CHAPTER VI

THE SIXTH HOUSE INFLUENCES

   After  we have carefully studied the mental qualities of our  patient  we must try to find the strength of the will.  The Ascendant as a rule gives us a  key to will and to the mentality.  Now we will see what bearing  the  6th house has on the matter.   The 6th house is the house of sickness,  and very often gives the key to the patient's condition.   We therefore first look to the ruler of this house to see what it indicates,  in what sign and house it is placed,  and what the nature of the sign is and what part of the body  is

ruled by it.   Next we must see what planets are aspecting the ruler of this house of sickness.

   Let  us suppose that Aquarius is on the cusp of the 6th house.   Then  we would look for the two planets, Uranus and Saturn, which have rule over this sign.   Naturally  they will have rule over the health of the patient  to  a very great extent.   Now, suppose that Uranus is in the sign of Virgo and on the  Ascendant,  as we find it in the horoscope of a man who was born  April 22nd,  1881, at 2 P.M.  Uranus rising gives the key to the nature,  which is one of great impulse.  The co-ruler of the 6th house is  Saturn.  We find in the  greater number of horoscopes that Saturn is the afflicter.   He is  the taskmaster that brings to man the needed lessons.   Saturn in the  horoscope which we have under consideration is in Taurus, intercepted in the 9th house and in conjunction with the sun and Jupiter.  Saturn is not in this case the worst afflicter.

   We now consider the planets which may be in the 6th house.   Here we find the vacillating moon in Aquarius and square to Venus and Neptune.   The latter  two planets are in the sign of Taurus in the 9th house.   Here we  have the whole trouble.  The moon and Venus are both feminine,  indicating women; the moon is the ruler of the 11th house,  and thus represents women friends, who  tempted and caused this man to respond to the Uranus-Mars impulse.   So we may look for trouble through overindulgence of the desires, which are indicated by the planets in Taurus and by Mars,  the latter ruling the sign of Scorpio,  which governs sex.   Hence we may expect that wine and women  will bring this man to his undoing.

   Note  that  Mercury is in the 8th house,  and aspected very weakly  by  a semi-sextile of Saturn,  the sun,  Jupiter,  and Neptune.   Mercury in Aries works  under  impulse.   It being practically unaspected in  this  sign  and Uranus  being  in opposition to Mars indicate a lack of  forethought.   With these  conditions and having a common sign on the Ascendant this man  was  a perfect slave to his passions and desires.  Here we may see what the,  Virgo Ascendant with Uranus in conjunction shows  regarding  the  will.  A decided lack of will power is indicated.  With Virgo,  the natural 6th house sign on the Ascendant, and the sun in Taurus, this man was an easy victim of disease for both Virgo and Taurus have a decided fear of sickness.

   We must never base our diagnosis on one or two afflictions,  but we  must study all the signs and planets very carefully.   Some horoscopes show  very plainly  what is the matter,  and at a glance we can see from a few  aspects what the disease may be.   But other horoscopes hide the symptoms,  just  as the doctor often finds it to be the case with his patients.   Some tell  him at once where the disease is,  while others are a puzzle and the disease may be difficult to locate.   Therefore the astrologer must study and reason  to be very sure that he has the correct diagnosis.