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Written in the Stars

By Korrina Gidwani

Leo Sun, Pisces Moon, Aries Ascendant. Imagine your entire life — from your career aspirations to your family — being predicted using these zodiac placements. What about your health? Lifespan? Everyone, including you, has these “big three” signs that may very well influence your life. Curious to know what your zodiac says about you? Let’s find out…

The theory of astrology lies in the positions of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies, which are often mapped out to foresee an individual’s life course. Astrology’s roots originated in Ancient Mesopotamia (2000 to 1600 B.C.) and continued to spread across the world over several centuries. Around 1500, these concepts globally expanded into the realm of health and medicine, thus resulting in the development of medical astrology, a field that could potentially predict disease progression and overall health. 

Medical astrology has played an influential role in the development of modern science and medicine, from its astronomical tools to its underlying principles. In fact, many of its tenets are still utilized in modern society. Dr. Paolo Palmieri, Director of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, has imparted his knowledge on medical astrology through his course Magic, Medicine, and Science and has explored this field through his personal research endeavors.

Dr. Palmieri began our interview by delving into the foundations of medical astrology, with a special focus on theories and tools from the 15th and 16th centuries. He explained that the underlying principles of astrology are “based on the simple assumption that there are patterns and regularities in nature, say the cycle of the moon.” To discover these patterns, professional astronomers used mathematical concepts to reconstruct planet and constellation positions at a given time, a technique that persisted from the 15th century onwards. On an individual level, birth charts and horoscopes could be constructed using specific birth dates and times. 

Next, these astronomers shifted their focus to interpreting this celestial information. For instance, what does it actually mean to observe Jupiter in your birth chart? Does the presence of certain constellations — such as Ophiuchus or Serpens — actually yield insights into your health and wellbeing? Similarly, the presence of Saturn was another topic of discussion among astronomers, according to Dr. Palmieri. “If someone had Saturn in their birth chart, that sometimes referred to introversion, serious demeanor, or risk of depression,” he explained. Not only do these observations highlight the importance of astrological interpretation, but it also sheds light on the connection between astrology and medicine. Evidently, astronomers’ conclusions were often linked to health conditions and longevity, which explains early physicians’ frequent use of astrological concepts to diagnose and treat patients. Reliance on astrological concepts persisted throughout the 18th century influenza epidemics, in which physicians examined planetary positions and constellations to reveal optimal times to vaccinate populations and perform medical procedures. In fact, more recently, Indian physicians were known to analyze celestial information to predict ideal times to collect medicinal herbs and administer treatments for ailing patients. 

These fascinating ideas permeated cultural boundaries, rapidly spreading across the world and providing a foundation to interpret and predict health and medical afflictions. For example, French mathematicians relied on the Sphaera mundi, a sphere that associated planetary paths with zodiac signs. Similarly, the English and Spanish utilized volvelles — paper cutouts with moving parts — to locate the sun, moon, and planets both physically and in the context of the zodiac. In theory, the relative locations and relationships between these celestial bodies could dictate ideal times to treat illnesses and relieve bodily imbalances. Lastly, Indian and Chinese astrologers designed complex, mathematical quadrant charts focused on lunar mansions (divisions), which tracked the moon’s movements across the sky. Based on Babylonian and Greek astrology, this approach went hand-in-hand with astrological houses, or the rotation of the Earth around its axis on a 24-hour scale. For example, the presence of certain planets in the Sixth House implies good health and wellbeing, while planets in the Eighth House may yield insights into lifespan and longevity. Based on these observations, it is apparent that many cultures valued astronomy and astrology in the context of health, regardless of subtle differences in tools and approaches.

So, how does ancient astrology inform modern science and medicine? According to Dr. Palmieri, medical astrology “promotes the understanding of health in the context of an entire organism, as opposed to compartmentalizing health issues.” This tenet closely relates to recent shifts observed in the medical field, namely the push towards holistic medicine that prioritizes a patient’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. This up-and-coming approach contrasts with prior beliefs that illnesses should be treated in isolation. To illustrate this idea, Dr. Palmieri tapped into the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had to understand the pandemic as a social phenomenon,” explained Dr. Palmieri, referencing the fact that our COVID-19 response relied not only on biological and medical knowledge, but also on social patterns, public health, and community dynamics. 

With these ideas in mind, what does the future hold for medical astrology? Although astrological concepts hold less weight in Western medicine, Dr. Palmieri anticipates that certain foundational ideas will continue to persist. “Ancient traditions of astrological medicine were organic and examined the organism holistically within our universe. Science will have to recover the organism-based approach since the compartmentalized approach is coming to an end,” he described. In addition, many countries, such as India and China, still appreciate astrology’s valuable insights and utilize this information to foresee people’s lives and health. As we continue to move forward, making remarkable innovations in science and medicine, it is imperative to understand our accomplishments in the context of history and appreciate our roots in medical astrology that brought us here today. Although our future remains unclear, astrology will continue to offer insights into our fate, both in past societies and in the present day.