The Introductory Post to The Holographic Herbal
A Cute Preface, As Usual
I am coming up on my first full year at the natural medicine school that I am enrolled in, and in this first year, I learned a great deal about herbal medicine as a holistic practice. My powerhouse of a mentor taught me to see the body, mind, emotional heart, and spirit as one cohesive unit that speaks to each other, and relays those messages in the form of symptoms, emotions, feelings, and more.
In the last lesson of the herbal medicine courses, my mentor asked us to start thinking about what our practice will look like, what healing modalities we are gravitating towards, and what type of healer we want to be. I have been thinking a lot about what the future holds for me, and for the first time in my life, I don’t have fear of what’s to come. I’ve already started a plan for what my practice will be in phases: when I graduate, a few years in, and the Brick & Mortar Phase. This website will serve as the blog for the practice, and therefore I have opened up this chapter to reflect all the knowledge that I am accumulating. Currently, I am transitioning from the Herbal Medicine courses to the Healing Diet courses, which feels like it may only bolster the purpose of this blog in its original conception: healing the body with practical routines [ i.e. with a daily dietary regimen ]. On many posts of this blog, you can find this sentiment. I am excited to absorb my mentor’s wisdom, implement it into my life, merge it into my work and the blog, and take it into the future practice.
This is probably very predictable of me, but I have grown increasingly interested in Medical Astrology, Astro-Nutrition, and Astro-Herbalism. I am not, however, a certified Medical Astrologer, but I am passionate about these subjects as I learn them from school, and other teachers. What I am working towards is graduating as a certified Holistic Practitioner and Coach with emphasis on herbal medicine, healing diets, and quantum botanicals. Alongside my courses, I am taking independent study courses from Medical Astrologers like Sajah Popham and Judith Hill. Popham’s Alchemy Training and Evolutionary Herbalism has been so incredibly empowering for me, because there are many things he spoke of that were already so aligned with my view on how the metaphysical affects reality, and vice-versa. Moreover, Hill’s Astro-Nutrition and Medical Astrology courses have been eye-opening to me, and I do not think I will look at healing and/or astrology the same ever again. Hill uses the artist’s color wheel as an added layer to Medical Astrology [ you can find this wheel below ], and I have been experimenting with this concept. So far, it has been effective, and I am keeping this layer of healing in my “Healer’s Tool Kit”.
My ancestors, like many of your own ancestors, used astrology to practice medicine and healing. Back in those days, to become a physician, you had to learn astronomy and astrology. Their systems of healing weren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and while I was learning about the history of their medicine, there were times I was left feeling nauseous and confused- but they made use of what they had, and did their best. What has inspired me was their belief that the stars were their own deities or energies, and placing a newly concocted medicine under certain auspicious Astro-Weather could “infuse” that medicine with the intent of that energy. I loved it so much that my husband and I started to re-do our backyard in order to recreate a little magical garden where my tinctures can sit under certain moons and other Astro-Weather.
One of my assignments for school was to research and then write an essay about any culture across time to learn about their beliefs, medicine, and how different people in their communities used herbs. I chose the archaic Italian Peninsula with emphasis on Roman, Greek, and Etruscan people. I also briefly mentioned the Babylonians, Anatolians, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians in this essay, as they have all seemingly influenced each other back and forth. All of these previously stated cultures are also my ancestors, which is why I chose to take a deep-dive into them in the first place. I am not an academic in the field of history or religion, but like many Occultists and curious minds, I love to research and learn. Regardless, I found incredible and inspirational value in the ancient Mediterranean belief of giving energy an archetype to represent it, and then exalt that archetype into a deity to worship and/or pay homage to. This is something I already do, and talk a lot about. This concept of giving movements and chapters of life an archetype is something I rely heavily on, and it will no doubt grow stronger as I continue to research the wisdom of my ancestors.
So, here it is: The Holographic Herbal. We are mixing archaic religions, Astro-Herbalism, Astro-Nutrition, the artist’s color wheel, and other healing methods in one chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy researching and writing about it.
I started my first blog post about rose and rose hips for The Holographic Herbal chapter, which will be posted soon. In trying to explain the metaphysical and medicinal properties of roses, I began typing up a preface that should really be its own blog post [ this one! ]. The preface became so long because it has come to my attention that a lot of my friends and family read my blog [ thank you! ], but often the comments are “this goes over my head!” This is totally understandable, because astrology can be very confusing, and I don’t talk about Sun Signs. My main meat-and-potatoes is a holistic practice of using astrological energetic archetypes to represent our movements through sickness, health, and everything in between. Every single one of us is all of the signs- it is just a matter of where those signs fall in your natal chart, and how that manifests archetypally for you. While I no longer want to continue to hide myself in shame and embarrassment because friends, family, and everyone else simply do not understand what I am passionate about [ how are we feeling today, my fellow neurodivergents? ], I am dedicated to making sure that my work continues to be authentically me, but also accessible and digestible as much as possible for everyone. So…
Welcome to the Introduction to The Holographic Herbal Chapter
Just a note: I will link all future Holographic Herbal posts to this page to make sure we have a quick reference. I will also be adding to this page as I learn new information. Bonus points if you bookmark this page. Below is a vast array of information accumulated over many years of studying astrology, and a small handful of years studying Medical Astrology. If you are new to this information, you will not be able to pick it up right away. Learning astrology takes many years, study, communication with the planets, and experimentation. If you intend to learn more, there are so many teachers in this field who can build you up into an amazing future astrologer. I can guarantee you will not walk away understanding astrology after reading this post one time. The intent of this post is to be a reference page for future blog posts. Please, take it slow, go through the information at your own pace, and pull up your own natal chart to follow along. This is the best way to learn. Stop when you need to, and come back when you are ready to digest more information.
Of note: I am not a certified Medical Astrologer, doctor, or licensed professional. Astrology is meant to be used only for entertainment. Do not diagnose yourself without speaking to a licensed professional. Do not diagnose yourself according to the material found on this page, any other page on this website, or affiliated links. You can cause serious harm to yourself without the proper information and support from professionals in the medical industry. For more information, please see my Terms & Conditions page.
The Artist’s Color Wheel &
The Zodiacal Wheel
Above is the Artist’s Color Wheel layered on top of the Zodiac Wheel as taught by Medical Astrologer Judith Hill. If you are an artist or creative, this is such an amazing tool to have in your Healing Tool Kit. This chart is also really helpful for Intuitive-Intuitive Eating, a term I playfully coined to emphasize the intuitive part in Intuitive Eating. I keep mentioning I will make a post about Intuitive-Intuitive Eating, and at some point I will- I PROMISE. However, I am glad this post has come before it, and by the end of this introduction, you will understand why.
So, how do we use this Zodiac Color Wheel? I guess it is up to each individual to take away what they feel best resonates, especially if you are a creative that works closely with color, or if you are studying Color Psychology [ one of my favorite subjects to learn ]. Hill describes it by saying that we “burn through” the color that correlates to our Sun + Moon signs. For instance, I am a Capricorn Sun and Aquarius Moon, therefore I burn through indigo and violet. On the opposite end of Capricorn is Cancer, which correlates to the color orange-yellow, and on the opposite side of Aquarius is Leo, who is represented by true yellow. To my understanding, using orange-yellow and yellow may bring balance in my life. I will explain exactly how I use this color wheel towards the end of this post. First, there are some points we need to go through to have a wider understanding of astrology. If you’re feeling lost, look for Capricorn on the wheel, and scan your eye across to find Cancer. This opposing dynamic between Capricorn and Cancer is called an axis. Every sign has an opposite sign, which creates an axis. It is my belief, and the belief of many other astrologers, that there is a lesson, archetype, and theme found on the axis between the two signs.
Aries is deep red/crimson, or as the Giallo Nerds like to call it Profondo Rosso.
Taurus is red-orange/rust. However, I also associate brown with Taurus.
Gemini is orange/tangerine.
Cancer is orange-yellow/amber. I also associate Cancer with silver.
Leo is yellow/gold.
Virgo is yellow-green/chartreuse.
Libra is green/emerald. I also associate pink with Libra.
Scorpio is green-blue/teal, although I associate black with Scorpio.
Sagittarius is blue/sapphire.
Capricorn is blue-purple/indigo.
Aquarius is purple/violet.
Pisces is deep purple/plum.
Let’s go through the axes:
Truthfully, this could take up many blog posts, but let’s loosely describe the archetypes and themes that are brought up in each axis.
Aries-Libra Axis: This axis is the embodiment of “Love and War”, but it also represents the balance of how much we show up for ourselves, rather than give energy out to others [ and vice-versa ]. Aries represents the soldier, warrior, champion, and victor. Libra represents the unifier, the collaborator, the balancer, the negotiator, and the lover. Between these two signs, there is a lesson about how there is, and will always be, a constant push and pull between what we need vs what others need from us. It will never be a truly enduring balance, as everything needs re-tuning and shifting. Sometimes in war, negotiations are made to bring peace and harmony. What exists on this axis are two sides committing to make peace despite their differences. Sometimes, however, we need to know when it’s time to discontinue a relationship, burn a bridge, or sever a tie. We must know when to fight for what is right, and make peace when harmony is necessary- sometimes all at once.
Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of war, aggression, energy, will, passion, and astrologer and fellow-nerd Austin Coppock calls Mars “The Blood-God”. Mars is also Ares in Greek Mythology.
Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of love, beauty, art, commerce, unity, partnership, sensuality, and lush and fertile lands. Venus is also Aphrodite in Greek Mythology.
Taurus-Scorpio Axis: Taurus is associated with our Earth, forests, material treasures, our pleasures, our relationship to wealth, food, spiritual beliefs, produce, and beauty. What happens to the food after we digest? What happens to our possessions after we leave this Earth? What happens to the land that once grew fields of grains, vegetables, or beautiful flowers? Look across to Scorpio who teaches us that everything has an end and a rebirth: decomposing and decay happens, our bodies take in the minerals it needs and then the excess leaves our bodies, and after we pass on, we pass on inheritance to younger generations. Do we recycle, upcycle, or create more waste from our consuming and consumerism? Most importantly, Scorpio is heavily associated with the underworld, the afterlife, and ancestors. Sometimes I think maybe reincarnation itself lives on this axis. Other times, I think of how Venus, the ruler of Taurus is the adornment, or adorner, of rituals. Ancestral worship sort of relies on adorning ancestral altars with the belongings of those loved ones we are trying to honor or remember. Moreover, anything passed on to us comes in the form of inheritance: possessions, money, or land- all of these things are associated with Taurus. Also, disease, generational trauma, names, and personality traits can be inherited. Taurus has association with money and possessions, and therefore there is a beautiful image here of someone who resides between the gates of Hades and the land of the living. Here, on this axis, is Hades and Persephone.
Taurus is ruled by Venus, which is explained in the Aries/Libra axis above.
Scorpio is ruled by Mars, which is explained in the Aries/Libra axis above. However, it is also ruled by Pluto who is also Hades, the Death-God, and Ruler of the Underworld. Pluto represents sex, taboo, anything occulted or The Occult, poisons, toxins, wastes, riches found under the Earth [ inheritance ], and transformation.
Gemini-Sagittarius Axis: Let’s take Gemini who is all about information, data, communication, and thought. But what do we do with that information? How are our opinions and world views formed from it? Look to Sagittarius, the opposing sign of Gemini, who represents our philosophies, theories, and personal gnosis. More than that, how do we relay that information? Are we dogmatic about our views, or are we open to discourse, differing opinions, or expanding our worldviews? How do we achieve that? Sagittarius is about traveling and foreign lands, and is the archetype of The Wanderer. As long as Sagittarius can experience different worlds and cultures, either by traveling, meeting new people, or reading books, Sagittarius feels satisfied. Gemini represents the archetype of someone who collects information and data. Think: spreadsheets, reference books, and manuals and handbooks [ Gemini rules the hands, but we will get into that later ]. So this axis represents how we utilize the information we’ve accumulated through our lived experiences, and how it changes due to newly found information. We’re going to get into this in a minute, but Jupiter rules Sagittarius. Jupiter is considered the Great Teacher of the Gods. To become exalted to that title, one must really do the work to generate enough information and wisdom to become that profoundly knowledgeable. How do we do that? Through learning, reading, communicating, and connecting, and that is where Mercury comes in- the ruler of Gemini.
Gemini is ruled by Mercury, who is also Hermes- the Messenger of the Gods. Mercury is the planet of communication, information, swiftness, data, sometimes magic and trickery, sometimes electricity, resources, logic, understanding, and thought.
Sagittarius is ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune. Jupiter is also Zeus or Lord Brihaspati, the Guru of the Gods. Jupiter represents philosophy, travel, expansion, religion, growth, wisdom, abundance, and healing. Neptune, also Poseidon, rules over fantasy realms, dreams, subconscious, illusion, dissolution, meditation, and spirituality.
Cancer-Capricorn Axis: This axis is so wildly misunderstood. I am a Capricorn, with many planets in my Capricorn house including its ruler Saturn. My mother is a Cancer, and I have many friends who are Crab-Kin. The general stereotype is that Capricorns are hustlers, and Cancers are criers. I disagree. Cancers are intuitive and ruled by The Moon. They can be sexual, fierce, emotional, empathetic, aggressive, passive, determined, and sedated all in one month. The Moon changes signs almost daily, and this quick change is reflected on Crab-Folk. The Moon affects the ocean’s tides, and all bodies of water. We are made up mostly of water, and therefore are changed by The Moon’s transit. If a sign is closely connected to The Moon, it knows how to tend to the masses. They know how we are thinking and feeling. Capricorn hustles only when it suits them, and if it is a beneficial opportunity. Put Cancer and Capricorn in a room together, and give them a loan to start a business of their choosing, and Cancer will be successful because they know trends based on intuition found from understanding cycles and patterns in people. Capricorn will be successful based on trial-and-error mixed with mastering the opportune timing of things. Both of these gifts take time to learn and settle into. Also, Capricorns are ruled by Saturn, the planet of time, which makes Capricorns melancholic and nostalgic. We are definitely the criers. We just do it when you aren’t looking. Capricorn is represented by a mythical creature called a Sea-Goat. The top half of its body is a goat, and the bottom half is a sea-serpent. Whether on land or sea, this sign is about mastery, determination, and dedication. It has been thought that the original depiction of the top-half of Capricorn was not a goat, but a unicorn. I have found very little information about this, but I find it fascinating. Capricorn is about bringing form or a body to “mystical” or “mythical” concepts. It is about merging the metaphysical with reality. Cancer is about nourishment, nurturing, honoring the body, honoring the Goddess, honing into our intuition, our childhood, home, and safety. Cancer is where we have come from, and Capricorn is where we are heading. Sometimes we have to leave home to achieve our dreams, and we may find ourselves in some far-off land traveled to by land, sea, or air to get to it. We step into the person who we were meant to be, or who we imagined ourselves to be, giving this imaginary projected self a body and structure by stepping into it. I truly believe the hidden archetype found on this axis is a Primordial God/Goddess/Deity of Creation.
Cancer is ruled by The Moon, or all Mother Goddesses. The Moon represents our intuition, body, relationship to our mother, relationship to our wombs, gestation, creation, ancestral homeland, and cycles.
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. In my opinion, Saturn is related to all God-Kings or Allfathers [ Alföðr ]. Saturn can represent our relationship to our father, although that dynamic can also be seen within themes of The Sun [ see below ]. Regardless, it can also represent our relationship to any and all authority figures. Saturn represents time, karma, obstacles, solitude, mastery, the past, sometimes magic, sometimes ancestors, lessons, wisdom, structure, material, opportunity, order, form, and becoming an adult.
Leo-Aquarius Axis: Leo represents the expression of self, the King, and the leader. Drama, flair, theatrics, creativity, courage, fierceness, boldness, valiance, and strength are themes that can be brought up with Leo. On the opposite side sits Aquarius who represents the authenticity of the self, the community, and the audience. Aquarius themes are innovation, the mad genius, progression, humanitarianism, being a part of a community, sometimes the advancement of technology, uniqueness, and individuality. Whereas Leo is the King, Aquarius is the collective. It is about the expression of futuristic themes, and how we use technology and new ideas to progress our expression of self and creativity. Sometimes when I think of this axis, I see a court jester. Not only does the jester need to know how to tell stories with drama, but they need to know how to appease the King and Queen, as well as their people. It takes an extremely talented performance artist to make everyone happy, while also telling their truth, expressing their art, and being an artist as their life’s work [ or lot in life ]. One must be careful to have a bit of pride and sincerity in their art, as to not come off like a charlatan. However, not only is there a certain seriousness that one must take in their theatrics, but also to remind themselves not to take themselves too seriously. Think of it like this: back in those days, if you thought yourself above the King, you may be committing treason. The authentic, fearless, and eccentric artist lives on this axis.
Leo is ruled by The Sun, who has had many epithets since the beginning of time, one of them being Helios. The Sun represents exaltation, perception, sovereignty, expression, awareness, vitality, and ego. It can also represent our relationship with our father, Kings, people in leadership, and Royalty.
Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, which is explained in the Cancer/Capricorn axis, so please see above. However, Aquarius is also co-ruled by Uranus, which represents electricity, sudden changes, tornados, innovation, geniuses, progressive thought, awakenings, revelations, and disruption. I am of the mind that Uranus might represent our personal daimon or genius. Uranus is associated with all primordial Sky-Gods.
Virgo-Pisces Axis: Pisces is about fantasy, illusion, and escapism. It is represented by two fish: one swimming upstream, and the other swimming downstream. Some say this is related to the past and future, and how our karma [ and past lives, if you believe in those ] correlates to our present life. Meditation, poetry, dreams, dream states, hypnosis, and altered states are associated with Pisces. Virgo, on the other hand, is sort of similar to Gemini. Both Gemini and Virgo are ruled by Mercury, and are closely linked to data, information, reality, and logic. Virgo and Gemini are like the Logic & Reason siblings. The archetypes of Virgo are the librarian, the analytic, the editor, and the perfectionist. Pisces is the dreamer, the artist, the visionary, and the spiritualist. So how do these two work together? Well, have you ever created a fantasy-based video game before? Take Skyrim, for example. Of course the end product is visually gorgeous, and the mods are the gift that keeps on giving, but do you know how much data and information goes into making a video game? Coding itself is a language that requires a lot of schooling to learn. Behind every beautiful and imaginal realm of any video game lies a lot of coding- which is just numbers and data. Or what about storytellers? They take in as much information from various resources, and create wonderful worlds for us to escape into. On this axis lies the Greatest Storyteller ever known. I do also feel like Artificial Intelligence lies on this axis, too. The artificial part being Pisces, and the intelligence being Virgo. AI is not a real person, but acts like a real person due to data analytics and input.
Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which is explained in the Gemini-Sagittarius axis. Please see above.
Pisces is ruled by Jupiter and Neptune, which is explained in the Gemini-Sagittarius axis. Please see above.
Anatomy and Astrology: A Synopsis
Below are two lists of each sign, and what planet or luminary it is ruled by. In Medical Astrology, each sign and planet rules a part of the body, a system within the body, and vitamins, minerals, and hormones. I’ve split the these tables up in two: the first is what each sign rules, and the second is what the planet/ruling luminary rules. The last infographic is the color wheel layered on top of the houses that correlate to each sign, and what that rules. I know it’s getting confusing- just hang in there. I’ll explain it as we go through.
The best way to practice is to use your own knowledge of astrology, and work with that. So, if you haven’t brought up your natal chart already, you totally should! I personally think it’s the best way to learn! Cross-reference what you already know! Say you’re a Sagittarius or have Sagittarius placements [ meaning you have the sun, moon, or ascendant in this sign ]: do you get restless, and have to move your thighs or hips? Do you get sciatic pain? Is this pain alleviated when you exercise or simply move your body? What if you have Pisces placements? Do you get aches in your feet, and find you have to massage them regularly and get actual rest to get relief? Do you find this pain disappears when you walk on “paths” of life that you chose to walk instead of others choosing for you?
Let’s keep going. Continue to work with the knowledge you already have. For instance, say you’re a Virgo, and you know that Virgo is ruled by Mercury. Mercury is Hermes, the Messenger of the Gods, and he was the only God who was able to travel to the underworld and come back to the Land of the Living. Mercury represents our mind and thoughts, and rules our respiratory system. Sit and think about how an anxious mind can disrupt breathing, and cause anxiety attacks. An overstimulated and nervous mind can convince us that we are entering the “underworld”. It’s sort of chicken or egg: are my thoughts creating anxiety, or is an external stressor causing nervous tension, which then manifests as ruminating?
Let’s say you’re an Aries, and you get angry pretty easily. You don’t stand up for yourself as much as you should, and you “blow up” to release “steam”. Do you tend to clench/grind your teeth while you’re in that elevated state? Do you get migraines often? How are your cortisol levels? Cortisol is the stress hormone that I have talked about probably too much on this website. Catch up here and here. It is my personal belief that Mars/Aries rules cortisol. When angry, do your hormones become out of balance, and you find yourself in a state of prolonged insomnia for days or weeks due to an energized “hot” head?
These are all examples, and not hard and fast rules. The best way to know how energy manifests for you is to be open to it, tune in, and notice your own patterns and cycles. Every astrologer uses astrology differently.
The Houses in Astrology:
Anatomy & Manifestations
So far, we’ve taken in a lot of information. Take breaks if you need to, and come back when you’re ready. Go slow, use your own natal chart to practice and learn. Now, we are going to look at the houses in astrology, what they represent in life, and what they are associated with in Medical Astrology.
Above is The Zodiac Color Wheel’s Houses and What Body System/Organs the Houses Rule in Medical Astrology.
Above is the Zodiac Color Wheel, the Houses, and What the Houses Represent in Astrology.
Let me break this down quickly, as this also could be its own blog post, or maybe even a large book. Some astrologers correlate the 12 signs to the 12 houses in astrology. Some astrologers disagree with this practice, and say that there is no correlation. I really think it depends on the experience and perception of the individual interpreting the specific astrology. If you’ve ever seen me tweet at my Astro-Nerd friends on twitter, you’ll probably see me tweet about the houses. Astrologers abbreviate “house” with “H”, so if you’ve seen me say “Saturn in my 9H”, that means Saturn is in my 9th House.
This system can also work with the body system and organs. Let’s go through them while we scroll up to look at the charts directly above this text:
Mars and Aries correlate to the 1st house.
Venus and Taurus correlate to the 2nd house.
Mercury and Gemini correlate to the 3rd house.
The Moon and Cancer correlate to the 4th house.
The Sun and Leo correlate to the 5th house.
Mercury and Virgo correlate to the 6th house.
Venus and Libra correlate to the 7th house.
Mars/Pluto and Scorpio correlate to the 8th house.
Jupiter/Neptune and Sagittarius correlate to the 9th house.
Saturn and Capricorn correlate to the 10th house.
Saturn/Uranus and Aquarius correlate to the 11th house.
Jupiter/Neptune and Pisces correlate to the 12th house.
Keep threading the knowledge you already have paired with what you’re taking away from this post: You’re a Gemini sun, and you know your sun falls in the 4th house [ 4H ]. You’ve learned that the 4th house correlates to the stomach, private life, and family. Does your stomach get tense when you worry about your family, or if you think your privacy is being taken from you? Do you get nauseous when there is too much attention on you? You may find your breathing becomes sharp and shallow. How did I come to this conclusion?
Gemini is ruled by Mercury.
Mercury rules our thoughts [ even anxious ones ] and the respiratory system. There is a muscle between the chest and abdomen called the diaphragm. When inflamed, irritated, or bloated, the pressure and expansion may interfere with deep breaths. Bloating restricts a full inhale and exhale, making breaths short and shallow.
If the Sun is in the 4th House, that means family and privacy is important to this person, and brings them vitality. When anxious and worrying thoughts turn to the home and family, can symptoms manifest?
The 4th house is also associated with the womb, stomach, and safety, as it is the Realm of The Moon, and The Moon rules Cancer.
Checkpoint: If you are lost, scroll above and check the charts to cross-reference this information.
Okay, so, now you see that I am not arbitrarily assigning body parts and significations to zodiac signs. This practice has been passed down from astrologers and physicians of old. As noted before, I am taking Sajah Popham’s and Judith Hill’s Medical Astrology courses, and am finding value in threading their wisdom into my own personal gnosis of how the metaphysical and the physical are intertwined. I’m not trying to puff up my feathers, but I’ve used astrology to help illuminate the root cause of some symptoms of my own in the past. I never knew that this was a real practice until I started to study astrology seriously. You can imagine my excitement when I learned that it is, and yet there is still so much more to learn.
Circling Back:
A Small Case Study on Myself
Let’s say you’re a Taurus rising, which means Taurus is in the 1st house [ ascendant ]. When you get angry [ Aries ], you subconsciously walk heavy-footed and stomp your feet. Your Mars [ the ruler of Aries ] sits in the 8th house Sagittarius. You notice as time goes on, without releasing this anger in a healthy way, your hips and lower back begin to tense up for weeks to a month. When you slow down, take time for yourself, and express your concerns/frustration calmly, you find this tension goes away. This one I know very well, because this person is me!
Let’s check it out, then. Below is the color wheel layered with the signs and the houses. Notice that I’ve shifted the color wheel on the bottom to reflect where the signs sit in each of my natal houses. The 1st house is always your ascendant. If you’re following along with your natal chart, and you’re having trouble understanding, set the chart calculations to whole sign houses instead of placidus. Whole sign houses give you equal houses, and it’s easier to follow [ of note: both whole sign and placidus calculations have their own unique use in natal and predictive astrology ].
Above is The Zodiac Color Wheel to reflect my Taurus Ascendant in the 1st house
My 1st house [ known as the ascendant or the rising sign ] is Taurus, so I moved red-orange Taurus into the deep-red house of Mars. Deep-red Aries moved into the deep-purple house of Jupiter/Neptune. Deep-purple Pisces moved into the violet house of Saturn/Uranus. So on and so forth.
Let’s break it down: when I’m angry, I stomp my feet, which causes lower back/hip pain.
Anger is associated with Aries. Aries rules the 12th house, which rules the subconscious, and since the 12th house correlates to Pisces, it is linked to the feet. The ruler of Aries, which is Mars, sits in my 8th house Sagittarius. Unreleased anger is essentially “occulted” feelings, which is what the 8th house represents. Sagittarius, who gets restless when there are any obstacles or blockages in their way, rules the hips and sciatica.
Hidden/occulted feelings left in the subconscious create “angry feet”, and that angry energy is then stored in my hips and lower back.
Going Even Further…
How else do I use this information? Currently, I use Astro-Nutrition and the Zodiac Color Wheel for Intuitive-Intuitive Eating, as well as nutrition supplementation and my daily diet. Let me walk you through a real experience I had using this wheel, and I will also touch on Intuitive-Intuitive Eating. Through my Anatomy Lesson in the Herbal Medicine Module, I learned how important it is for hormonal health to support blood circulation. When trying to support blood flow and circulation to create ease of the transport of hormones for a healthier menstrual cycle, we should look to these energies per the Zodiac Color Wheel:
Blood: Mars
Circulation + Arteries: Aquarius
Hormones: Libra
Menstrual Cycle: Libra and can also be The Moon
What gets the blood pumping? The heart: Leo
I looked at the color associated with those signs listed above. So, Mars rules Aries, and Aries is dark red, and Aquarius is violet. Because I practice Intuitive-Intuitive Eating, I intuitively chose rose hips and purple grapes to add in my diet [ not together, of course ]. I reminded myself to be open to the possibility of healing, but was also realistic about it: nothing is a cure-all, and I’m not going to become immortal just by eating grapes. Regardless, I took note of any and all symptoms and/or negative and positive changes that occurred within my body.
I then researched into both rosehips and purple grapes, which is the most important part of Intuitive-Intuitive Eating, because you get validation of your intuition in real time:
Rosehips have a red pigment called lycopene, which gives them their rich red color. Lycopene is amazing for the circulation of blood and for the vasculature in general, and therefore they also have been used to support the menstrual cycle. Personally, I give the rulership of lycopene to Aries due to its pretty red color. Recall that Aries [ its ruler Mars is associated with blood ] is the opposing sign of Libra [ hormone balancing ]. Furthermore, purple grapes are rich in polyphenols, which support the coronary arteries. Aquarius [ arteries ] is the opposing sign of Leo [ heart ]. The heart must be healthy to pump blood into our arteries, circulate blood through our system, and carry our hormones via the circulatory system. One added synchronicity is that vitamin c helps the production of the hormone called progesterone, and both rosehips and grapes are very rich in vitamin c. Progesterone likely tends to be out of balance in those with both estrogen and/or androgen dominance [ Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, adenomyosis, and endometriosis ]. In an effort to support my circulation and hormone transit with vitamin c-rich foods, I’ve called upon the ruler of Aquarius [ Saturn ]. Scroll up to the chart, and notice that progesterone is ruled by The Moon. Aquarius is not the opposing sign of Cancer, but Capricorn is, and Capricorn is also ruled by Saturn. Now, take a look at what Capricorn rules in our bodies. One of the most well-known symptoms of hormone imbalance is brittle nails, weak bones, hair thinning, and cystic acne. A lot of people with these symptoms notice that they go away when taking more vitamin c and supporting the production of progesterone. In other words, I’ve invoked the Cancer/Capricorn axis while supporting the Aries/Libra axis and Aquarius/Leo axis.
One Last Step Further:
If I’ve invoked the Cancer/Capricorn, Aries/Libra, and Aquarius/Leo axes, what else could this mean? Another component to Intuitive-Intuitive Eating [ I’ve got to figure out a better name for this ] is that old saying that goes like this:
“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”
It can be argued that our environment and external stressors affect our inner-worlds and bodily systems. With the intuitive gravitation towards rosehips that are red, which are connected to Aries, in order to balance hormones which are ruled by Libra, we can say that maybe I am having a difficult time balancing time for myself vs time with others. Maybe I also don’t stand up for myself in healthy ways. Many people who have painful periods say that most symptoms began to disappear once they balanced their input/output energy, put themselves first, and maintained a healthy social life. Here is a great explanation of this exact concept on What’s The Juice Podcast hosted by Olivia Amitrano with special guest Herbalist Raven Rose. Painful periods, by the way, are so Aries/Libra. Mars can represent blood, pain, stabbing, throbbing, and inflammation. In the Cancer/Capricorn axis, I am reminded that I had left my childhood home to move to an entirely different country. For those of you who remember, my Capricorn Sun sits in the 9th house, which is the House of Travel. Although my life has truly opened up in ways I never thought possible, I have guilt that I moved away from so many friends and family members. This pull on my heart creates a void, which plays into the Leo/Aquarius axis. Voids are Saturnian, and recall that Saturn rules Aquarius! It can leave me trying to attain mindless goals without clear and well-thought out long-term plans of attacks [ goals are connected to the 10th and 11th houses ]. Can sadness and the emotional heart cause anxiety? The sympathetic nervous system, which regulates our fight-or-flight response, can absolutely cause anxiety, heart palpitations, and nervous disorders. I have, at many times, been open about my anxiety and panic attacks. But does this correlate to something deeper? Am I being a fearless and authentic artist, or am I hiding to be socially acceptable in social circles that do not always accept me? All things to think about, sit with, and work through! This is otherwise known as “Shadow Work”! Use this information on yourself, and see what comes up!
So, There You Have It!
This has been the intro to the Holographic Herbal, and it can be referred back to as I post on this chapter. It is a lot of information, and just to reiterate: I will certainly be adding to it as new information is brought to light. I hope these examples and archetypes have brought a clear explanation of the work that I intend to do going forward.
Of note: I am not a certified Medical Astrologer, doctor, or licensed professional. Astrology is meant to be used only for entertainment. Do not diagnose yourself without speaking to a licensed professional. Do not diagnose yourself according to the material found on this page, any other page on this website, or affiliated links. You can cause serious harm to yourself without the proper information and support from professionals in the medical industry. For more information, please see my Terms & Conditions page.
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