In astrology there are four temperaments – choleric, sanguine, melancholic and phlegmatic. They are based on unique combinations of the four qualities of hot, dry, wet/moist and cold.
The temperaments assign a tone to each chart, which provides a deeper reflection of the person than can be gained from planet/sign/house combinations.
In a recent online class, we discussed the links between hot, dry, wet/moist and cold with the signs.
Next, we did a simple exercise where you identity the qualities of your Ascendant and Moon sign, to see if the combination provides any clues to wellbeing tips.
Temperaments can provide information about personality,
as well as health or one’s constitution.
Here’s the guide:
– Fire signs are hot + dry (Choleric)
– Earth signs are cold + dry (Melancholic)
– Air signs are hot + wet/moist (Sanguine)
– Water signs are cold + wet/moist (Phlegmatic)
For example, if you ascendant is Leo and your Moon sign is Gemini, your qualities are hot + dry (Leo fire sign) and hot + wet/moist (Gemini air sign).
Thus, out of the four qualities, you’d have two hot, one dry and one wet/moist. The dry and wet/moist neutralise or balance each other, but there is a hot dominance or imbalance. You may notice you suffer from excess heat, or are always looking to cool down. That type of thing.
For more on temperaments, try my 2014 ISAR conference lecture on this very topic.
The four qualities – hot, dry, cold and wet/moist – describe physical conditions. I have a cold dominance and always wear socks to bed, even in Summer. I can’t have those cold breakfast smoothies so instead I have a room temperature salad or steamed/warm veggies with an egg. This example, over at Traditional Medical Astrology, goes into more detail.
Going Further
Of course, there’s MUCH more to the temperaments than this – factors like Moon phase, the season associated with the Sun, as well as the influence of planets that aspect the Ascendant, Moon and Sun must also be considered – but as an intro, I thought you might enjoy the practical application.
Books
If you’re interested to read more, I can recommend ‘Temperament: Astrology’s Forgotten Key‘ by Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum (her book isn’t specifically on temperaments and health, but does give a detailed overview of the temperaments and how to use them.) For more on astrology and health, ‘The Astrological Judgement and Practice of Physick’ by Richard Saunders, is a 17th century classic well worth the cost.
Have you worked with the temperaments? Do you notice anything about your Ascendant + Moon Sign pairing?