Thursday 23 October 2014

Astrological Significations of Mental Illness

Mental illness is a subject not often addressed in astrology. One reason may be the emphasis on prediction in Vedic astrology, leaving “psychological” astrology to Western astrologers. Another, more probable reason may be because many astrologers, Vedic or otherwise, simply do not feel equipped or knowledgeable enough to deal with this subject. This may be deemed an area best left to therapists or medical professionals.
We may come across the charts of individuals or work with clients who experience existential or neurotic crises. However, it is an altogether different matter when addressing the issues ranging from borderline psychosis to actively psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia or manic depressive states (or “Bi-polar Affective Disorder” – the less pejorative contemporary medical term.)
As an experienced Astrologer, I have worked for over twenty years with individuals who suffer from mental illness. When individuals with a history of chronic psychiatric illness are in remission and well, it may be impossible for a lay person to “identify” that only recently they may have been experiencing hellish hallucinations or perhaps felt suicidal.
My point is not to stigmatize or scaremonger, but rather to emphasise that as practicing astrologers, we have an obligation to be aware that people may seek astrological advice during difficult periods in their lives. If an astrologer gives advice and cannot recognize the potential mental health problems from the natal chart, they are doing the client an extreme disfavor. How then do we gain the knowledge of this aspect of astrology?
Interestingly, classical astrological texts did address some of the possible indicators of severe mental illness.
As with any astrological work, listings of any medical / spiritual illnesses should not be taken in a literal cookbook fashion, but applied in a studied, judicious manner, after examining the whole chart.
The “Jataka Tattva” lists some of the following conditions as possible combinations for mental illness:
1.   Jupiter in the ascendant and Mars in the seventh house or vice versa.
2.   Saturn in the lagna and Mars in the 5th, 7th or 9th house.
3.    Saturn in the 12th house associated with a waning Moon.
4.   Saturn in the lagna, Sun in the 12th house and Mars or the Moon in a trine.
5.   Association of Saturn and the lord of the second house with the Sun or Mars.
6.   Birth in the hora of Saturn or Mars, a Sun-Moon conjunction in the lagna, the 5th or the 9th, and Jupiter in a quadrant.
7.   Mandi (the malefic sub-planet that has no physical existence but has a Saturn-like quality) in the 7th, afflicted by a malefic. The same result may apply if Mandi is in the 5th house.
8.   Rahu and the Moon in the Lagna, and malefics in the trines. (i.e., “Pishacha Grasta” Yoga, a combination for being overtaken by the “spirits”, indicative of phobias.)
As previously stated this must be corroborated by other indicators such as:
1.   Afflictions to the Moon (mind), Mercury (nervous system) and Jupiter (maturity / wisdom). Particularly, when all three of these planets are afflicted, conditions leading to mental illness are highly possible.
2.   An afflicted fifth lord. The fifth house can correspond to thinking, logic and wisdom.
3.    The lagna and or Aries, both which indicates the head, if afflicted.
4.   Kemadruma Yoga – This is a condition occurs when the moon has no planets in either of the signs surrounding it. When there is no planet in the 2nd or the 12th from the moon, the soundness of the mind may become an issue. Again, the entire chart needs to be viewed.
Always look for confluence in the chart, before making such a serious decision. If there is a likelihood of mental illness, these indicators will often show up not only in the rasi chart, but also the Navamsha and possibly other divisional (harmonic) charts.

The “Jataka Tattva” lists some of the following conditions as possible combinations for mental illness:
9.   Jupiter in the ascendant and Mars in the seventh house or vice versa.
10.      Saturn in the lagna and Mars in the 5th, 7th or 9th house.
11.       Saturn in the 12th house associated with a waning Moon.
12.      Saturn in the lagna, Sun in the 12th house and Mars or the Moon in a trine.
13.      Association of Saturn and the lord of the second house with the Sun or Mars.
14.      Birth in the hora of Saturn or Mars, a Sun-Moon conjunction in the lagna, the 5th or the 9th, and Jupiter in a quadrant.
15.      Mandi (the malefic sub-planet that has no physical existence but has a Saturn-like quality) in the 7th, afflicted by a malefic. The same result may apply if Mandi is in the 5th house.
16.      Rahu and the Moon in the Lagna, and malefics in the trines. (i.e., “Pishacha Grasta” Yoga, a combination for being overtaken by the “spirits”, indicative of phobias.)
As previously stated this must be corroborated by other indicators such as:
5.   Afflictions to the Moon (mind), Mercury (nervous system) and Jupiter (maturity / wisdom). Particularly, when all three of these planets are afflicted, conditions leading to mental illness are highly possible.
6.   An afflicted fifth lord. The fifth house can correspond to thinking, logic and wisdom.
7.    The lagna and or Aries, both which indicates the head, if afflicted.
8.   Kemadruma Yoga – This is a condition occurs when the moon has no planets in either of the signs surrounding it. When there is no planet in the 2nd or the 12th from the moon, the soundness of the mind may become an issue. Again, the entire chart needs to be viewed.
Always look for confluence in the chart, before making such a serious decision. If there is a likelihood of mental illness, these indicators will often show up not only in the rasi chart, but also the Navamsha and possibly other divisional (harmonic) charts. I have come across with a horoscope which reveals:
some of the above astrological indicators, what follows is a case study of a schizophrenic man.
(see chart – Chart details: D.o.b. 17.9.1960, Time of Birth: 16h30
Latitude: 51.50N long: 0.12W






Chevvai

Guru
Kethu

Bhudhan
Kethu


Rasi
Chandran
Raghu


Suriyan


Navamsam


Suriyan
Bhudhan
Sukran


Lag
Guru
Sani




Lag
Chevvai
Raghu
Chandran
Sukran
Sani


This individual lives at home with his elderly mother and has been under the care of NHS-based community mental health teams since the onset of his schizophrenic illness in 1981. Although he has remained well enough to not necessitate frequent hospitalisation, and has never been a danger to himself nor others, he is unable to work due to constant problems with his hearing “voices.” The medical model would understand these voices as “auditory hallucinations.”
Although these voices are not frightening to him, they are extremely distracting and weaken his concentration. The medication he regularly takes as prescribed by psychiatrists takes an edge off of what would be a disturbing quality, but does not remove the chonic persistence of his voices. He regularly “dialogues” with these voices, forgetting who is around him. Ironically, he is an avid reader of newspapers and can hold for brief moments, informed conversations about current events. This usually is not sustainable and he reverts to a form of communication that is childlike, tangential and incapable of any abstract thinking or complexity.
General chart overview
Many of the planetary combination indicators given above both from the Jataka Tattva and the “additional indicators” list are present in this particular chart:
1. Jupiter is in the lagna and is opposing the seventh house Mars. (It is interesting that even though Jupiter should be strong in its own sign of Sagittarius, this does not prevent schizophrenia, in this case. It may however, lead to the fact that this individual is a “relatively well” schizophrenic.)
2. Saturn is also in the lagna, associated with Jupiter. This would create a restriction on the otherwise strong Jupiter in Sagittarius.
3. According to the above list taken from the Jataka Tattva, the next possible indicator of mental illness would be if Saturn is in the 12th house associated with a waning Moon.
In the Rasi chart, although the Moon is indeed waning, Saturn is at 18 degrees and the Ascendant at nearly 23 degrees Sagittarius, so even though Saturn precedes the lagna, it is still by Vedic standards in the 1st house. However, in the Navamsha the situation is reversed, there is a new moon, but Saturn is in the 12th house. In balance, this could arguably qualify to meet the given indicator being discussed here.
4. The fourth indicator does not apply. The Sun is not in the 12th house, nor does Mars or Moon trine Saturn.
5. The next indicator does apply as Saturn is the lord of the second house and aspects both the Sun and Mars. The second house is relevant as it may refer to speech. This would be very applicable given the description ana, this individual’s difficulty with communication.
6. Another area that does not fully apply. However, it is interesting that parts of this more complex combination applies or nearly applies. For instance, Jupiter is in a quadrant and in the Navamsha there is a Sun-Moon conjunction, although not in given houses.
7. Mandi is at nearly nine degrees Virgo in the tenth house. Mandi is not in the seventh house, but it is doubly afflicted by both Mars and Saturn. Mandi is conjunct the Sun, Mercury (exalted) and Venus, all of whom share this unfortunate dual aspect from Mars and Saturn. Interestingly, the individual under discussion has felt severe shame about his inability to maintain employment. He keenly desires to work, yet fears a repeat of his brief early employment experiences, which preceded the onset of his first mental illness. It was then that he began to suffer from his inability to concentrate due to hearing voices.
8. This indicator does not apply as Rahu and the Moon are not in the lagna.
In terms of the additional indicators given above:
Moon’s condition: The Moon, while not in a Kemadruma Yoga is surrounded in both adjacent houses by malefics, Mars and Rahu, giving a Papa Kartari Yoga. This does not bode well for the planet that is the significator of feelings and emotional reactions.
Mercury’s condition: Mercury, significator of reason and intellect, although in Virgo, unfortunately experiences aspects from both Saturn, Mars and the Sun in the rasi chart.
In the Navamsha, Mercury is formidably opposed by Mars in Scorpio.
Jupiter’s condition: Jupiter, planet of wisdom, as previously mentioned, is conjunct Saturn and opposed by Mars in the rasi. In the Navamsha it is conjunct Ketu in Aries in the seventh house.
Lagna’s condition: The lagna is, as previously mentioned is also conjunct Saturn and opposed by Mars in the rasi. In the Navamsha, it is conjunct Rahu and surrounded in adjacent houses by both Mars and Saturn.
Nakshatras
No Vedic chart can be fully interpreted until the connections of planets and the Nakshatras (constellations) and Nakshatra rulers are examined. I will not go into a description of the meanings of the Nakshatras here, as this is a separate area of essential study for anyone interested in Vedic astrology. What I am attempting to do here is simply to show the interconnection of the planets and the Nakshatra rulers that they are located in:
1. Lagna lord Jupiter is in the Nakshatra of Mula, which is ruled by Ketu. Ketu, in turn is in Purva Bhadra, which is ruled by Jupiter. This establishes not only a Jupiter / Ketu connection, but also a connection between the first, third and second houses, dealing with the self (1st), the mind (3rd) and the home, private life, mother and peace of mind (4th).
2. The Moon is in Ashlesha ruled by Mercury. Mercury, in turn is in Hasta, which is ruled by the Moon. The houses affected here are the seventh, eighth and tenth. The Moon itself is in the eighth, a dushsthana (malefic) house. The eighth can be associated with “mental sufferings and psychological afflictions.”
3. Lagna and Saturn are both in Nakshatra Purva Ashada, ruled by Venus. Venus is in Chitra ruled by Mars. Mars is in Mrigashira, its own constellation.
The planets are located the first/seventh/tenth houses and own six of the twelve chart houses. So here is a very powerful connection for deeper analysis. Rahu is also in a Venus-ruled Nakshatra – Purva Phalguni.
4. The Sun is in its own nakshatra of Uttara Phalguni.
Conclusion
What I have attempted to do is to show the power of some of the ancient classics in terms of diagnostic tools perfected centuries ago. Meanwhile, psychiatry and psychology still grapple with clumsy, constantly revised diagnostic tools, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV), the book by which all psychiatric clinical diagnoses are measured.
Keep in mind that all of the above has been examined without even beginning to look at an analysis of significant life events and corresponding Dasha / Bhukti planetary or transits or progressions.
The next logical progression would be to then approach the area of remedial measures, an area effectively blocked by the medical profession and the pervading contemporary approach to healing. Nevertheless, this should illustrate that the area of mental health diagnoses is certainly not an area that originates with western psychiatry or Sigmund Freud.


II
Astrology, mental disorders and psychological problems. A clash between the elements of the psyche

Mental disorders are more common than we think. And a very touchy subject as well. Nearly every of us had, has or will have at least some symptons of some sort of psychological disorder. Even if it's only mild depression or anxiety. Some of us even have control issues, manias and other disorders, that we are not aware of. Mental disorders are a dramatic part of life, in a society that is unbalanced and unhelpful for the people affected by these problems. There is also much misundertanding of what is really a mental disorder. For instance, many genious suffered from mania and were bipolar. Perhaps people suffering from this would do better to explore their psyche. Perhaps to understand what would they need to explore in order to be better express themselves. Do we live in a society that encourage us to explore our full potential? My answer is a no.

I am against conventional treatment for "mental disorders". Everyone has "mental disorders" because everyone has unintegrated and unbalanced portions of the psyche. I consider the concept of bipolar disease to be ridicule, psychologists don't understand the creative right-brain part of the brain. They want to medicate everyone suffering from depressive or stimulated states, when in fact these states serve a function. Isn't it normal a high-energy Aries and Gemini, or a meditative contemplative Scorpio or Pisces? Psychologist don't paint, psychologists don't meditate! However i agree when such behavior crosses the link and becomes a risk to close ones and to the life of the individual. But clinical psychologists don't do well with just medicating. We are all given drugs to become "normal" people, similar to each other.

But there is hope. I see a damaging psychological disorder as a misuse of specific aspects of our psyche. We all have different elements within our personality, sometimes they are very contradictory and difficult to express and this can lead to trouble, when we cannot find outlets for them. Astrology helps us understand what is going on, and how to better express those inner dramas, it help us to recognize what are those elements and which outlets they need.



Linking psychological disorders to Astrology
My initial thoughts concerning psychological problems would be to link severe melancholy and depression to Saturn (perhaps in hard aspects to the Moon, Sun and Mercury), bipolar disease linked to Gemini, while mania and madness linked to uncontrolled Uranus and (possibly unexpressed) Mars. Nervous breakdowns can be linked either to Uranus, Mars or Mercury. Eccentricity and genious to Uranus. Speech disorders to Mercury. Unbalanced Mars can also lead to neurotic behavior, as well as hard aspects to Pluto, Aries or Libra. This could also lead to criminal activities, rage or rape. Pluto can lead to psychological breakdowns, uncontrolled emotions and control issues. Hard aspects between Saturn and Mars can lead also to sexual frustation. Unbalanced Neptune energy can lead to schizophenia, hallucinations, delirium, religious cults, strange beliefs, delusional behavior and drug abuse. Unbalanced Jupiter can also lead to maniac, fanatism and delusional behavior. Hard aspects to Saturn and Venus can also lead to lack of self-confidence.

Let's look at different famous people who had nervous disorders:

Newton was a bipolar, having often rage periods and nervous breakdowns, besides being a great genious. He had Uranus in ascendant, and Mars in DSC. Both are very strong energies, very "maniac", and need to be expressed under a very dynamic and experimental lifestyle. His Uranus in Scorpio ASC relates to very intense deep underlying emotional currents. In contrast, he was also a Capricorn and with a tight Saturn square Mercury, both of which give strong inclination for melancholy. So, in his case we have a personality under deep contradiction between the uncontrolled excess of both Uranus and Mars, and the other melancholy energies. Furthermore, he was a Gemini (bipolar) Moon (moods), and the Sun on his third house increase even more his mental energies. He was one of greatest physicians of our history, but also an alchemist and teologian, dwelling in strange biblical end of the world theories and occultism. On his final years he became an eccentric, while having Uranus transiting his ascendant. He die when he had the Uranus return, and other outer planets transited all water houses: Saturn transited his IC, Neptune the 8th house and Pluto his 12th house.

Beethoven was a bipolar, maniac, suffering from melancholy and being a great musical genious. Again, we find the maniac signatures: Beethoven had an opposition between his Sun/Mercury and Mars, in 8th house and in Gemini. Like Newton, he was a Scorpio ascendant, with his Sun in the cusp of the third house. Once again, strong Gemini and third house influence, and a difficult Mars aspect. His Uranus was also close to DSC, and Saturn in MC. Both were in strong angles and in square. Beethoven had a Moon in Sagittarius square to Neptune. This might give another musical signature, creativity and also his psychotic delusions.

Van Gogh, was a maniac painter, strongly bipolar, suffering delusional behavior, epiletic episodes, self-mutilation and drug abuse. Mars in Pisces, a strong emotional energy, was in square to his conjuntion Moon/Jupiter in Sagittarius. This a difficult combination of emotions, which probably explain his delusional behavior and extreme anxiety. In addition, his Sun in Aries and the Moon/Jupiter in Sagittarius further explain the maniac behavior. His Sagittarius Moon/Jupiter shows well his tendency to travel and wander, and paint landscapes. This contrast to his Cancer rising. The stark contrast between water and fire explain his strong bipolar disorder. Van Gogh only became an artist in 1880 and committed suicide in 1890. During these periods, he was having important transits at 5º Virgo (Uranus - when he became an artist), and 5º Virgo (Saturn) and 5º Gemini (Pluto/Neptune when he committed suicide). This seems to be a sensitive degree for his chart. In most of his life were marker by Uranus transiting his 1st, 2nd and 3rd houses, and Neptune and Pluto transiting his tenth house. This shows well the confusing path he took. Uranus squared his Moon and opposed his Sun, during some of its difficult moments, and when he emerged as an artist. When Uranus transited his IC, he began suffering from delirium and having his psychological breakdown.

Other people suffering from bipolar disease include Linda Hamilton, a famous actress: she has a T-square between Jupiter, Mars in Pisces, and Moon in Gemini. Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, a clinical psychologist: he has a T-square between Sun in Gemini, Moon in Pisces, and Neptune; and a Saturn-Mercury conjunction. Maurice Bernard, an actor, has Sun in Pisces opposed by Uranus, and a T-square between his Moon, Neptune and a Saturn-Mercury conjunction. Thom Yorke, from Radiohead, has an opposition between his Libra Sun and a Moon/Saturn conjuntion. Iggy Pop, has a Mars/Mercury Aries conjunction, opposed by Neptune,and also Sun/Moon in Aries in square to Saturn!

Our examples seem to show that bipolar disorders are linked to a strong contrast between unbalanced Fire/Air and Water/Earth elements. This could be a conflict between a strong Uranus and Saturn, a strong and badly aspected Mars and Sun, or a badly aspected Moon in Sagitarius and Gemini.

John Nash was a mathematical genious suffering from schizophrenia. His difficult natal charts placements relate a Gemini Sun located in his 12th house, with a conjuntion of Pluto and Mercury in his Cancer rising, which is square to his MC Uranus! He also had a Mars-Moon conjunction in Aries. Lionel Aldridge, a football player, also suffered from schizophrenia. He had a square between Mars in Sagittarius and a conjunction Moon/Neptune. Once again, we find all these contrasting elements in psychosis behavior.

Lincoln and Churchill
Both suffered form severe depressions. Lincoln had a Capricorn rising, with a Capricorn Moon, this is enough for a character prone to melancholy. Depression comes when two other difficult aspects add to the chart. He also a Saturn/Neptune conjunction in square to his Mercury. And his Mars in square to his Capricorn Moon! As a curious fact, Lincoln was assassinated when Saturn conjuncted his MC and natal Mars.
Churchill had a Moon in 12th house, this can give unexpressed emotions. He had a Virgo rising and a sextile between Sun and Saturn which add seriousness and melancholy. This is difficult for a Sagittarius. Furthermore, he had Uranus in square to Mercury (nervous tension), and Pluto opposed Mercury (heavy thought). Interestingly, he was having Neptune transiting his rising, when he was a president during WWII (. Both Lincoln and Churchill had Mars in angular houses, which relate to their millitant and political occupations.

Shawn Colvin is a songwritter that suffered a major long depression. She is a Capricorn, with a major Saturn/Mars conjunction squared by Pluto and Jupiter. Kurt Cobain, from Nirvana, has Sun in Pisces square to Neptune (drug abuse and confusion), square between Moon and Saturn (depression) and Uranus and Pluto opposite to Mercury (nervous tension and suicidal tendency). He also has a Mars in square to Jupiter (he also suffered bipolar disease).

Our examples seem to link depression to difficult positions of the Moon, a strong Saturn and Capricorn, difficult aspects of Saturn and Neptune, and natal Mercury forming hard aspects to outer planets. Mania is linked to unbalanced Uranus, Jupiter and Mars. It is very interesting to see that artists seem more prone to mania and psychosis, while politics to depression.

Medical Astrology
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In this post, we’ll discuss mental disorders and it’s analysis through astrology. There are various reasons for mental disorders. But, today we’ll talk about astrological significance in determining the possibility of mental disorders in a native. There are certain yogas in medical astrology that help us to determine the health complications a person would suffer in his life. However, it is always to
advise to consult a good astrologer for such kind of serious analysis. Let’s take a look at those aspects of a horoscope that are studied to determine the mental disorders in a native.
Moon, Mercury, fourth house and fifth house are analyzed for mental disorders in a horoscope. Moon is the heart and Mercury is the brain. Similarly, Fourth house is the heart and the fifth house denotes brain. Moon and the fifth house are considered to play a significant role in a situation where a person loses his mental stability due to the turmoil of emotion. In the same way, fourth house play a significant role in mental disorder such as Schizophrenia. On the other hand, Saturn and Moon conjuncts is also not considered to be auspicious for mental health. Moon should be afflicted in an horoscope for occurrence of any kind of mental disorder.
·         A person has a tendency of acquiring mental disorder of the Moon is situated with Rahu in the same house of a horoscope. This is because Rahu makes you delusional and Moon is the karaka of heart. In this situation, the native ends up building his own world of dreams.
·         Afflicted Mercury, Ketu and fourth house forming a relationship with each other makes the native extremely stubborn. Such people can also suffer from severe mental disorders like Schizophrenia. A lot of scholars put stress on the fourth house and Mercury to analyze such conditions.
·         When Jupiter or Mars are situated in the ascendant or seventh house respectively then the native suffers from mental problems. Also, Jupiter in the Mars ascendant or seventh house is also responsible for making a native suffer from mental disorders.
·         When Saturn is situated in the ascendant or Mars in the fifth, seventh or ninth house of horoscope, then also the person suffers from mental disorders.
·         Twelfth house with weak Moon of Krishna paksha and Saturn give the possibility of mental disorders. Similarly, Moon and Saturn conjunct also causes mental disturbances.
·         When Saturn is in the ascendant, Sun in the twelfth house, Mars and Moon in the trident house.
·         When Mandi is in the seventh house and afflicted with malefics.
·         When Rahu and Moon are situated in the ascendant and malefics are in the trident house.
·         When Mars is aspected by Saturn in the fourth house, or Saturn in the fourth house is situated on the axis of Rahu/Ketu.
·         When Saturn and Mars conjuncts the sixth or eighth house of a horoscope.
·         When Mercury is situated with the malefic planet in the third, sixth, eighth or twelfth house of a horoscope.
·         Moon conjunct Ketu or Saturn is not considered to be an auspicious position. When these are closely positioned it can lead to severe mental disorders.
·         When Saturn and Mars, both are situated in the Moon and the Mercury from the center then also the native has the tendency to acquire mental disorders.
Signs of Migraine In Astrology
To identify Migraine the position of Moon and Mercury are analyzed, along with other planets.
·         A person can suffer from migraine when Saturn and Mars are situated in either sixth or eighth house of the horoscope.
·         When Saturn and Moon conjuncts each other or aspected by Mars.
·         When Rahu and Moon are situated in the eighth house.
Children Born with Mental Instability or Disorders
·         If the ascendant is under the influence of malefic at the time of birth and forming relations with Saturn. This relations can be in the form of conjunction, aspect or sthiti.
·         Saturn is aspecting the lord of the ascendant from the fifth house of the horoscope.
·         When the Saturn and Rahu are in the fifth house, Mercury in the twelfth house and the lord of the fifth house is afflicted.
·         When the fifth house, lord of the fifth house, Moon and Mercury all are influenced by the malefics, the native possess weak mental strength.
·         When the Moon is situated in the ascendant and aspected by Saturn and Mars.
·         Rahu in the fifth house is also responsible for hampering the mental strength of the native.

For further details Please contact:
N.S.VASAN,
ASTROLOGER, NUMEROLOGIST AND MEDICAL ASTROLOGER
SIVASAKTHI JOTHIDALAYAM
e.mail: sivasakthijothidalayam@yahoo.in
www.sivasakthijothidalayam.com
Contact Nos: +91 9884215608, & +91 44 22681464


Acknowledgement to:

Michael Bryant Msw Asw