讀書筆記：Planetary Sympathy and Astrotherapeutics
一邊做著每日洗衣、清潔工作，一邊把這一集聽完。內容有點複雜，所以直接把連結餵給 Google NotebookLM 整理重點如下。（結果還是很長）
Briefing Document: Planetary Sympathy and Astrotherapeutics
Source: Excerpts from "Planetary Sympathy and Astrotherapeutics" podcast episode from "Plant Path."
Date of Source: Not explicitly stated, but mentions a free mini-course opening March 25th, 2025.
Main Theme: This podcast episode explores the concept of sympathetic medicine within the practice of astroerbalism, contrasting it with antipathetic medicine and delving into the layers of sympathy between plants and planets. The speaker, whose name is not provided, outlines a more nuanced understanding of planetary correspondences in herbalism, proposing a classification system based on whether a plant acts as a builder, neutral, or eliminator of a planetary quality.
Key Concepts and Ideas:
- Sympathetic vs. Antipathetic Medicine:
- Antipathetic Medicine: Based on the principle of opposites balancing each other (e.g., cooling for heat, moistening for dryness). The speaker notes that this is the foundation of many traditional herbal medicine systems like Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, and Greco-Humoral medicine.
- Sympathetic Medicine: Described as "illogical medicine or not illogical but beyond logic." It involves "like treats like" and is exemplified by homeopathy (similia similibus curentur). In the context of astroerbalism and Paracelsian alchemy, it suggests that a plant correlated to a particular planet embodies characteristics of that planet, which can then influence a person when the plant is used medicinally, especially in alchemically prepared (spagyric) forms.
- Paracelsus's Principle: "Every planet cures its own disease." This forms the basis for astrological correspondences in herbal medicine, suggesting that plants associated with a particular planet can address imbalances related to that planetary archetype.
- Layers of Sympathy Between Plant and Planet: The speaker proposes a spectrum of sympathy and antipathy and identifies several layers:
- Organ System and Tissue Affinity: Planets are traditionally associated with specific parts of the body. Plants that have an affinity for those same organs or tissues can be considered sympathetic to that planet. Examples include:
- Venus: Kidneys and female reproductive system.
- Mars: Immune system, adrenal glands, and male reproductive system.
- Jupiter: Liver and metabolism.
- Saturn: Bones, teeth, structural tissues, and joints.
- Sun: Heart, circulation, and vital force.
- Moon: Stomach and bodily fluids/mucosa.
- Mercury: Respiratory system, brain, and nerves.
- Quote: "if there is an herb that you know say there's an herb that has an influence on the blood and the immune system and the male reproductive system uh such as nettles different parts of the plant um but nettles as a whole does in fact impact those areas we that's a pretty strong sympathetic correlation to Mars."
- Energetics: Planets are associated with different energetic qualities (warming, cooling, moistening, drying, tonifying/astringent, relaxing). Herbs possessing similar energetics can be seen as sympathetic to those planets.
- Warming: Mars and Sun.
- Cooling: Saturn and Moon.
- Moistening: Moon and Venus.
- Drying: Sun and Mars.
- Relaxant: Mercury and Venus.
- Tonic/Astringent: Saturn.
- Types of Conditions Treated: Plants used to treat conditions associated with a particular planet can also be considered sympathetic to it. However, this layer often overlaps with organ system affinities. The speaker cautions that the specific qualities of the herb (energetics, actions) are crucial for further differentiation.
- Example: Blood disorders like anemia can be associated with Mars.
- Complexity and Nuance: The speaker emphasizes that the relationship between plants and planets is complex and not always straightforward. A single plant can exhibit sympathetic attributes to one planet and antipathetic attributes (treating an excess) to the same or another planet.
- Example (Nettles): Sympathetic to Mars due to its affinity for blood, immune system, and male reproductive system (organ affinity and treating Mars conditions). Also shows Mars signatures morphologically (prickliness, heat). However, it can also treat Mars excesses (heat, irritation, allergies), potentially appearing antipathetic. Additionally, it has Venusian aspects due to its diuretic action via the kidneys.
- Example (Agrimony): Primarily placed under Venus due to its affinity for the urinary tract and kidneys. It is astringent and tonifying, which can treat an excess of Venusian relaxation in these organs, seemingly acting antipathetically to a Venusian quality while addressing a Venusian organ. It also has relaxing psychological effects, aligning with Venus.
- Refining Planetary Correspondences: The Builder, Neutral, Eliminator Model: Inspired by William LeSassier's triune system of herbal classification (builder, neutral, eliminator to an organ system), the speaker proposes applying this framework to understanding planetary sympathies.
- Builder: A plant that builds or enhances the qualities of a planet.
- Neutral: A plant that balances or harmonizes the energies of a planet.
- Eliminator: A plant that helps to clear excesses or imbalances associated with a planet.
- Example (Nettles Revisited):
- Mars Builder: Nourishes the blood (high in minerals and iron).
- Mars Eliminator: Clears heat, stagnation, and damp heat. Addresses benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by reducing swelling.
- Mars Neutral: Acts as a balancing force to the archetype of Mars.
- The speaker believes this refined understanding can clarify seemingly contradictory actions of herbs in relation to planetary influences.
- Call to Action: The speaker announces a free "Astroerbalism Mini-Course" opening on March 25th, 2025, at evolutionaryherbalism.com, encouraging listeners to sign up for the email list to receive updates and join the waiting list. The course will delve deeper into the synergy between astrology and herbal medicine, covering fundamentals, anatomy/physiology, herb properties, relating plants to planets, and natal chart application.
Quotes:
- "every planet cures its own disease" (attributing to Paracelsus).
- "sympathetic medicine is In contrast to antipathetic medicine antipathetic medicine is a little easier to describe so I'll talk about that first and it's very simple opposites balance" (describing the fundamental difference).
- "this topic is really hard to talk about because in a way it is it's like a zen cone like what's the sound of one hand clapping it's like everything about it is uh paradoxical almost" (referring to the complexity of sympathetic medicine).
- "if there is an herb that you know say there's an herb that has an influence on the blood and the immune system and the male reproductive system uh such as nettles different parts of the plant um but nettles as a whole does in fact impact those areas we that's a pretty strong sympathetic correlation to Mars" (illustrating organ system affinity).
Most Important Ideas/Facts:
- Sympathetic medicine, in the context of astroerbalism, is based on the principle that "like influences like" and that planets and their corresponding plants share inherent qualities.
- Planetary sympathy can be understood through multiple layers, including organ system affinity, energetics, and the types of conditions treated.
- The relationship between plants and planets is complex, and a single herb can exhibit both sympathetic and seemingly antipathetic actions towards a planet.
- The speaker proposes a more nuanced system for understanding planetary correspondences by classifying herbs as builders, neutrals, or eliminators of planetary qualities, inspired by LeSassier's triune system.
- A free astroerbalism mini-course will be available starting March 25th, 2025, for those interested in learning more.
This briefing document provides a comprehensive overview of the main themes and important ideas discussed in the provided excerpts on planetary sympathy and astrotherapeutics. The speaker encourages a deeper and more nuanced understanding of plant-planet correspondences for practitioners of both astroerbalism and alchemical herbalism.
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30幾分鐘的影片，整理起來很長，不過我最有興趣的是最後提到的 William LeSassier's Triune System。
學習傳統藥草學的路上，我學過阿育吠陀的 Vata, Pitta, Kapha 三種 doshas 構成人的體質；煉金術裡面談到三種物質組成元素/屬性 Mercury, Sulfur 和 Salt；從占星學角度切入也有三種屬性 ─ 開創、變動。這個影片裡面提到 William Sheldon （1940）提出的三種體型 （Somatotypes）：ectomorph（瘦長型）, mesomorph（結實型） 和 endomorph（圓潤型）
這些「三元」的分類方法，彼此都可以找到對應。
William LeSassier 的三元系統，把藥草作用區分為 builders, eliminators, 和 neutrals 。帶入分析藥草的 sympathetic medicine 概念，讓我們在藥草與行星之間的對應關係，可以有更細緻的理解。
- Mars Builder: Nourishes the blood (high in minerals and iron).
- Mars Eliminator: Clears heat, stagnation, and damp heat. Addresses benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by reducing swelling.
- Mars Neutral: Acts as a balancing force to the archetype of Mars.
- Mars Builder- 富含礦物質與鐵，滋養補血
- Mars Eliminator - 降低發炎反應、解熱，清血，消腫
- Mars Neutral - 平衡火星能量
從這個角度看，我們過去推敲藥草行星屬性，會說蕁麻葉對應火星，有時是 sympathic 的作用 ─ 導致發炎，有時是 antipatheic ─ 抗發炎。但疊上這個 Triune System 之後，似乎又可以說，這些其實都是 sympathetic。
也就是說，不管是增加、減少、平衡，都是在火星的能量軸線上工作，因此都是 sympathetic。感覺又更加拋開對抗/對立醫療的概念，而是回到能量平衡這個面向上。
More food for thought.
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這裡記錄著喜歡香草，喜歡香氛，喜歡喇皂，喜歡料理的女巫阿娥的各種手做皂與香氛小物，分享阿娥的生活種種。喜歡阿娥寫的東西，可以請阿娥喝咖啡，但我會把錢拿去買書。
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