Lynn Smythe
Astrological Botany
January 11th 2008 20:04
-Nicholas Culpeper, Astrological Judgment of Disease
Astrological botany, combining the disciplines of herbal folklore with astrology, was the belief “that each plant was a terrestrial star, and each star a spiritualized plant.” Each part of the human body, and the herbal medicines that cured them, were thought to be under the influence of a particular planet or sign of the zodiac.
During the Middle Ages the Greeks, while studying in Alexandria, may have been the first to endorse the theory of astrological botany. Ancient medical practitioners were encouraged to study astrology in order to supplement their knowledge of healing the human body. Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the Greek physician who is often regarded as the father of medicine, was one such ancient teacher who recommended that all students of medicine study astrology. Galen, 130-200 AD, further emphasized the importance of combining astrology with ones medical studies.
Nicholas Culpeper
Many ancient herbals classified plants according to which planet they were influenced by. Nicholas Culpeper is an example of a historical astrological botanist. He blended traditional medicine with his beliefs in astrology, magic and folklore. Culpeper assigned each of the herbs in his book The Complete Herbal and English Physician to a particular planet. Culpeper believed that all physicians should be trained in the craft of astrology. Culpeper’s book Astrological Judgment of Disease goes into more detail regarding the interpretation of ones astrological charts in order to obtain a proper medical prognosis.
The Herbs
The herbs used in astrological herbalism were chosen for their ability to heal either by sympathy or antipathy. Healing by sympathy involved choosing a herb or herbs that were ruled by the planet that had influence over the effected part of the body of the patient being cured. For example Culpeper prescribed the use of holy thistle, a hot, prickly, biting herb under the dominion of Mars, to heal diseases associated with the planet Mars such as the plague, sores, and boils. Healing by antipathy was just the opposite. The medical astrologist would choose a herb that was influenced by the planet opposite from what the person was being affected by. For example, if someone was experiencing a fever, which was a disorder thought to be caused by the hot and firey planet Mars, then a cooling herb under the influence of the planet Venus would have been chosen to help heal the patient.
The Plants and Planets
“If you please to observe the state of that same planet, by it you may know the state of the sick, and what the cause of his sickness is.”
-Nicholas Culpeper, Astrological Judgment of Diseases
Dr. O. Phelps Brown, a 19th century country doctor and herbalist, believed that herbs used for healing purposes should be harvested at the correct time: “…recipes, if made from herbs and plants gathered at the right times and under the proper planetary and climatic influences, and not kept too long, will perform in every instance the duties ascribed to them.”
Jupiter - This planet is associated with education, expansion, growth, prosperity, protection, and religion. The attributes of plants associated with Jupiter include bright yellow or purple flowers and plants of a nutritious nature. Some examples of Jupiter plants include fruits and nuts, dandelion, oak trees, maple trees and sage.
Mars - This planet is associated with ambition, assertiveness, confidence, courage, energy, impulsiveness and vitality. Culpeper had much to say about the healing ability of this planet and the plants associated with it: “Well, says Mars, though they speak evil of me, I will do good to them; Death’s cold, my herb shall heat them: they are full of ill humours (else they would never have spoken ill of me) my herb shall cleanse them, and dry them; they are poor weak creatures, my herb shall strengthen them; they are dull witted, my herb shall fortify their apprehensions; and yet among astrologers all this does not deserve a good word: Oh the patience of Mars!”
The attributes of plants associated with Mars include plants with thorns, spines, and stickers and plants with red flowers. Some examples include blackberry, poison ivy, milk thistle, raspberry and stinging nettle.
Mercury - This planet is associated with communication, thinking, rationality, and reasoning. Plants associated with the wind such as grasses, plants having finely divided leaves, and plants of a climbing and creeping nature are all associated with the planet Mercury. Some examples of plants associated with this planet include anise, carrots, dill, fennel, honeysuckle, lavender, morning glory, and parsley.
Moon - This planet is associated with harmony, femininity, gentleness, memories, moods, and goddess energy. The attributes of the plants associated with the moon include white or pale yellow flowers or fruits, moon shaped leaves, and plants of a watery nature. Some examples include aloe, cucumbers, moonflowers, peppermint, squashes, watercress, water lilies and willows.
Saturn - This planet is associated with boundaries, life changing events, long term planning, reality, and restrictions. The plants associated with this planet are often sedative and help to relieve pain or help with bone formation. The attributes of Saturn plants include grayish-blue herbs, blue flowers, and woody perennial herbs. Some examples include aconite, belladonna, chicory, comfrey, hemlock, horsetail, and woad.
Sun - This cosmic body is associated with creativity, enthusiasm, health, optimism, spontaneity, vitality, and god energy. The attributes of the plants associated with the sun include orange and yellow flowers, plants of a hot and spicy nature, plants with heart shaped leaves, and plants with round, sun-shaped flowers. Some examples include calendula, cloves, ginger, marigold, pepper, saffron, sunflower, and St. John‘s wort.
Venus - This planet is associated with love, balance, beauty, friendship, harmony, and relationships. The attributes of the plants associated with Venus include peach and pink flowers, heavily scented flowers, and any plants with aphrodisiacal properties. Some examples include all fruit blossoms, damiana, geraniums, meadowsweet, orchids, roses, violets, and yarrow.
| 43 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
