Planet-Herb Affinity: The Assignation of Planets to “Their” Herbs

June 2022

Copyright © by Judith, 2022

This month, I received a fascinating invite from one of my favorite herbalists, Lise Wolff.  Her request was for me to display, in real-time, the thinking process behind the assignation of an herb to a planetary “ruler”. She would provide the “mystery” herb, in this case, Red Osier. Intrigued with the challenge, I agreed. The wild popularity of our resultant effort led me to devote this newsletter article to this same method.  So, just how are herbs assigned to planets, and vice versa? And, why? Our example will be the useful herb Mullein, Verbascum thapsus, descriptively nicknamed ‘Bunny’s Ears' or ‘Flannel Leaf’.

My two Renaissance sources disagree on the planetary ruler of this renowned plant, and neither assignment makes any sense to me! Nicholas Culpeper claims this herb to Saturn, whereas contemporary Joseph Blagrave says Sol. Oddly, these two planet “ruler" choices are opposite in temperature, color, function, astrological sign rulership, and general nature!  And, as we shall soon see, neither stiff Saturn, nor sunny Sol, much favor the primary qualities, or uses of Mullein.

Each astrological herbalist should learn to think for themselves. Hopefully, this article will provide a useful template.  In astrological herbalism, all planetary “rulership” means is similarity, affinity, linkage. In the great piano keyboard of life, all “C” notes vibrate together, although of different octaves. It’s much the same between planets and plants! ‘As above, so below.’  It’s that simple. You will soon discover that precious few herbs align with but one “ruler”, because most serve multi-purposes, or vary in influence according to root, leaf, or flower. Regretfully, Renaissance lists confuse earnest students by conflating multiple herbs for opposite reasons under one planet heading. We discussed this at length in my March blog article “The Renaissance Planet-Herbal Assignment Mess: Striving Toward a Useful Method.”

Today, let’s examine Verbascum. To proceed with a fitting planetary assignment, we must first examine botanical facts. The thinker must consider leaf structure (hard, soft, moist, prickly, etc), flower color, general appearance, the season of bloom, soil preference, plus resemblance to human parts - what is known amongst herbalists as the venerable  “the doctrine of signatures”.

Most essentially, what does the herb do?  What are its distinctive therapeutic actions, and organ affinities? What bodily systems does it stimulate, sedate, or support? Is the planet a stimulant or astringent? Moistening or drying? Hot, or cold? Tensing or relaxing? Does it have any specific functions? What are its mineral and chemical components? How does it taste, smell? All these things provide you with identification tags as to an herb’s planetary, and zodiac sign affinities! 

Mullein possesses large, and smaller, nested leaves of a bland, green-grey color, that feels like thick velvet.  These are highly demulcent, and soothing. In the old-time, Mullein leaves were utilized for diaper rash, asthma, dry, hacking cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, varicose veins, mumps, and pneumonia. Thickly blanketed with soft, tiny hairs, the leaf moistens both our “lookalike” cilia and villi. Mullein is also favored for vaginal dryness! 

Verbascum is vulnerary (heals wounds), sedative, and expectorant (expels sputum). And, remarkably, both astringent and demulcent (most astringents are drying). Vulneraries enjoy multi-planetary affinities.  However, sedatives are the exclusive domain of Venus and Neptune. Demulcents affinitize with Venus and Moon. Astringents are Saturn’s. Expectorants - Mars. Overall, Venus seems the best rulership candidate, (just touch a leaf!), with considerable help from others of the planetary pantheon. Let’s continue our search.

Demulcents are always governed by Venus or Moon - our two celestial bodies that have a demulcent, moistening influence on the body and mucus membrane. The light green-grey color is notably Lunar. Luna is moister than Venus. Verbascum retains fluid, holding its head high after months of scorching sun.

Mullein’s primary affinity is for the glandular system and (according to Edgar Cayce) the veins. Its notable powers include clearing mumps, removing glandular cysts, clearing poison in the lymphatic system, and allaying swollen testicles. What are the astrological correspondences? The lymphatic system is traditionally given to either Venus, or Luna, (and the zodiac signs Pisces and Cancer). Venus is traditionally “exalted” in Pisces. The veins are Venus’ province, co-ruled with Aquarius.

What about color? Mullein produces voluminous “Tweetie-bird Yellow” florets, whose abundant oil is famously effective in ear infections.  Because Jupiter governs fats, oil is a decidedly Jupiterian substance (never Saturnian!). Furthermore, the ear is in Venus-ruled Taurus’ domain. However, the color yellow is typically a bile mover - and bile movers are Mars, as is also the Cosmic Yellow Ray. However, “Mullein Flower Yellow” is a lighter, sweeter tone than are our more familiar yellows of Turmeric, Golden Seal Root or the very “martian” Mustard! “Mullein Flower Yellow” hardly suggests Mars as ruler. Neither is the plant touted as a cholagogue (bile mover). This plant is also anti-inflammatory, and thus, antithetical to inflammatory Mars.

In assessing any herb, we would normally taste and smell it. Distinctive flavors and scents are attributed by affinity to various planets. Mullein leaf is distinctively bland. Blandness is the calling card of the Moon (as are the soft, grey-green leaves). However, the dried yellow flowers hit your tongue with a striking, pungent sweetness (Venus, Sun), and a slight sour back flavor (Saturn).

We also discern a plant’s temperature. Mullein is “cool”, a feature of Lunar and Saturnian herbs.

Matthew Wood teaches that Mullein assists the mucus to move along the membranes of lungs, gut, and joints, He cites Verbascum’s remarkable power to assist the lubrication of the spinal vertebrae, and bodily joints; plus its fruitful case use in laminitis (for horses); and for guiding disjointed bones miraculously back into just the right place! Mullein, while not being Saturnian, is definitely Saturn’s friend. Why? Because dryness, stiffness, bones, and bone problems are ruled by Saturn. Mullein benefits all these issues. 

We then ask, “what planets are Saturn’s friends?”  Mercury and Venus!  Saturn is even “exalted” in Venus’ home sign, Libra! So far, it is only in the root of the Mullein that we see any pronounced astringent quality, noted to Saturn. Culpeper reports how the root stays the “fluxes and courses” of the body.

Verbascum (Mullein) prefers impoverished soils - in my region, Mullein chooses curbside cracks under harsh sunshine. From nothing, it grows straight and tall to over twelve feet in rare instances. I’ve observed Mullein surviving both snow and drought, truly expressing another of its monikers: “Strength of Ten Men”. The ability to thrive on poor nutrition is indeed a Saturnian quality. 

In Mullein’s case, the overwhelming testimony of reviewed physical-planetary affinities nudges in the direction of a co-rulership shared between soothing Venus and smoothing Luna, with a little help from astringent, tough, Saturn, deep down at the root!  However, Mullein flowers are a different matter altogether - partaking of  Sun (bright, happy, pungent, sweet), Jupiter (oily), and Venus (sweet, anti-inflammatory).

Now, you well may ask, “why does anyone need to know this?”  Or, “Now that I know this, how can I use it?” 

The knowledge of planetary-herbal affinities is primarily useful to herbalists who are also students of medical astrology. Or, for herbalists striving to be the best herbalists they can be!  In assessing symptoms, it behooves us to assess the underlying energetics of the body, as well as current planetary forces now entering that vehicle. The same symptoms may in fact, be caused by opposite energetics! 

We endeavor to establish the cause of the imbalance. Once the underlying energetics are established, the healer is empowered to consider either antipathetical or sympathetic remedies. But…you cannot accurately do either without a clear knowledge of the energetics of the herb, the body, and current time influences acting upon that body. Nothing in my experience reveals the underlying energetic patterns of the body, plus current time influences impacting that body, as swiftly and holistically as the natal chart, plus transits.

Example: Confronted with a patient’s wet, hacking cough, the traditional practitioner wouldn't necessarily choose Mullein (because this herb is moist). Rather, Mullein makes a better candidate for a dry, hacking cough. However, with horoscope in hand, we may well find that this particular wet cough is actually caused by a hot, inflamed condition hidden deeper in the lung…and next, we find evidence of glandular swelling, with emergent, hot boils. Mullein is specific for similar conditions. 

 Next, in what Dr. Davidson described as “the twinkling of an eye”, we discover that this patient’s birth pattern is currently hindered throughout their lymphatic system. In our hypothetical example, this is indicated by the passage of transit Saturn through Pisces, (sign governor of the lymph system); and simultaneously conjunct the natal (birth) Venus in this same sign. 

Venus is a strongly “lymphatic” planet, co-governor of all “thick lymphs of the body”. This transit ‘code’ would read that transit Saturn’s cold, slow, dry energy is suppressing the lymphatic flow. In this case, we need a soothing lymphagogue, that simultaneously clears heat and poison.

Furthermore, when transit Saturn dawdles over someone’s natal Venus, the healer needs to support their “Venus”, (i.e., the physical processes that planet symbolizes.) Often, we see a deep drying pattern set in throughout,  and/or reduction of female hormones. To support, strengthen and replenish the patient’s suppressed Venus energy, (and all it rules), we need a strongly Venusian herb!  Being demulcent, Mullein obviously possesses strong, natural “Venus” qualities. Touching the leaf tells you so, as much as its traditional uses. Match!

This is but one example of many. In the hands of the skilled practitioner, the knowledge of an herb’s true planetary affinities can be a genuine Godsend in some cases. Conversely, the comprehension of the natal chart, plus current transits (i.e. current astrological time conditions), allows the practitioner a sharper insight into the patient’s current predicament and prognosis.

For those interested in acquiring this skill, my full course Astrological Herbalism Decoded is available to all Bundle subscribers.