Congratulations! You have arrived at the all-time most popular post on this blog. But why are you here? What do you want to know about the attribution of the 12 zodiac signs to the human body? And why do you want to know about it? Leave me a message, a reason, and some feedback - as this is such a popular and well-read post I'm really interested in why you are here.
Above is a famous illustration called “Zodiac Man”. It comes from the 15th century illustrated book Les Trés Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, which also contains detailed and richly coloured illustrations for each of the 12 Zodiac Signs and their associated labours or tasks of the agricultural year.
Each Sign of the Zodiac, in this rather beautiful drawing, is associated with a different part of the body. Also known as melothesic man, this attribution of the signs to the body dates back to the dawn of astrology, but didn't appear in Europe until about the 12th century.
Zodiac Man has the Aries ram balanced on his head (Aries rules the head), a Taurean bull is wrapped around his neck, which is ruled by this Sign, and Gemini’s Twins peep around both his shoulders. Follow the Signs downwards from head to feet, and you’ll see that each is represented in the area of the body part it’s associated with. Note Libra, the sign of the balance or scales, which appropriately rules the kidneys, organs of maintaining fluid balance in the body, and the elimination of toxins. Sagittarius, the Centaur or half man/half horse, is associated with the thighs - the body part which is used when riding a horse. Leo is associated with the heart and spine - think of a proud, brave lion. Gemini excels at communication, so it’s appropriate that this Sign is associated with the lungs, arms and hands, and that the Twins should peep cheekily over the shoulders and arms of Zodiac Man in the illustration.
I've written about all 12 Zodiac Signs in my co-authored book, The Cosmic Egg Timer, available from Amazon in paperback or an ebook.
I also talk about the Signs and Body Parts in one of my YouTube videos, where I've created a series of videos on my AstroChat Channel covering all 12 zodiac signs.
If you're really keen to find out more about astrological psychology which will take you way, way beyond Zodiac Man, body parts, sun sign astrology and quick info fixes, visit the Astrological Psychology Association website to find out more. We have consultants, offer courses and have a wide range of astrological psychology books on offer - see the "Books" labels above.
As a final thought, here is a poem by Joe Cooper about some of the signs and their associated body parts. Oh, and don't forget to leave me a message or a comment.
Above is a famous illustration called “Zodiac Man”. It comes from the 15th century illustrated book Les Trés Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, which also contains detailed and richly coloured illustrations for each of the 12 Zodiac Signs and their associated labours or tasks of the agricultural year.
Each Sign of the Zodiac, in this rather beautiful drawing, is associated with a different part of the body. Also known as melothesic man, this attribution of the signs to the body dates back to the dawn of astrology, but didn't appear in Europe until about the 12th century.
Zodiac Man has the Aries ram balanced on his head (Aries rules the head), a Taurean bull is wrapped around his neck, which is ruled by this Sign, and Gemini’s Twins peep around both his shoulders. Follow the Signs downwards from head to feet, and you’ll see that each is represented in the area of the body part it’s associated with. Note Libra, the sign of the balance or scales, which appropriately rules the kidneys, organs of maintaining fluid balance in the body, and the elimination of toxins. Sagittarius, the Centaur or half man/half horse, is associated with the thighs - the body part which is used when riding a horse. Leo is associated with the heart and spine - think of a proud, brave lion. Gemini excels at communication, so it’s appropriate that this Sign is associated with the lungs, arms and hands, and that the Twins should peep cheekily over the shoulders and arms of Zodiac Man in the illustration.
I also talk about the Signs and Body Parts in one of my YouTube videos, where I've created a series of videos on my AstroChat Channel covering all 12 zodiac signs.
If you're really keen to find out more about astrological psychology which will take you way, way beyond Zodiac Man, body parts, sun sign astrology and quick info fixes, visit the Astrological Psychology Association website to find out more. We have consultants, offer courses and have a wide range of astrological psychology books on offer - see the "Books" labels above.
As a final thought, here is a poem by Joe Cooper about some of the signs and their associated body parts. Oh, and don't forget to leave me a message or a comment.
Body Language
It is said
Aries rules the head
Cancer the tum
Sagittarius the bum
With other signs pertaining
To remaining anatomical whereabouts.
The parts we keep under our clothes
Usually have a sign over them which shows
Scorpio rules thereabouts.
It is said
Aries rules the head
Cancer the tum
Sagittarius the bum
With other signs pertaining
To remaining anatomical whereabouts.
The parts we keep under our clothes
Usually have a sign over them which shows
Scorpio rules thereabouts.
10 comments:
Hi Joyce,
This was very interesting. I remember all those Sun sign guides always included a part about the body area that was ruled by one's sun sign.
I find it to be pretty true; I have an Aqaurain hubby who always says his ankles are fragile ( he bumps into things or twists one); my Dad-in-law is an Aries, and will always be fascinated with the "head"; "be careful not to hit your head", he often warns while we do handiwork.He also adores hats, and looks great in them !
And myself ? I get butterflys or upset stomach when irked. Like yourself, a Virgo.
See you soon ;)
Hi Barbara,
Yes, I know exactly what you mean about the fluttering upset tum! Typical Virgo stuff! Interesting to hear that you can relate the other ruled body parts to your family members, too.
Joyce :-)
Hi Joyce,
I stumbled upon this site looking for zodiac signs for canning sauerkraut. My Grandmother always insisted that you must process kraut in the body signs of the head, neck, shoulders and chest. Never in any sign lower than the stomach. My problem is...I can't find a chart, even in the Farmer's Almanac that tells these body signs in each month. Can you help direct me to a usable annual chart?
It is Oct. 29th and I have bought fresh cabbage to make kraut but I want to make sure of the signs.
Thanks for your help.
David
Hi David,
That's pretty amazing that you can sauerkraut according to the zodiac sign concerned - I love to learn about such astrologically-associated things, which are also associated with the agricultural labours and tasks of the year.
If you're planning to can some now with that fresh cabbage, I'm afraid that we're well below the stomach with Sun currently in Scorpio.
I don't know of an almanac which gives the information you seek, although there may well be one. But here's the link to the page of the API(UK) website which gives the dates the 12 zodiac signs:
http://www.api-uk.org/whatis_signs.htm
With these, and the chart of the body parts (and poem) on my posting you should be able to work it out.
Enjoy that sauerkraut!
Joyce
hi barbara,
i m a gemini and have acute respiratory problems and my g/f ( who is very upset with these days) is a virgo and u no what will be he problems Yes stomach upset all the time,,,
but i wonder hw the Scorpois deal with their problems... :P
my bro is one!!!
Hmm... I don't know... I'm a Libra and so far I can't say I've ever had a kidney issue... although I've cracked so many jokes about them it's not funny. My boyfriend, a Pisces, has horrible foot issues though... so I just don't know what to say about all of this.
Hi Joyce,
I stumbled upon your page here and definitely find it very interesting! Here's a few reasons why...
* I'm a Taurus and have had ongoing throat/tonsil issues ever since I was a child. I'm 31 now.
* My boyfriend, a Cancer, is huge fan of large breasts (blush) however I'm not aware of any stomach issues except he can't drink apple juice because it doesn't sit well with him (that's an understatement)
* My brother, Aquarius, has fabulous calf muscles everyone is jealous of.
* My sister, Scorpio, has unfortunately had a recent medical scare of the region Scorpio rules.
I'll have to say, the people back in the 15th century were definitely onto something. I'm going to read up more on this. Thanks for sharing such neat info :)
Hello everybody.
I found this information on Wikipedia about Medical Astrology, it might be of your interest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_astrology
Medical astrology (traditionally known as Iatromathematics) is an ancient medical system that associates various parts of the body, diseases, and drugs as under the influence of the sun, moon, and planets, along with the twelve astrological signs. Each of the astrological signs (along with the sun, moon, and planets) is associated with different parts of the human body. The underlying basis for medical astrology, astrology itself, is considered to be a pseudoscience or superstition as there is no scientific basis for its core beliefs
Medical astrology posits the association of each sign of the zodiac with parts of the body, as follows:
Aries - head, face, brain, eyes
Taurus - throat, neck, thyroid gland, vocal tract
Gemini - arms, lungs, shoulders, hands, nervous system, brain
Cancer - chest, breasts, stomach, alimentary canal
Leo - heart, chest, spine, spinal column, upper back
Virgo - digestive system, intestines, spleen, nervous system
Libra - kidneys, skin, lumbar region, buttocks
Scorpio - reproductive system, sexual organs, bowels, excretory system
Sagittarius - hips, thighs, liver, sciatic nerve
Capricorn - knees, joints, skeletal system
Aquarius - ankles, calves, circulatory system
Pisces - feet, toes, lymphatic system, adipose tissue
The twelve signs cover the body from head (Aries) to toe (Pisces) because Aries is the first sign of the zodiac while Pisces is the last. When the Sun passes from Pisces to Aries on or around March 21, the Vernal equinox occurs, which marks the beginning of a new tropical year. Many astrologers celebrate their New Year when the Sun transits over this point, which is also known as the First Point of Aries.
According to Marcus Manilius (1st century AD) in his epic poem (8000 verses) Astronomica, the signs of the zodiac preside over the parts of the body as follows:
Aries -- the head
Taurus -- the neck and throat
Gemini -- the lungs, arms, and shoulders
Cancer -- the chest, breasts, and stomach
Leo -- the heart and upper back
Virgo -- the abdomen and digestive system
Libra -- the kidneys and lumbar region
Scorpio -- the genitals
Sagittarius -- the hips and thighs
Capricorn -- the knees and bones
Aquarius -- the calves, shins, and ankles
Pisces -- the feet
For Manilius' associations between body parts and the planets, see Planets in astrology
The planets are also associated with certain portions and functions within the body:
Sun - heart, spine, and general vitality
Moon - stomach, digestive system, female organs, lymphatic system
Mercury - brain, central nervous system, thyroid gland, five senses, hands
Venus - throat, kidneys, thymus gland, sense of touch, ovaries
Mars - muscles, head, adrenal glands, senses of smell and taste
Jupiter - liver, thighs, feet, growth, pituitary gland
Saturn - skin, hair, teeth, bones, the body's defenses, spleen
Uranus - parathyroid gland, neural activity, aura
Neptune - pineal gland, psychic healing
Pluto - pancreas, metabolism, elimination
After examining an individual's natal chart, a medical astrologer may give advice to the client about the areas of the body in which they are most likely to experience trouble. For instance, an individual with the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or many planets in the sign of Aries is presumed to have more headaches than other people because of the association of Aries with the head. A person with Taurus strong in the natal chart is predicted to have many sore throats and problems with the voice because of the Taurean association with that particular part of the body.
Hi Carlos,
That is a lot of info to publish but I put it in as people may be interested if they want to take things further.
Yes, I did know about latromathematics/medical astrology etc. so it's good that this info has come from you, a reader, rather than from me, who wrote the post more as a starting point for people to explore this subject in greater depth for themselves.
Joyce
Hi. I am a Leo, and I just wanted to mention that the spine thing is mostly true, as well. When I walk about, my spine is always straight, and my posture is fantastic. My mother always jokes that I even have good posture when slouching.
My Aquarius friend, though she has a rather unshapely body, has fantastic legs (especially her calves)
My Capricorn friend has had knee issues for as long as she can remember, and she often has trouble running or playing sports.
My father, a Libra, has, in fact, had kidney problems throughout his life.
Those crazy, superstitious, old people sure had the right idea!
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