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As one studies medical astrology, one will notice that the chart reveals itself through the
planetary aspects. The planetary aspects are classified as hard or soft. The hard aspects as used in
medical astrology are the semisextile, square, semisquare, sesquiquadrate, quincunx and opposition.
The soft aspects are the trine and the sextile. The
semisextile is considered a hard aspect since its effects are similar to the quincunx in that inharmonious
signs are brought into play. The conjunction is the
strongest aspect in its effects on health and is interpreted according to the nature of the planets
involved. All the aspects have an effect on health
interpretation with the strongest combinations being those that involve the personal points of the
chart -- the Sun, Moon and the angles (Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven, Imum Coeli, and the
Vertex and Antivertex.) For more advanced students, aspects are also used when describing midpoint
combinations in the chart. The chart interpretation in
the next section (29.5) will help to clarify the
preceding information. It should be pointed out that before one can become a medical astrologer, one
must be proficient in traditional astrology. The
chart of the astronomer, Carl
Sagan, deceased in 1996, will be used to teach some of the
concepts of medical astrology. (Carl Sagan - born 11/9/1934 at 5:05 PM in New York City.)
A cursory glance at his chart using the point system shows
that he has a majority of planets in the fixed quadrature. As stated previously an emphasis in the
fixed quadrature can indicate disorders relating to the signs on the fixed quadrature -- Taurus, Scorpio,
Leo and Aquarius. It can describe a chronic disease that lasts a
long time. Disease can be cumulative in nature such as growths and tumors, building up over the
course of time. There can be excess toxicity in the body. An emphasis in the fixed cross can
also describe a rigid, unbending nature. Although this interpretation will only concentrate on the
final years of Carl Sagan's life, we do not know what other medical problems he may have had during his
life. In examining the elements we note a weakness in the air
element and an excess in the water element. The weakness in the air element is exacerbated by
the placement of Saturn in Aquarius. Saturn weakens whatever sign it is placed in and indicates a
part of the body that needs to be nourished. There is less blood supply supplied to any organ
described by the sign that Saturn tenants in the birth chart. With Saturn in Aquarius and a weakness
in the air element, there can be a weakness in the process of oxygenation (poor supply of oxygen in the
blood) and a weak nervous system. Circulation can be poor also.
It should also be pointed out that Saturn is the most elevated planet in the chart, thus
increasing its strength for better or for worse. An excess of water in the chart can indicate water-logged
tissues. Stagnant water can contribute to hardening in the body. Too much water can contribute to
mucous and phlegm, cysts and tumors in the body.
Earlier it was stated that aspects to the angles by certain planets can indicate proneness to diseases
related to that quadrant. Carl Sagan's Taurus Ascendant receives a square from his elevated Saturn.
His fixed Midheaven receives a square from the planet Uranus. This further magnifies the emphasis and
problems in the fixed quadrature. When examining a chart for
vitality and resistance to disease, one first examines the Sun in the chart. Carl Sagan's fixed Sun
in Scorpio receives a square from Saturn. This can indicate vitality problems, the possibility of a
chronic disease and the potential for bone problems. Carl Sagan
was diagnosed with a bone marrow disease -- myelodysplasia -- in 1994. One should also
note that Carl Sagan had a Mars Neptune conjunction in Virgo. The Mars Neptune midpoint is the point of
toxicity in a chart. Here we have a conjunction which may have manifested as weak intestines and a
potential problem with insulin production (Virgo) in the body. The processes of discrimination
and assimilation in the body were off. Although not in itself indicative of bone cancer, the body
itself could be weakened by other factors making it harder to resist disease.
There is a point in the birth chart known as the Vertex - considered the third angle of
the chart -- a point out of our control and possibly fatalistic.
Carl Sagan's Vertex was in Libra and receives an opposition from Uranus and a square
from Pluto. This is a difficult combination and indicates a potential problem in the cardinal cross.
One of the signs on the cardinal cross -- Cancer -- rules bone marrow. Carl Sagan's Pluto in Cancer squares
his Vertex in Libra. Click here to go directly to section
29.5 to review the chart of the astronomer,
Carl Sagan.
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