THE MOON THROUGH THE FOUR ELEMENTS:       

Medical Influences and Uses

July 2026

Extracted from ‘Astrology & Your Vital Force: Healing with Cosmic Rays & DNA Resonance’      

Copyright  ©  2016 by JudithHill

Note for Classical Scholars: The traditional four “Humors” (bodily fluids) and their four assigned “Temperaments,” (i.e. Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic and Sanguine,) are not identical with the traditional Four Elements of astrology (Chapter 8) and came along later. Unfortunately, they became indelibly conflated with the Four Elements, with more or less success. This caused much confusion of assignments for temperature and moisture to signs!

When practicing medical astrology it is wise not to conflate the two systems. Use the Four Elements when examining astrological charts and the four humors for their intended use in bodily examination (if you find them valid or are working in systems utilizing the humors).

It is also essential to understand that Elements and Signs are not the same! Individual signs belong to a trio of signs sharing one of the four elements. However, the Sign is not the Element! Rather, a sign is a hybrid of frequencies pooled from its element, ruling planet, mode, and season. For instance, the sign ‘Taurus’ is a hybrid of cosmic frequencies derived from the Earth element, Venus, the Fixed Mode, and the mid Spring season!

Knowing this, you can more easily comprehend why Taurus as a warm and magnetic sign doesn’t fit the “cold, dry” designation of Hippocrates’ ‘Melancholic Humor’, assigned to all earth signs, including Taurus! There is lots of room for individual expression within signs.

We can also now fathom why the mid-winter Saturn ruled sign Aquarius predictably presents “cold” symptoms despite its assignment to the hot “Sanguine” humor!

Fire Moons:Aries, Leo, Sagittarius: Hot, Dry (Leo is Hottest sign, Sagittarius is warm). A masculine element (centrifugal).

Best element for exercise and movement therapies. Light, Sun and color therapy. Play therapy, sports, hiking. Stimulants work most effectively in fire sign moons. This element excites the arterial and cardiac system and can overheat the body, the brain, the nerves. Fever and temper prone. Increases inflammation. Enhances bile production and gall bladder action (especially in Leo). Pulls energy to muscles. Dehydrating, drying. Good for reducing excess fluid. Excess fire is dehydrating and is counteracted by sedatives, moisture, cooling fruits, and fluid.

Earth Moons:Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn: Cold and Dry (Taurus is Warm and Moist). A feminine element (centripetal)

Vomits up, casts and molds well, excellent for building for long term, plant root crops. Strengthens the body, tonifies, mineralizes. Earth signs are astringent and concentrating, constipating. Muscle and bone builders (especially Taurus). Liver slows down. Virgo and Capricorn moons are best for fasting or light, low fat eating days. In reverse, Taurus moon is best for feasting because it enhances flavor and gustatory enjoyment!

Air Moons:Gemini, Libra, Aquarius: Cold and Dry. A masculine element(centripetal). Tradition lists Air Signs as “warm and moist” due to their association with the warm, moist ‘Sanguine ‘ temperament and its humor, the blood. This seems wrong. Mid-Winter’s Aquarius is the coldest, driest and most electrical of all signs! Gemini is warm-cool and variable by moisture (dry or moist), Libra temperament is neither cold nor hot, and neither moist nor dry! Remember, Libra, the scales, rules balances.

The circulation of the blood is not identical with the blood itself, so obviously fluid in nature, and complex in constituents. The ancient Greeks were ignorant of electricity as we know it. Air definitely governs the flow of electrical current within and through the body, spasm, and the circulation of the blood, most especially through the veins (Aquarius, Venus), and capillaries (Gemini).

We do note a prolifery of “undiagnosable” stiff, rheumatic, spasm, susceptible to electric shocks, seizure like complaints and extreme cramping attributed to excessive Aquarius (cold, fixed, plus electrical). Could this be caused by surges and outages in the electrical forces flowing into and through the body? I’ve witnessed some remarkable cures for these mysterious Aquarian complaints using magnetized water, magnets and other electrical distribution- improvement therapies. 

Air excites nerve impulses and increases electrical charge (Gemini and Aquarius more so than Libra. One should note fire sign Sagittarius has similar properties, producing more “zing” then other signs). The Air element speeds neurotransmission, and improves mental and verbal speed. This element is most sensitive to electric fields and EMF poisoning through computers, cell phones, ambient electricity, WiFi, etc. Air does not absorb nutrients well. Air increases wind and oxygenation. Air increases gas in the gut. Air is associated with spasm and seizure.

Gemini and especially Aquarius moons are noted for strange reactions to drugs and barometric changes. Traditionally, it was considered unwise to give chemical medicines when the natal or transit Moon was in Gemini, though Aquarius may also apply. These signs need air. Minerals ground excessive air and nervine herbs strengthen overworked nerves. Counteract excess Air with calming, grounding therapies and earth element, touch, minerals, vitamins, protective opaque stones Crystal jewelry conducts electricity and is not, as a general rule, good for either Gemini or Aquarius, especially worn about the head.

Water Moons:. Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces: Cold and Moist. A feminine element(centripetal). Expels downward, most receptive and absorptive of all elements, mucous producing, excites excretory system, (especially Scorpio), pulls fluid to lymph nodes, swells. Highly fertile, responds strongly to drugs, best element for decoction, infusion, tincturing and drinking herbal products. Hydrating and emetic. Counteract with stimulants, exercise and warmth. Energy flows downward. Although the ancients assigned the blood to Air Signs, this seems odd because blood is an obvious fluid, closely related to water and the lymph system, both of the Water Element. Factually, human blood is composed of approximately 50-80% water! Menstrual flow, and rain storms both appear to increase during water sign moons! However, it is the circulation of the blood that sits well with its ancient designation to Air. (See explanation in Air Moons.)

DISCLAIMER: All information imparted in this article is “hypothetical” and is exclusively for educational and historic interest. The author is not responsible for reader misuse of this information. If you have a health problem, see you licensed health care practitioner or physician. Herbs contain phytochemical that should be taken only with the awareness and approval of your personal physician.

ASTROLOGICAL TUTORING SERVICES

Our esteemed Academy Tutor, Marcus Romano, can be reached at: https://www.hillromanoastrology.com