Libra: The Astroherbology Profile

It's time to explore the sign of Libra! You're getting a snapshot into the ever expanding astroherbology magick of the Lunar Apothecary - amazing! 

I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. Learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Zodiac Series. Missed the other signs of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo!

Element: Air
Mode: Cardinal
Guardian Planet: Venus
Direction: West
Season: Autumn (NH), Spring (SH)
House: 7th House / Angular
Lunar Mansions: 15th Mansion, 16th Mansion, + 17th Mansion
Solar Gemstone: Blue Aventurine

Tarot: Justice, The Empress, 2 of Swords (9/23 - 10/2), 3 of Swords (10/3 - 10/12), 4 (10/13 - 10/22) of Swords, the Queen of Swords

Tissue State: Dry Tissue State, Damp/Relaxation Tissue State (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Kidneys and urinary system. Anus. Hormones in general. Endocrine system. Estrogen. Ovaries. Veins. Acid-alkaline balance. Lumber region of the back. Distillation and filtration systems of the body. Posture. 

Imbalances + Diseases: Kidney disease and imbalancesincluding kidney stones, renal colic, and the need for dialysis. Diabetes and sugar addiction. Urinary tract infections and urinary system imbalances including anuria, abscesses, and ulcers. Inflammation of the ureters. Bright’s disease. Skin complaints that cause disfiguration. Eczema. Lower back pain. Varicosities and hemorrhoids. Hormonal imbalance including lack or excess of estrogen. Sexually transmitted infections, especially topical ones. Wasting diseases and general weakness. Struggling to attain equilibrium. Indecisiveness from trying to be too diplomatic. Passive-aggressiveness. Confusion and gullibility. Co-dependent and afraid of conflict.

Disease Degrees: 1 degree: renal pelvis; 2 degrees: renal cortex; 3 degrees: adrenals, abscesses; 4 degrees: kidney surface, abscesses, goiter; 5 degrees: renal pyramids, goiter; 6 degrees: pubis, goiter; 7 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, goiter, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 8 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 9 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 10 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 11 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 12 degrees: left renal system: 13 degrees: right renal system 14 degrees: left inguinal lymph nodes; 15 degrees: right inguinal lymph nodes, suicide, eczema, stroke; 16 degrees: renal arteries, eczema, abscesses, stroke; 17 degrees: suprarenal arteries, abscesses; 18 degrees: fatty capsule of kidney’s, chronic glomerulonephritis, Bright’s disease; 19 degrees: calyx major, Bright’s disease; 20 degrees: calyx minor; 21 degrees: renal hilum; 22 degrees: renal veins; 23 degrees: suprarenal veins; 24 degrees: blood vessels of renal cortex;  25 degrees: blood vessels of renal cortex; 26 degrees: vascular system of skin; 27 degrees: vascular system of skin, tuberculosis; 28 degrees: bladder, hair, tuberculosis; 29 degrees: right ureter bladder, bronchitis; 30 degrees: left ureter, bronchitis.

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Libra: Astringent herbs that are also tonifying when there is too much laxity and indecision. Stimulating herbs as needed to counteract sluggishness. For those Librans needing more Venusian energies in their life (remember, they can swing out of their inherent need for beauty and Venusian healing), anything that is pleasurable and soothing, such as relaxing massages, aromatherapy, and gentle remedies such as flower and gem essences. Making firm choices. Goal-setting. Agreements of accountability around conflict. Establishing balanced relationships with others.

Gifts of Libra: Beauty, diplomacy, sensuality, adventure, a gift of mediation, gracefulness.

Rituals of Libra: Invoking beauty, justice and fairness, teamwork, cooperation, art-based magickal workings, romance, and self-awareness.

Libra Guardian Herbs: Damiana (Turnera diffusa), Violet (Viola tricolor), Rose (Rosa spp.), Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Jasmine (Jasminum spp.), Angelica (Angelica archangelica), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis).

Libra Remedy Herbs: Nettles (Urtica dioica), Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).

Flower + Gem Essences: Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Vervain (Verbena officinalis), Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium), Rose (Rosa damascena), and Rose Quartz.

The Sun in Libra

Lovely Libras! They are the keepers of beauty and the cultivators of pleasure in the zodiac, guarded by the sensuous planet of Venus. Libra folk generally place great emphasis on the interpersonal - whether romantic, familial, or in friendships. Libra folk can often be the most graceful of the zodiac if not physically, than socially and intellectually. The scale is the symbol of this sign and Libra folk place great emphasis on fairness, diplomacy, and that everyone getting their equal share.

The great strengths of Libra can also be their great downfalls. The impossible mission of complete impartiality and the belief in objectivity can keep them from recognizing that the path of wise relationships is built on empathy and effective boundaries. They can easily get caught up in bending over backwards in attempts to be fair, forgetting or not developing their own sense of what they want and who they are in the world. Such dissipation of energy and focus on others can lead to an ungrounded airiness that leads to indecision, lack of focus, and a muddled heart. Attempts to please others can be taken advantage of and their autonomy lost if a Libra folk’s sense of love is compromised. It is all too easy for Libra folk to doubt that they deserve to be loved as much as they love others. It is key for Libra folk to realize what healthy relationships look like, detox from codependent tendencies, and develop a fierceness of judgement. Their desire for fairness and diplomacy can then transform into something more powerful: harmony.

Since they are guarded by such a beneficial planet, Libra folks can be a bit lucky and a lot blessed. Sickness is rare for many Libra folks. They do tend towards the sweeter things in life and can be more prone to sugar addiction and complications including diabetes, unwanted weight gain, and compromised immunity. As they are pleasure-seekers who tend to get away with a lot of poor eating and health habits early in life, it is very important to know that later in life is when their bad habits will often catch up them. They can get caught up in cycles of addiction, especially in regards to sex and alcohol, in an attempt to find an outlet for their energy. Since they are a sign that can tend towards lack of self-interest, they can disregard the need for personal health practices, such as exercise, which is such an important activity for Libra folk to do in order to express their physical energy (even though they can sometimes come off as a low-energy sign). Find pleasurable movement to keep you healthy and well, Libra folks, and indulge! The gifts of Libra folk is that they are creatures of beauty, teaching us how to find and experience beauty in all parts of our lives. 

Libra Guardian Herbs

Passionflower by Oliver P. Quillia

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Passionflower is a lovely herb that has both Venusian energies (the Guardian planet of Libra) and energies of the Moon. The herb is primarily used as a relaxing sedative, calming the mind and soothing the nervous system. It cools the hot-blooded, including gently lowering blood pressure, and relieves migraines, tension, and asthma brought on by heat. Spasms, tremors, hiccups, and convulsions caused by tension and over-excitation are all remedied by Passionflower. Passionflower is a great remedy for overworkers and those who have difficultly taking a genuine break or rest - the herb helps them connect to the Libran desire for beautiful rest in their lives. Speaking of beautiful rest, Passionflower is excellent for those who struggle with insomnia, restoring us to restful sleep pattens and helping us to wake up refreshed. Similar to Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Passionflower helps relieve the constant chatter of a busy brain and at the same time can increase focused calm. Upset and teething children can be soothed by Passionflower’s anodyne qualities (consider using with Chamomile Matricaria recutita if upset tummies are also a problem) and it’s antispasmodic qualities relieve hacking coughs or asthma attacks in both adults and children.

Since it is cooling and dissipating, Passionflower can be used in cases of fever and inflammation of all sorts, including earache, eye inflammation, and toothache. The herb is useful for heavy menstruation and cramping, as well as easing difficult labor pains and contractions. Emotionally, Passionflower is a great ally to have around during nervous breakdowns and healing crisis where emotions are raw and anxiety is high. It helps to calm and re-balance through alleviating emotional confusion.

Enjoy a full profile on Passionflower and more Libran herbs in the Lunar Apothecary!

Libra Remedy Herbs

Ashwagandha by Wowbobwow12

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Ashwagandha is an herb that has been used for thousand of years within Ayurvedic medicine and is an excellent adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens in general, could fall under the umbrella of “Libran Remedy Herbs” because Libra guards homeostasis which adaptogens are so effective at bringing us back to. Since Libra has dissipating energies because of its planet Venus, the sign can tend towards general weakness and slow recovery time after illness. Ashwagandha is a supreme restorative, rebuilding strength and stamina in the body. Libra is also an air sign and when air is askew it can lead to muddled thoughts, poor memory, and difficultly learning. Ashwagandha restores mental clarity and prepares the mind for learning. It is useful in the treatment of learning disorders and conditions such as ADHD.

Additionally, Ashwagandha is a immunostimulant and is especially effective at increasing the effectiveness of a chronically underperforming immune system including conditions such as HIV, MS, lupus, and fibromyalgia. The herb can also be taken alongside antibiotics to protect the immune system and promote a healthy recovery from illness. Like other Libran herbs, Ashwagandha promotes fertility, balances menstruation, and has an affinity for the urinary system.

Want to learn more? Find more Libran herbs and herbs for the entire zodiac as well as tutorials, rituals, charms, and more in the Lunar Apothecary!

Sun in Libra Flower Essence

Chicory by Alvesgaspar 

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

While Libra is a sign that can be the most magnanimous and desirous of love and a multitude of loving relationships, they are a sign that come become uncertain if they are loved when they fall out of balance. Balance is so important to our Libran folk, but sometimes the idea of maintaining balance is confused with always being fair or never experiencing conflict. Patterns can appear in their lives which have them questioning those they are in relationship with (wether a romantic, parental, or friend relationship), if they are really loved. Their need of reassurance becomes burdensome and problematic, which is when the flower essence of Chicory becomes indispensable. Chicory is the “unconditional love” essence. It is good not only for out-of-balance Librans but for folks who have truly experienced a lack of love and care in their life, which leads to being able to love oneself. Chicory helps us to connect to our self-love and to accept the love of others without the constant fear of love being lost. Chicory teaches us that, yes, love does transform and is transforming, but it can never be lost.

Ready to learn more?

• Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources and the other posts in my Astroherbology series.

• Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

• The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.

Taurus: The Astroherbology Profile

It's time to explore the sign of Taurus! I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. Learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Zodiac Series. Missed the first sign of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries!

Looking for inspiration and plant allies for the season of Taurus? Come this way!

Element: Earth
Mode: Fixed
Guardian Planet: Venus
Direction: East (traditional)
Season: Spring (NH), Autumn (SH)
House: 2nd House / Succedent
Lunar Mansions: 3rd Mansion, 4th Mansion, + 5th Mansion (Learn more about the Lunar Mansions)
Solar Gemstone: Amber
Tarot: The Hierophant, the Empress, 5 of Pentacles (4/12 - 4/30), 6 of Pentacles (5/1 - 5/10), 7 of Pentacles (5/11 - 5/20), Knight of Pentacles
Tissue State: Cold/Depression (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Throat, neck, vocal cords, thyroid, voice, and middle ear. Metabolic system, medulla oblongata, and hearing. Salivary glands, taste buds, and teeth of the lower jaw. Jugular veins, cervical nerves of the blood vessels, and bladder. Procreative desire. Base of the skull. Find out more about the astrological correspondences to our bodies.

Imbalances + Diseases: Including sore throats, tonsillitis, thyroid conditions (especially hypothyroid), and overindulgence. The formation of tumors. Slow digestion, excess weight, and weak metabolism. Hearing loss and ear infections. Excess mucus in the upper respiratory system. Apoplexy, loss of coordination between organ systems, erratic movements, and paralysis. Glandular swelling, goiter, gout, bad blood. Loss of voice and vocal cord conditions. Sore throat, bronchial complaints, dry cough, tonsillitis, ulcerated throat, and diseases or injuries to the larynx and vocal cords. Accumulation of toxins especially in the intestinal tract and congested colon. Overly cold and dried out. Tend towards more persistent and chronic conditions - through their stubbornness they can tend to hold onto disease. Resisting change, ungrounded stubbornness, avoiding conflict, hurtful, brutish, brooding, lack of reflection on their emotions, and melancholic. 

Disease Degrees: 1 degree: palate; 2 degrees: pharynx - oral part; 3 degrees: uvula; 4 degrees: Pharyngeal cavity; 5 degrees: larynx; 0 - 6 degrees: drowning; 6 degrees: vocal cords; 7 degrees: cervical nerves; 8 degrees: alcoholism, jugular veins; 9 degrees: cervical veins, neurasthenia; 10 - 13 degrees: cervical and bravial plexi, neurasthenia; 14 degrees: true vocal cords; 15 degrees: epiglottis; 16 degrees: carotid arteries, abscess; 17 degrees: thyroid glands and tonsils; 18 degrees: lymph vessels, hair; 19 degrees: maxillary artery, alcoholism, goiter; 20 degrees: occiput, goiter, alcoholism; 21 degrees: arteries of the nasal cavity, alcoholism; 22 degrees: tongue muscles, rheumatism, alcoholism; 23 degrees: teeth, rheumatism, alcoholism; 24 degrees: upper jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism; 25 degrees: lower jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism, adenoids, suicide; 26 degrees: nasal bone; 27 degrees: atlas, alcoholism; 28 degrees: alcoholism, deltoid muscle and main neck muscles; 29 degrees: deltoid muscle and main neck muscles, eyesight; 30 degrees: Trapezius muscle. 

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Taurus: Warming and stimulating activities, with emphasis on detoxifying activities. Eating a whole foods diet is important to all signs, but Taurus folk need to be especially mindful of the quality of their food and eating mindfully. 

Gifts of Taurus: Resourcefulness, grounding and centering, body knowledge, long-term planning, and consistent energy.

Rituals of Taurus: Expressing body-positive sensuality, fertility and abundance, successful long-term plans, such as business endeavors or big material investments, stability, and invoking or supporting long-term romantic partnerships. Artistic and musical rituals in which the pleasure of the senses are indulged.

Taurus Guardian Herbs: Sage (Salvia officinalis), Rose (Rosa spp.), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Plantain (Plantago major), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Taurus Remedy Herbs: Gingko (Gingko biloba), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera), Burdock (Arctium lappa)

Flower + Gem Essences: Aspen (Populus tremula), Gentian (Gentiana amarella), Peacock Ore, Willow (Salix vitellina)

The Sun in Taurus

Taurus is the first earth sign and fixed sign of the zodiac and they embody these energies well. Where Aries is quick-moving, Taurus is slow and steady. The bulls are typically the longest lived of all the signs of the zodiac even with their tendency that when they do get sick for it to be a permanent or chronic condition. Earthly, sensual, and indulgent pleasure (as opposed to the more artistic and balanced pleasure of Libra) can be a focus of Taurus folks. Overindulgence is something to be wary of if you your Sun or Ascendent is in Taurus or if many of your other planets are in the sign of the Bull. Typically, Taurus folks tends towards the materialistic such as the garden growing in their backyard versus a mystical garden of new age enlightenment located halfway between paradise and nirvana. 

If you have known someone with a strong Sun in Taurus, you have probably met the legendary stubbornness of the sign. Think about the idea of being “bull-headed” and you’ll begin to understand the Taurean temperament. They very much need to believe that something is their idea before they commit and if they aren’t interested or perceive something to be not useful, they can be hurtful in how they express their opinions. Learning to connect with their emotional world and not just the physical world is a challenge for most Taurus folks but well worth the effort if they want as enduring and fruitful a relationship with others as they have with their garden. All that said, Taurus folks are very loyal in relationships, their endurance for seeing a project through is matched only by their stubbornness, and they can be profoundly inspiring when it comes to helping folks re-member and re-connect to the sacredness of physical embodiment. 

As mentioned earlier, Taurus folks are typically the longest lived of all of the signs (again, it could be said that they stubbornly refuse to depart their physical form until they damn well want to). They can tend towards diseases and imbalances of congestion, cold, and impurity - they need to be very aware of what they eat and being sure to engage in regular energizing activities. The gift of Taurus Sun folks is that they are so blessedly grounded. They remind us to take pleasure in the physicality of life and not get so lost in our heads and the abstraction of pleasure or whether we should be desiring it. Be your pleasure, is what Sun in Taurus folks teach us.

Taurus Guardian Herbs

Rose by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Rose (Rosa spp.)

18th century herbalist, J. Quincy, wrote that Rose “raises the spirits and gives sudden strength and cheerfulness” and categorized Rose as primarily a Cardiac and Cephalic or relating to the head. (1) In addition to strengthening the heart, Roses assist with memory and promotes clarity of mind, heart, and spirit by connecting all three. Rose nourishes the body and is sweet medicine which calms the nervous system. Within Ayurveda, Rose is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) and medhya (brain tonic + nervine) for all of the doshas. A very Taurean herb, indeed!

As an aphrodisiac, Rose is an opener - it opens the heart and body to sensual experience. Like many aphrodisiacs, Rose has nervine and nourishing qualities which help to relax and soothe the body so that it may become ready and desirous of intimacy. Additionally, Rose has also been shown to increase sperm count if fertility has been compromised because of lackluster sperm.

The benefits of Rose for the skin are manifold (anti-inflammatory, astringent, vitamin and mineral rich) and can be used in oils, scrubs, and baths for skin health and beauty. As a humectant, Rose Water adds and maintains water to the skin. Keep Rose Water in a spray bottle to use as a mild antiseptic for first aid needs.

As an herb of Venus, which is Taurus’ Guardian Planet, Rose and other Venusian herbs typically balance and cool the fiery energies of Mars in a chart. 

The latter was a sample from the much longer Rose Plant Profile available to my Lunar Apothecary students. Learn about the Rose Plant Personality, Rose Remedies, and a more in-depth exploration of Rose’s healing qualities as a member of the Lunar Apothecary!

Taurus Remedy Herb

image via wikimedia.org

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

While warming herbs might be needed for Taurus folks who have fallen out of balance (such as Rosemary or Ginger), I generally reach for a tonic herb such as Ginkgo which connects with the underlying of wisdom of Taurus. Ginkgo is the oldest living plant species on earth and has more or less stayed the same for 200 million years. I mean, come on, how much more Taurus can you get? A longevity herb for a sign known for its longevity helps Taurus folks relax into and connect with the healing qualities of Ginkgo.

Ginkgo is an antioxidant-rich, blood-clearing, memory sharpening teacher. Taurus folk can have difficulty connecting the physical reality with their emotional experiences, so Ginkgo can help them learn to interact with their emotional and spiritual landscape. I have also found the plant to help open up pathways to useful communication which Taurus folk can struggle to find when they feel apathetic, depressed, or ignoring and/or confused by their emotions. Ginkgo is clearing, moving out stagnation that may have settled in the body as pain, whether the slow healing of wounds or painful pre-menstrual tension. 

As a longevity herb, Ginkgo not only helps us live longer but live longer with vitality. My experiences with the herb is that because it connects the brain and heart (via the blood) so well it helps us to make better choices that will support vitality into our elder years.

Sun in Taurus Flower Essence

Peacock Ore supports the foundational gifts of Taurusfolk – making spirit into matter – and helps keep them from feeling that they are stuck in the mud when life feels burdensome and challenging. The stone itself looks like a healing Taurean aura - dark and rich with rainbow gleams of fertile promise. The stone aligns the energy centers of the body and creates energetic motion which can be very useful for Taurus folks who feel stuck or bogged down. Peacock Ore helps connects us back to hope in times of hopelessness and joy when it is needed most.

Ready to learn more?

• Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources.

• Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

• Looking for inspiration for Taurus season? Come this way!

• The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.

• Want to create a healing Taurus recipe? Check out my Beautiful Sustenance Chaga Chai!

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Footnotes

(1) Tobyn, Graeme, Alison Denham, and Margaret Whitelegg. The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 Years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2011.