Ailments develop for different reasons. Some are caused by societal pressures; others may be triggered by psychological factors. The houses tell the astrologer why various disorders manifest. Positive
Medical Astrology
handling of the energy of afflicted houses will help insure health.
First House
Aggressiveness is usually very pronounced for people with planets in this house. They tend to strive on physical and mental levels to be "first." Such rash use of energy may promise depletion. Since First House individuals usually have difficult times resting, their bodies may break down from the stress of hard, forceful driving without breaks. These people need to learn moderation to insure good health.
First House people also tend to be strong individualists. If these people are not allowed to express themselves without the help of others they may become frustrated. Health may be maintained when pure, individual expression is pursued, either through hobbies or
business.
If Neptune is in the First House, especially within eight degrees of the First House cusp, these individuals may be sensitive to drugs. Particularly if Neptune aspects other natal planets, the dosage of any medication should be lower than normal.
Second House
People with planets in the Second House tend to have overwhelming desires to prove their self worth: they may need to establish themselves as reputable to the rest of society by building big houses, getting degrees, establishing businesses, making millions, etc. Such obsessions with "making something" of themselves will, of course, place great strain on their bodies. For example, they may work 16 hours a day to achieve their goals, in the process neglecting to eat or developing poor eating habits.
After they have established their nest eggs, rich eating habits usually get in the way of health maintenance. Gluttony is not uncommon. These people also tend to consume food that is high in sugar and carbohydrates. Second House people need to realize that earthly monuments will not give them happiness: happiness is the one thing that cannot be bought. They must learn that other people like them for who and what they are, not for what they own, how much they are worth or what clothes they wear. When Second House people learn the real nature of happiness, they place their bodies under less stress and get rest and relaxation every once in a while.
Third House
Since they are usually very good at being "Dear Abbeys," people with planets in the Third House often become the centers of attention where they live. And if they are asked too often to help siblings or other people in their homes or on their blocks, their
bodies can react adversely to the environmental stress. Such people need some private moments for "downtime" for their bodies.
The disease of "peopling" can lead to a state of great frustration. Indeed, for Third House individuals the nerves are the most likely to suffer because of environmental pressures. They need to learn to say no to those who hound them, to make phone conversations short and to keep coffee breaks with neighbors to a minimum. If they control such situations, health may be improved.
Fourth House .••-...
Since the Fourth House concerns parents, parental conditioning may play a major part in how people with planets in the Fourth House maintain their health after they leave the security of the home. Parents many times inflict their personality traits upon their children, not realizing that their sons and daughters need to express themselves
differently to grow into their own. Neurosis caused by repressed anger may develop and lead to inner struggles that individuals may not be consciously aware of. If these negative emotions are not worked out on a conscious and positive level, health may deteriorate and chronic problems may be established in the middle part of life, from age 42 to 49. The healthy approach is one of confrontation. These people need to examine themselves in terms of parental conditioning. Psychological counseling is sometimes necessary to dredge up these hurts and talk about them. By getting their feelings into the open, these individuals may be relieved of terrible subconscious burdens, and health may be
improved.
Fifth House
The Fifth House is concerned with love. That is, those individuals with planets in this house feel a great need for love. They tend to feel a lack of love and try to get ample love from those around them. The kind of big emotional expenditure caused by such a search may eventually create health problems—ailments that are often long in coming and not obvious at first. The need for love may drive these people into a series of chaotic affairs, leading to fragmented, frustrated lives. Furthermore, Fifth House individuals may experience great loneliness that deprives them of their desires to live.
Fifth House people need to realize that the root of their desires for affection is probably insecurity. They need to cultivate a healthy view of self. They need to learn that they can receive attention best through creative self-expression. These people usually have one major talent and several minor talents and should develop them.
The Signs, Crosses, Houses and Diagnosis 33
They also must learn to love themselves first and foremost. The old adage that to receive love one must love onself is true. Therapy may help these individuals discover the reasons for their insecurity and help cultivate new attitudes so that they like themselves.
Self-acceptance may breed good health and inner contentment so that energies will flow smoothly.
Sixth House
Although the Sixth House is one of the two well-known health houses, people with planets in this house generally have a lack of self-esteem, and they tend to gravitate toward stronger, more confident individuals. In doing so they may succumb to other people's needs, ignoring their own. Therein lie the seeds of destructive ailments.
Sixth House individuals too often are plagued by guilt—one of the most vicious emotions that humans have acquired. Other people—spouses, children, relatives or friends—tend to make such individuals feel guilty because they have not become involved with the desires of others. If they don't help others, Sixth House people believe, others will think less of them. But, of course, the price they pay for the approval of others is often sickness —a hefty payment for ignoring their own needs. If these people continue to bow to the needs of others before their own, nerve-related ailments, sugar problems and intestinal disorders will crop up with frequency.
For good health Sixth House individuals should come to terms with what guilt is, what it does if allowed to continue and how to cope with it. The word no is a healthy rejoinder for Sixth House people to use frequently. Learning to work for themselves first and then making the choice to help others second will keep them in good states of health.
Neptune in the Sixth House, especially if in hard aspect to other planets, may indicate allergic reactions to drugs. Such individuals should probably receive half dosages of any medication, at least at first.
Seventh House
People with planets in the Seventh House often feel as though they can never stand on their own two feet to accomplish anything; consequently, they may follow the leads of their partners. Such compromise can become a negative attribute. Although the need to be partners with others is all right in and of itself, bowing to the needs of the spouses or business partners can become very frustrating, perhaps leading to poor health. These Seventh House individuals may give up their self-identification and personal needs to help their "other halves." In time the need to be
themselves will arise and create emotional and mental stress.
Some Seventh House individuals work better in teams and not as individuals: there is nothing wrong with such cooperation. But the reasons for the partnerships should be minutely examined. Seventh House people many times take on partners for reasons of insecurity, lack of confidence in themselves or the fear of living their own lives. None of these are healthy reasons, and a little psychology and honesty may be needed to change the situation.
Eighth House -"'•-•';: V;-• ~- &w-<-rU;. ,.
This particular house tends to place the crudest test upon the body. Individuals with planets in the Eighth House tend to be psychologically intense and complicated. Those deep, psychological ramifications may deteriorate physical health. With such people emotional scarring tends to be internalized, hidden in the dark vaults of the subconscious. Under such circumstances it takes years for bodies to give out; but when they do, they usually succumb to chronic ailments—a long time developing and a long time healing— around the ages of from 42 to 49 years old.
In addition, Eighth House people often have burning needs to purge themselves of some past emotions or memories and brutally punish their bodies in doing so. They can also be expected to undergo transformations at some points in their lives—the experiencing of pain to move over thresholds or suffering to transcend emotional suppression.
Finally, because of hidden emotional insecurity, these people many times will push the hardest to attain success: they may spend 12 to 16 hours a day toward a business goal. Such psychological problems inevitably take their toll and although these people have the strength of ten to persevere and survive, their bodies may crack.
Psychological counseling, therapy or psychiatry are usually the best means of helping Eighth House individuals to open up their subconscious. There is very little else that can be done for people with planets in this position, since they tend to be highly introverted and inflexible in their beliefs. Perhaps they need to wrestle silently within their own internal structures to work problems out.
Ninth House
Because this house has to do with higher ideals, beliefs and philosophies, people with planets in this house are among the least likely individuals to have health problems. One's faith in God, some supreme force or onself can overcome even the most severe disease upon occasion: faith heals and mends on
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Medical Astrology
mental, emotional and physical levels. However, a negative attitude can bring on health ailments sooner or later. We are what we think, and if we think ill we will become ill.
Tenth House
People with planets in the Tenth House are usually very susceptible to societal pressures. These people often aspire to be at the top so that their parents, friends or colleagues will be accepting and proud of them. At the same time parents of Tenth House individuals may cajole their children into believing that the only way to be accepted is to follow the norms established by society.
With such pressures from parents, peer groups and society in general Tenth House individuals may put their bodies under great stress. They may bow to society's demands and work 12 to 16 hours a day to make something of themselves—establishing a home with a spouse and two children or climbing up the corporate ladder. They may not know the meaning of the words relaxation and vacation and may not give their bodies proper time to regroup for the next push. Some Tenth House people after being laden with 18 years of conditioning at home may work hard for peer recognition, encountering much frustration in their searches for popularity. The worries, internal pressures and incessant drives to work harder may produce chronic ailments that will manifest in the middle years. Only with age, when such people realize that they want to work toward specific goals for themselves and not for parents or society, will health tend to improve.
Neptune within eight degrees of the Tenth House cusp of the natal chart can indicate a drug-sensitive individual. •
Eleventh House
Somewhat like the Nine House, this is not a position for health problems. People with planets in the Eleventh House tend to work toward their hopes and wishes, many times through large groups and organizations. In some instances under proper circumstances, friends, acquaimances and clubs may place inordinate demands upon Eleventh House individuals, causing them undue stress.
Twelfth House
Like the Sixth House, the Twelfth House is directly concerned with health matters. Specifically, it is the house of hospitalization. It is also a house that can indicate psychological problems. People with strong Twelfth Houses tend toward introversion, and they hide their feelings in their subconscious minds. And as with the Fourth and Eighth Houses, people with planets in the Twelfth House can build up negative emotions until there is a physical manifestation in illness. Since this is one house position that does not allow emotions to ferment forever, progressed or transiting planets can trigger release of this backlog of repressed or suppressed emotions—perhaps resulting in hospitalization. But if Twelfth House individuals can remain honest with themselves about their emotions and feelings, they may avoid hospitalization. Therapy is the best bet. Good friends or spouses can also provide sounding boards for unleashing feelings in positive ways. Talking out their feelings is the best remedy for Twelfth House individuals. They must learn that harboring envy, jealousy, hatred or anger will inevitably result in ailments. The karmic law that applies in this case is, "What goes around, comes around." Conversely, keeping their thoughts pure and their ethics and morals above question will help insure hospital-free lives.