"You come from realms of unimaginable power and light, and you will return to those realms. You have to take seriously the notion that understanding the universe is your responsibility, because the only understanding of the universe that will be useful to you is your own understanding." Terrence McKenna
Traditionally, Astrology associates the zodiac signs with particular organs or parts of the body, but this is neither helpful nor memorable for us because of course the body of a living being isn't made of separate parts! It is made of vital systems that are interconnected and overlapping. Their interactions are important to understand as part of the complex chain of functions that make up our biology. So to that end, I have created meaningful mnemonic groupings, not to be a perfect or exhaustive list, but to be useful in aid of memory and hopefully spark some curiosity in you about your body and the way it works! To the Video
Aries: Muscular System
The muscular system is a complex network of muscles that work together to perform various functions related to movement, stability, and heat generation.
Movement:Â Muscles contract and relax to produce movement. Skeletal muscles, attached to bones by tendons, allow us to move our limbs and body.
Posture and Stability:Â Muscles provide support and help maintain posture. They work in coordination to keep the body in an upright position against the force of gravity.
Heat Generation:Â Muscles generate heat as a byproduct of contraction. This helps maintain body temperature, especially during physical activity.
Joint Stability:Â Muscles surrounding joints provide stability and protect them from injuries by controlling movements.
Aries is dynamic energy and a desire to take initiative. Muscles, as the engines of movement, align with the Aries' energetic and action-oriented nature. Many other systems of the body rely on these muscular contractions, for instance the Lymphatic system doesn't do any of its own pumping. The movement of lymph fluid piggybacks on the exertion of muscles during other physical activities, which is why exercise is important not only for building muscle, but fending off foreign invaders. Unlike a house, which funnels fuel to a furnace and forces air through ducts to warm up, our bodies distribute food energy to the muscles directly. That is why we shiver when we are cold. This heat energy is then distributed by the Cardiovascular system, but it is important to remember: the heart is actually the strongest muscle!
Taurus: Endocrine System
The endocrine system is a complex network of glands that produce and secrete hormones, which are chemical messengers that regulate various physiological processes in the body.
Hormone Production:Â Endocrine glands, including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, and others, produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, development, mood, and other bodily functions.
Homeostasis:Â Hormones help maintain homeostasis by regulating the balance of fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients in the body.
Reproduction:Â The endocrine system plays a crucial role in reproductive processes by regulating the menstrual cycle, sperm production, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
Stress Response:Â Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are involved in the body's response to stress, preparing it for the "fight or flight" response.
Taurus is associated with stability, sensuality, and a connection to the material world. Because hormones are the way by which the body communicates between the environment and our inner world, promoting their harmony is the way we achieve physical comfort. The endocrine system, through hormonal regulation, contributes to the internal balance and stability of bodily functions. In gauging exactly which nutrients and resources we need, the hunger response is a culmination of hormonal signals that try to create an appropriate amount of discomfort to get us to go out and acquire those food resources. Getting in tune with these urges and feelings can direct our attention to habits which may be improved for better health.
Gemini: Nervous System
The nervous system is a complex network of cells that transmit signals between different parts of the body. It has two main components: the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes the nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.
Communication:Â The nervous system facilitates communication between different parts of the body through electrical and chemical signals. Neurons, the basic units of the nervous system, transmit information.
Sensory Input:Â The nervous system receives information from the external environment (sensory input) and internal conditions (such as body temperature and blood pressure).
Integration:Â The brain processes and integrates sensory information, allowing for decision-making and responses to stimuli.
Motor Output:Â The nervous system sends signals to muscles and glands to produce responses and actions, known as motor output.
The nervous system, with its role in transmitting signals and processing information, reflects the theme of communication and curiosity prevalent in Gemini. The rapid transmission of signals in the nervous system allows for swift responses to changing conditions. Gemini is symbolized by the Twins, representing duality. The nervous system has two main components, the CNS and PNS, emphasizing the idea of dual structures working together. The electrical signals sent by the Nervous system are different from the chemical communications of the Endocrine system, but both play a crucial role in responding appropriately to stimuli. The 'mercurial' speed of the neural impulses differ greatly from the pervasive, 'slow and steady' trudge of hormones through our bodies, and keeping rhythm between both requires both physical and metal inputs.
Cancer: Female Reproductive System
The female reproductive system is a complex network of organs responsible for the production of eggs (ova), fertilization, pregnancy, and childbirth. For our definition, this also includes the postpartum process of lactation and nurturing, although the conventional definition does treat that separately.
Ovulation:Â The ovaries release eggs in a process known as ovulation. Ovulation typically occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle.
Fertilization:Â If an egg is fertilized by sperm during sexual intercourse, it may lead to the formation of a zygote. Fertilization often occurs in the fallopian tubes.
Menstruation:Â If fertilization does not occur, the uterine lining is shed during menstruation. This marks the beginning of a new menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy:Â If fertilization is successful, the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, leading to pregnancy. The uterus provides a supportive environment for fetal development.
Childbirth:Â The uterus contracts during childbirth, facilitating the delivery of the baby through the cervix and vagina.
Hormone Production:Â The ovaries produce hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which play crucial roles in regulating the menstrual cycle, supporting pregnancy, and maintaining reproductive health.
The female reproductive system, with its ability to nurture and support the growth of a new life during pregnancy, reflects the theme of nurturing and fertility. This correlates to Cancer which is associated with emotions, nurturing, and the home. The womb is our home during the first stage of our lives, and we are connected directly to our mother through the umbilical chord. The process of reproduction is intimately connected to the creation of a family and the sense of home. The menstrual cycle, a natural part of the female reproductive system, has a cyclic nature. Cancer, as a sign associated with the Moon, also reflects cycles and phases. The reproductive system is fundamentally linked to the Circulatory system, drawing deeply upon blood resources, and the health of both are intimately linked.
Leo: Circulatory System
The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, is a complex network of blood vessels, the heart, and blood. Its primary functions include the transportation of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.
Heart:Â The heart is the central organ of the circulatory system. It pumps blood to all parts of the body, ensuring a continuous flow.
Blood Vessels:Â Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues, while veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Capillaries facilitate the exchange of nutrients and waste products between blood and tissues.
Blood:Â Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other essential substances to cells. It also transports waste products, such as carbon dioxide, away from cells.
Oxygen Transport:Â The circulatory system plays a vital role in transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and organs.
Nutrient Delivery:Â Nutrients, including glucose and amino acids, are transported by the circulatory system to cells for energy and repair.
Waste Removal:Â Waste products generated by cellular metabolism are transported by the circulatory system to organs like the kidneys for elimination.
Leo is often associated with vitality and energy. Similarly, the circulatory system is essential for providing energy to every cell and organ in the body. Never forget: the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Treat it as an axiom. The circulatory system's role in providing nutrients to cells supports the body's creative and regenerative processes. Our life force is provided by this interplay of oxygen, energy, and water, and just as the sun is the center of our solar system and provides heat energy and life to our planet, the heart is the core of the body. We do not have conscious control over the beating of our heart, but there are things that we can do to harm its ability to function, such as accumulation of plaque in our arteries by over consuming cholesterol. But oddly enough, recent research into heart disease actually indicates a strong connection between the circulatory system and exposure to sunlight. Comparisons between two genetically similar groups, the British and Australians, showed that despite similarities in ancestry and diet, the UK receives much less sunlight and has higher rates of heart disease. Make sure you are sunbathing safely!
Virgo: Digestive System
The digestive system is a complex network of organs responsible for breaking down food, extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste.
Ingestion:Â The process of taking in food through the mouth.
Mechanical Digestion:Â The physical breakdown of food into smaller particles through chewing and the muscular movements of the digestive tract.
Chemical Digestion:Â The breakdown of food into simpler molecules by enzymes and acids. This process begins in the mouth with saliva and continues in the stomach and small intestine.
Absorption:Â The uptake of nutrients (such as amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose) by the small intestine and their transport to the bloodstream.
Transportation:Â Movement of food through the digestive tract, facilitated by muscular contractions.
Storage and Concentration:Â Temporary storage of food in the stomach and the release of small, concentrated amounts into the small intestine.
Elimination:Â The removal of indigestible materials and waste products from the body as feces.
Virgo's practicality is mirrored in the digestive system's process of elimination, removing waste materials from the body. Vital nutrients are identified and absorbed, dividing the wheat from the chaff and discarding the rest. The digestive system functions in an orderly sequence, with each organ playing a specific role in the process of digestion. Mechanical processes like chewing increase the efficiency of chemical processes later down the line, and we have evolved to have a very different system than our other mammalian counterparts like cows who need to use multiple stomachs to break down difficult plant matter. We are able to eat and process a huge variety of foods, which allows us to make use of nutrition sources in many different environments. Such diversity requires careful discrimination to ensure what we ingest is not toxic or poisonous to us, and thus the system is very sensitive and includes mechanisms to reject or throw up food which is detected to be problematic.
Libra: Integumentary System
The integumentary system is the organ system that protects the body from various kinds of damage, such as loss of water or abrasion from the outside. It includes the skin and its derivatives, such as hair, nails, and glands.
Protection:Â The skin acts as a physical barrier, protecting the body from external threats such as pathogens, chemicals, and physical damage.
Sensation:Â The skin contains sensory receptors that detect stimuli such as touch, pressure, temperature, and pain, allowing the body to respond to its environment.
Excretion:Â Small amounts of waste products are eliminated through the skin, particularly through sweat.
Immune Defense:Â The skin plays a role in the immune response, acting as a barrier against pathogens and initiating immune responses when necessary.
Synthesis of Vitamin D:Â The skin, when exposed to sunlight, produces vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption and bone health.
Libra seeks balance and harmony in relationships. Similarly, the integumentary system maintains balance by protecting the body from external imbalances and threats. This membrane separating inner from outer contains nerve endings and blood vessels to perceive and react to environmental changes. The skin is the largest organ in the body, acting as a shield against the elements, but remaining permeable to allow the exchange of certain fluids such as sweat to assist in temperature regulation. Libra is associated with beauty and aesthetics. The integumentary system, including the skin, hair, and nails, contributes to the body's aesthetics and plays a role in the perception of beauty.
Scorpio: Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive system is responsible for the production of sperm, the transfer of sperm into the female reproductive tract, and the production of hormones that influence sexual development and behavior.
Spermatogenesis:Â This is the process by which sperm cells are produced in the testes. Sperm carries genetic information necessary for fertilization.
Testosterone Production:Â The testes produce testosterone, a key male sex hormone. Testosterone plays a role in the development of male reproductive organs, secondary sexual characteristics, and libido.
Ejaculation:Â Sperm is transported from the testes to the epididymis, where it matures. During sexual arousal, sperm is expelled from the body through ejaculation.
Prostate Gland Function:Â The prostate gland contributes fluids to semen, nourishing and supporting sperm during their journey.
Accessory Gland Secretions:Â Other accessory glands, such as the seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands, contribute additional fluids to semen to facilitate sperm movement and viability.
Scorpio is often linked to themes of life and death. The male reproductive system, involved in the creation of life through sperm, can be metaphorically associated with the cycle of life and the potential for new beginnings. The continuous production of sperm, represents a process of renewal and regeneration, as does the female counterpart of menstruation. Dedication of bodily resources to the possibility of new life creates continuity of our species, an unbroken chain of biology responsible for our unique form of sentient life. Through sexual reproduction, we are able to change and adapt to a dynamic world and prevail when situations in our environment turn adverse.
Sagittarius: Urinary System
The urinary system, also known as the renal system, is responsible for the production, storage, and elimination of urine. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's balance of fluids and electrolytes.
Filtration in the Kidneys:Â The kidneys filter waste products, excess ions, and water from the blood to form urine. This process helps maintain the body's internal balance.
Urine Formation:Â The filtered substances are then combined to form urine, which consists of water, electrolytes, and waste products such as urea and creatinine.
Storage in the Bladder:Â The urine is stored in the bladder until it reaches a sufficient volume for elimination.
Elimination through the Urethra:Â When the bladder is full, the urine is expelled from the body through the urethra during the process of micturition (urination).
Sagittarius is associated with freedom and releasing what no longer serves. The act of urination involves the release of waste, symbolizing a letting go of what the body no longer needs. Though this balance of fluids, we are able to maintain the adaptation of sweat, which curiously enough is something that sets us apart from horses in this centaur metaphor. Horses outpace us in sprints, but the heat management made possible through sweating allows humans to outperform in marathons where equines overheat. Keeping the right amount of water on hand is an intricate dance at the cellular membrane level, where osmotic forces draw water from areas of lower to higher salt concentration.
Capricorn: Skeletal System
The skeletal system is a complex structure composed of bones, cartilage, and connective tissues that provides support, protection, and facilitates movement.
Support:Â The primary function of the skeletal system is to provide structural support to the body. Bones form the framework that supports muscles, organs, and tissues.
Protection:Â Bones act as a protective shield for vital organs. For example, the skull protects the brain, and the ribcage shields the heart and lungs.
Movement:Â Bones, along with muscles and joints, enable movement. The skeletal system provides attachment points for muscles, allowing coordinated movement.
Mineral Storage:Â Bones serve as a reservoir for essential minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus. These minerals are released into the bloodstream as needed for various physiological functions.
Blood Cell Production:Â Within the bone marrow, blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, are produced. This process is known as hematopoiesis.
Capricorn seeks to establish a solid foundation and structure in various aspects of life. Similarly, the skeletal system provides the structural integrity necessary for the body's form and function. The combination of rigid bones of various shapes and sizes, and flexible connective tissues affords us an incredible range of motion. Although we cannot squeeze through tiny spaces like an octopus, being a vertebrate comes with other great advantages that have allowed us to live in nearly every part of the planet. We owe much of that to the versatile storage systems which make effective use of any resources we find and safe for later. Through utility, we can make it through difficult terrain and times of hardship to get across to the far side where abundance awaits! Capricorn's determination is reflected in its steady movement toward achieving goals. The skeletal system, working in conjunction with muscles and joints, facilitates purposeful movement.
Aquarius: Respiratory System
The respiratory system is a crucial physiological system responsible for the exchange of gases, primarily oxygen and carbon dioxide, between the body and the external environment.
Breathing:Â The primary function of the respiratory system is breathing, which involves the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide. Oxygen is vital for cellular respiration, the process that produces energy for the body.
Gas Exchange:Â In the lungs, oxygen from inhaled air diffuses into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism, moves from the blood into the lungs to be expelled during exhalation.
Transport of Gases:Â The respiratory system works in coordination with the cardiovascular system to transport oxygen-rich blood to tissues and organs and return oxygen-depleted blood to the lungs.
Acid-Base Balance:Â The respiratory system helps regulate the body's pH by controlling the levels of carbon dioxide, which can affect the acidity of the blood.
Speech Production:Â The respiratory system plays a role in speech production by providing the airflow needed for vocalization.
Just as the respiratory system facilitates the exchange of gases, Aquarius is associated with the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and information. This sign values intellectual pursuits and the sharing of thoughts. Oxygen is vital for sustaining life and providing energy, but the exhalation of carbon dioxide is also of utmost importance and actually weighs more than the solid waste we eliminate each day through digestion. It is the movement, flow, and exchange of these gases that creates the dynamic energy interplay life requires. The respiratory system's role in oxygenating the entire body can be metaphorically linked to Aquarius' focus on universal connections and the well-being of humanity.
Pisces: Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is a vital part of the circulatory and immune systems responsible for maintaining fluid balance, filtering harmful substances, and supporting the body's defense against infections.
Fluid Regulation:Â The lymphatic system works alongside the circulatory system to regulate fluid balance. It collects excess interstitial fluid that escapes from blood vessels and returns it to the bloodstream, preventing edema (swelling).
Immune Defense:Â Lymph nodes, which are distributed throughout the body, filter lymph fluid and trap pathogens, foreign particles, and damaged cells. This process helps activate the immune system to respond to infections.
Transport of Nutrients:Â The lymphatic system transports dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins absorbed by the intestines. These nutrients are eventually delivered to the bloodstream.
White Blood Cell Production:Â Lymphoid tissues, including the spleen and thymus, contribute to the production of white blood cells (lymphocytes), which play a key role in the immune response.
Absorption of Excess Fluid:Â Lacteals, specialized lymphatic vessels in the small intestine, absorb fats and fat-soluble substances from the digestive system.
Lymph nodes, acting as filters and part of the body's defense against infections, can be associated with Pisces' intuitive nature, having a heightened sensitivity to subtle energies and a natural defense mechanism against negative influences. Vigilance against foreign invaders of the body and purification by flushing them away require constant production of new white blood cells. The lymphatic system's involvement in immune defense and filtration can symbolize Pisces' connection to collective energies and the need for emotional and spiritual purification.