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2,
pp.29-42,
1998
Medical
Astrology
and
Health:
A
Study
of
the
Usefulness
of
a
Non-Positivist
Cognitive
Paradigm
in
the
Field
of
Nursing
and
Medical
Assessment
Yasuo
NAKATA'
and
Mark
R.
SuNwALL"
'Kobe
City
College
of
Nursing
"College of
Nursing
Art
andS
¢ience,
Hyogo
Abstraet
The
purpose
ofthis
study wasto
investigate
anddiscuss
the
relationshipbetween
medicalastrology
andhealth,
andthe
credibility, validity and/or application ofgenethliacal
medical astrology(astrology
based
onthe
time
of aperson's
birth
and appliedto
health
problerns)
for
nursing and medical assessment.In
order
to
test
the
relationshipbetween
medical astrology andhealth,
10
subjects' natalhoroscopic
health
profiles
andaetual
medicalhistories
were compared.The
data
obtained were analyzedby
correlatingthe
astrological significatorsIoeated
in
zodiacalsigns
of
the
subjects' natalhoroscopes
and
the
medical
history
of
the
corresponding anatomical regions.
The
rate of match/mismatchbetween
sign-regions ofthe
"
melothesic man"(a
diagram
which correlatesthe
zodiac andhuman
anatomy) and medicalhistory
was respectively51.4%/48.6%.
This
indicates
ahigher
than
randombut
weak correlationbetween
medical astrology and actua] medicalhistory.
To
surn up,the
results ofthis
study cannot show clearly whether or notthere
is
a correlationbetween
medical astrology andhealth.
However,
even whilefalling
short ofinfallibility,
the
results ofthe
correlationbetween
sign-regions ofthe
"melothesic man"(zodiacal
factors)
and medicalhistory
can stillgive
us sorne valuableinsights.
The
findings
ofthis
study suggestthat
while medical astrology mightbe
usefulfor
guiding
nursing and medical assessment,it
cannotbe
considered a sufficientguide
by
itself.
Key
words:Medica!
astrology,Alternative
health,
Personal
characteristics,Hermetic
law
of correspondence,Melothesic
rnan,I.
Introduction
1.
What
is
nursing?
What
is
nursing?Is
it
"science",is
it
an
art,
or
is
it
a
modernsurvival
of
a
traditional
health
profession?
In
the
nursing
field,
nurses
practice
both
to
increase
their
patients'
physical,
mentaland
socialfunctions,
andto
adiust
their
daily
living,
and
to
mitigate
their
patients'
pain,
anxiety,
distress
andloneliness,
andto
restorethem
to
maximalself-suffieiency
so
that
they
areable
to
carefor
thernselves,
live
athorne
andtake
part
in
eommunity
affairs,
and
so
on.
A
$tandard
definition
of
nursing
has
yet
to
be
agreed
upon.They
have
been
formulated
and
reformulated
since
the
age
ofFlorence
Nightingale,
about
one
hundred
years
ago.
The
American
Nursesi
Association
(ANA)
has
defined
nursing
practice
as "thediagnosis
and
treatment
of
human
responsesto
actual andpotential
health
problems
" atthe
Congress
for
Nursing
Practice
in
1973.
However,
this
definition
is
notuniversally
accepted.
Definitions
have
been
developed,
analyzed
and reworked.What
is
the
relationship
between
nursing andknowledge?
Should
nursing restrictitself
to
obtaining
knowledge
from
only
those
sources
which
are
approved
by
positivist
science?
The
progress
of
natural
science
made
positivisrni
the
dorninant
cognitiveparadigm
in
the
field
of nursing and rnedical assessment,and
has
bestowed
great
benefits
onhuman
beings
in
terms
of
health
and welfare.Nursing
studiesthe
phenomena
ofMan
andHealth,
According
to
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'Parsei),
there
aretwo
majorparadigms
identified
in
nursing:
the
Man-environrnent
totality
paradigm
and'
the
Man-simultaneity
paradigm.
Within
these
two
paradigms,
there
are
many
nursing.
theories
have
been
developed
to
solve
the
actual
and
potential
health
problems
of
patients,
for
example
Orem's
self-care
theory,
Roy's
adaptation
model
and
Roger's
science
of
unitary
human
beings,
among others.Furthermore
these
areexpected
to
continue
to
proliferate
in
the
future.
They
say
that
nursing
practice
begins
by
understanding
its
subjects,too,
These
arehurnan
beings
as
cornpletepersons.
Therefore
nursesneed
a
holistic2
approach.
However,
a
total
nursing
theory
employing aholistie
approaeh systemhas
not
been
createdyet.
On
the
other
hand
lots
of
paradigrns,
cognitive
orientations, and wisdom-traditions
have
been
lost
which mayhave
enduringtherapeutic
value,One
such
cognitive
system
is
astrology,
Astrology
has
become
a
sort
of
test-case
for
distinguishing
what
is
recognized as orthodox science and whatis
not,
So
it
is
particularly
interesting
to
investigate
astrology
to
see
if
it
has
anything
of
value
to
offer
nursingor
medicine.The
scientificevaluation
of
astrology
is
a
legitimate
inquiry,
however,
few
are
those
who
approach
astrology
as
a
serious
subject,
as
opposed
to
its
usein
fortune-telling
and
as
of
now
we
have
not
heard
of
anybody
who
has
attempted
to
relate
astrology
to
nursing
theory
or
practice.
Therefore
it
is
ofpotential
significance andit
is
important
that
some
people
in
health
related
fields
study
astrology seriously,
especially
medical astrology.This
medical
astrology
has
the
possibility
ofhelping
to
develop
aholistic
approachin
nursing and understandingpatients
astotal
human
beings
as
well asdiagnosing
problems,
actual orpotential,
2.
What
is
Astrology?
It
is
said
that
astrology
started
in
Mesopotamia
5000
years
ago,
however,
its
origins
are
obscure,
Astrology
is
translated
as "sensei-jyutu"in
Japanese.
Hewever,
the
practice
usually referredto
by
the
Japanese
word
is
not
a
true
astrology.Astrology
is
not
the
sameas
astronomy.
Astronomy
is
a science which studiesthe
cosmosand
planets
physically.
On
the
other
hand
astrology
studies
the
minds
and
spirits
of
the
cosmos.
Astrology
originated
asa
cosmology and continuesto
develop
as a wisdom-tradition,So
astrologyis
a
wisdom-tradition and not aform
offortune-telling.
Astrology
appliedthe
Greeks'
advanced
understanding
of
astronomy
and mathematicsto
the
descriptions
handed
down
from
the
astrologers/astronomers
(there
was nodistinction
in
those
days)
of
ancient
Egypt
and
Babylonia
(Lupton'),
p.1).
On
the
otherhand
astrologyhas
a
certain
intuitive
appeal
as
a
correlate
of
biorhythms.
With
regardto
the
specifics ofthe
planetary
energies andtheir
influ'ences
onhuman
beings.
For
example,
a
woman's
menstrual
period
is
influenced
by
Moon's
revolution
cycle,
and
the
night of
full
Moon
has
more crimes of violencethan
any
other
day
(Oken3',
p.260),
Interestingly,
one
of
these
universally
accepted
phenomena,
the
correlation
between
oceantides
andthe
Lunar
cycle,
was
once
doubted
by
scientists,
These
facts
are
manifested
in
observationally,
Therefore
it
can
be
saidthat
atleast
someplanetary
energiesare
generally
recognized
as
having
a
great
influence
on
the
physiology
and
psychology
ofhuman
beings.
In
short,
we
can
say
astrology
has
the
capabilityto
understand anindividual's
nature
and
temperament
in
a
most
subtle
and
personal
rnanner.3
.
What
is
Medical
Astrology?
Medical
astrology startedin
distant
antiquity(the
age ofHippocrates).
The
earliestliterature
of medical astrology
in
that
agehas
not
been
preserved,
The
oldestsystematic
eompendiumof
astrological wisdom which we
have
accessto
is
Ptolemy]s
book
Iletrabiblos`'
(Loeb
edition
1980).
Ptolerny3
(2nd
century
A,D,)
explains
the
origins
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Egyptians
applied astrology and astronomicalprediction
to
medicine.Medical
astrology was'
used
to
take
precautionary
measures against'
impending
illness
and
to
prescribe
what
Ptoloemy
describes
as "infallibletreatment"
for
existingdisease
by
means of medicines,through
their
knowledge
of
what
was
properly
sympathetic
or
antipathetic
in
each
case,
they
proceeded,
as
far
as
possible,
in
those
days(pp.31-33).
Medical
astrologyis
based
onthe
following
concept.
71PLe
haman
organism
ts
cortstructed
as
an exact miniature
dupticate
ofthe
solar system.The
outerframework
ofthe
body
correspondsto
the
signs ofthe
Zodiac
(Oken3',
p.260).`
These
things
aretreated
schematically asthe
"melothesic
man"
(Figure
1)
in
astrology.This
technical
term
"melothesicman"
derived
from
the
Ptolemic
astrological
system
fQr
the
zodiacal
man,
animage
of
man
linked
with
the
twelve
zodiacal
signs
(Gettings5',
p.311).
This
means
that
the
first
zodiacal
sign
"Aries"corresponds
to
the
head
ofthe
body
andthe
last
zodiacal sign"Pisces"
rules
the
feet
(Oken3',
p,261).
So
from
a
medical
astrological
point
of
view,
diseases,
like
disharmonies
in
life,
are associated with negativeplanetary
influences
(Frawley6',
p.210).
Recently
Ridder-Patrick"
has
written
a
good
general
introduction
to
the
application ofastrology
to
medicine.Orthodox
medieinetreats
the
average
man/woman,
based
on
statistical
averages.
However,
the
average man/womandoes
not exist.On
the
otherhand
astrologicalmedicine
treats
the
individual
as
someone
who
is
a
umque
case,
FrawleyG)
explained medical astrologyin
easierterms:
Astrology
examine$disease,
asit
considersthe
entire
life
of man and all aspectsof
ourbeing;
body,
mind, soul, and spirit.There
is
a specialbraneh
of "Medicalastrology"
dealing
specifieallywith
health
problems,
though
notlimited
to
the
physical
body
in
its
examination ortreatment
ARES TAURUS CANCEIt LEO V:RGO
L[BRIL
SCORPIO SAG[1"rAl"IUS CAPruCOR)lAQUAR[US
PISCESMedical
Astrology
andHealth
1・[end
'Mu・onL
RibCagc Heatt Stomacll Pelvis PTivnLe1)atls TLiiglts Knee bowerbeg FeeteetToA
31
(drawing
inspired
by
15th-century
original reproducedin
Gettings5),
p.311)
Figure
1
:Melothesic
Man
(p.210).
Summing
up,
we
can
say
medical
astrology
has
the
capabilityto
interpret
the
questions
and/or
the
tendency
ofindividual
characteristicsin
relation
to
health
andto
diagnose
andtreat
idiopathic
diseases.
4.
The
Purpose
of
This
Study
The
purpose
ofthis
study
was
to
investigate
and
discuss
the
relationship
between
medical
astrology and
health,
and
the
eredibility,
validity
and/or
application
ofgenethliaca15
medicalastrology
for
nursing
and
medical
assessment.
ll,
Background:
Classical
Positions
within
the
Seholarly
and
Scientific
Worlds
with
Regard
to
the
Evaluation
of
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ptPIiiEscrt\Silee
Vol.
2,
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What
arethe
standard opinions asto
whether medical astrologyis
useful or not?1
.Sympathetic
authorities
There
were
numerous
pre-modern
authorities
supportive of medical astrology such as
Paracelsus,
Ptolembl
and
the
like,
Regarding
classical
sporkespersons
and
evidence
for
medical astrology, we can considerParacelsus
(1493-1541)
who's workhas
been
summarizedin
Paracelsus
the
Rhysiciane)
by
Jung,
Paracelsus
was
a
physician
and
died
about
400
years
ago,
The
following
quotation
explains
Paracelsus'
thinking
about medical astrology, especiallythe
reason
he
utilized
medical
astrology:
Paracelsus
ranged againstthe
academicphysicians
all alongthe
Iine,
and againstauthorities
...
The
only exceptions(apart
from
Hippoerates)
werethe
alehemical authorities...
In
genera],
he
attacked neither astrology noralchemy, nor
any
ofthe
popular
superstitions,,.
He
himself
was mainlyinterested
in
the
cosmic correlations, such ashe
found
in
the
astrological
tradition.
His
doctrine
ofthe
"star
in
the
body"
was afavorite
idea
ofhis,
andit
occurs everywhere
in
his
writings,True
to
the
conception of rnan as a microcosm,
he
located
the
"firmament"in
man'sbody
and calledit
the
"astrum" or "Sydus"...
The
physician
had
to
be
not only an alchemistbut
also anastrologer,
for
a
second
source
of
knowledge
was
the
"firmament"
(p.14
andp.16).
Furthermore
in
Paracelsus'
Labyrinthus
dedicorurnS'
is
the
following:
...
the
starsin
heaven
mustbe
"coupledtegether",
andthat
the
physician
must "extractthe
judgement
ofthe
firmament
frorn
them".
Lacking
this
art
of
astrological
interpretation,
the.physician
is
but
a"pseudomedicus".
The
firmament
is
not merelythe
cosmicheaven,
but
a
body
whichis
apart
or content ofthe
human
body
(p.20),S
His
opinion
is
notvery
clear
from
a
modern
point
of
view.This
is
stated
by
Jung8':
Paracelsus
wasone
of
the
great
figures
ofthe
Renaissance,
and one ofthe
mostunfathomable.
For
ushe
is
still an enigma,four
hundred
years
afterwards(p.30).
However,
his
opinion
is
irnportant
for
us
in
understanding
the
medical
applications
of astrology.And
an earlier authority,Ptolemy,
had
stated
the
same
as
Paracelsus.
That
medical
astrology
is
useful andbeneficial,
asillustrated
by
the
above
qttotation
in
chapter
I.
In
this
way advocates of medical astrologyhave
claimedthat
it
is
beneficial
for
human
beings,
2
.
Critical
authorities
With
regardto
classical
authorities
and
evidence
against
medical
astrology,
these
have
been
synopsisedin
Pico
de
la
Mirandola"s
Disputationes
which
has
been
sumrnarized
in
"An
outline
of
Pico's
Disputationes"
by
CorneliusY'.
The
following
quotation
explainsPico's
thinking
about astrology, especiallythe
reasonhe
opposed
astrology:
Pico
rnakes clearthat
he
is
distinguishing
astrology
frorn
astronomy.His
target
is
"divinatory"
astrology,
the
rnaking ofparticular
judgements
concerning unknown orsecret
things
from
the
horoscope,
asfor
instance
in
the
practices
of natal,horary,
andelectional astrology.
His
tone
throughout
is
scathing; when,
he
asks,have
astrologers everbeen
honoured,
or
had
statues
and
memorialsput
up
for
them?
TheiT
writingsare
so
sillythat
one may wonder whetherthe
astrologersthemselves
reallybelieve
whatthey
say.Pico
speculates on why
people
wantto
believe
in
astrology.
He
suggests
that
wedon't
fear
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causes cannot
be
established we seek someanswer, and we
imagine
that
fortune
andchance
occurrence
are relatedto
the
secret
causes of
the
stars...
The
signs of zodiac areobviously established
for
the
convenience ofrnathematicians
[i,e.
astrologers], andtheir
supposed
qualities
are reallydetermined
by
the
images
projected
onto
them
by
astrologers.
There
are no animalsin
the
sky;the
zodiacfigures
arethe
fabulous
creations of astrologicalmadness.
Pico
denounces
astrologersfor
'profaning
the
heavens,
the
portico
ofGod's
temple,
with a menagerie ofinane
animalsi(p,330
andp.332).
In
summary,Corneiiusg)
schematizesPicois
majorthemes
under
seven
broad
headings:
These
eoncern(1)
the
authorityof
astrology's'tradition,
(2)
physical
basis
andprimary
data,
(3)
foundation
ofthe
symbolism,(4)
primary
logic
of astrology,(5)
application ofthe
theory
to
horoscopes,
(6)
astrologicalpredictions
in
practice,
and(7)
religious and ethicaleonsiderations
(p.330).
As
illustrated
in
the
abovequotation,
unsympathetie
authorities
conclude
that
astrology
is
absurd
and
non
beneficial
for
human
beings.
M
,
The
Contemporary
Debate
on
the
Validity
of
Astrology
and
Medieal
Astrelogy
1
.
Modern
Criticism
by
"Skeptics"(Orthodox
Positiyists)
An
anti-astrological
manifesto
appearing
first
in
the
American
journal
Zhe
Hurrtanist
states
that:
Those
who wishto
believe
in
astrology shouldrealize
that
there
is
noscientifie
foundation
for
its
tenets
.,,
Yet
acceptance
of
astrology
pervades
modern society,We
are especiallydisturbed
by
the'
continued uncriticalMedical
Astrology
andHealth
33
dissernination
of astrological eharts,forecasts,
and
horoscopes
by
the
mediaand
by
otherwisereputable newspapers, magazines, and
book
publishers,
This
can
only contributeto
the
growth
ofirrationalism
and
obscurantism.We
believe
that
the
time
has
corneto
challengedirectly,
andforcefully,
the
pretentious
claimsof astrological charlatans
...
It
shouldbe
apparent
that
those
individuals
who continueto
have
faith
in
astrologydo
soin
spite ofthe
fact
there
is
no verifiedscientific
basis
for
their
beliefs,
andindeed
that
there
is
strong evideneeto
the
contrary(Cornelius'>,
pp.23-24).
After
criticizingThe
Humanist,
Cornelius"
concludesthat
the
skeptical
critique
of
astrology
has
two
mainthemes:
First,
althoughit
cloaksitself
in
science, astrology
has
no scientificbasis
orverification.
It
is
therefore
anirrational
belief.
Second,
it
is
a system of nzagic.It
is
taken
entirely
for
granted
that
nofurther
inquiry
.i$
needed once
this
is
established-
magieis
without
question
false.
From
these
tions
it
follows
that
believers
in
astrology areignorant
ordeluded,
andits
practitioners
are
charlatans.
The
popular
promotion
ofastrology encourages
iTrationalism
andleads
people
into
an
unwholesome
attitude
in
whichthey
do
nottake
responsibilityfor
their
ownaetions
(pp.24-25),
That
is
to
say, skepticsthink
astrologyis
unscientific and unbelievablelore
and,
imposture,
2.
The
Revival
of
Medical
Astrology
In
recent
years,
the
credibility
and
validity
of
medical astrology
has
been
reconsidered.That
is
to
say,
a
revival
of
rnedical
astrology
has
come
into
existence.
Ridder-Patrick'),
one
of
the
advocates
of
astrology,has
explained
the
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Vol.
2,
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tt
t
Astrology
is
ene
of
the
most accessible andreliable
methods
of
pinpointing
and analyzingthose
factors
whichpermeate
inner
and
outercircumstances at any
given
moment,the
individual's
relationshipto
them,
andthe
adjustrnents
that
needto
be
made
to
maintainequilibrium.
From
the
state ofinner
harmony
that
comesfrom
co-operating withthese
forces
emanates
health
(p,2),
'
Also
Frawley6'
explained
the
capability
of
medical
astrology:Medical
astrology
includes
the
entire astrologyof
healing.
Astrology
is
notonly
helpful
for
ordinary
disease
conditions,
it
alsohas
the
means of
diagnosis
andtreatment
for
diseases
which are not
curable
by
usual medicalmethods.
It
gives
us abetter
picture
andmethodology
for
dealing
withdisease
that
come
from
internal
causes(p.210),
Jung,
Young
andFeyerabend
also
make
an
appeal
for
the
credibilityand
validity
of
astrology.
Jung'O),
apsychologist,
used astrologyhimself
and
which
indicated
the
credibility
andvalidity
of
astrology,
Then
he
also advocatesmedical astrology
in
the
context ofParacelsus'
statement,
Furthermore
he
confirmed
the
validityof
astrology
by
making
a
successful
astrologicalexperirnent
by
himself.'
Young"'
is
physicist.
He
maintainedthat
astrology
fits
well withindeterminably
principle
whigh
has
been
emphasized
by
contemporary
physics.
Modern
eosmology
is
based
on
relationships
ratherthan
mechanicalbehavior
efmaterial
things,
in
this
senseit
stronglyresembles
the
geometrical
patterning
ofastrology.
He
explainsthat
quantum
physics
which
seems
to
violatethe
assumptions ofclassical
mechanics
is
recognized
as science, soastrology
ought
to
gain
similar
acceptance,
Feyerabend")
is
philosopher
of science,He
appealsthe
deficiencies
of somewidespread
ideas
about
the
natureof,knowledge.
'
'
No
theory
everagrees
withall
the
facts
in
its
domain,
yet
it
is
not
always
the
theory
that
is
to
blame.
Facts
are constitutedby
olderideologies,
and
a clashbetween
facts
andtheories
rnaybe
proof
ofprogress.
It
is
also afirst
stepin
our
attempt
to
find
the
principles
implicit
in
familiar
observational notions...Neither
science nor rationality are universalmeasures of excellence.
They
areparticular
traditions,
unawareof
their
historical
gr6unding.
To
sum up,the
point
of
this
paragraph,
(1)
the
revivalof
astrology
is
what
prompted
the
manifesto
in
the
Hitrnanist,
(2)
astroiogy,includ-ing
medical astrologyis
becoming
more
popular
recently,
(3)
this
kind
of
astrologyis
much more rigorousthan
the
"fortune-telling"kind
imagined
by
the
skeptics,IV,
Methodology
of
This
Study
1.
Sample
The
sarnple consistedof
5
males
and5
females
attending
college
and
assumedto
be
healthy.
Data
wascollected
at
the
College
of
Nursing
Art
&
Science,
Hyogo.
All
10
people
agreed
to
participate
in
this
study,The
demographic
data
for
the
subjectswere
as
follows,
Males'
ages
varied
from
20
to
30
years
with
a
mean
of
24,6
±
4.0
years
andfernalesi
ages variedfrom
19
to
31
years
with
a
mean
25.4
±4.8
years.
2
.
Questionnaire
The
questionnaire
packet
used
in
this
study
was
made
by
the
researcher.It
has
12
categories ofquestions
corresponding
to
potential
health
problems
associated with
the
anatomicalcorrespondences
of
the
melothesic man.It
elucidated
the
medical
Kobe City College of Nursing
NII-Electronic Library Service
KobecityCollege of Nursing
contents of
the
questionnaire
canbe
Figure
2.
N
PScase
answcr thefollowing.guestion
'v
Hgvcyouhadamedlcelhistor1in
LThigh (hip,hipjoint,ete) pthblems
Dcsdibe theptoblcrn
seen ln
2.PtLvis(Lidmey,adrepEl
gi-it
waist, eic.) pmbLemsDeswfibetheprob]cm 3,Hesd(bnin, tyc, eti, ttc.) pteb]cms
I}ewhbethepsoijlem
4.ftiyattParts
C"rcthra,
urinaryblsdder,ovary,"teas,vte.)pmblcms Describethcpsvb]emS.Knee (skin, et[.) problems Desdibetheprobtem
6.Mb thgeCbreast,tsophagus,diaph[agn, papertag stmmsch,ete) ptoblems
Dcsmibetheptoblem
7,ims CpulmDnary,brmtehus, shoulder, bppeT rib, finger, ett.) ptoblems
Pcscribetheproblem
E.FeetCtoe,hecl, ete.) ptobtems Dcscribothepsob]cm
9,Stomsch
(dvodenum,
intestinc,sppendix,liv{r,sp1een,ctc,)problcms Describethepmblem10.HeHrtCaerta,back, etc.) prabLtms
Describethcpm-blem
11.Throzt(rteck,teeth, lgry"x,tons", tyrt]id, clc.) psebltms Ocwibetheprablem
11.Lnwer
(anklc,
]cg,etc.)begsptvblemsDescribetheprablem
Yes Ycs Yas Ycs Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yts Ne No No No Na Ne Ne No Ne No No No ThapLyouverymuch
Figure
2
:Centents
ofQuestinnaire
3.
Procedure
With
regard
to
the
college
students,
the
researcher approached
them
asthey
arrivedin
college,described
this
study anddistributed
a waverform
in
advance,
in
order
to
obtain
consent.
Then
the
first
data
was collectedfrom
the
subjects:birth
date,
birth
time
andbirth
place.
The
next
step wasthe
erection
of
the
nata]
(basic)S
horoscope.
First,
in
orderto
erectthe
natalhoroscope,
the
data
for
consenting
subjects
from
their
own
exact
birth
date,
hour
and
location
of
an
individual's
birth
were rnathematically calculatedby
hand
usingthe
Michelsen
ephemer
isi3';
as a result,literally
a mapof
the
heavens
showing
the
exact
position
ofthe
sun, moon andplanets
atthat
time
was eompleted.Subsequently
my calculations were checked
by
computer andMedical
Astrology
andHealth
35
found
to
be
correct.An
illustration
of a natalhoroscope
can
be
seen
in
Figure
3.
Second,
a simple count ofthe
number ofplanets
in
each element9 andin
eachqualityiO
in
each chartwas
made.
Third,
the
subjects' sunposition
(house
of sun) andthe
rulership of sign of zodiac(Table
1):
dignityii,
exaltationi:,
strongi',
detrimenti`
and
fal]i5,
werefound.
The
last
step
wasto
give
the
medicalhistory
questionnaire
to
the
.subjects.
After
that
the
subjects
returned
the
qllestionnaire
to
the
researcher.4.
Data
Analysis
In
order
to
test
the
relationship
between
medical astrology and
health,
the
subjects' natalhoroscopic
health
profiles
and actual medicalhistories
were
compared.
The
data
obtained
were
ana]yzed matching
the
percentage
ofplanetary
rulershipsin
zodiacal signs withthe
medicalhistory
ofthe
corresponding anatomical regions.V.
Results
The
results ofthis
study areas
follows
and
they
are schematizedin
detail
in
Table
2.
1.
As
to
Dignity
There
were5
signsin
4
subjects whohad
planets
in
signsin
their
"dignity"associated
with
certain anatornical regions where
they
had
no
health
problems
oraccidents.
The
rate ofmatch
was
62.5%.
0n
the
otherhand
there
were3
signsin
3
subjects whohad
planets
favorably
situatedin
certain
signs andyet
had
health
problems
oraccidents
in
corresponding
anatomical
regions.For
example,tonsillitis,
malformation of renalartery,
deformation
of
lumbar.
The
rate ofmismatch
was
37.5%.
'
2.
As
to
Exaltation
andStrong
There
were
5
signs
in
3
subjects
who
had
planets
situated
in
signs
in
their
"exaltation"or
]'strong"
had
no
health
problems
or accidents situatedin
the
corresponding
anatomical
regions.Kobe City College of Nursing
NII-Electronic Library Service
Kobe City College of Nursing
36
神
戸市看
護大学 紀要
Vol
,
2
,1998
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Eleotronio LibraryKobe City College of Nursing
NII-Electronic Library Service
KobecityCollegeof Nursing
Tabel
1
:PlanetaryHonors
and(Table
ofRureship)Dishonors
PlanetDignity
Detriment
ExaltationStrongFaLl
Sun
MoonMercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
UranusNeptunePluto"
Lee
CancerGeminiVirgoTaurusLibraAriesScorpioSagittarius
PiscesCapricornAquariusAquaTiusPiscesScorpio,
Aquarius
CapricornSagittarius
PiscesScorpioAriesLibraTaurusGeminiVirgeCancerLeeLeeVirgoTaurus
Aries
TaurusAquarius
Pisces
Capricorn
Cancer
Libra
ScorpieAquarius
?
ScorpioSagittarius
PiscesCanceTCapricornSagittarius
AquariusLeo
AriesTaurusTaurusGemini
?Cancer
?
Libra
ScorpioLeo
Virgo
Cancer
Capricorn
Aries
TaurusLeo
?
(tabel
Table
2:
from
Candlishie',
p.31
andOken3',
p.311)
Relationship
Between
Planetary
Rulerships
in
Medical
Astrology
and
Health
37
On
the
otherhand
there
were4
signsin
4
subjects whp
had
planets
situatedin
signsin
their
"exaltation"
or
"strong"who
had
experienced
health
problems
or
accidents
corresponding
to
certain anatomical regions,
For
example, weakeyesight,
loss
of nail, allergy ofthe
eye.The
rateof
mismatchwas
57.1%.
3.
As
to
Detriment
There
were4
signsin
4
subjects whohad
planets
detrimented
in
the
signs
whichcorresponded
to
certain anatomical regions, whohad
experienced
major
hea]th
problems
or
accidents
in
those
regions,
For
exarnple,
gastric
spasms,
tonsillitis,
fracture
of
clavianand
arm.
Furthermore
there
were
3
signs
in
2
subjects
who
had
planets
detrimental
to
the
signs correspondingto
anatomical regions, wherethey
had
experiencedslight
health
problems
or
accidents.
For
example,
Zodiaeal
Signs
and
Medical
History
ofthe
Anatomieal
Regiens
Strong
Match
Mismatch
ModerateMatch
1
23
4
5
6
7
Sun
in
Leo'i/ no anamnesisMars
in
Scorpio'
i: no anarnnesis
Saturn
ip
Cancer'`:
gastric
spasmsMars
in
Taurus":
tensillitisVenus
in
Libta'i:
no anamnesisJupiter
&
Venus
in
Pisces'iS'":
no anamnesis
Saturn
in
Gemini'3/
no anamnesisUranus
S
Jupiter
9
Marsin
Jupiter
10
Mercury
Meon
in
in
Scoxpio':/
no anamneslsin
Gemini'`:
clavian&
arms
fractures
Scorpio"/
ne ariamnesisin
Gemini'`:
injury
ef afinger
in
Cancer'a:
no anarnnesisPisces'1
no anamnesisVenus inVirgo'J / no anamnesis
Jupiter
in
Aries'S:
weak eyeslghtJupiter
in
Capricorn'j:
ne anamnesisSaturn
in
Gemini":
loss
of nailMars
in
Libra":
no anamnesisSaturn
in
Leo'-:
no anamnesisMoen
in
Capricorn":
ne anarnnesisVenus
in
Taurus'i:
tonsi]litis
Jupiter
in
Gemini":
no anamnesisJupiter
in
Aries'3/
injury
ofhead
&
weak eye sight
Saturn
in
Leo'4:
ne anamnesisSun
in
Aqcuarius'4:
no anarnnesisVenus
in
Libra'i:
malformation ofrenalartery
Mercury
in
Lee'5:
no anarnnesisSun
in
1.eo'i:
deformation
oflurnbar
Jupiter
in
Aries'S/
allergy
of eye
&
weak eyesightMars
in
Taurus'`:
no anamnesisSaturn
in
Cancer":
no anamnesisSaturnin
Aries'S/Venus
inMereuryAries',:in
Pisees
suture
Suture"/left
Mercury
in
Pisees'i:
leg
Venus
inVirgo'S
forforfeet
joint
headinjuryface
injuryinjury
spram :week abdomenKobe City College of Nursing
NII-Electronic Library Service
KobecityCollege of Nursing
sa
ptPMljut
±
\ieee
Vol.
2,
1998
'
'
sutures
for
head
injuries
and
leg
joint
sprain.
The
relte
of
match
was
46.7%.
0n
the
otherhand
there
were8
signs
in
6
subjects
who
had
planets
detrimented
in
the
signs
which
corresponded
to
certain anatornical regions, whohad
no
health
problems
or
accidents
in
those
regions.
The
rate ofrnismatch
was53.3%.
4.
As
to
Fall
There
was2
signsin
2
subjeet whohad
planets
situated
in
signs
in
their
"fall"who
had
experienced
health
problems
or
accidents
correspond-ing
to
certain
anatomical
regions.For
example, chronicdiarrhea,
suturefor
head
injury.
The
rate ofmatch
was40.0%,
On
the
other
hand
there
were
3
signs
in
3
subjects
who
had
planets
situatedin
signsin
their
"fall"
who
had
nohealth
problems
or
accidents
situated
in
the
signs
which
corresponded
to
those
anatomical regions.
The
rate of misrnatch was60,O%.
VI,
Diseussion
The
results
of
this
study
lend
sorne
support
to
both
waysof
thinking
about
the
relationship
between
medical
astrology
and
health.
One
is
that
there
is
a correlationbetween
sign-regions ofthe
"melothesicman"
and
medical
history.
The
other
is
that
there
is
nocorrelation
between
sign-regions
of
the
"melothesicman"
and
medical
history,
That
is
to
say,
the
results
of
this
study
cannot
show
clearly whether or notthere
is
acorrelation
between
zodiacalfactors
andhealth,
Lupton')
gives
us
a
clue
about
how
to
interpret
these
results.The
reason why somepeople
donit
seern
to
fit
the
descriptive
characteristics
of
their
astrological
sign
is
that
astrological
interpretation
is
based
onknowing
the
completehoroscope
of
anindividual
whichindicates
whereall
the
celestial
bodies
werepositioned
at
the
time
of
birth
but
it
is
impossible
to
know
the
complete
horoscope.
This
is
veryimportant.
And
another
reason maybe
as
follows,
The
medicalhistory
of
each subjectcan only
tell
us aboutthe
situation upto
the
present.
Thus
the
subjectsrnay
have
health
problems
or
accidents
in
anatomical
regions
indicated
by
their
natal
charts
in
the
future,
For
those
reasons,this
studyhas
notdemonstrated
any
clear
correlation
between
sign-regions
of
the
"melothesic
man"
andmedical
history.
In
addition, wehave
anotherissue
that
has
some
sort
of
bearing
onthe
relationshipbetween
zodiacalfactors
and
health,
namelythe
adequacyor
not
of
the
statistical
point
of
view
applied
to
astrology.
According
to
JungiO):
It
is
one-sided,inasmuch
as
it
represents onlythe
average aspect of realityand
excludes
the
total
picture.
The
statistical view ofthe
worldis
a mere abstraction andtherefore
incomplete
and even
fallacious
(p.463),
The
implication
is
that
there
is
some
sort ofrelationship
between
zodiacal
factors
and
health
which
is
moreimportant
and significantthan
the
absence of a strong correlation.We
should rernemberthat
this
study
shows
variousqualities
of
the
sign-regions
of
the
"melothesic
man",
This
shows
that
human
beings
are
individual
existences.
Medical
astrology maybe
moreeffective
in
interpreting
casehistories
than
in
predicting
statistical
averages.'6Nursing
starts
from
understanding
individual
characteristics,
Furthermore
just
to
understand
the
statistically
average man/woman
is
notnursing.
Thus
medical astrology may
be
beneficia]
for
nurses.Because
nurses
must
employ
a
holistic
approach.Pico
de
la
Mirandola
makes
a
scathing
criticism
of
astrology
in
the
above
quotation
and
concludes
astrology
is
absurd,
His
eriticisms seemlogical
and
true.
But
his
criticism
lacks
an
important
consideration.
It
is
that
astrology
is
not