Modern medicine happily dismisses this ancient knowledge - but if we think that our ancestors went to the doctor for remedies that consistently failed to work, we can only conclude that they were seriously stupid. Ancient tradition also views illness as necessary to burn off the bad humours which are afflicting the person, and illness is thus a form of alchemy, if seen in that light. It is with this mindset that the traditional astrologer approaches a medical chart, and this approach provides one of the reasons why the illness, which possibly cannot be determined by the physician, may be found.

The Parameters of Medical Astrology

In modern times it is illegal in South Africa, and many other western countries, to provide a diagnosis from an astrological chart. Previously many astrologers were also physicians, such as Hippocrates, Richard Saunders and Nicholas Culpeper, to name but three. The astrologer therefore possessed the necessary medical skill and credibility to provide this assessment, and this was the approach before the advent of the scientific Age of Enlightenment which now governs our mindset. However, an astrologer is still able, with alarming accuracy, to pin point the problem area when modern physicians are unable to do so.

It is best however, immaterial of the level of medical knowledge the astrologers may posses, to work closely with a physician as the two can only but complement each other. The sole purpose of anyone attending to the needs of another should be to assist that person to the best of their ability, and sometimes this includes procuring the assistance of a professional who practices a different modality. It is important for the astrologer to understand what the legal parameters are and to work within them, never breaching the ethical guidelines pertaining to his craft.

The Birth Chart

There are three main avenues available relating to the assessment of medical astrology charts. The first is working from the nativity of the individual. The birth chart provides the broad medical fault line to which the person is predisposed. This assessment is based on the overall temperament of the individual as well as factors pertaining to the 6th house – the house of illness. This assessment however can only provide the potential areas of stress with regards to ill-health, highlighting the body parts and manner in which serious illness will be most likely to manifest.

A birth chart is just that – the potential of the individual, and this assessment cannot deal with specific illness, manifesting at a specific time, nor provide any form of prognosis. It is the area of prognosis that is to be admired the most in the profound and difficult branch of medical astrology. The astrologer may be unable to name the exact disease or problem, but he can most certainly assess the duration of the illness and the final outcome with great accuracy. He can also assess the efficacy of the specific treatment being administered as well as the competency of the attending physician.  

The Decumbiture Chart

However these above mentioned specifics must be obtained using different methodologies, namely the delineation of either a decumbiture chart or a horary chart. A decumbiture chart is set for the time the person takes ill and is confined to bed, or when the urine or blood sample is produced. As an astrologer I have no desire to obtain my clients’ urine or blood samples, not only would I not know what to do with them, but I chose not to study or practice medicine for very obvious reasons in this regard. Therefore, in order for the astrologer to assess a decumbiture chart, it is necessary to work very closely with a physician, to ensure that the correct time is used for the chart calculations. A decumbiture chart can assist in plotting the illness from onset to completion and can provide a wealth of information including diagnosis, treatments, the correct nutritional path to follow on the road to recovery, as well as many other factors. It can also plot the illness on a daily basis as well as the condition of the patient in tandem with that, including the emotional nature of the patient.

The Horary Chart

The more common approach is the delineation of a horary chart as few physicians are prepared to work with an astrologer, no matter how qualified or skilled the astrologer may be. Horary is a specialised area of astrology, and a chart is set for the moment at which the person asks the question. The astrologer uses the chart to determine which type of illness is manifesting, in which body part it is located, the quality of the treatment in question, the skill of the physician consulted, and the prognosis. The prognosis of course may be that the patient will not recover and regain his vital spirits, and although it is always best to assess death in conjunction with the nativity, it can be obtained from the horary chart as well. Many people are extremely sensitive to this topic, but it must be noted that often the person who is ill resides in another country, and the family members need to know whether or not they must hop on a plane today, or whether they have time to get their affairs in order before they do so. Medical astrology, just like all disciplines of astrology is, as always, a craft which should be used in a practical and logical manner.

The Practical Application

Upon assessing the chart the astrologer may find that there is indeed nothing medically wrong with the person, but unless the person is a hypochondriac, the chart will highlight why the person is feeling unwell. The planet that signifies the person in the chart will be aspected by external factors, and the houses ruled by those planets involved in the negative aspecting, will show what the problems are. This is the premise on which all complementary medicines are based, and it is how medical astrology was utilised in ancient times – there is nothing new about the approach of alternative medicine.

The holistic approach states that external factors such as the recent death of a loved one, financial problems, a relationship gone sour, retrenchment and all the other slings and arrows of outrageous fortune the world throws at us, can affect our well being, and thus our health. The modern physician, although knowledgeable in these "external" factors and therefore more than able to diagnose them, does not have the time to do so. If the obvious medical problem is not diagnosed, the patient is sent away with a clean bill of health, yet still feels unwell. It is also interesting to note that if the person is in fact prone to hypochondriac tendencies, this too will be depicted in the chart.

Conclusion

A thorough assessment of the situation from an astrological perspective can indeed provide insight, which may not have been offered through the allopathic medical channels. The practice of medical astrology is based on the same foundations as ancient medicine, and the person is viewed holistically, not simply as a physical body. Medical astrology is also closely aligned with the doctrines of the humours and endorses the statement that illness is required to burn off the bad humours that manifest. A person who is highly choleric in temperament for example, may, due to a long period of physical inactivity, suddenly develop a fever or an inflammatory condition.

This illness is most definitely necessary to release some of the heat from within the person, as choleric types require a constant outlet for this fire and passion, and suffer on all levels if they do not have access to it. A skilled astrologer can assist a person on many levels, helping them to gain equilibrium and to restore emotional balance and peace of mind. As stated, the best results would be achieved if medical practitioners and qualified astrologers could work together, and possibly as we move forward in time, this may transpire - mankind can only benefit if it does.