The Message of the Stars

by

Max Heindel
and
Augusta Foss Heindel

Aspects between two progressed planets have little or no potency, but when a planet by progression comes into aspect with a radical planet it operates for good or ill, according to its nature and the power of the radical planet in the horoscope.

   In the following paragraphs we have set down these tendencies, and it matters not whether Venus progresses to a good aspect with radical Saturn, or Saturn progresses to a good aspect with radical Venus, the effects are as noted in the first paragraph, and similarly with the other aspects following.

   Venus and Saturn in good aspect by progression indicate a period of financial success, gain in social prestige and emotional exaltation. The religious and devotional nature is likely to receive an awakening.

   Venus and Saturn in evil aspect by progression indicate a period of sorrow and trouble. Both the health and reputation suffer; delays, disappointment and losses are frequent and annoying. Others will seek to impose upon the person; death or separation from loved ones, and other disagreeable experiences are met. The mind is gloomy and inclined to worry.

   Mercury and Saturn in good aspect by progression mark a good time to undertake new responsibilities, make investments in houses, mines, lands, or similar property, undertake study or research work of a deeper nature, and make important contracts which will prove of lasting benefit to the person. It is a good time to deal with agents and elderly persons, or to undertake journeys for a serious purpose.

   Mercury and Saturn afflicted by progression indicate a time of delays and disappointments with a tendency to look upon the dark side of things. It is a bad time to undertake new responsibilities, deal with elderly people or sign legal papers. The person is liable to slander and loss of reputation.

   Mars and Saturn in good aspect by progression mark a period when the person will be very enterprising yet tactful and diplomatic, courageous but not foolhardy, strong and dignified, better able to shoulder the responsibilities of life than at any other time. If he makes proper use of these qualities he will gain financially, also in honor and respect among his associates.

   Mars and Saturn in bad aspect by progression make the person very foolhardy and impulsive, hence there is a liability to accident under these directions. Occasionally when the horoscope shows violence there is a tendency to crime and bloodshed which may result in imprisonment. All the vices of the character seem to come to the fore at this time, and loss of temper is the least among them. The greatest care should be taken to keep the animal nature down and hold a firm check upon all the undesirable traits in the character.

   Venus and Jupiter in good aspect by progression bring financial benefits, and a rise in social position and esteem. They make the person more kindly, sympathetic and considerate, hence increase his popularity. It is a good time to travel and enjoy life. Investments made under this influence are generally successful, and the health is excellent, or if the person has been ill this marks the period of convalescence and recuperation, when life takes on a rosier hue.

   Venus and Jupiter afflicting each other by progression indicate a period of mild domestic trouble, small financial losses and a tendency to extravagance and wastefulness, pecuniary difficulties on that account, and possibly lawsuits. There is also some loss of prestige in the social circle or the person's environment.

   Mercury and Jupiter in good aspect by progression indicate a very successful period in the life. The person will probably travel with both pleasure and profit to himself. He will have good health and be in the best of spirits, so that life in general will take on a very rosy hue. There are indications of gain by investments and in the general course of his business, and it is a good time to enter into contracts and agreements, especially for literary work.

   Mercury and Jupiter afflicted by progression mark a troublesome time, when the person is liable to become involved in lawsuits and lose thereby. He should be very careful not to sign papers or enter into agreements, for there will be trouble and misunderstanding, involving financial loss; also if he lends money to other people they will endeavor to impose upon him and defraud him, and dealings with agents and commission men should be particularly avoided.

   Mars and Jupiter in good aspect by progression mark a period in life when the usual conservatism of Jupiter is blended with the martian enthusiasm, hence the person will become more enthusiastic and enterprising so that he is likely to extend his business and be successful in gaining an added income thereby. He should be careful, however, not to overreach himself at this time. These aspects also work upon the devotional nature and may sometimes express themselves as religious enthusiasm when the person turns over a new leaf and becomes a better man or woman than before.

   Mars and Jupiter in evil aspect by progression mark a danger point in the life when the person is liable to wreck his whole career by acts which are definitely criminal, or by losses due to ostentatious display and extravagance, or he may become interested in some wildcat mining scheme or speculate upon the stock exchange in such a reckless manner that he loses all he has and becomes a pauper. The health is also likely to suffer under this direction; impurities of the blood may cause growths, tumors, boils, and kindred afflictions. Altogether it is a very evil time and the person should guard himself very carefully against yielding to any of these influences.

   Venus and Mars in good aspect by progression mark a period of pleasure and enjoyment when an attachment of a lasting nature may be formed with someone through an enthusiastic courtship. There are also indications of financial gain and an increase of popularity.

   Venus and Mars in evil aspect by progression mark a period of impulse and recklessness when the person is likely to act in a most indiscreet manner that may cause great trouble in life. If married there will be some domestic unhappiness. Financial losses and discredit are also shown, therefore the person should endeavor to hold himself in check and avoid any temptations that may come in his path.

   Mercury and Mars in good aspect by progression mark a time when the person is generally successful in all affairs of life, especially where the mental qualities are called into action, for this will make him keen, shrewd and sharp, quick to see a point and grasp an advantage, hence financial gain is also indicated. This is a good time for advertising and extending the person's business, entering contracts and agreements, and dealing with agents and middlemen. It is good for literary work of a lighter nature, and an excellent time to travel. The health is good and there is a feeling of cheerfulness, joy and optimism.

   Mercury and Mars in evil aspect by progression. This is a critical time when the person is liable to act on impulse, to speak and act impulsively without due deliberation and forethought, hence he is likely to get into trouble or suffer loss through the sharp practices of other people. He should therefore be very careful not so sign papers or enter into agreements, and there is danger of accident and trouble if the person travels. It is a bad time for changes or extensions of business.

   Mars and Uranus in good aspect by progression indicate a good period for perfecting inventions or starting new and original enterprises. Friendships of a beneficial nature are often made under these directions, and not infrequently a psychic awakening takes place through associations with people, or groups of people, or a Uranian nature.

   Mars and Uranus in evil aspect by progression mark a very dangerous time in the person's life. There is a liability to accidents of an unusual nature, a breaking up of conditions, estrangement from friends, and the person is liable to find himself suddenly alone in the world. Sometimes there is a psychic awakening but always of an undesirable nature.

   Mars and Neptune in good aspect by progression mark a time of good health and high spirits for advanced people, but the majority do not feel its influence.

   Mars and Neptune in evil aspect by progression produce a neurotic condition in those who can respond to its influence. There is also a liability to be defrauded or victimized in some unaccountable manner.

   Venus and Uranus in good aspect by progression give a probability of some financial gain and it is likely that the person will have what he considers a good time, involving probably a romantic love affair, but it is likely to leave a sting behind. This direction insures the aid of friends and increases the popularity of the person for the time being.

   Venus and Uranus in evil aspect by progression are a fruitful cause of domestic unhappiness and divorce. This direction is likely to bring about a scandal on account of immoral conduct. Lawsuits and financial loss are also threatened, and the person is likely to act in a most erratic manner.

   Venus and Neptune in good aspect by progression indicate a period of success in social matters, happiness and enjoyment of life for those who can respond to this direction. The person is particularly apt to indulge in the building of air castles and the concoction of roseate daydreams which are of no particular avail but serve to make the period thoroughly enjoyable.

   Venus and Neptune in evil aspect by progression are likely to bring some psychic experience of a disagreeable nature connected with mediumship or hypnotism. There is a tendency to sensuality and immorality, occasionally the indulgence in drinks or drugs which will cause sorrow and trouble to come to the person.

   Mercury and Uranus in good aspect by progression make the native active mentally, bring unexpected pleasures, give impulse to mental work, make the mind keen and give a desire for occult investigation. Many are attracted to and become interested in altruistic and humanitarian work under this aspect.

   Mercury and Uranus afflicting each other by progression make the native unconventional, erratic and restless, create a nervous, wayward state of mind, and may bring unexpected lawsuits.

   Mercury and Neptune in good aspect by progression. The mind is active and inclined to the study of Astrology and Mysticism. The native is apt to travel by water and make changes. Only those who are advanced along spiritual lines feel the effect of Neptune.

   Mercury and Neptune in bad aspect by progression. Persons under this influence should guard against investments in corporations. The mind is disturbed by evil thoughts and the morals may be lax if such a tendency is shown in the natal horoscope.

   Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune seldom form aspects by progression on account of their slow motion.

   The progressed positions of planets are the principal significators of events, but the transitory positions of the planets in space at the actual time of events strengthen or weaken effects of aspects in the progressed horoscope, according to whether they are akin in nature or not. The New Moons are particularly potent. These so-called transits are seen in the ephemeris for the actual year of events.

   Among the points in Astrology which bother the beginner, is when the Moon is increasing in light or decreasing. Astrological works frequently use these expressions when tabulating the effects of various configurations. But so far as we know, no explanation has been given elsewhere, and we trust the following may make the subject clear to students.

   Each month the Moon comes into conjunction with the Sun, and this conjunction of the luminaries is called a Lunation or New Moon. After the conjunction or New Moon, she may be seen in the western sky close to the horizon as a tiny crescent; day by day the lighted surface grows larger; at the time of the opposition to the Sun she has increased her light to the fullest capacity, and at that time we speak of her as a full Moon; she then rises in the eastern sky at the same time as the Sun sets in the west. >From that time for another fortnight it will be observed that she rises later and later in the night; at the same time the illuminated part of her disc decreases until just before the next conjunction or new Moon, early risers may observe her in the eastern sky just before sunrise as a tiny crescent upon the vault of heaven. Thus the Moon is increasing in light from the time of its conjunction or new Moon to the opposition, or full Moon, and from the full Moon to the net New Moon it is decreasing in light. The times of the New Moon, Full Moon and eclipses are given each month in our Simplified Scientific Ephemeris, which see.

   Transits of Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter are important, and when the student has become familiar with the mysteries of the progressed horoscope but not before, he may profitably write the ephemeral position of these planets outside the progressed horoscope and watch their effect, also the aspects of the New Moons. But be sure, at first, to keep the progressed horoscope down to first principles, for fancy aspects are "the stuff dreams are made of," the warp and woof of astrological romances which fade away into moonshine and leave the astrologer discomfited. It is comparatively easy to wield the shuttle of imagination with natal, progressed and transiting planets, each set with its corresponding houses, and a multitude of aspects to choose from, but simple judgment based upon the prime essentials of a horoscope is almost invariably justified by events.

   Saturn transiting the radical Sun, Moon, Venus or Jupiter. These transits lower the vitality and act as a damper on the spirits of the person; there is a tendency to colds, gloom and melancholy, delays and disappointments, and if Saturn should turn retrograde passing and repassing these points, quite a long time of trouble and anxiety results.

   Saturn transiting square or opposition radical Sun, Moon, Venus or Jupiter. These aspects will produce similar effect to the conjunction but more intense, and falls, bruises, or broken bones are often additional results.

   Saturn transiting sextile or trine the radical Sun, Moon, Venus or Jupiter. These aspects do not produce any benefit so far as has been observed.

   Saturn transiting sextile or trine the radical Mercury. These aspects steady the mind and make it more capable of concentration when Saturn is direct, or when he is retrograde, but aspecting Mercury by square or opposition, fear, worry, melancholy, gloom and trouble result; then it is also dangerous to travel.

   Saturn transiting radical Mars, Uranus or Neptune. These transits always mark a time of trouble, no matter what the aspect, but the nature of the trouble is best determined by the house and sign where the afflicted planet is located.

   Saturn transiting the radical Midheaven. This aspect always produces slander, discredit and loss of prestige.

   Saturn transiting the Sixth or Twelfth House or the Ascendant. These positions have an inimical effect on the health, according to the signs which are on the cusps of these houses.

   Jupiter transiting sextile or trine the radical Sun, Venus, Mercury or Moon. These aspects bring health, happiness and financial benefit in accordance with the radical indications. If Jupiter retrogrades he is not so active but the period of good is protracted by his repeated direct passage over the good aspects.

   Jupiter transiting square or opposition radical Sun, Venus, Mercury or Moon. These aspects are not very evil because evil is out of harmony with the basic nature of Jupiter.

   Jupiter transiting or aspecting radical Saturn, Mars, Uranus or Neptune. These aspects produce no appreciable results because the basic natures of these planets are entirely different. This is on the same principle that tuning forks of different pitch do not respond to one another.

   Uranus transiting radical Sun or Venus. These transits produce romantic attachments, Bohemian pleasures, unconventional experiences; when Uranus is retrograde this may last for a long time, but when he is in evil aspect immorality, scandal and divorce may result.

   Uranus transiting radical Mars, Moon or Mercury. These aspects of Uranus to the radical Mars. Moon or Mercury have a tendency to make the person rash, reckless, foolhardy and erratic, sometimes to the point of insanity if other testimonies in the horoscope concur, the phase of the mental disturbance varying from violence when induced by Mars, to mild idiocy when produced by the Moon.

   Uranus transiting or in evil aspect to radical Saturn, Mars or Neptune. These transits cause trouble according to the house and sign where Uranus is located. Good aspects produce no benefit as far as we have observed.

   Neptune transiting radical Mercury or Moon. These aspects bring a spiritual awakening accompanied by dreams and visions of an elevating nature. These aspects are also good for travel, but the bad aspects make the mind unclean, polluted and criminal if the radical horoscope allows, so that the person may commit a crime and suffer imprisonment. Mediumship is also often the result of these transits.

   [But we want to make it clearly understood that we do not cast horoscopes for money, or tell fortunes. Our work is a strictly humanitarian undertaking. To us, Astrology is a phase of religion.]

Parents have an exceptional opportunity and may lay up much treasure in heaven by judicious care of growing children based upon knowledge of tendencies to disease revealed by the horoscope. The writers rely implicitly upon the horoscope's testimony and though in a few cases doubts have been expressed as to the correctness of our diagnosis, because it varied from that of practitioners in personal touch with the patient, subsequent developments have invariable vindicated our judgment and proved the far-reaching penetration of Astrology which is as much in advance of the X-Ray as that is superior to a candle, for even though the X-Ray were capable of illuminating the entire body to such an extent that we could see each individual cell in activity, it could only show the conditions of the body at a given moment. But the horoscope shows incipient disease from the cradle to the grave, thus it gives us ample time to apply the ounce of prevention, and maybe escape an illness, or at least, ameliorate its severity when disease has overtaken us. It indicates to the day when crises are due. Thus forewarned, we may take extra precautionary measures to tide over the critical point. It indicates when the inimical influences will wane and fortifies us to bear present suffering with strength born of the knowledge that recovery at a specific time is certain. Thus Astrology offers help and hope in a manner obtainable by no other method; for its scope is wider than all other systems, and it penetrates to the very soul of Being.

   If letters of fire that would burn themselves into the consciousness of the reader were obtainable, we would spare no effort to procure them for the purpose of warning students on some particular points in connection with the practice of medical Astrology; these are:

Never tell a patient a discouraging fact.
Never tell him when impending crises are due.
Never predict sickness at a certain time.
Never, never predict death.

   It is a grave mistake, almost a crime, to tell sick persons anything discouraging, for it robs them of strength that should be husbanded with the utmost care to facilitate recovery. It is also wrong to suggest sickness to a well person, for it focuses the mind on a specific disease at a certain time, and such a suggestion is liable to cause sickness. it is a well known fact that many students in medical colleges feel the symptoms of every disease they study, and suffer greatly in consequence of auto-suggestion, but the idea of impending disease implanted by one in whom the victim has faith is much more dangerous; therefore it behooves the medical astrologer to be very cautious. If you cannot say anything encouraging, be silent.

   This warning applies with particular force when treating patients having Taurus or Virgo rising or the Sun or Moon in those signs. These positions predispose the mind to center on disease, often in a most unwarranted manner. The Taurean fears sickness to an almost insane degree, and prediction of disease is fatal to this nature. The Virgos court disease, in order to gain sympathy, and though professing to long for recovery, they actually delight in nursing disease. They beg to know their symptoms, the crises, and delight in probing the matter to the depths; they will plead ability to stand full knowledge and profess that it will help them; but if the practitioner allows himself to be enticed by their protestations, and does tell them, they wilt like a flower. They are the most difficult people to help in any case, and extra care should be taken not to aggravate their chances by admissions of the nature indicated.

   Besides, thought the writers have used medical Astrology for many years and with astonishing success, and though Astrology, as a science, is absolutely exact and infallible, it must not be forgotten that there remains nevertheless the chance of mistaken judgment on the part of the practitioner and the chance that the person whose horoscope he is judging may assert his will to such an extent that it overrules the indication in the horoscope. He may change his mode of life without knowing what would have happened if he had gone on as before, and thus he may be in no danger at the time when the tendency to sickness shown by the horoscope arrives; it is cruel to unsettle his mind in any case. Naturally, the young student would be most liable to make a mistake in judgment, but no one is immune. We remember a case that came to our notice recently. One of the most prominent European astrologers predicted for a client in South Africa that on a certain date he would have a severe hemorrhage of the lungs. The poor man wrote to us for help, but though liability to colds in the lungs was shown, we saw no serious trouble at the time predicted, nor has hemorrhage been experienced in the year elapsed between that time and the present writing.

   Some students have a morbid desire to know the time of their own death, and probe into this matter in a most unwarranted manner; but not matter how they may seek to deceive themselves there are very few who have the mental and moral stamina to live life in the same manner, if they knew with absolute certainty that on a certain date their earthly existence would be terminated. That is one of the points most wisely hidden until we are to see on both sides of the veil, and we do wrong, no matter what our ground, to seek to wrest that knowledge from the horoscope.

   Moreover, it has been well said that "the doctor who prescribes for himself has a fool for a patient," and this applies to diagnosis of one's own horoscope with tenfold force, for there we are all biased; either we make too light of conditions, or we take them too seriously, particularly if we investigate the time and mode of death. We remember a case where an intellectual women, principal of a private school in New York, wrote asking for admission to our correspondence class, "if we thought it worth while, as she was going to die the first week in March." She gave us all the aspects upon which she based her judgment, and as one of the writers had just emerged hale and hearty from similar configurations, she gave the lade in question a good talking to that straightened her out; she told the lady she (the writer) expected to live to a ripe age. Now that lady is thinking of a useful life, she has learned to forget death. Astrology is too sacred to be thus misused. Let the student forget about his own horoscope and devote his knowledge to helping others; then it will aid him in accumulating treasure in heaven as no other line of spiritual endeavor will.

   When we study magnetism we are dealing with an invisible force; and ordinarily we can at best state the way it manifests in the physical world, as is the case whenever we deal with any force. The physical world is the world of effects; the causes are hidden from our sight, though they are nearer than hands or feet. Force is all about us, invisible and only seen by the effects it produces.

   If we take a dish of water, for illustration, and allow it to freeze, we shall see a myriad of ice crystals, beautiful geometrical figures. These show the lines along which the water congealed and these lines are lines of force which were present before the water congealed; but they were invisible until the proper conditions were furnished them and they became manifest.

  In the same way there are lines of force going between the two poles of a magnet; they are neither seen nor felt until we bring iron or iron filings into the place where they are, when they will manifest by arranging the filings in an orderly pattern. By making the proper conditions we may cause any of the nature forces to show their effects--moving our street cars, carrying messages with lightning speed over thousands of miles, etc., etc.; but the force itself is ever invisible. We know that magnetism travels always at right angles to the electric current with which it manifests; we know the difference between the manifestations of the electric and the magnetic current, so dependent upon one another, but we have never seen either; though they are about the most valuable servants we have today.

   Magnetism may be divided into "mineral" and "animal" magnetism, though in reality they are one, but the former has very little influence upon animal tissue, while the latter is generally impotent in working with minerals.

   The mineral magnetism is derived directly from lodestones which are used to magnetize iron, and this process gives to the metal thus treated the property of attracting iron. This kind of magnet is very little used, however, as its magnetism becomes depleted, is too weak in proportion to its bulk, and principally because the magnetic force cannot be controlled in such a so-called "permanent" magnet.

   The "electro-magnet" is also a "mineral" magnet. It is simply a piece of iron wound around with many turns of electric wire; the strength of the magnet varies as the number of turns of wire, and the strength of the electric current that is passed through it.

   Electricity is all about us in a diffused state, of no use for industrial purposes until it is compressed and forced through the electric wires by the powerful electro-magnets. We must have magnetism in the first place before we can get any electricity. Before a new electric generator is started the "fields," which are nothing but electro-magnets, must be magnetized. If that is not done they may turn it till the crack of doom, at any rate of speed they please, and it will never light a single lamp nor move a grain of weight; all depends upon the magnetism being there first. After this magnetism is once started it will leave a little behind when the generator is shut down, and this so-called "residual magnetism" will be the nucleus of force to be built up each time the generator is started afresh.

   All bodies of plants, animals and men are but transformed mineral. They have all come from the mineral kingdom in the first place, and chemical analysis of the plant, animal and human bodies brings out the fact beyond cavil. Moreover, we know that the plants get their sustenance from the mineral soil, and both animal and man are eating mineral when they consume the plants as food; even when man eats the animals he is nevertheless eating mineral compounds, and therefore he gets with his food both the mineral substances and the magnetic force which they contain.

   This force we see manifesting in "Hemoglobin," or the red coloring matter in the blood, which attracts the life-giving oxygen when it comes into contact with it in the millions of minute capillaries of the lungs, parting with it as readily when it passes through the capillaries which all over the body connect the arteries with the veins. Why is this?

   To understand this, we must acquaint ourselves a little closer with the way magnetism manifests as seen in industrial uses.

   There are always two fields or a multiple of two fields in a generator or motor, every alternate "field" or magnet being "north-pole" and every other one, "south-pole." If we wish to run two or more generators "in multiple" and force their electricity into the same wire, the first requisite is that the magnetic current in the field-magnets should run in the same direction.

   If that were not the case, they would not run together; they would generate currents going in opposite directions, blowing their fuses. That would be because the poles in one generator, which should have attracted, repelled, and vice-versa. The remedy is to change the ends of the wire which magnetizes the fields; then the magnetic current in one generator will become like the current of the other, and both will run smoothly together.

   Similar conditions prevail in magnetic healing; a certain vibratory pitch and magnetic polarity were infused into each of us when the stellar forces surged through our bodies and gave us our planetary baptism at the moment when we drew our first complete breath. These are modified during our pilgrimage of life, but in the main their initial impulse remains undisturbed and therefore the horoscope at birth retains the most vital power in life to determine our sympathies and antipathies as well as all other matters. Nay more, its pronouncements are more reliable than our conscious likes and dislikes.

   Sometimes we may meet and learn to like a person, although we have a feeling that he has an inimical influence on us for which we cannot account, and therefore strive to put aside; but a comparison of his horoscope with our own will reveal the reason and if we are wise we heed its warning, or as surely as the circling stars move in their orbits around the Sun we will live to regret our disregard of this handwriting on the wall.

   But there are also many cases when we do not sense the antipathy between ourselves and a certain person, though the horoscope reveals it, and if we see the signs when comparing the two horoscopes we may feel inclined to trust our feelings rather than the stellar script of the horoscopes. That also will in time lead to trouble, for the planetary polarity is certain to manifest in time unless both parties are sufficiently evolved to rule their stars in a large measure. Such people are few and far between at our present stage of evolution. Therefore we shall do well if we use our knowledge of the stellar script to compare our horoscopes with those at least who come intimately into our lives. This may save both them and us much misery and heartache. We would advise this course particularly with regard to a healer and his patients, and with reference to a prospective marriage partner.

   When anyone is ill, resistance is at the lowest ebb, and on that account he is then least able to withstand outside influences. So the vibrations of the healer have practically unrestrained effect, and even though he may be ensouled by the noblest of altruistic motives, desiring to pour out his very life for the benefit of the patient, if their stars were adverse at birth, his vibratory pitch and magnetism are bound to have an inimical effect upon the patient. Therefore it is of prime necessity that any healer should have a knowledge of Astrology and the law of compatibility, whether he belongs to those who admittedly heal by magnetism and the laying on of hands or to the regular schools of physicians, for the latter also infuse their vibrations into the patient's aura and help or hinder according to the agreement of their planetary polarity with that of the patient.

   What has been said with regard to the healer applies with tenfold force to the nurse, for he or she is with the patient practically all the time and the contact is so much more intimate.

   For healer, nurse and patient, compatibility is determined by the rising sign, Saturn, and the Sixth House. If their rising signs agree in nature so that all have fiery signs rising, or all have earthy, airy, or watery signs rising, they are harmonious, but if the patient has a water sign rising, a nurse or a doctor with fiery signs will have a very detrimental effect.

   It is also necessary to see that Saturn in the horoscope of the nurse of healer is not placed in any of the degrees of the zodiac within the patient's Sixth House.

   With respect to marriage the planetary polarity is shown principally by a consideration of the feminine Moon and Venus in a man's horoscope, for they describe his attractions towards the opposite sex, and in a woman's horoscope the masculine Sun and Mars have a similar significance. If these planets are harmoniously configurated and the signs on the cusps of the Seventh Houses of the prospective partners agree, harmony will prevail, especially if the Sun, Venus or Jupiter of one person is placed in the Seventh House of the other. But if the planets mentioned afflict one another, or the Seventh Houses of the parties are out of harmony, or if Saturn, Mars, Uranus or Neptune of one is in a degree included in the Seventh House of the other, it is the handwriting on the wall which indicates that the planetary polarities are inharmonious and that sorrow is in store for them if they allow their evanescent emotions to draw them together in a bond of unhappiness; for it is easy to change the field wires on two electric generators so that their polarities will agree, but it is extremely difficult to reverse the planetary polarity of one person to make it agree with that received by another at his planetary baptism.

   It is said in the Bible that God made man in His likeness, and from hoary antiquity seers and sages have noted a correspondence between the macrocosm, the great world, and the microcosm, the little world, or man. This is again expressed in the hermetic axiom which is the master-key to all mysteries: "As above, so below." Therefore we may note that the various parts of the human body are correlated to different divisions of the vaulted arch of heaven and the marching orbs that move through it. As the creative forces within the womb act upon the ovum and gradually build the fetus, so also the stellar rays from the macrocosmic body of mother nature are active upon man. It is their activity which we note in the process of evolution whereby that which is now man has come up through the lower kingdoms to his present stage of completion, and it is by the same rays that he will gradually evolve to the divine stature where he will indeed be like the Father in Heaven, consequently we may note the correspondences between the signs and planets and the different divisions of the human body as follows:

PATHOGENIC EFFECTS OF THE TWELVE SIGNS

   Aries rules the head, the cerebral hemispheres, the various organs within the head, and the eyes, but the nose is under the rulership of Scorpio.

   Thus any affliction in Aries will react upon the head, producing headaches, neuralgia, coma and trance conditions, diseases of the brain and cerebral hemorrhages.

   Taurus rules the neck, throat, palate, larynx and tonsils, lower jaw, ears, and occipital region. The cerebellum is also under the rule of Taurus, so are the atlas and cervical vertebrae, the carotid arteries, jugular veins, and certain minor blood vessels.

   The diseases to which these regions are subject are goiter, diphtheria, croup and apoplexy. As each sign always reacts upon the opposite, afflictions in Taurus may also produce venereal diseases, constipation, or irregular menses.

   Gemini rules the arms and hands, shoulders, lungs, and the thymus gland, also the upper ribs, therefore afflictions in Gemini cause pulmonary diseases, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, asthma and inflammation of the pericardium.

   Cancer rules the esophagus, stomach, diaphragm, pancreas, the mammae, lacteals, upper lobes of liver, and thoracic duct, hence afflictions in Cancer produce indigestion, gas in the stomach, cough, hiccough, dropsy, gloom, hypochondria, hysteria, gall stones, and jaundice.

   Leo rules the heart, the dorsal region of the spine, the spinal cord, and the aorta, therefore the afflictions in Leo cause regurgitation, palpitation, faintings, aneurysm, spinal meningitis, and curvature of the spine, also arterio-sclerosis and angina pectoris, hyperaemia, anemia and hydraemia.

   Virgo rules the abdominal region, the large and small intestines, the lower lobes of the liver, and the spleen, therefore afflictions in Virgo produce peritonitis, tapeworm, malnutrition, interference with the absorption of the chyle, typhoid fever, cholera, and appendicitis.

   Libra rules the kidneys, the suprarenals, the lumbar region of the spine, the vasomotor system and the skin, hence afflictions in Libra produce polyuria, or suppression of the urine, inflammation of the ureters which connect the kidneys with the bladder, Bright's disease, lumbago, eczema and other skin diseases.

   Scorpio rules the bladder, urethra, and genital organs in general, also the rectum and the descending colon, the sigmoid flexure, the prostate gland, and the nasal bones; hence afflictions in Scorpio produce nasal catarrh, adenoids, and polypi, diseases of the womb and ovaries, various venereal diseases, stricture, and enlargement of the prostate gland, irregularities of the menses, leucorrhoea, rupture, renal stones and gravel.

   Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs, the femur, ileum, the coccygeal and sacral regions of the spine, the iliac arteries and veins, sciatic nerves, hence afflictions to Sagittarius produce locomotor ataxia, sciatica, rheumatism, and hip diseases. Furthermore, as each sign has an influence upon its opposite, afflictions in Sagittarius may also cause pulmonary troubles. It is also noteworthy that broken bones are caused by this sign.

   Capricorn governs the skin and the knees, but it has also a reflex action on the stomach, which is governed by the opposite sign Cancer. Hence afflictions in Capricorn produce eczema and other skin diseases, erysipelas, leprosy, and digestive disturbances.

   Aquarius rules the ankles, the limbs from the knees to the ankles, and has also a reflex action on its opposite sign Leo, hence afflictions in Aquarius produce varicose veins, sprained ankles, irregularities of the heart action and dropsy.

   Pisces rules the feet and toes. It also has a reflex effect on the abdominal region governed by the opposite sign, Virgo, hence afflictions in this sign indicate trouble and deformities of the feet, intestinal diseases and dropsy. It also produces a desire for drink and drugs which may bring about delirium tremens. Consumption is sometimes found to be a secondary result of cold in the feet contracted by an afflicted Pisces.

   The Sun rules in the very first place the vital fluid which is specialized through the spleen, transferred to the solar plexus, and thence distributed over the whole body. This vital fluid is invisible to ordinary humanity, but to those gifted with the spiritual sight it appears as a rose-colored fluid which is like the electricity in the wires of a telephone or telegraph system. When the wires designed to carry electricity are minus the electric fluid they are dead and the telephone or telegraph instruments do not respond. Similarly, when for some reason the invisible vital fluid ceases to flow through any part of the human organism in sufficient quantity, that part of the body will not perform its proper function, and therefore disease results, continuing until some obstruction has been removed and the path cleared for the vital fluid. On that account an afflicted Sun always causes disease, particularly in a man's horoscope, and in a woman's nativity the Moon, which is the collector of solar forces, takes the same office or function. The heart and the pons varolii, or vital knot, situated in the brain, are the principal parts of the body ruled by the Sun. When the Sun is well aspected in Leo or Aries radiant health may be looked for. But on the other hand, when he is afflicted he produces the various ailments according to the sign wherein he is placed at the time. These disabilities may be set down as follows:

   The Sun afflicted in Aries, the sign which rules the head, gives a tendency to aphasia, loss of identity, brain fever, cerebral hemorrhage, and meningitis, cerebral anemia or congestion of the blood, faintings and headaches.

   The Sun afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to quinsy, diphtheria, and polypus of the nose. In the Pleiades (Taurus 29), eye trouble.

   The Sun afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to pleurisy, bronchitis, and hyperaemia of the lungs.

   The Sun afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to anemia, dropsy, dyspepsia, and gastric fever.

   The Sun afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to palpitation of the heart, backache, and spinal affections. In the Ascelli (Leo 6), eye trouble.

   The Sun afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to interference with the assimilation, peritonitis, typhoid fever, and dysentery.

   The Sun afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to Bright's disease and eruptions of the skin through overheated blood, for Saturn rules the skin and Libra is his exaltation sign.

   The Sun afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to renal calculus, genito-urinary and menstrual disturbances, uterine and ovarian affections.

   The Sun afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to sciatica, paralysis of the limbs and pulmonary diseases. If the Sun is in Antares (Sagittarius 8) and afflicted by one or more of the malefics there is danger of disease of the eyes.

   The Sun afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to rheumatism, skin diseases, and digestive troubles.

   The Sun afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, dropsy, palpitation of the heart, and poor circulation.

   The Sun afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to perspiration of the feet, also intestinal troubles, typhoid fever, et cetera.

   On account of her rulership of Taurus and Libra, Venus is responsible for a number of affections of the throat and kidneys, also maladies due to gastronomical indiscretions, lack of exercise, sedentary habits, poor circulation of the venous blood, excess of amorous indulgence and dissolute living, hence she brings obesity, tumors, cysts, poor circulation, venereal diseases, tonsillitis, and various other disorders. Her general effect when placed in the twelve signs may be classed as follows:

   Venus afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to catarrh in the head, mucus, and, by reflex action in Libra congestion of the kidneys.

   Venus afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to mumps, headaches affecting the occipital region, goiter, tonsillitis, and glandular swellings of the throat. By reflect action in Scorpio this also brings venereal diseases or other troubles peculiar to the genitals.

   Venus afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to corrupt blood, pulmonary inefficiency, whitlows, warts, and dropsy.

   Venus afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to distended stomach, gastric tumor, and nausea.

   Venus afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to spinal affections, backache and enlarged heart.

   Venus afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to weakened peristaltic action of the intestines, tumors, tapeworm, and worms in children.

   Venus afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to uremia and polyuria; by reflex action in Aries, headaches.

   Venus afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to varicocele, venereal diseases, uterine prolapsis or tumors, painful menstruation and other female complaints, and by reflex action in Taurus, throat affections.

   Venus afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to tumors and kindred diseases in the hips, and by reflex action in Gemini, bronchial and pulmonary affections.

   Venus afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to gout in the limbs, and, by reflex action in Cancer, digestive troubles, nausea and vomiting.

   Venus afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, and, by reflex action in Leo, heart trouble.

   Venus afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to tender feet, bunions, chilblains, gout, and, by reflex action in Virgo, abdominal tumors and intestinal disorders.

PATHOGENIC EFFECTS OF MERCURY

   Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, therefore his afflictions manifest in diseases related to these signs, as bronchitis, pulmonary and respiratory troubles. He also rules the right cerebral hemisphere, the motor segment of the spinal cord, and the vocal cords, hence locomotor ataxia and nervous and vocal disorders are among his manifestations; so is deafness. The following effects may be noted when he is afflicted in the twelve signs:

   Mercury afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to brain fever, nervous headache, vertigo, neuralgia, and, by reflex action in Libra, nervous disorders of the kidneys, and lumbago.

   Mercury afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to stuttering, hoarseness and deafness, and by reflex action in Scorpio, nervous affections of the genito-urinary system.

   Mercury afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to gout in head, arms, and shoulders, bronchitis, asthma, asphyxiation, pleurisy, and, by reflex action in Sagittarius, nervous pains in the hips.

   Mercury afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to nervous indigestion, phlegm, flatulence, and drunkenness.

   Mercury afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to pain in the back, fainting, and palpitation of the heart.

   Mercury afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to flatulence, wind colic, short breath, and nervous debility.

   Mercury afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to suppression of urine, renal paroxysms, lumbago, and, by reflex action in Aries, vertigo, nervous headaches and eye trouble.

   Mercury afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to pains in bladder and genitals, menstrual trouble, and, by reflex action in Taurus, stuttering or hoarseness and deafness.

   Mercury afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to pain in the hips and thighs. By reflex action in Gemini, cough, asthma and pleurisy.

   Mercury afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to rheumatism, especially in the knees; pains in the back, skin diseases, melancholy; by reflex action in Cancer, nervous indigestion, flatulence.

   Mercury afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to shooting or gnawing pains in the whole body, varicose veins, corrupt blood and, by reflex action in Leo, palpitation, and neuralgia of the heart.

   Mercury afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to gout in the feet, or they are tender and subject to cramp, or, by reflex action in Virgo, a general weakness, lassitude, worry, and sometimes tuberculosis, deafness.

PATHOGENIC EFFECTS OF THE MOON

   The Moon rules the esophagus and stomach, the uterus and ovaries, the lymphatics and the sympathetic nervous system, the synovial fluid. When afflicted she produces dropsical and menstrual troubles, uterine and ovarian afflictions, dyspepsia, eye trouble, and lunacy, according to the sign, house and nature of the afflicting planet. She has particular rule over the mother during pregnancy.

   The Moon afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to insomnia, headache, lethargy, and weak eyes.

   The Moon afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to sore throat, and if in Taurus 29 with the Pleiades and afflicted by Saturn, Mars, Uranus, or Neptune, eye trouble results; by reflex action in Scorpio, menstrual or other trouble with the genitals.

   The Moon afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to catarrh of the lungs, asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, rheumatism in the arms and shoulders.

  The Moon afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to cancer of the stomach, dropsy, obesity, bloating, digestive troubles, and epilepsy.

   The Moon afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to backache, disturbed circulation, convulsions, and heart trouble; if in Leo 6, eye trouble.

   The Moon afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to disorders in the bowels, abdominal tumors, dysentery, and peritonitis.

   The Moon afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to Bright's disease, abscess of the kidneys, uremia; by reflex action in Aries, headache or insomnia.

   The Moon afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to disturbed menses, bladder troubles, hydrocele, and other genito-urinary disturbances; by reflex action in Taurus, throat troubles.

   The Moon afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to blood affections, hip disease, and, sometimes, a broken femur; by reflex action in Gemini, asthma.

   The Moon afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to articular rheumatism, lack of synovial fluid, eruptions of the skin, and by reflex action in Cancer, digestive troubles.

   The Moon afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, ulcers of the leg, dropsy, and, by reflex action in Leo, hysteria, fainting, and heart trouble.

   The Moon afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to drink, drug habits, tender feet, and, by reflex action in Virgo, abdominal disorders of various kinds.

   Saturn is the planet of obstruction, crystallization and atrophy. By his action the circulation or passage of bodily fluids, such as the blood, lymph, or urine, is impeded, and by this stagnation waste materials are retained instead of being eliminated. Thus they form various deposits in the body, building the skeleton, which is constructive, hardening the arteries and articulations, which is destructive. Saturn rules the gall bladder, where he forms the painful gallstones, and by virtue of his exaltation power in Libra he crystallizes the renal stones and gravel which cause such suffering to those who have these concretions. By retention of the urea he causes the painful rheumatism and gout which often manifest in deformity of the joints that so often disfigures and disables the sufferers therefrom. He rules the pneumogastric nerve, and by his restrictive action through that medium he may at any moment slow down the heart action, stop digestion, suppress the urine and stool under the emotions of fear and worry generated by him. Thus he has the power to bring every bodily function to a standstill.

   Saturn also rules the teeth and the skin. By his action the teeth decay, leading to malnutrition, the synovial membranes are hardened, making the spine and limbs rigid; he makes the skin tough as the years go by. Saturn is at home in Capricorn, and by his reflex action in Cancer he interferes with the peristaltic action which is necessary in the digestion of food; he then causes antiperistalsis, or vomiting. His general activities in the body are destructive and tend to end the life of the organism.

   Saturn generally hurts by falls, bruises, and colds. He predisposes to chronic and deep-seated ailments, and his victims are difficult to reach because he imbues them with fear, worry, and pessimism, so that they refuse to believe in the possibility of a cure and cannot be induced to take a cheerful look on life.

   The presence of Saturn in any part of the horoscope constitutes an affliction in itself, therefore we may note the following effects in the twelve signs, whether he is aspected by squares, oppositions, trines or sextiles, but naturally his effects are somewhat more inimical when in evil aspect.

   Saturn in Aries gives a tendency to headache, colds, catarrh, deafness, and chills, cerebral anemia, dental decay, tartar, faintings, and, by reflex action in Libra, renal disorders.

   Saturn in Taurus gives a tendency to phlegm, diphtheria, quinsy, mumps, croup, decay of the lower teeth, choking, and by reflex action in Scorpio, stricture, constipation and similar disorders.

   Saturn in Gemini gives a tendency to rheumatic pains in shoulders and arms, bronchitis, pulmonary consumption, asthma, and, by reflex action in Sagittarius, sciatica and hip diseases.

   Saturn in Cancer gives a tendency to pyorrhea, dyspepsia, gastric ulcer and cancer, nausea and belching, scurvy, jaundice, gallstones, anemia, and stricture of the esophagus.

   Saturn in Leo gives a tendency to curvature of the spine, muscular inefficiency of the heart, weak back, arterio-sclerosis, and sclerosis of the spinal cord.

   Saturn in Virgo gives a tendency to weakened peristalsis of the intestines, abated absorption of chyle, obstruction of the ileum caecum and transverse colon, appendicitis.

   Saturn in Libra gives a tendency to locomotor ataxia, renal stones, gravel and sand, Bright's disease, suppression of urine, malnutrition, and, by reflex action in Aries, headache, toothache, and other disorders of the head.

   Saturn in Scorpio gives a tendency to sterility, suppression of the menses, stricture, constipation, hemorrhoids, and, by reflex action in Taurus, nasal catarrh, hoarseness, phlegm, and other throat affections.

   Saturn in Sagittarius gives a tendency to contusions of the hips and thighs, sciatica, gout, and hip disease; by reflex action in Gemini, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and other Gemini affections.

   Saturn in Capricorn gives a tendency to articular rheumatism, eczema, erysipelas, and other diseases of the skin; by reflex action in Cancer, jaundice, gallstones, and dyspepsia.

   Saturn in Aquarius gives a tendency to weak ankles, easily sprained, and, by reflex action in Leo, curvature of the spine, sclerosis and other affections of the heart, back and arteries.

   Saturn in Pisces gives a tendency to cold feet, rheumatism and bunions, also tuberculosis due to cold and wet feet, and, by reflex action in Virgo, dropsy.

   The liver is the great center of the Jupiterian activity; there he forms glycogen from the waste products of the portal blood-stream. The great central vortex of the desire body is also in the liver, and when an extra effort is to be made, Mars draws upon the glycogen storehouse of Jupiter for fuel. Saturn too is active in the liver, forming the gall, urea, and uric acid.

   It is somewhat difficult for the average student to segregate and combine the varied functions of this organ, but if we bear in mind that Cancer is the exaltation sign of Jupiter and the opposite sign Capricorn is the home of Saturn and the exaltation sign of Mars, we shall more readily understand that the great benefic, Jupiter, endeavors to store in the liver the glycogen so necessary to the bodily activity. This, Mars, the opposing exaltation ruler, recklessly scatters by expenditure of muscular energy, and he is aided and abetted in his destructive activities by Saturn, who produces gall and urea which he deposits during the muscular work as uric acid in the various parts of the body where it manifests as gout and rheumatism. Saturn also makes the liver torpid and causes constipation.

   Jupiter rules the adrenals and arterial circulation, hence his afflictions cause formation of adipose tissue, fatty degeneration of muscles, tumors, and morbid growths, enlargement of organs, waste of sugar and albumen as in diabetes and kindred diseases. Blood-poisoning, hyperaemia and apoplexy are due to afflictions of Jupiter.

   The following effects may be noted when Jupiter is afflicted in the twelve signs.

   Jupiter afflicted in Aries gives a tendency to dizziness, cerebral congestion, sleepiness, thrombosis, fainting, ulcerated gums of upper jaw, and, by reflex action in Libra, diabetes and depression due to lack of adrenal secretion.

   Jupiter afflicted in Taurus gives a tendency to gourmandize, hence plethora and apoplexy, ringworm and carbuncles follow; also ulcerated gums of mandible; by reflex action in Scorpio, catarrh of the nose and nosebleed.

   Jupiter afflicted in Gemini gives a tendency to pleurisy, blood affections, congestion of the lungs, pulmonary apoplexy; by reflex action in Sagittarius, broken bones, gout and rheumatism in hips and thighs.

   Jupiter afflicted in Cancer gives a tendency to gourmandize, causing dilation of the stomach, dyspepsia, liver complaints, jaundice, and dropsy; by reflex action in Capricorn, which rules the skin, pimples and similar eruptions.

   Jupiter afflicted in Leo gives a tendency to apoplexy and fatty degeneration of the heart, the valve action is weakened, the circulation sluggish at times and at other times there are palpitation and feverish conditions; by reflex action in Aquarius, swollen ankles.

   Jupiter afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to enlarged liver, often ulcerated, jaundice.

   Jupiter afflicted in Libra gives a tendency to melancholy due to diminished adrenal secretion, renal abscess, diabetes, skin eruptions due to sluggish action of kidneys; by reflex action in Aries, congestion of brain, coma and vertigo.

   Jupiter afflicted in Scorpio gives a tendency to enlarged prostate gland, uterine tumors, urethral abscess, dropsy, hydraemia, excess of urates and strangury; by reflex action in Taurus, apoplexy and nosebleed.

   Jupiter afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to rheumatism and gout; by reflex action in Gemini, pulmonary apoplexy and corrupt blood.

   Jupiter afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to various skin diseases, and, by reflex action in Cancer, digestive ailments, dropsy, jaundice, and fatty degeneration of the liver.

   Jupiter afflicted in Aquarius gives a tendency to milk-leg, swollen ankles, and, by reflex action in Leo, apoplexy and palpitation.

   Jupiter afflicted in Pisces gives a tendency to swollen, perspiring feet, and, by reflex action in Virgo, enlarged liver, abdominal tumors, jaundice, and diseased intestines.

   The ancient Egyptian sages called Cancer the sphere of the soul, and when the mystic Sun of life goes through this moist, fruitful lunar sign the seed-atom of the ego's physical body is planted. While the embryonic body grows unconsciously as a plant grows, the mystic Sun of life passes through Leo, Virgo, and Libra. In the fourth month of gestation it passes through the second of the water signs, Scorpio. Then the spirit dies to its heavenly home and is immured in its earthly prison house by Mars, who chains it with the silver cord and thus brings about the quickening. Then the Sun of life proceeds through Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and when after the nine months have been completed it has passed through the last of the watery signs, Pisces, the flood-gates of the womb are opened and the ego is launched upon the sea of life under the auspices of the martial sign Aries, where the giver of life, the Sun, is exalted.

   During the gestatory period Mars has given to the body iron, especially in the form of hemoglobin, and with the first breath oxidation of this substance commences to produce the heat so necessary to life and consciousness. This operation is continued all through life, and thus to the Martian ray falls the important task of supplementing the Sun in the maintenance of the vital spark until the mystic Sun of life has completed its circle and reached the sign where the quickening took place. Then Scorpio gives the body its death-sting, Mars and his friend Saturn cut the silver cord, and the free soul soars as an eagle into the empyrean seeking the celestial spheres which are its true home. Therefore Scorpio is symbolized both by a scorpion and an eagle.

   On account of his mission as aide to the Sun in the maintenance of life, Mars every aims to cleanse the body of filth and waste accumulation so that the fires of life may burn brightly, hence, when the gourmandizing habits of Jupiter and Venus have clogged the system, or the obstructive tendencies of Saturn have poisoned the body by stoppage of elimination, Mars lights the fire of fever and inflammation to burn out the refuse and give the system a new lease on life and energy. Thus many of the pathogenic effects of Mars aim at a constructive end.

   But Mars not only aids the vital process of the life-giving Sun, who is exaltation ruler of Aries; he is himself exaltation ruler of Capricorn, where Saturn, the planet of death, holds sway, and between those two thieves the Sun, the Lord of Life, is crucified, suffers and dies, while they part his physical garment. The role of Saturn in this process has been described in the appropriate chapter, and of Mars it may be said that by his recklessness he predisposes to accidents by burning, scalding, wounds, or gunshot. He rules the genitals through Scorpio, and depletes the vitality and causes genital disorders by passional excesses, hemorrhage, rupture of blood vessels. Excessive menses and hemorrhoids show his activities in the blood; hernia and contagious diseases are also manifestations of the martian ray. As mars is a malefic, his presence in any sign or house constitutes an affliction in itself, regardless of his aspects, but naturally his pathogenic effects are worse when he is aspected by square or opposition than when he is fortified by sextile or trine.

   His effects in the twelve signs may be more specifically stated as follows:

   Mars in Aries gives a tendency to sunstroke, cerebral hemorrhages or congestion, inflammation of the brain, brain fever and delirium, shooting pains in the head, insomnia, and wounds in the head; by reflex action in Libra, inflammation of the kidneys, renal hemorrhage and renal calculi.

   Mars in Taurus gives a tendency to mumps, enlarged or inflamed tonsils, suffocation, adenoids, diphtheria, polypus and nosebleed, goiter, inflammation of the larynx; by reflex action in Scorpio, excessive menstrual flow, scalding urine, venereal ulcers, enlargement of the prostate gland and strangury.

   Mars in Gemini gives a tendency to hemorrhage of the lungs, pneumonia, bronchitis, cough, wounds or fractures of hands, arms, and collarbone; by reflex action in Sagittarius, fractured femur, and sciatica.

   Mars in Cancer gives a tendency to milk-fever, inflammation, ulceration and hemorrhage of the stomach, dyspepsia.

   Mars in Leo gives a tendency to muscular rheumatism in the back, overheating of the blood, enlargement of the heart and palpitation, pain in the heart, suffocation and fainting (angina pectoris), inflammation of the pericardium.

   Mars in Virgo gives a tendency to typhoid, inflammation of the bowels, peritonitis, worms, diarrhea, cholera, and ventral hernia, appendicitis.

   Mars in Libra gives a tendency to inflammation of the kidneys, excess of urine, hemorrhage of the kidneys, and renal stones; by reflex action in Aries, brain-fever, sunstroke, pains in the head.

   Mars in Scorpio gives a tendency to excessive menses, scalding urine, gravel, sand, and renal stones, inflammation and ulceration of the ovaries and uterus, also of the vagina and urethra, varicocele, enlargement of the prostate gland, stricture and strangury, venereal ulcers and hemorrhoids; by reflex action in Taurus, inflamed tonsils or larynx and nosebleed.

   Mars in Sagittarius gives a tendency to fracture or dislocation of the femur, sciatica, and ulcers of the thighs; by reflex action in Gemini, pneumonia, bronchitis and coughs.

   Mars in Capricorn gives a tendency to carbuncles, erysipelas, smallpox, chicken pox, measles, pimples, itch and other eruptive or inflammatory skin diseases; by reflex action in Cancer, dyspepsia and ulcerated stomach.

   Mars in Aquarius gives a tendency to varicose veins, fracture of the leg and blood-poisoning; by reflex action in Leo, heart failure, overheated blood, fainting and palpitation.

   Mars in Pisces gives a tendency to deformities of the feet, or accidents to them, corns, bunions and perspiring feet; by reflex action in Virgo, ventral hernia, inflammation of the bowels and diarrhea.

   Uranus rules the ether which is the medium by which the light rays are transmitted, hence he has considerable influence over the eyes and is responsible, when afflicting the Sun or Moon, for various diseases of the eyes, or even blindness. This is especially the case when the Sun or Moon is placed in the Pleiades (Taurus 29), or the Ascelli (Leo 6) or Antares (Sagittarius 8).

   Modern astrologers have not yet had time to tabulate the full effects of Uranus in all the signs, and as for the pathogenic effects still less is known, but he is said to be exalted in Scorpio and our own experience seems to indicate that Uranus has a very marked evil influence on the sex which is ruled by this sign, producing most deep-seated venereal diseases. By reflex action or affliction to planets in Taurus (ruled by Venus) where the organ of coordinated action is located, he produces erratic movements, as seen in St. Vitus dance, contortions, spasms, tetanus, cramps, hiccough and hysteria.

   As ruler of the ether and gases he is responsible for injury and shock by electricity which travels through the ether. Nitrogen, a gas, is the base of a number of compounds whose characteristic Uranian instability makes them highly explosive, and Uranus is thus responsible for such deaths and injuries as occur on that account, especially if placed in the Eighth House.

   Uranus in Taurus gives a tendency to diminished pituitary secretion and consequent abnormal growth.

   Uranus in Gemini gives a tendency to spasmodic asthma, colds, and a dry, hard cough.

   Uranus in Cancer gives a tendency to hiccough, produced by the erratic action of the diaphragm, also to a hard, dry stomach cough and cramp of the stomach, gas and flatulence.

   Uranus in Leo gives a tendency to palpitation, spasmodic heart action, spinal meningitis and infantile paralysis; by reflex action from Aquarius similar effects are now observable.

   Uranus in Virgo gives a tendency to flatulence, and abdominal cramps.

   Uranus in Libra gives a tendency to intermittent action of the kidneys and venereal eruptions of the skin; by reflex action in Aries, sudden and violent headaches, shooting pains in the head, and hallucinations.

   Uranus in Scorpio gives a tendency to miscarriages, abortions, and venereal diseases, and in the Fifth House he causes painful and difficult parturition, generally involving the use of instruments and often the infant is severely or fatally injured or stillborn.

   Uranus in Capricorn usually works by reflex action in Cancer, but as the children with this position are still young (this is written in 1918) the full effects are as yet unknown.

   Neptune, the octave of Mercury, works principally upon the nervous system (ruled by Mercury) and at times produces frenzy where the person is beside himself on account of religious or other excitement. At other times he produces lethargy, coma, catalepsy, trance or mediumship, where the bodily energies are in abeyance while the psychic powers are in a state of hyperactivity. He rules the spinal canal, which is filled with ether during life. (It is true that surgeons tap it and draw out a fluid, but they may also draw water from a steam boiler because the steam condenses to water.) This luminous gas is called the spinal spirit fire by occultists, and by vibrating the pineal gland, also ruled by Neptune, spiritual sight is produced, but it depends upon the rate and pitch of these vibrations what the person sees. By prayer, concentration and meditation, a state of ecstasy may be produced where he sees the celestial hosts, or if a lower rate of super-normal vibration is produced by drink or drugs he sees demoniac shapes as related by sufferers of delirium, which is due to Neptune, especially in the watery sign Pisces. The pathogenic influence of Neptune is most evil in the Sixth House (or the sixth sign, Virgo) indicating disease, or in the Twelfth House (or the twelfth sign, Pisces) which governs sorrow, trouble and self-undoing. If these two houses are occupied by Taurus and Scorpio, the signs ruling the throat and genitals, there is an abnormal and perverted passional desire which gives a tendency to self-abuse, and perversion of a still worse nature. The mind, ruled by Mercury, the lower octave of Neptune, is morbid in its brooding upon unsavory subjects, and parents with children having Neptune in the Sixth or Twelfth Houses will do well to watch them carefully, especially if Neptune is in opposition to Uranus; that covers a number of those who are now, in 1918, reaching puberty, for Neptune has been going through the psychic sign Cancer while Uranus was in the opposite sign Capricorn.

   We have found that Neptune square Saturn and Jupiter brought mental disturbances; Neptune conjunction Mars in Aries, square Uranus and the Moon in Cancer caused temporary instability of a periodic nature; Neptune conjunction Moon square Uranus caused spirit control. We have also seen many other indications, but the full effects of Neptune have not yet been systematically observed. We are working to that end, however, and hope in future years to be able to present a fairly full tabulation.

   It is well known to the esoteric astrologer that the human body has an immense period of evolution behind it and that this splendid organism is the result of a slow process of gradual upbuilding which is still continuing and will make each generation better than the previous until in some far distant future it shall have reached a stage of completion of which we cannot even dream. It is also understood by the deeper students that in addition to the physical body man has finer vehicles which are not yet seen by the great majority of human beings, though all have within them latent a sixth sense whereby they will in time cognize these finer sheaths of the soul. The occultist speaks of these finer vehicles as the vital body, made of ether, and the desire body, made of desire stuff, the material whence we draw our feelings and emotions, and with the addition of the sheath of mind and the physical body these complete what may be termed the personality which is the evanescent part distinct from the immortal spirit that uses these vehicles for its expression. These finer vehicles interpenetrate the dense physical body as air permeates water and have particular dominion over certain parts thereof, because the physical body itself is a crystallization of these finer vehicles in the same manner and upon the same principle that the soft fluids of a snail's body gradually crystallize into the hard and flinty shell which it carries upon its back. For the purpose of this dissertation we may say broadly that the softer parts of our bodies which we commonly call flesh may be divided into two kinds, glands and muscles. The vital body was started in the Sun Period. Crystallization from that time on in that vehicle has developed what we now call glands and to this day they and the blood are the special manifestations of the vital body within the physical vehicle, and therefore the glands as a whole may be said to be under the rule of the life-giving Sun and the great benefic, Jupiter. For it is the function of the vital body to build and restore the tone of the muscles when tense and tired by the work imposed upon them by the restless desire body which was started in the Moon Period. The muscles are therefore ruled by the wandering Moon, which is the present vantage point of the angels, the humanity of the Moon Period, and by the impulsive and turbulent Mars, where the so-called "Fallen Angels," the Lucifer spirits, dwell; that is to say as a whole, for the student must carefully note that individual glands and particular groups of muscles are under the rulership of other planets as well. It is as when we say that all who live within the United States of America are citizens of that country, but some are subject to the laws of California, others to those of Maine.

   We know the Hermetic axiom, "As above, so below," which is the master key to all mysteries, and as there are upon the earth, the macrocosm, a great many undiscovered places, so also in the microcosm of the body do we find unknown countries that are a closed book to the scientific explorers. Chief among them has been a small group of the so-called "ductless glands," seven in number, namely:

The pituitary body, ruled by Uranus.
The pineal gland, ruled by Neptune.
The thyroid gland, ruled by Mercury.
The thymus gland, ruled by Venus.
The spleen, ruled by the Sun.
The two adrenals, ruled by Jupiter.

   They have a great and particular interest for occultists, and they may be termed in a certain sense "the seven roses" upon the Cross of the body, for they are intimately connected with the occult development of humanity. Four of them, the Thymus Gland, the Spleen and the two Adrenals, are connected with the personality. The Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland are particularly correlated with the spiritual side of our nature and the Thyroid Gland forms the link between. The astrological rule over these seven glands is as follows:

   The Spleen is the entrance gate of the solar forces specialized by each human being and circulated through the body as the vital fluid, without which no being can live. This organ is therefore governed by the Sun. The two Adrenals are under the rulership of Jupiter, the great benefic, and exert a calming, quieting and soothing effect when the emotional activities of the Moon and Mars or Saturn have destroyed the poise. When the obstructive hand of Saturn has awakened the melancholy emotions and laid its restraint upon the heart, the Adrenals' secretions are carried by the blood to the heart and act as a powerful stimulant in its effort to keep up the circulation, while the Jovial optimism struggles against the Saturnine worries or against the impulse of Mars, which stirs the desire body into turbulent emotions of anger, rendering the muscles tense and trembling, dissipating the energy of the system; then the secretion of the Adrenals comes to the rescue, releasing the glycogen of the liver in a more abundant measure than usual to cope with the emergency until the equipoise has been again attained, and similarly during whatever other stress or strain. It was the knowledge of this occult fact that prompted the ancient astrologers to place the kidneys under the rulership of Libra, the Balance, and in order to avoid confusion of ideas we may say the kidneys themselves play an important part in the nutrition of the body, being under the rulership of Venus, the Lady of Libra, but Jupiter governs the Adrenals, with which we are now particularly engaged.

   Both Venus and her higher octave, Uranus, govern the functions of nutrition and growth, but in different ways and for different purposes. Therefore Venus rules the Thymus Gland, which is the link between the parents and the child until the latter has reached puberty. This gland is located immediately behind the sternum or breast bone; it is largest in ante-natal life and through childhood while growth is excessive and rapid. During that time the vital body of the child does its most effective work, for the child is not then subject to the passions and emotions generated by the desire body after that comes to birth at or about the fourteenth year. But during the years of growth the child cannot manufacture the red blood corpuscles as does the adult, for the unborn, unorganized desire body does not then act as an avenue for the martian forces which assimilate the iron from the food and transmute it into hemoglobin. To compensate for this lack there is stored in the Thymus Gland a spiritual essence drawn from the parents, who are symbolized by Venus, the ruler, and with this essence provided by the love of the parents the child is able to accomplish the alchemistry of blood temporarily until its desire body becomes dynamically active. Then the Thymus Gland atrophies and the child draws from its own desire body the necessary martian force. From that time, under normal conditions, Uranus, the octave of Venus, and ruler of the Pituitary Body, takes charge of the function of growth and assimilation in the following manner:

   It is well known that all things, our food included, radiate from themselves continuously small particles which given an index of the thing whence they emanate, its quality included. Thus when we lift the food to our mouth a number of these invisible particles enter the nose and by excitation of the olfactory tract convey to us a knowledge of whether the food we are about to take is suitable for this purpose or not, the sense of smell warning us to discard such foods as have a noxious odor, etc. But besides those particles which attract or repel us from food by their action upon the olfactory tract through the sense of smell, there are others which penetrate the sphenoid bone, impinge upon the Pituitary Body and start the Uranian alchemistry by which a secretion is formed and injected into the blood. This furthers assimilation through the chemical ether, thus affecting the normal growth and well-being of the body through life. Sometimes this Uranian influence of the Pituitary Body is eccentric and therefore responsible for strange and abnormal growths which produce the unfortunate freaks of nature we occasionally meet.

   But besides being responsible for the spiritual impulses which generate the before-mentioned physical manifestations of growth, Uranus, working through the Pituitary Body, is also responsible for the spiritual phases of growth which aid awakened man in his efforts to penetrate the veil into the Invisible Worlds. In this work it is, however, associated with Neptune, the ruler of the Pineal Gland, and it will therefore be necessary, in order to properly elucidate, that we study the functions of the Thyroid Gland, ruled by Mercury, and of the Pineal Gland, which is under the domination of his higher octave, Neptune, simultaneously.

   That the Thyroid Gland is under the rule of Mercury, the planet of reason, is readily realized when we understand the effect which the degeneration of this gland has upon the mind, as shown in the diseases of Cretinism and Myxedema. The secretions of this gland are as necessary to the proper functioning of the mind as ether is to the transmission of electricity, that is to say, upon the physical plane of existence where the brain transmutes thought into action. Contact with and expression in the invisible worlds depends upon the functional ability of the Pineal Gland, which is altogether spiritual in function, and is therefore ruled by the octave of Mercury, Neptune, the planet of spirituality. But Neptune operates in conjunction with the Pituitary Body ruled by Uranus, the planet of wisdom, as has already been stated.

   Scientists have wasted much time in speculation upon the nature and function of these two little bodies, the Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland, but without avail, and principally because, as Mephistopheles says so sarcastically to the young man who wants to study science under Faust:

"Who e'er would know and treat of aught alive
Seeks first the living spirit thence to drive;
Then are the lifeless fragments in his hand;
He lacks, alas! the vital spirit band."

   No one can really and truly observe the physiological functions of any organ under such conditions as exist in the laboratory, on the operating table, or in the dissection or vivisection chamber. To arrive at an adequate understanding one must necessarily see these organs exercising their physiological functions in the living body, and that can only be done by means of the spiritual sight. There are a number of organs which are either atrophying or developing; the former show the path we have already traveled during our past evolution, the latter are finger-posts, indicating our future development. But there is still another class of organs which are neither degenerating nor evolving; they are simply dormant at the present time. Physiologists believe that the Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland are atrophying because they find these organs more developed in some of the lowest classes of life, such as worms, but as a matter of fact they are wrong in their ideas; these organs are only dormant. Some have also suspected that the Pineal Gland is in some way connected with the mind, because it contains certain crystals after death, and the quantity was much less in those who were mentally defective than in people of normal mentality. This conclusion is right, but the Seer knows that the spinal canal of the living is not fluid with fluid; that the blood is not liquid, and that these organs have no crystals in them when the body is alive; these assertions are made with full knowledge of the fact that the blood and the spinal essence are liquid when drawn out of the physical body, living or dead, and the contents of the Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland appear crystalline when the brain is dissected; but the reason is similar to that which causes steam drawn from a steam boiler to condense immediately upon contact with the atmosphere, and molten metal drawn from a smelter's furnace to crystallize immediately upon withdrawal therefrom.

   All these substances are purely spiritual essences when inside the body; they are then ethereal and the substance in the Pineal Gland, when seen by the spiritual sight, appears as light. Furthermore, when one Seer looks upon the Pineal Gland of another who is then also exercising his spiritual faculties, this light is of a most intense brilliancy and of an iridescence similar to but transcending in beauty the most wonderful play of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis, ever witnessed by the writer, and he has seen them many times. It may also be said that the function of this organ seems to have changed in the course of human evolution. During the earlier epochs of our present stay upon the earth, when man's body was a large, baggy thing into which the spirit had not yet entered, but was there only as an overshadowing presence, there was an opening in the top and the Pineal Gland was within it; it was then an organ of orientation, giving a sense of direction. As the human body condensed, it became less and less able to endure the intense heat which prevailed during that time and the Pineal Gland gave warning when the body was brought too near one of the many craters and active volcanoes which were then erupting the thin earth crust, thus enabling the spirit to guide it away from these dangerous places. It was an organ of direction which operated by feeling, but feeling has since been distributed over the skin of the whole body, and this is an indication to the occultist that some day the senses of hearing and sight will also be similarly distributed so that we shall both see and hear with our whole body and thus become still more sensitive in those respects than we are now.

   Since then the Pineal Gland and the Pituitary Body have become temporarily dormant to make man oblivious to the invisible world while he learns the lessons afforded by the material world; but the Pituitary Body has manifested the Uranian influence sporadically in abnormal physical growth, producing freaks and monstrosities of various kinds, while Neptune, working also abnormally through the Pineal Gland, has been responsible for the abnormal spiritual growth of medicine men, witches and mediums of spirit controls. When they are awakened to normal activities these two ductless glands will open the door to the inner worlds in a sane and safe manner, but in the meantime the Thyroid Gland, ruled by Mercury, the planet of reason, holds the secretion necessary to give the brain balance.

   In the future the ductless glands are destined to play a prominent role; their development will accelerate evolution greatly, for their effects are mainly mental and spiritual. We are now nearing the Aquarian Age; the Sun as therefore beginning to transmit the highly intellectual vibrations of this sign which accounts for the intuitions, premonitions and telepathic transmission now so prevalent. In the final analysis these phenomena are due to the awakening of the Pituitary Body, ruled by Uranus, the lord of Aquarius, and every passing year will make them more manifest.

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