Asteroid Hygeia is the fourth largest of the asteroids and takes 5.5 years to orbit the Sun. It was named after the Greek goddess of health, daughter of Asclepius (god of medicine). So as the personification of health, cleanliness, and sanitation, we might consider that asteroid 10 Hygeia relates to these things in astrology. Other astrologers have said as much which I will mention later. I’ll also look at some transits involving Hygiea for an operation I had recently which I must say do confirm the belief that she does have an astrological association with health. First though, I’ll show the discovery chart and see if there is anything there which might be associated with the meaning of the name, “Hygeia“.
Asteroid Hygeia Discovery Chart
Asteroid 10 Hygeia was discovered by Annibale de Gasparis on April 12, 1849, in Naples, Italy. I could not find an exact time in this link so have set the chart for 10 pm. Mars conjunct Neptune is interesting and must be important in this chart because it is on the degree of the previous Solar Eclipse. Neptune does rule illness and Mars pain, and they make a quincunx aspect to asteroid Hygiea. The quincunx is an aspect of health, usually some imbalance.
Mercury, the messenger of the gods, is also important because it is on the degree of the preceding New Moon, both opposite asteroid Hygeia. So there are opposing forces to contend with, some difficulty in getting her message across. That makes sense, we know what’s good for us but how many of us refuse to listen to good health advice? Mercury conjunct Saturn implies a serious message but also difficulty getting it across. Mercury conjunct Saturn can also mean depressing news, or melancholic thoughts, and that tends to be what we think when being lectured about health issues. This conjunction can also mean we fear knowing something, or fear the worst, in this case hypochondria.
More melancholic thoughts and even fear of poison comes from the North Node on the fixed star Zosma. Venus in The Pleiades is associated with sickness by Robson, and Venus is opposite Chiron, the wounded healer. Although I have guessed the discovery time, it must have been around then as discoveries in those days had to be made at night with a telescope. Within a couples of hours either side of 10 pm, the Moon was on the fixed star Ras Alhague, the brightest star in constellation Ophiuchus (Asclepius), the father of Hygiea. He holds the Serpent of wisdom and healing, and this is how Hygeia is depicted in ancient sculptures and artworks. Ebertin says that this star makes one “especially prone to infectious contamination caused by toxins. People thus influenced are easy going in the use of medical drugs, hallucinatory drugs stimulating foodstuffs, too much good living and overindulgence in tobacco and alcohol“.
Asteroid Hygeia Astrology
As I mentioned in the introduction, astrologers have made the link between asteroid Hygeia and health. Loni Haas say asteroid Hygiea “represents our attitude and belief system concerning health and fitness awareness. Hygeia also rules sanitation and the valuable role hygiene and diet play in health maintenance. She often shows up by transit or appears on a major angle when an individual is experiencing a health issue…Hygeian influence is felt among dieticians, physical fitness educators and teachers, dental hygienists, mental health facilitators who embrace the mind/body connection, holistic practitioners, sanitation inspectors, environmentalists, and preservationists who believe keeping the Earth clean and pollution free.“
Jeremy Neal makes a good argument for Asteroid Hygiea ruling Virgo and the 6th house, “if we are burning the candle at both ends, drinking too much, eating junk food and not washing enough we are offending Hygeia, and her judgement will be handed down in the form of illness, disease, degeneration and habitual instability. This is why Hygeia and the 6th house are a perfect fit; it is why Virgo and Hygeia are very comfortable together. Here is the exact kind of specific, attentive, habitual, nutritional and service-minded concern that is so beloved of Virgo. Virgo is Hygeia“.
Hygeia Keywords
Seeing the discovery chart I would have to agree with these astrologers, that there is a link between asteroid Hygeia and health. Some keywords could be: Health, medicine, disease, illness, toxins, fear of poison, fear of doctors, fear of medical results, hypochondria, hesitation to get checkups, operations, misdiagnosis, drug abuse, diet. I’ll add more based on what you guys come up with in the comments: “visuals, impressions, thoughts” ~ Charyl, “hysteria” ~ Merlene.
Personal Experience
Earlier today I went to hospital for a colonoscopy and gastroctomy (probed in both ends), because I had a test a few months ago which was positive for blood in my poo poo. I looked at the charts and there were obvious indicators like Uranus on my Chiron and Neptune opposite my Mars. I included asteroid Hygeia out of interest and it was most interesting. When I had the test, asteroid Hygiea was on the fixed star Ras Alhague (her dad), and transiting Pluto was square my Hygeia. When the doctor told me the results, Hygiea was conjunct Mercury (health news), both on my Ascendant. When I had the operation today, Hygeia was conjunct the Midheaven and sextile my Hygiea.
Find Asteroid Hygeia in Your Chart
1. Create your chart HERE.
2. Choose “Extended Chart Selection”.
3. In “additional asteroids or hypothetical planets”, add 10.
Loving thoughts Jamie and Marina,
Thanks again guys for the wishes. I’m heading off to the hospital in a few hours. Here is the chart for the scheduled surgery time, amazing again.
Ceres on the MC, Hygeia on Vertex. Moon conjunct Algol, Pluto conjunct DC. Looks a bit scary but I think it is excellent for destroying a tumor.
Ceres and the MC are conjunct my Saturn.
Should be in hospital for about a week, chat later everyone.
Wishing you a successful operation, Jamie! Take care and keep your spirits up
Oh glorioso! This is fine news. I’ll keep sprinkling Love & Light dust all the way down under.
UPDATE! Spoke to Jamie just now. He is out of intensive care and in the normal ward. He says he feel very positive mentally, in pain but he doesn’t care because he just feels so good about the news and what the doctor just said.
They took out his appendix too because it looked inflamed. They said they couldn’t see any cancer visually, but they have sent what they took out to the lab and depending on what they find in that we will then know if he will needs chemo or not. The surgeon doesn’t think he will, so fingers crossed! We had been assuming that was all a given. This morning his daughter went to visit and he was up walking about. The rest of his kids went this afternoon. I have everyone on facebook sending healing energy, prayers and Reiki. Everyone has and continues to be wonderful.
He found out he was officially opened up at 3.45pm. So heres the chart:
This is excellent news
Sending healing vibes from Florida your way! Get well soon, Jaime!
From a fellow Sept 68er
Hooray for Jamie! I hope the chemotherapy is not needed as it’s so toxic and creates it’s own set of problems. This is really good news.
Re hygeia, I have her conjunct Neptune. Water is a huge healer for me. I positively revive when immersed in water! I can sped hours in a bath, shower, swimming, I use lots of filters, magnetic rods etc to improve my tap water. I’m also a great listener when people are ill.
very cool – I feel the same way about water but Hygeia is opposite my Neptune, with Hygeia at the MC and Neptune at the IC. I like to use aromatherapy oils in the bath. Have you used filters that make your water more alkaline? I am using alkaline water now to heal my thyroid. There is more than one maker, but Kangen is the name of the company that made this filter I am using now.
Fantastic! I’ll look into that. I’ve just been diagnosed with a slightly under active thyroid and I feel like a lump of dough! I also gained 7 lbs overnight and can’t get rid of it. Is alkaline water the same as Penta water? or the water which has had its molecular structure restored?
Yes looks similar but not sure if Penta water is the same – here’s a link that might help:
http://kangen.net/kangen-water/water-benefits/
I know what you mean about a lump of dough and truly feel for you. After being in a hyperactive thyroid state for a while and having thyroid storm, the hypothyroid experience gave me the deep sense of becoming completely still on my internal axis. Beginning to move again has been such an amazing change that I can now appreciate just how incredible that little thyroid is.
uberqueenofwands, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have all the right tests done before you are told to do something like surgery or hormone replacement therapy. here in the US, anyway, there is a protocol that is quite narrow, flowing from Japanese experience following WWII, and the options are one – take fake hormone therapy and follow a routine of limited blood testing to validate the doctor’s prescription rather than the true Hygeia way – healing holistically. Finally I have found the specialist who is looking deeply at my whole blood work picture as opposed to a few indicators.
Also keep in mind that the ‘normal’ range has changed over time. you have your own normal that may be ‘low normal’ or ‘high normal’ or average, who knows, only you do. I have read that simply walking for thirty minutes a day and sleeping 8 hours a night will heal the hypothyroid (I believe this is true if the underlying cause is the pituitary).
That is the challenge – is the hypo caused by the pituitary or by a thyroid disease? it’s very complex and fascinating. I’ve learned a lot over the last five months.
here’s another good website:
http://www.womentowomen.com/
of course they are selling something but the articles and surveys are good.
I’ll be sending you strong vibes. With your important Leo placements, you have so much vigor you can’t be kept down for long.
Hi, Uberqueenofwands, I left a comment that may get caught in the spam filter because I put two links in there for you.
I hope it comes up but if not you can email me at dragonflypuma at g mail dot com for some info that may be useful to you. For now, I am sending you strong vibes! Just remember to look at your adrenals and pituitary for underlying causes – might not really be simply thyroid. could be that if you exercise by walking thirty minutes a day, eat small meals with protein, and sleep for 8 hours per night for two months that you are right as rain again.
Found it in the spam box, should be visible now.
I’ve changed the settings so that comments only go to spam with 3 or more links.
Uber – Dragonfly has a point about adrenals/pituitary. However, as someone who has had lifelong thyroid problems, starting at age 19, sometimes natural cures aren’t enough (especially if post-partum or menopausal.) A good site for info: stopthethyroidmadness.com
Thanks so much! And Dragonfly was right – it was adrenals and pituitary underlying! I got on the small protein meals and it has worked dramatically in only a few days. I’m a type O with a heavy dairy and gluten allergy so no animal is safe now! I’m taking CHinese herbs and raw gland therapy and it seems to be working!
All sugar, starch, dairy and gluten is total no go. I also realise post meno – apparently the thyroid suffers. ANyway, on the case af thanks for your help – both of you! lots of love!
Iodine is needed for healthy thyroid function. You can get it in tablets or naturally by eating kelp seaweed.
Got it! Went a step further and got Lugols tincture. Give mee a month and I’ll be glowing in the dark!
Just had a thought – thats a big scar – huge invasion into your solar plexus. Get some energy healing on that war wound!
Glad to be home! Still waiting on the biopsy results, should find out by the end of this week. The new moon before my surgery was conjunct my Chiron by half a degree. Chiron is most definitely pain. I has always been associated with alternative therapies but now I’m thinking it is associated with traditional medicine and doctors generally.
The quarter moon the day before I left hospital was sextile my Moon, good for family support and the comfort of home.
And the pic:
Yes I kind of agree with that for Chiron. I guess the reason it has been associated with alternative healing was that it was discovered at a time when alternative methods were just breaking through. But some of those alternative methods are seeping into mainstream medicine whether conventional doctors admit it or not.
When I went to my GP about my shoulder pain, she didn’t prescribe me painkillers, she sent me to a masseur. That might not have happened 10 years ago. Also homeopathy, Kinesiology and even acupuncture are sometimes offered as complimentary medicine on the national health here. I associate Ceres with more natural/ alternative medicine. It’s more like the village herbalist.
The day you came out of hospital, Chiron was conjunct our Davison AC
Fine news! (and sexy scar
Isn’t Chiron the incurable wound? Eternally wounded in this spot? x marks the spot : )
Yes, in the Greek myth, Chiron had a wound he could not heal.
My wound is related to a blood disorder. I have Mars quincunx Chiron. and the disorder to too much Iron (Mars) in my blood. Hemochromotosis damages the organs and increases the risk of cancer. Mars quincunx Chiron is definitely cutting to heal. I’m covered in scars, and have to give blood regularly (cutting veins) to keep my Iron levels down.
You can link my bowel cancer to bad diet and a history of drug addiction. Even injecting drugs was Mars quincunx Chiron, it may have been wounding but now I’m taking morphine tablets in order to heal.
Welcome back Jamie, glad the operation turned up ok. Hope you get good news from the biopsy too. Take care!
Thanks Victoria and Kacey.
Good news today. Initial biopsy results say it was a grade 1, one inch tumor with 10 nodes, all of which were removed. Have to wait for final results next week but it is looking like I won’t need chemotherapy.
wonderful news, i am so happy for you and your family
Grrreat news and glad you’re home Jamie
Thank you Katy and TigerTed, it’s a bit surreal to think that I only found out I had cancer on the 4th of March. Now four weeks later I’ve had the surgery and got the all clear by the looks of things. My head is still spinning!
I looked back at my solar return chart and there are indicators there of a health crisis. I added a comment with the chart on this post: Solar Return Charts
I got the all clear today, do not need chemotherapy. The surgeon said “you are essentially cured”, but technically need to have clear scan results for 5 years.
Mercury direct conjunct my Chiron, same spot as the March New Moon.
Mercury retrograde was conjunct my Chiron when the hospital rang me with the operation date.
There it is – the news we’ve been waiting for! Outstanding.
Thanks Victoria. That news really helped my frame of mind too, very positive about the future now.
This is stupendous news!
I know, we are so relieved, grateful and happy. I do believe that all the prayers and thoughts of our readers and friends at Darkstar Astrology has made a huge difference.
Marvellous! So pleased to hear this
Hooray!
Jamie…
I can’t find my way around this website…hearsd you are ill and was wondering how you are doing.
I think I said this before to someone…turmeric cures cancer. Proved…it works fast and efficient. According to the hindu medical books it “cures tumours whether benign or malignant”. The BBC ran an article about its cancer curing powers not very long ago…confirms that western research has confirmed that it really does cure. I have cured a skin cancer that went dangerous…easily.
You need to take one heaped teaspoonful of turmeric mixed into warm water at least twice a day…three times is faster..( and is good taken on an empty stomach …or at least not too close to main meals )It is of mediocre flavour like that…like soup with all the flavouring left out….it should not interfere with your chemo.
I hope you get better !
P.S….
I ought to be morwe careful about reading backwards too!
Just heard you don’t need chemo. If you fear cancer then take turmeric as a preventative measure. Every time I use it to cure an infection etc. I feel really good about having cured any possible but unknown cancers too.
I am interested in what is happening right now with Hygeia between Chiron and Neptune. Seems like there should be an enormormous potential for healing old hurts, maybe ones out of our controll until now. Depending on the transits. It just came to pay Formelhaut a visit and is now backing away but will return to this position in December (will be there right at the Solstice). Any thoughts on this? Any observations on transits at the moment?
Hygeia is also square the nodes and Venus and Jupiter…. oh, with Ceres coming in to join them too in the next few days…..
Thanks for all that. I learnt a lot. It’s all very interesting when one associates it with oneself.
Cheers
Peter
Dear Marina. What is the max orb between Hygeia and other natal planets and which aspects count. Thanks a lot. BR Eva
I usually give 1.30 degs for the small asteroids. But Hygeia is one of the top ten ones, so maybe we can take it up to 2 degs.