via her dreamy instagram.

So without further delay listen to my personal story with Hawthorn, it's healing gifts during times of transition, and how it helped me to have some incredibly heart-opening experiences with my own family.

Have you had any experience with Hawthorn?

Post your stories in the comments below!

Yum! Pow! Herbal Cacao Blend

Clever ones, I love a good Cacao (Theobroma cacao) brew. I'm actually not someone whose favorite sweets and candies are chocolate-based (I'm more of a fruity and sour sort of candy person), but liquid chocolate treats are definitely my cup of tea. Hot cocoa, chocolate milk, chocolate teas, yes, please!

What I have found about raw Cacao over the years is that it is a great vehicle to delivering the medicinal qualities of whatever other plants it is blended with. I find Cacao to be less stimulating but still awakening when combined with other herbs which is why I rarely have just a Cacao-only brews except for special and sacred occasions. There is a misunderstanding, however, that Cacao contains caffeine - it doesn't - but it does contain around 1% of a relative of caffeine known as Theobromine. Theobromine has less of a stimulating effect on the nervous system as compared to caffeine and it is also heart opening and strengthening (which may be part of the reason Cacao is considered such a powerful aphrodisiac). Theobromine is also a vasodilator, diuretic, and has protective anti-bacterial qualities. However, theobromine is only one component of Cacao and I would encourage you to learn more about this complex and healing plant if you're ready to engage its healing gifts. 

For those who need a bit of pep in the morning, which usually requires us to release tension in order to use our energy more wisely, I like creating a brew with adaptogen herbs. I really like adaptogens and Cacao working together and when you add in a spice or two, clever one, you're on a roll to kickstarting your morning! Yum! Pow! contains Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus) which works with Cacao's heart enhancing gifts as well as improve the function of the immune system as an immunostimulating herb. The immunostimulating qualities of Astragalus work over the long run unlike the faster acting herbs such as Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) which should only be taken for a short period of time.

If you're looking for even more recipes and ways to start your day with energy and magick, check out my Morning Mischief: Enchanted Herbal Recipes for Delicious Awakenings + Resolute Magnificence (and it's currently on sale through February!).

Yum! Pow! Herbal Cacao Brew is super simple to create. If you can stir together a few powders in a bowl (or heck, pour them in a jar and shake) you're set! As always, shop local, if possible, source your herbs responsibly, and have fun!

To create Yum! Pow! combine the following powdered herbs:

• 4 parts Raw Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
• 4 parts Roasted Chicory Root (Cichorium intybus)
• 1 part Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus)
• 1/4 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)
• Optional: 1 part Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) for natural sweetness, but it does have a slightly grainier texture.

To brew, add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon to your milk of choice and gently warm. Add sweetener (or not!) to taste. You can also add Yum! Pow! to your smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, and more! 

Aquarius: The Astroherbology Profile

It's time to explore the sign of Aquarius! You're getting a snapshot into the ever expanding astroherbology magick of the Lunar Apothecary.

I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. To learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Series. Looking for the other signs of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn!

Element: Air
Mode: Fixed
Guardian Planet: Saturn (traditional), Uranus (modern)
Direction: Northeast
Season: Winter (NH), Summer (SH)
House: 11th House / Succedent
Lunar Mansions: 24th Mansion, 25th Mansion, + 26th Mansion
Solar Gemstone: Angelite
Tarot: The Star, The Fool, 5 of Swords (1/20 - 1/29), 6 of Swords (1/30 - 2/8), 7 of Swords (2/9 - 2/18), Knight of Swords

Tissue State: Damp/Stagnation, Tense/Constriction (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Lower leg, calves, and ankles. Shin bone, tibia, and fibula. Achilles tendon. Teeth. Electrical impulses of the nerves. Circulatory system and elimination. Rods and cones of the retina. Oxygenation of cells. Pyramidal tract and active transport mechanism.

Imbalances + Diseases: Varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Blood poisoning. Nervous disorders caused by high sensitivity. Hypersensitivity and sensory processing disorders. Schizophrenia. Issues of adrenaline. Accidents of the ankles and lower legs. Restless leg syndrome, aches, bruises, and pains in the legs. Water retention in the legs and ankles. Crawling sensation on the skin. Stagnant and/or poisoned blood. Electrical irregularities of the heart. Gas in the bowels. Cold sweats from overactive nervous system. Vision disorders including color blindness, peripheral and central vision disorders, and injury to the retina. Disorders of coordination and general clumsiness. Ticks, facial ticks, and involuntary spasms of the limbs. Multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Alcoholism. Rheumatism and rheumatic fever. Goiter. Poisoning, especially from venomous creatures. Being disorganized and undisciplined. Rebel without a cause. Distant with individuals in a community. Emotionally disconnected with the heart of the matter. Overly eccentric and anti-social. Coming off as radical but actually deeply conservative. Using visionary powers for ill of society. Fixations and obsessions. Avoiding the present in pursuit of future visions. Embarrassed by emotion.

Disease Degrees: 0 degrees: danger from reptiles; 1 degree: right tibial nerve, obesity, fatty degeneration, anger from reptiles; 2 degrees: left tibial nerve, fatty degeneration, obesity; 3 degrees: right fibula, obesity; 4 degrees: left fibula; 5 degrees: nerve of right fibula; 6 degrees: nerve of left fibula, sight; 7 degrees: right saphenous veins; 8 degrees: left saphenous veins, anemia; 9 degrees: skin of right lower leg, anemia; 10 degrees: skin of left lower leg; 11 degrees: right cruciate ligaments; 12 degrees: left cruciate ligaments, bites from venomous creatures; 13 degrees: right tibial artery, rheumatism, rheumatic fever, bites from venomous creatures; 14 degrees: left tibial artery, rheumatism, rheumatic fever; 15 degrees: lymph vessels of right lower leg; 16 degrees: lymph vessels of left lower leg; 17 degrees: spinal nervous system, Bright’s disease; 18 degrees: spinal nervous system, azimene, chronic glomerulonephritis, Bright’s disease; 19 degrees: spinal nervous system, spine, azimene, Bright’s disease; 20 degrees: spinal nervous system, alcoholism; 21 degrees: spinal nervous system, alcoholism; 22 degrees: right gastrocnemius muscle, appendicitis, alcoholism; 23 degrees: left gastrocnemius muscle, rheumatism, alcoholism; 24 degrees: right tibias anterior muscle, alcoholism; 25 degrees: left tibias anterior muscle, alcoholism; 26 degrees: right fibula, nervous debility, alcoholism, neurasthenia, poisoning; 27 degrees: left fibula, goiter, neurasthenia, poisoning, goiter; 28 degrees: right tibia, goiter, poisoning; 29 degrees: eyesight; left tibia, neuritis, neuritis; 30 degrees: nervous system connectivity, neuritis.

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Aquarius: Calming and centering activities including relaxing nervines. Blood tonics for improving circulation and oxygenation. Softening aphrodisiacs to help connect with others, especially when the love of humanity has been lost. Learning to be altruistic. Investing in individuals while nurturing the big vision. Learning to experiment while remaining kind. Transforming the erratic into the electric spark of innovation. Embracing the power of emotional maturity, not emotional denial. Ease in relationships, learning to give and take. 

Gifts of Aquarius: Idealism, revolution, inventiveness, originality, unorthodoxy, vision, eccentricity, philanthropy, universal reformation, and intuition.

Rituals of Aquarius: Rituals for social change, being prepared for the unexpected, charms to inspire innovation, open-to-the-public gatherings, and poetry readings.

Aquarius Guardian Herbs: Lavender (Lavandula officinalis), Kava Kava (Piper methysticum), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Cacao (Theobroma cacao), Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), Vervain (Verbena officinalis), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Water Violet (Hottonia palustris), Jasmine (Jasminum spp.), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis).

Aquarius Remedy Herbs: Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Linden (Tilia europa), Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Milky Oat (Avena sativa), Lavender (Lavandula officinalis), Vervain (Verbena officinalis), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), Nettles (Urtica dioica), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Willow (Salix alba).

Flower + Gem Essences: Vine (Vitis vinifera), Linden (Tilia spp.), Tall Yellow Top (Senecio magnificus), Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citriodora), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Clear Quartz, Lapis Lazuli, Garnet, Amber, Angelite. 

The Sun in Aquarius

The infamous nonconformists of the zodiac, Aquarians take great pride in their personal freedom and eccentricity. They have abundant levels of creative and visionary energy which they often direct towards bettering society. The Water-bearers love innovation, experimentation, and practices that shake up the dominant paradigm. Aquarius folk can be driven by a persistent need to make the world “right” and seek out justice wherever it might be - they are definitely oriented towards the position of leader (even within collective and consensus-based communities) and want to be in charge of making change happen. Get weird, get going, and get it done!, our Aquarius folk chant in the street.

Aquarius folk can get into conflict fairly easily if they don’t ease up on their need to be in charge and their ability to make others feel small around them. It is important for them to learn how to value the insights and opinions of others even if it doesn’t always align with their own. The sign can be very dogmatic and have an inner desire for structure and convention that their outward expressions of eccentricity often masks. Remember, their traditional Guardian Planet is Saturn the rule-maker and tradition-keeper. Learning to be at peace with their need for structure and eccentricity is important. Sometimes Aquarius folks can be rebels without a cause or so invested in their unique individuality that they lose their ability to deeply love and connect with others. Accountability is a key concept for Aquarius folks to learn as well as cooperation so that they can be a leading part in the revolution they dream of.

Within a medical astrology, Aquarius folks can have intermittent levels of vitality with their energy turning on or off in a flash. The sign guards the electrical energy of the body and can be extra sensitive to electromagnetic fields and outside sources of stimulation in general - so be mindful of exposure levels whether from power lines, computers, phones, other devices outputting EMF, and sensory overloading environments. They have to be particularly mindful of nourishing their nervous system on a daily basis in combination with heart healthy tonics as their electrical fluctuations can detrimentally affect both. Aquarius folks can become accident prone when they are not paying attention to the needs of their nervous system. Again, learning to focus on cooperation (both in relationships and in the internal processing of their body) can lead to sustainable patterns of coordination. Aquarius is also a fixed air sign which means that they can suffer from the complaints of trapped wind or gas in the digestive tract as well as blowing smoke in order to impress others. When Aquarius folks nurture their inner world instead of always focusing on the outer impact of their goal to change the world, they are able to grow their gifts of visionary insight, creating a truly inclusive movement that revolutionizes the way that we connect as humyns. 

Aquarius Guardian Herbs

Lavender flowers by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)

Lavender brings peace and compassion, which is what many Aquarius folks are striving for in their vision for bettering the world.  There herb helps to calm without creating drowsiness but instead cultivating focus helping Aquarius folks to refine their plans. The herb relieves tension including the headaches and indigestion that can arise from such a state. Lavender is my foundational herb for my emotional bitters blend as it helps us to digest all of our emotions, but especially difficult ones that have a tendency to get trapped in the body. Lavender can help to soften the jolts of energy that run through Aquarius folks while enhancing their energetic output, clearing out lethargy and laziness. The color of the herbs, a beautiful purple, implies through the doctrine of signatures, its connection to vision of a psychic variety and as an herb thats scent carries readily on the wind, it supports the air-driven energies of Aquarius folk who are trying to share their vision with the world. The herb is a great ally for asthma attacks brought about by tension. Use also for coughs and colds that are aggravated by excess stagnation in the chest, as Lavender helps to clear out congestion. 

Topically, Lavender has many uses for alleviating the pain of sore muscles, arthritic pain, and bruises to reducing varicose veins, eczema, and acne. It is one of my favorite herbs to add to baths creating a tension-relieving brew that is calming for cranky humyns of all ages. Use in chest rubs for colds and coughs as well as in mouthwash for mouth ulcers and inflamed gums. The essential oil is an excellent ally for relieving the itch of insect bites. 

Aquarius Remedy Herbs

Willow Tree in England via wikipedia

Willow (Salix alba)

White Willow is the original aspirin which can be used by Aquarian folks who are prone to accidents. Containing salicin, which relieves fever and inflammation as well as reduce pain, White Willow has many of the benefits of aspirin – and more! – without the side affects that the tiny white pill carries. A cooling herb, White Willow clears heat from the inflammation of rheumatism and rheumatic fever to hot flashes and headaches brought on or irritated by heat. White Willow is an excellent herb for pain reduction and improved mobility, helping in the cases of backache, migraines, and general soreness. Combined with herbs like St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) it can be used in cases of nerve pain and damage. White Willow moves infection out of the body, staunches internal bleedings, and can be used for hot flashes, night sweats, and general states of overheating. As an astringent, White Willow is also useful for hemorrhoids and varicosities that can occur when Aquarius folks find themselves in a state of poor circulation and the resulting stagnation lack of flow can bring about.

Topically, White Willow is prized as a pain reliever whether in the form of a poultice, liniment, oil or salve. White Willow is also used for bruises, sprains, warts, skin tags, poison ivy, and burns. The herb can also be used in mouthwashes to relieve gum inflammation and in hair rinses for dandruff. Magickally, White Willow is associated with death and new beginnings which very much aligns with the Aquarian vision of revolutionary evolution through the death of the old and the birth of the new.

Sun in Aquarius Flower Essence

Witch Hazel via wikipedia

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Flower Essence connects Aquarius folk with their inner landscape, grounding them in reality without smothering their Aquarian visions. The Flower Essence is appropriate for Aquarius folk who have gone too long without really connected to and expressing themselves as the essence helps them to navigate the anxiety and depression that may have emerged as consequence. If they have gotten caught up in the cycle of not feeling like they have “achieved” enough, especially when in comparison with others, Witch Hazel helps them to evaluate their lives from a place of self-confident centeredness, rather than the vicious cycle of constantly comparing ourselves to others. Witch Hazel brings Aquarius folk back into the balance of relationships that reflect, not judge, and teaches them the power of their oddness and the beauty of how they dream of light in the dark of winter.

Ready to learn more?

• Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources and the other posts in myAstroherbology series.

• Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

• The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.