Astral Polarities & Organ Systems

Something that struck me when first studying medical astrology and its connection to herbal medicine, was how it illuminated hidden relationships within the body. Patterns that might not be apparent on the surface—or even those that seem obvious—take on new depth when viewed through the lens of astrology. The frequent correlations between celestial archetypes and physiological functions suggest a deep interconnectivity.

I’m fascinated by patterns, and think of myself as a pattern nerd, and this is one of the reasons I appreciate medicine traditions that reveal patterns and offer alternative perspectives on anatomy and physiology beyond the modern scientific approach. 

Ayurveda, for example, recognizes the connection between the lungs, colon, and nervous system through vata dosha. This insight is profound: when stress and anxiety elevate vata, one of the simplest ways to ground is by taking a deep breath. This connection between the lungs, nervous system, and colon becomes clear in everyday experiences—anyone who has experienced constipation knows how it can also constipate the mind, making concentration difficult to impossible. I’ve only been constipated once in my life and it felt like my brain was full of cotton balls! I couldn’t think clearly and felt spaced out and tired. Recognizing the vata increase and blockage helped me understand what was going on. 

12 Signs or 6 Oppositions?

Astrology, at its core, is a study of interconnection. Nothing exists in isolation, and the circular design of the natal chart is a visual representation of this. Each planetary position forms angular relationships, communicating with the whole. 

One of the most insightful patterns in astrology that I’m constantly learning from, comes from Judith Hill. My friend Tyler Penor of the School of Living Astrology also talks about this. They both teach the six fundamental archetypes structured as oppositions, forming the 12 zodiac signs.

Learning about the signs in opposition and relationship to one another makes learning astrology much easier. We gain insight into the nature of the signs by studying their opposites. In medical astrology, these oppositions offer insights into the structure of the body, the influence of these archetypal forces, and the connections between the body and psyche.

In my opinion, to truly understand any zodiac sign, we must also study its opposite. Though these signs are at opposite ends of the chart, they’re inseparable, as they represent the two sides of the same archetypal energy. Understanding these oppositional patterns gives us a new way to understand the body. 

As herbalists, this is one of our chief focuses—we need to develop the ability to see these oppositional patterns because the human body is very complex. We need systems that help make our practice more effective at addressing complex modern health concerns.

This perspective has been a game-changer for me, and I hope it will be for you as well. While an in-depth exploration of each sign polarity could fill volumes, I want to provide a high-level overview of these six axes to illustrate how they form a functional system within the body. 

Signs govern areas and parts of the body, but the axes form functional systems that are essential to knowing the whole picture. Understanding these polarities is crucial in cases where practitioners struggle to see astrological correlations in a client’s chart. Sometimes, the answer lies not in a single placement but in the dynamic interplay between opposites. While we could explore many psychological aspects of these axes, I’ll focus on the physiological perspective today. So, without further ado, let’s dig into the six axes. 

The Six Axes of Medical Astrology

Aries–Libra: Acid-Alkaline and Endocrine-Vitality Balance

The acid-alkaline balance plays a significant role in this axis. Aries governs the head, while Libra governs the kidneys. Interestingly, Aries is also associated with the adrenal glands. I like to think of it this way: Libra governs the kidneys, and Aries governs the adrenals, which sit right on top of the kidneys—an intriguing relationship. The adrenals don’t function in isolation; they are connected to a greater axis of endocrine function, commonly referred to as the HPA axis—the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis. 

The hypothalamus and pituitary are in the brain, the domain of Aries. When this axis becomes overstimulated—essentially, when the stress response is activated for too long—it drains vitality. Anyone who has experienced chronic stress knows how deeply exhausting it can be.

In Chinese medicine, the concept of Kidney goes beyond filtering and urine production. It holds the body’s primal Fire and Water and its jing—vital essence. A fast-paced, stressful lifestyle and poor sleep (doing things we know we shouldn’t but do anyway) depletes our vitality.

This excess Aries energy—an overstimulated HPA axis—can create a deficiency in Libra’s domain, the kidneys. The kidneys symbolize balance: Fire and Water. When stress over-activates the system, Kidney yin and yang can become deficient. This axis highlights the connection between the glandular-hormonal system and Kidney vitality.

Medical astrology typically doesn’t frame the western kidneys like Chinese medicine, but I see a strong parallel. Libra, as the balancing force, the scales, corresponds well with the interplay of Kidney yin and yang, primal Fire and Water, and overall balance.

It is also generally considered to represent the acid-alkaline balance of the system, with Aries being acidic in nature (a notable Mars quality) and Libra being alkaline in nature (a notable Venus quality).

Taurus–Scorpio: Intake and Elimination

The Taurus-Scorpio axis is a fascinating one full of profound connections. Taurus governs the ears, lower jaw, and throat, while Scorpio governs the lower pelvic region, including the bladder, colon, and reproductive system. A key connection here is the excretory system. Scorpio represents elimination—urination, defecation, and removal of waste from the body. Taurus, on the other hand, represents intake, taking in nourishment through food and drink. Together, they form an axis of nourishment and waste. 

We see another striking dynamic in puberty. During this stage, the voice deepens (Taurus) and the reproductive system matures (Scorpio). When I first learned this, I thought, “Of course! That makes so much sense.” This axis becomes active during puberty. It also provides support with dietary choices, including understanding which foods are appropriate for our unique constitution and their effects on digestion and elimination, particularly bowel health. It’s especially helpful for those with conditions like Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other digestive disorders, as we are able to note which foods we eat (Taurus) are impacting the health of the colon (Scorpio).

Gemini–Sagittarius: Breath and Circulation 

As we move downward through the body from Aries (the head) to Pisces (the feet), we pass through Taurus and into Gemini, where we see a division: two lungs, two arms, two hands. This is fitting considering Gemini is associated with the symbolic twins. It is closely tied to motor skills, movement, and respiration, and as such has a strong correlation to the nervous system— though the entire mutable cross has nervous system associations.

Sagittarius, on the opposite side, governs the hips and thighs. This axis is deeply connected to movement, which is why Sagittarius is associated with long-distance travel (whereas Gemini is short distance travel) and the nervous system.

Sagittarius and its ruler, Jupiter, are linked to arterial circulation—bringing oxygenated blood from the lungs throughout the body. So with Gemini, you have breathing; then with Sagittarius, you have arterial circulation, which sends that oxygenated blood out through the rest of the system.

While Aquarius is often associated with oxygenation, Sagittarius is responsible for picking up oxygen at the lungs and distributing it.

Breathing is an especially important aspect of this axis. Respiration is both voluntary and involuntary—you breathe automatically but you can also control it. Conscious breathing can regulate the nervous system. When someone is stressed or anxious, deep breathing helps calm the nerves, demonstrating the Gemini-Sagittarius connection between respiration and nervous system function. These are both mutable signs, a vata dynamic, another interesting layer of connection.

Cancer–Capricorn: Nourishment and Structure

The Cancer-Capricorn axis is all about nourishment and structure, or I like to think of it as absorption and deposition. Cancer governs the breasts and breast milk which nourishes the fetus. Cancer also governs the stomach, which is the first step in digestion. Capricorn governs structural elements of the body: the bones, teeth, and joints, particularly the knees. The joints as a whole fall under the domain of Capricorn and Saturn.

This polarity is evident in the stomach: Cancer governs digestive juices, and the stomach functions through both chemical (Cancer) and mechanical (Capricorn) digestion. The stomach’s churning action is a Capricornian function, breaking down food physically.

We also see this interplay in the joints, where various tissues—bone, tendon, ligament, and cartilage—fall under Capricorn, while synovial fluid and bursae, which provide lubrication and mobility, are governed by Cancer. Without the fluidity of Cancer, our movements would be rigid and skeletal. Cancer brings fluidity, while Capricorn provides the structure.

While Taurus is ingestion and Scorpio is excretion, Cancer and Capricorn work together in the initial digestion in the stomach and facilitate absorption. Capricorn/Saturn governs the ultimate deposition of nutrients into the deepest, densest structures of the body—bones. They represent two ends of a spectrum. Another example is the teeth (Capricorn), and the gums and saliva (Cancer). These two work together functionally in digestion.

Leo–Aquarius: Circulation

The Leo-Aquarius axis governs circulation. Leo relates to the heart, circulatory system as a whole, and spinal cord. Aquarius governs peripheral circulation, particularly the capillary beds and venous return. Again, we see two ends of a spectrum: Leo, the heart at the center, and Aquarius, the furthest reaches of the circulatory system.

Aquarius is linked to the body’s electrical system, particularly the heart’s electrical impulses. The heart beats in a spiral-like motion, ensuring efficient blood flow through its 4 chambers. The nodes, such as the sinoatrial node, regulate this process. Those little electrical impulses are an Aquarian function.

Additionally, there is electrical signaling between the heart and peripheral circulation in order to regulate the distribution of blood throughout the system For example, after eating, the liver has some processing to do. The liver sends a signal to dilate the hepatic artery, bringing in fresh oxygenated blood to process nutrients. This communication, from the periphery of the capillary beds in the liver to the heart, will reorder the blood distribution as the body needs. These signaling and electrical aspects are Aquarian. 

Virgo–Pisces: Digestion and Immunity

The Virgo-Pisces axis is connected to digestion and immunity. Virgo governs the small intestine, liver, and abdominal cavity. Pisces rules the lymphatic system, which plays a key role in immunity. 

As the sign of the fish and the water element, Pisces corresponds to the body’s inner ocean—extracellular fluid and lymph. The lymphatic system is a primary filter, cleansing the body and housing a large portion of our immune function. An interesting component here is the GALT, Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue, which highlights the Virgo-Pisces connection. Much of our immunity is in the gut, with significant communication between the gut, brain, and liver.

The digestive-immune axis plays a significant role in conditions like intestinal epithelial membrane dysfunction—leaky gut, food intolerances, allergies, and autoimmunity.

The autoimmune pattern is sympathetically related to the Pisces-Virgo axis.

Many autoimmune issues stem from gut dysfunction, triggering systemic inflammation and immune responses. The Virgo-Pisces axis sheds light on these patterns.

Additionally, this axis has a neurological component, as a part of the mutable cross with Sagittarius and Gemini. While Sagittarius and Gemini governs the nervous system overall, Virgo and Pisces also connect through the neurological control of digestion. Considering how common gut issues and autoimmunity are today, this axis offers important insights into how these bodily systems communicate and influence overall health. Understanding these oppositions helps us see how different parts of the body work together, governed by these archetypal forces.

Trines and Squares

Understanding these oppositions and systems helps us see how different areas of the body communicate and are governed by archetypal forces.

This perspective is useful not just physiologically but also psychologically and emotionally. And we can go deeper. So far, we’ve only looked at oppositions. But as I mentioned at the beginning, everything is communicating. Everything is in relationship. Because of this, we can gain further insights into the body by studying the governance and rulership of different areas and the relationships in the chart.

For example, we can look at trines—120-degree relationships that form an equilateral triangle, a symbol of harmony. Trines always share an elemental connection, whether Water, Air, Fire, or Earth. Each element expresses itself differently depending on its mode—mutable, fixed, or cardinal. 

The Water trine, for instance, consists of mutable Pisces, fixed Scorpio, and cardinal Cancer. Studying trine patterns can reveal how related areas of the body interact and which systems they govern, making this an incredibly insightful approach to medical astrology. These are essentially cooperative systems that work together in harmony. We thus have a Water system, a Fire system, an Air system, and an Earth system, each comprised of the three signs of that Element existing in different modes.

We can also examine the nature of squares, which reflect modal synergy, but elemental conflict. These include the cardinal, fixed, and mutable crosses, with oppositions as part of the tension dynamic but squares representing points of conflict. This is where conflict and miscommunication can arise in the body—where an issue in one area creates dysfunction in another. I think of it as elemental conflict: cardinal Earth, cardinal Water, cardinal Air, and cardinal Fire all in a state of tension, whether through opposition or a 90-degree angle, which is the square. Understanding these interactions helps us understand how issues arise and, hopefully, pinpoint the root cause of a problem and where to focus therapeutics.

Reflex and Quincunx

This brings me to my final thought: the nature of reflex. Everything in the body and the chart is interconnected. Let’s say someone has kidney issues, but you check Libra—the sign ruling the kidneys—and nothing stands out. There is no activity in Libra or major placements in the seventh house. Where’s the Libra influence? This is where reflex comes in and why it’s helpful to understand these oppositions.

If the person has kidney problems, you would think there would be a lot going on in the kidney areas of the chart. Instead of focusing on Libra, we can look to its opposite—Aries. If there’s significant activity in Aries, it may not be causing an Aries-related issue but instead reflexing to Libra. This is a common pattern and a great starting point for assessing afflictions and determining the best course of action for healing. Reflex typically involves oppositions, but squares can be a contributing factor, particularly in cases of imbalance or pathology. 

There’s another layer that applies specifically to Mars: the quincunx, which is a 150-degree relationship. I learned from my teacher, Judith Hill, that the Mars quincunx is one of the most important aspects of medical astrology. One hundred fifty degrees is the distance from the first house (the ascendant and our constitution) to the sixth house (the house of health and daily life). These two houses are intimately linked: how we live daily affects our constitution, and our constitution shapes how we live. It makes sense that the 150-degree relationship would have strong implications for health. According to Judith, it most specifically applies when Mars is involved.

I hope you found this exploration interesting. I find it fascinating and it offers deep insight into the body’s interconnectivity. Astrology gives us powerful tools as herbalists to understand what’s happening with a person, identify root causes, and determine the best way to support healing. That’s what it’s all about—understanding what we need to do to help people in the most effective way possible.

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