CHAPTER VII

PRELIMINARY STEPS IN DIAGNOSING

   We  are  now  ready to begin the real work of reading  and  diagnosing  a chart.   First we must know what the rising sign indicates,  for by this  we get the key to the patient's disposition.   The Ascendant indicates the general  nature  of the planetary baptism which a man received  at  birth,  and which will influence him all through this physical life.   According to  the stamp of the stellar forces at birth will a man's tendencies be.   Remember, we  do not say fate,  but TENDENCIES,  for man has the power within  him  to change  to  a very great extent the influences that are shown in  the  horoscope.   We must admit that the horoscope is the result of his  past  living and that it indicates a certain probable destiny.  If he allows the stars to rule him, why then he becomes the victim of fate; but the wise man is he who rules his stars.

   The Ascendant indicates the general characteristics and tendencies  which are latent within a man.  Therefore this should be the starting point of our diagnosis.   Then  we must see how the four angles are represented.   If  we find common signs, namely, Gemini, Virgo,  Sagittarius, and  Pisces  on  the cusps,  we have a patient who will respond quickly to suggestions, and while he  will listen to the healer and may seemingly try to cooperate  with  him, still  on account of his wavering tendencies, or let us say the weakness  of will of the common sign person,  he is prone to forget to follow directions. One's instructions must be repeated often or the common sign patient is  apt to forget them.

   If the Ascendant and the four angles,  however,  are occupied by the four cardinal signs,  namely, Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, you may expect cooperation from your patient;  but if Aries is on the Ascendant,  you  must let him think that he is doing the work himself.  Never order an Arian to do anything, but diplomatically ask him if he does not think so and so would be good for him, for Aries dislikes to follow the dictates of another.  When he does follow your instructions, however, he will do it with great force,  and impulsively.   We sometimes hear of people who follow the doctor's orders to the extent that they will take a whole box of pills at one dose.  Well, such is the Aries patient.   He must have results quickly or he will lose his interest.   The cardinal sign people as a rule are willing to  cooperate  with the healer, and they will also make every effort to overcome disease.

   The fixed sign people,  namely,  those under Taurus,  Leo,  Scorpio,  and Aquarius,  are creatures of habit; that is, they are so fixed that when they get  into a rut,  or if they form a habit,  they are very difficult for  the healer  to handle.  This habit, which may be  at  the  very  bottom  of  the trouble  and have caused the disease,  they hold on to with  tenacity.   The fixed  sign people have great determination, and when once they are  aroused they  cooperate  fully with the healer.  Taurus and Scorpio  people  may  at

times display a stubborn nature which is hard to combat,  and they are  also so  full of fear that the healer must be very careful of his suggestions  in their presence.  He must always be optimistic and give suggestions of hope.

   The  healer  should be familiar with the temperament and  disposition  of each  sign,  and realize that if the ruler of the sign is  afflicted  or  if malefic planets are in the sign, the response will be very different than it will when the best sign of the sign is expressed.  Remember, the unafflicted magnanimous,  jovial, and loving Leo is a very different person from the afflicted blustering, bragging, quarrelsome, stubborn Leo.  Similarly,  we may find two sides to each sign.   Let us study the signs and their rulers  very

carefully.  Note also very carefully what aspects the ruler of the Ascendant makes, for this plant is usually the life ruler and has a great influence on the life of the native.

   The  next step is to study the mind,  for if the mentality is  weak,  the healer  finds his work most difficult.   In the mind of man lies  the  power which  may be used to control disease.   A strong and well aspected  Mercury will guide a man into a safe and sane path of living,  and such a person  is not prone  to succumb to disease.  But the afflicted Mercury often leads man into temptations,  and if the desire nature is strong and the mind weak,  we may  expect  that the patient will not have the will to cooperate  with  the healer.   Hence we may say that the healer must study the chart  very  carefully in order to trace the latent tendencies of his patient.   When he  has traced them, he is able to get to the first cause.  Remember,  everything in life  has a first cause,  and to get an understanding of a case we  must  goback to the beginning.