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The Astrological Judgement and Practice of Physick — Astrology

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The Astrological Judgement and Practice of Physick

Name: The Astrological Judgement and Practice of Physick
Price: 29.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781933303000

✍️ Saunders, Richard

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Richard Saunders’ 1677 magnum opus offers a profound journey into the intricate world where celestial mechanics met corporeal well-being. Culminating three decades of dedicated practice, this demanding yet comprehensive text stands as one of England’s earliest detailed treatises on healing through the stars. It meticulously outlines diagnostic methods using planetary positions and zodiacal influences, guiding optimal timing for remedies. Beyond practical applications, it provides an invaluable window into the everyday realities of life, death, and healthcare during the tumultuous 16th and 17th centuries, rich with historical detail.

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Astrology

🏛 Astrology Classics 📅 2005 📖 400 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781933303000

Fun Fact

This monumental work is a treasure for those immersed in the history of science and esotericism. Saunders expertly synthesizes complex astrological principles with period medical thought, offering unparalleled insight into a lost tradition. However, readers seeking modern medical advice will be disappointed. Its value lies in historical authenticity and intellectual rigor, firmly cementing its place as a cornerstone text in the study of early modern astro-medicine.

📝 Description: The Astrological Judgement and Practice of Physick

Richard Saunders (1613 - 1692) was an astrologer/physician in 17th century England. This book, first published in 1677, was the result of thirty years practice. It is also one of the earliest astro-medical treatises in the English language. Using the terminology of his day, Saunders speaks of humors and winds, of conditions hot, cold or dry, of the cholerick and fiery, etc. This is a comprehensive and demanding text on medical astrology. Included are rules for decumbiture charts, illnesses produced by the traditional planets in the various signs of the zodiac, when to administer medicines based on planetary hours, and much more. This is also a first hand account of life, death and medicine in the 16th and 17th centuries, with many surprising details. Of the Black Plague of 1593 (with transiting Saturn in sign of Cancer), Saunders writes, "And you shall understand that this Plague was not infectious, because it came of a cold cause; and there was nothing that bred it so soon as the eating of fresh Herrings and Cucumbers and fruit, and such things as breed slimy Flegm and Water; and most commonly where it took a house, it went round amongst children and servants, that were all of one kind of feeding; and those two years was great plenty of fresh Herrings, and much fruit; and there dyed in the year 1593 eighteen hundred a week, and most of the Doctors of Physick did fly from London, and Dr. Foreman staid by it, and thanks God he saved many." (pg. 154). Includes numerous herbal remedies and medieval medical techniques. Introductions by his contemporaries William Lilly, John Gadbury, Henry Coley and others. One of the great astrology books.

💎 Expert review

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Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Saunders’ work is a demanding yet rewarding expedition into the intricate world where celestial mechanics met corporeal well-being. It stands as one of England’s earliest detailed treatises on healing through the stars, meticulously outlining diagnostic methods using planetary positions. However, this text is not for the casual reader seeking light entertainment or modern scientific validation. Those expecting contemporary medical advice or simple astrological horoscopes will find its dense, historical approach inaccessible. It requires patience and an interest in esoteric history, serving best as a scholarly reference rather than a practical manual for today’s wellness trends.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the intersection of astronomy, medicine, and history will find immense value in this comprehensive guide. It offers a rare, practical window into the diagnostic methods and cosmic timing used by practitioners three centuries ago. Those interested in the daily realities of healthcare during the 16th and 17th centuries will appreciate the rich historical detail embedded within its pages. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand how celestial bodies were believed to dictate human health, providing both a scholarly resource and a glimpse into a worldview where the stars literally governed the body.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

For the dedicated astrologer, student of medical history, or curious occultist, this tome illuminates the profound historical intersection of medicine and the cosmos. Those seeking a deep dive into traditional astro-medical practices and 17th-century thought will find a challenging yet rewarding…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Saunders’ work is a demanding yet rewarding expedition into the intricate world where celestial mechanics met corporeal well-being. It stands as one of England’s earliest detailed treatises on healing through the stars, meticulously outlining diagnostic methods using planetary positions. However, this text is not for the casual reader seeking light entertainment or modern scientific validation. Those expecting contemporary medical advice or simple astrological horoscopes will find its dense, historical approach inaccessible. It requires patience and an interest in esoteric history, serving best as a scholarly reference rather than a practical manual for today’s wellness trends.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While its medical theories are historically situated, the book offers profound insights into the origins of holistic thought and the enduring belief in cosmic influence on health. It's invaluable for historical understanding, not direct contemporary medical application.

Saunders writes in 17th-century English, and his terminology is comprehensive and demanding. It requires a dedicated reader with an interest in historical texts and a willingness to engage with complex astrological and medical concepts.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Celestial Diagnostics

Saunders provides a systematic framework for understanding how planetary placements in signs dictate specific illnesses. He details the astrological correlations of various ailments, offering a methodology for diagnosis that integrates zodiacal energies with the physical manifestation of disease, allowing the practitioner to map celestial influences directly onto a patient’s condition.

Humoral Medicine

The book is steeped in the traditional medical philosophy of humors, describing conditions through the lens of hot, cold, dry, and moist qualities. Saunders interprets symptoms and remedies within this ancient framework, linking imbalances of choler, phlegm, blood, and melancholy to specific planetary and elemental influences on the body.

Astrological Timing

Beyond diagnosis, Saunders offers precise guidance on when to administer medicines or conduct treatments. Utilizing planetary hours and other astrological considerations, he demonstrates how aligning medical interventions with auspicious cosmic timings can significantly enhance their efficacy, reflecting a deep belief in the synchronicity between the macrocosm and the microcosm.

📜 Historical context

Authored by a 17th-century English physician-astrologer, this work stands as a foundational text in the tradition of medical astrology. Emerging from a period when science and esotericism were deeply intertwined, it reflects a worldview where celestial bodies were understood to directly govern earthly health. It bridges ancient humoral theory with sophisticated astrological calculation, marking a crucial point in Western esoteric history.

📚 Glossary

Humors
Decumbiture Chart
Planetary Hours

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might understanding the ancient connection between celestial bodies and health influence your perspective on modern holistic wellness?
Reflect on how historical medical theories, like the humoral system, shaped societal responses to epidemics such as the Black Plague.
Consider the ethical implications of using astrological timing for medical treatment in historical contexts versus contemporary practice.