Dr. Edward Bach was a physician, he never wrote on astrology. Anyway, for what we know about his life and his philosophy of life, it is likely that he was not only sensitive to all that pertains to Creation – and therefore to Nature and plants, the Moon and all the planets – but that he was also interested to all those theories that would highlight the intangible inner world that pertains to all of us, and that could influence us in a way or another.
However, what Dr. Edward Bach was especially interested in – and what brought him to his healing system – was the ability of each one of us to be aware of one’s own inner world and therefore to understand one’s own spiritual growth, or life project. As a matter of fact, Dr. Bach used to insist on the uniqueness of the individual who – because of his uniqueness – must cultivate his individuality, if he is really willing to understand himself and therefore live a happier life, by preventing disease. As a matter of fact, the body-mind-spirit connection is the cornerstone of Dr. Bach’s medical system.
Emotions and Disease
In astrology, the Moon represents the emotional world of each one of us, the emotional way we respond to outside influences. It represents the most intimate part of ourselves, our subconscious, which we most willingly hide because of fear of not being accepted by others. Or, on the contrary, our emotions overwhelm us to such a point as to make us feel vulnerable and easily wounded. In both cases, Dr. Bach would say that there is no awareness, and that by going on not being aware of our emotions, we are meant to be easily preys of disease.
“….behind all diseases lie our fears, our anxieties, our greed, our likes and dislikes”, Bach wrote on his booklet “Heal Thyself”, in which he had expressed his mind.
According to Bach, disease was the result of a conflict “between Soul and Personality”. And, as the Soul is the most intimate part of ourselves, if our Personality enters into conflict with our Soul it is because we don’t know the latter good enough, or because we don’t totally accept it, we oppose to it, without realising that instead it’s our Soul’s wishes that we need to follow, if we are willing to live a happy and healthy life simply by being ourselves.
Awareness and growth
The Moon in astrology tells us where our inner path begins, it enlightens us on the path to follow, by making us aware of our emotions and of the unconscious mechanism related to them.
In a simirar way, in every Bach Flower one can see a “moon-like” unconscious peculiarity that can be resolved through the awareness of the emotion related to it. In that sense, the Bach Flower Remedies not only are capable of teaching us who we really are, but they also teach us how to live a life which may reflect our most intimate and hidden nature.
I believe two are the Bach Flower Remedies that better mirror the characteristics of the Moon: Clematis, because of the dreaming nature of the Moon, which is unearthly, and therefore unrealistic; and Chicory, because of its immaturity in love, as unconsciously possessive.
But among the 38 Bach Flower Remedies, it is also possible to consider one only that would better correspond to those characteristics of the zodiacal sign or the horoscopic house where our personal Moon is located, and that could improve those “negative” – or “excessive” – traits that are part of it, by making us more aware of our faults and helping to focus on our Soul’s positive traits.
Moon in Aries or in 1st House: Impatiens
This flower essence can help those persons who are too impatient and irritable in their lives. Their thought is as fast as their action, and they become intollerant toward those who do not move or think as rapidly as they do. That’s why sometimes they prefer to work alone, follow their own life rhytms without being hindered by others. Discipline and self-control seem to be missing in them, and when they get angry they become impulsive and aggressive. Naturally, this attitude of theirs makes of them very independent people, sometimes even in an exaggerating manner, and this is the reason why they most often are left alone.
The positive Impatiens character is the one of a capable, decisional and often brilliant person who may become a leader, by taking on his responsabilities without blaming others for their mistakes.
Moon in Taurus or in 2nd House: Rock Water
Although it is one of the 38 Flower Remedies, Rock Water is neither a flower nor a plant: it is the water of a natural source known for its healing qualities.
This remedy assists those persons who are rigid as far as their lifestyle is concerned, they firmly believe in high values and would never be willing to change them. In order to follow what they believe in, they are willing to make enormous sacrifices. By doing so, they believe they can be an example to others, and therefore they are not interested in converting others to their own ideas. But sometimes this rigid attitude towards life may become destructive for themselves, and they may suffer from it.
The positive Rock Water character is more flexible and open about his own ideas, and does not always sacrifice everyday life’s small pleasures in order to follow his own principles. He learns how to compromise between his own life principles and the nice things that life offers him. He then discovers what is like to be free.
Moon in Gemini or in 3rd House: Heather
Communication is one of the main characteristics of Heather people, who do not like to be alone, and therefore make friends with anybody, without choosing the people to be with. They are self-centered, because they are concentrated on their own problems, which they are willing to discuss with everybody. The negative aspect of their character stands in what just said; and by wanting to speak only of their own problems, they don’t listen to others, who then try to avoid them. And this is the reason why they are left alone, and then suffer…
The positive side of the remedy makes these people more altruistic, also interested in other people’s problems, which they won’t consider less important than theirs. And therefore they might also be interested in volunteering, for instance, willing to help those who suffer, because they will at last be aware of their own sufferings.
Moon in Cancer or in 4th House: Clematis
This remedy is given to those people who love to dream their eyes wide open, therefore, they love to live in an unreal world. Little interested in their present situation, they are extremely creative, but also sensitive, and this is the reason why if they are to be confronted with difficult situations they tend to close themselves up. To sleep for them means to avoid fighting against the real world. Their strong sensitivity allows them to catch also the feelings of the people whom they come across, and this is a quality they could use to their own advantage, if only they could concentrate on their own feelings.
The positive side of the remedy stands in the ability to concentrate on the “here and now”, by rejecting a life project centered in a future that is often unreal and confused. Moreover, this remedy helps to put their strong creativity – which sometimes is not used by them – into practice, and therefore gives awareness of the possibility of making their dreams come true.
Moon in Leo or in 5th House: Vervain
Vervain’s enthusiasm can become eccessive. They want to persuade everyone of the rightfulness of their ideals, and they are endowed with great courage against life adversities and willingness to do things. They love to direct others, and for this reason sometimes they lack humility, although they are sincere people and are unaware of it.
Vervain is the remedy that teaches how to keep our enthusiasm under control and makes us understand that not everyone has to think in the same way as we do, without making us lose our self-esteem or some of our prestige. This remedy teaches also to accept advice from others who are wiser than us, because it gives awareness of one’s limits.
Moon in Virgo or in 6th House: Crab Apple
Crab Apple is a remedy for hypochondriacs, that is for those who are obsessed by diseases, continuously wash their hands for fear of getting some bacteria, and therefore they are also obsessed by all that is dirty, impure. This attitude of theirs affects their character. They are so precise, attentive, and tend to be perfect. They always want to check that all is in order, and sometimes they are even disgusted when they look at themselves in the mirror: perhaps because of those pimples, stains, or they see themselves too fat…
Crab Apple is a “cleansing” remedy, both for mind and body. Moreover, among others, it is efficacious if used locally on adolescents’ pimples, because it is capable of taking all skin’s impurity away, and it is given to people who suffer of weight problems.
The positive side of the remedy used orally is the one of finding a balance in those people that are obsessed by cleaning, precision, and all the different daily “manias”. And because of its cleansing action on the organism, this remedy is very effective in case of constipation.
Moon in Libra or in 7th House: Centaury
Centaury people are good-hearted and need to depend on others. But these characteristics, unfortunately, may sometimes turn them into “servants”. They are calm, kind people, but excessively anxious to please others, to be useful to others, and therefore they find it difficult to say “no”. Often enough, those they want to help take advantage of them. In this way, they tend to use too many energies and become exhausted, forgetting about their personal life project.
The positive Centaury person knows how to choose the people they have to help. He does it in a calm, discreet, efficient manner, by taking part in the life of others without ever forgetting about his personal life path, and for this he is respected by his entourage who consider him a wise person.
Moon in Scorpio or in 8th House: Chicory
Who needs this remedy has a possessive character, trying to keep tied to him those people he loves. He tries to control and direct the life of others by also criticising them. He looks after other people’s understanding for his own personal benefit, by pointing out at their sense of duty. When others oppose to his own wishes and projects, he is ready to make the martyr, going as far as feeling sick in order to draw them near him. The Chicory person looks ready to take care of the wellness and happiness of others, but actually he only acts from a selfish point of view. Behind this way of acting there is a great need to be understood deep inside.
This remedy helps to change possessive love into altruism, making the person more open to respect the freedom of the people dear to them, without feeling misunderstood.
Moon in Sagittarius or in 9th House: Agrimony
Who needs this remedy hides his worries behind a joyful mask. The person loves calmness and people love to be in his company because he is always jovial, likes to joke, and he would do anything to avoid quarrelling. But the real reason why Agrimony people always wish to be in the company of others is because they want to forget their own problems, even though by nature they are very independent people. Their sense of humour hides their anxieties, also those linked to diseases, because they are afraid to lose their possibility to enjoy life. Sometimes, they might take drugs or alcohol in order to distract themselves from their own worries.
Instead, a constructive Agrimony person is a true optimistic one. He is a happy person who is capable of laughing also during unlucky times. Open hearted and freedom loving, his enthusiasm will come spontaneously. And he will also be able to teach others how to be optimistic in life!
Moon in Capricorn or in 10th House: Oak
This remedy is given to those people who fight hard in life both for their own occupations and for illness. They never lose hope and faith, and carry on without caring about obstacles that they might find along their way. They are courageous persons, who fight against great difficulties without giving in, but instead they would always be willing to healp others, if needed. But, by doing so, they may drain themselves of their energies, and therefore fall ill.
Positive Oak people know how to dose their energies, and stop when they are about to lose strength. The remedy enables to see life from a less material point of view, and therefore life will not be only a bunch of duties to carry out, but also a secure place where to stop sometimes in order to ponder.
Moon in Aquarius or in 11th House: Water Violet
Water Violet people are not only independent, proud, capable people, but they are also calm, speak kindly, although not much. They look aloof, perhaps because of their intelligence… they give the impression that they want to be left alone, also because they follow their own path, do not disturb anyone and move around almost without making any noise. Their individuality make them not be influenced by others’ opinions, although they have their group of chosen friends. But often, because of their being so proud and detached, they are lonely people, and sometimes they suffer because of this.
The positive Water Violet people give peace and tranquillity to their entourage, without looking aloof. By working on their altruism and talents, they will be of great help in all activities, also those having a philanthropic and humanitarian character.
Moon in Pisces or in 12th House: Aspen
This remedy is helpful to those who, being extremely sensitive, often find themselves fearing something they cannot give a name to, fears that cannot be comprehended, or they feel something is about to happen, but not even they know why and what… As they are very sensitive people, they are even afraid of telling others what they feel, and their fears follow them day and night.
Aspen gives peace of mind to those who need it, so that their extreme sensitivity and empathy could be directed toward more constructive objectives, and be for the service of all.
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It is easily understood that prescribing the Bach remedies is not as simple as this, in the sense that emotional balance cannot be re-established only by considering the position of one’s Moon in the horoscopic sign and house…… Just as one cannot know one’s character, one’s weaknesses and strengths, only by knowing the horoscopic sign and house of one’s natal Moon.
Moreover, in this article I wanted to simplify, by giving only one remedy to each horoscopic sign and house, whereas the peculiarities of one’s natal Moon sometimes need more than one remedy. For instance, Crab Apple is the main remedy for a Moon in Virgo or in 6th house, but one who’s natal Moon is in Virgo might also benefit from taking also the Beech remedy – which is the remedy for those who criticise a lot. Or Beech could well be the remedy to be added to a Libra Moon individual, because this is also the remedy for those who would like to see only beauty and goodness around them while criticising all that they see going against their principles.
The fact is that human personality is extremely complex, therefore many are the factors to be considered. Moreover, as each of us is unique, it is never possible to generalize, and one has to be careful not to give any judgement in haste.
The above is true of astrology, as of the Bach remedies or psychology…. and of all those sciences that investigate on human beings, made of body, mind and spirit.
Giovanna Mazzarino 