Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XXII — How Inferior Things Are Subjected to Superior Bodies, and How the Bodies, the Actions, and Dispositions of Men Are Ascribed to Stars and Signs · 2 of 2 · tr. Henry Morley; L. W. de Laurence ed.
Chapter XXII, Section 1b
The several Signs, also, of the Zodiac take care of their members: So Aries governs the head and face; Taurus, the neck; Gemini, the arms and shoulders; Cancer, the breast, lungs, stomach and arms; Leo, the heart, stomach, liver and back; Virgo, the bowels and bottom of the stomach; Libra, the kidneys, thighs and buttocks; Scorpius, the secrets; Sagittarius, the thighs and groins; Capricornus, the knees; Aquarius, the legs and shins; Pisces, the feet.
And as the triplicities of these Signs answer one the other, and agree in celestials, so also they agree in the members; which is sufficiently manifest by experience, because with the coldness of the feet the belly and breast are affected, which members answer the same triplicity; whence it is, if a medicine be applied to the one it helps the other, as by the warming of the feet the pain of the belly ceaseth.
Remember, therefore, this order, and know that things which are under any one of the Planets have a certain particular aspect or inclination to those members that are attributed to that planet, and especially to the Houses and exaltation's thereof.
For the rest of the dignities, as those triplicities and marks and face, are of little account in this.
Upon this account, therefore, peony, balm, clove-gilly-flowers, citron-peel, sweet-marjoram, cinnamon, saffron, lignum aloes, frankincense, amber, musk, and myrrh help the head and heart, by reason of the Sun and Aries and Leo.
So doth ribwort, the herb of Mars, help the head and secrets by reason of Aries and Scorpio; and so of the rest.
Also all things under Saturn conduce to sadness and melancholy; those under Jupiter to mirth and honor; those under Mars to boldness, contention and anger; those under the Sun to glory, victory and courage; those under Venus to love, lust and concupiscence; those under Mercury to eloquence; those under the Moon to a common life.
Also all the actions and dispositions of men are distributed according to the Planets; for Saturn governs old men, monks, melancholy men, and hidden treasures and those things which are obtained with long journeys and difficulty; but Jupiter governs those that are religious, prelates, kings and dukes, and such kind of gains that are got lawfully; Mars rules over barbers, chirurgeons, physicians, sergeants, butchers executioners, all that make fires, bakers, and soldiers, who are every where called martial men.
Also do the other Stars signify their office, as they are described in the books of Astrologers.
Themes
◆Correspondencecosmology
The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.
The text explicitly states that celestial triplicities agree with human members and that medicines applied to one part affect another due to this cosmic alignment.
All passages →◆Cosmic Sympathycosmology
The Stoic and Plotinian doctrine that all parts of the cosmos are bound by hidden affinities, so that a movement in one part resonates through the whole; the metaphysical basis for astrology, magic, and divination.
The text describes how celestial bodies govern specific parts of the human body and that actions in one part resonate through the whole.
All passages →◆Microcosm Macrocosmcosmology
The human being as a small-scale image of the entire cosmos; the body, soul, and intellect mirroring the structure of the heavens and the divine — distinct from correspondence in that it makes the human the privileged mirror.
The text links specific human body parts directly to celestial signs and planets, reflecting a cosmic structure within the human form.
All passages →Related passages · 2 parallels
◆hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 15: The Hymn of Hermes|Section 1c
“For there are many choirs of daimons round Him, like unto hosts of very various kinds; who though they dwell with mortals, yet are not far from the immortals; but having as their lot from here unto the spaces of the Gods, 2 they watch o’er…”
Both passages discuss the influence of celestial bodies on human life and nature. Passage A focuses on the zodiac signs and planets governing different parts of the body and human dispositions, while Passage B describes the role of daimons associated with stars in influencing human affairs and dispositions. Both highlight a hierarchical and interconnected system between celestial entities and earthly phenomena.
◆neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter VIIIv
“Hence some of them preside over men, others over lions or other animals, and others over plants; and still more partially, some are the inspective guardians of the eye, others of the heart, and others of the liver.” He adds, “all things, ho…”
Both passages discuss the influence of celestial bodies on various aspects of life, including human anatomy, dispositions, and actions. They share a belief in the interconnectedness of the cosmos and its impact on the microcosm of human experience, though they come from different mystical traditions.