Marble relief of Asclepius and Hygieia. Therme of Salonika, classical period, last quarter of the 5th ct. BC. Istanbul Archaeological Museum inv. no. 109 T (Mendel 91). PD-US, Wikimedia.
Marble relief of Asclepius and Hygieia. Therme of Salonika, classical period, last quarter of the 5th ct. BC. Istanbul Archaeological Museum inv. no. 109 T (Mendel 91). PD-US, Wikimedia.

“I swear by Apollo The Healer, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the Gods and Goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture.”

The above is from the original Hippocratic Oath — a statement of loyalty to a very specific code of ethics taken by healers and physicians, derived from the wisdom of master-physician of ancient Greece, Hippocrates.

Hippocrates also emphasized the merits of apple cider vinegar and walking – he was wise indeed!

The Hippocratic Oath taken by modern-day physicians weeded out the overt references to the Greek pantheon, though still focuses very much on the heart and spirit of the original – to practice in the best and most ethical way, and beyond that, to act with “warmth, sympathy, and understanding” even above “the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.”

Along the way, seemingly starting in the 1500s to bring the oath in line with Christianity and then later, ethical science, the mentions of the Greek gods were excised.

Since we’re in Libra Season and restoring right-relations, equilibrium and harmony are very Libran themes (among others), it seems fitting that Hygeia has been resurfacing — including as a clue-factor in several client consultations, for both women and men, and particularly those with Virgo-Pisces prominent.

A fair case has been made for Hygeia being a ruler, and perhaps the most suited archetype, for the Virgo Mysteries.

Hygeia (detail), 1900-1907, by Gustav Klimt. PD-US, Wikimedia.
Hygeia (detail), 1900-1907, by Gustav Klimt. PD-US, Wikimedia.

So what of Hygeia and her resurfacing into the collective conscious?

It’s just one of many ways the Feminine has been spiraling back into conscious awareness for healing, and once healed, as a healing and equilibrium-restoring consciousness and essence.

What’s marginalized and rendered invisible only goes underground, like an underground stream that surfaces as a spring or is drawn up through a well … or gushes up as a geyser, and often a polluted or even very toxic one.

When done through violent means, as so often has been the case, what’s suppressed and marginalized and rendered invisible festers and stews in its dark corner and becomes toxic, until it’s seen, spoken, honored, and healed … much like Inanna’s underworld sister, Ereshkigal of myth.

That’s the awareness that the Black Madonna brings to us, as does Mary Magdalene.

So however it is that we see, speak, honor, and heal the Feminine, by whatever pathway we’re called by, it’s been and is important to do that work. It needs to be seen, spoken, honored, and healed, so that it can become the healing, right-relationship, equilibrium, and harmony restoring force that it is.

Hygeia is just one possible facet of that restoration and healing.

Chariklo — the wife and complement of Chiron in myth and in mythic astrology — is one other, among a gathering (I’ve written about Chariklo before – link here).

In astronomy, Hygeia (sometimes spelled Hygiea) is the fourth largest asteroid in the solar system, and can be found in the asteroid belt roughly between Jupiter and Mars.

Therein we might find some additional clues.

Hygeia, 1615, by Peter Paul Rubens. Prague, Lobkowicz Palace. PD-US, Wikimedia.
Hygeia, 1615, by Peter Paul Rubens. Prague, Lobkowicz Palace. PD-US, Wikimedia.

In Greek myth, Hygeia was the daughter of the great healer, Aesclepeus, who was Chiron’s most adept student and ultimate legacy heir. She was an adept healer herself, and her father’s assistant.

Hygeia is the root of our word ‘hygiene’, so we can guess that Hygeia symbolizes ‘good hygiene’ that serves as a preventative (and healing balm) for dis-ease.

This is why Hygeia is very much related to the archetype of Virgo and astrology’s Virgo-ruled sixth house — those everyday mindful, ‘right living’ things that we do that add up to, or contribute to, or help restore, wellbeing and wellness.

With Virgo opposite the zodiac wheel from Pisces — its partner and complement — we find another clue: The most powerful healing and everyday preventative mindfulness draw from one’s connection to Source or Spirit and other Piscean-realm themes.

Hygeia in the astro-chart can symbolize these very themes — holistic healing, mindfulness as healing, right-thought and other ‘power of the Word’ themes as healing. Or toxic and harmful, depending on just how we (or others) are using this ‘magic’.

So when these themes arise in our life path — finding our way through healing to being a healing presence (formally or informally) — we might find clues from Hygeia, as well as Chariklo and a few other ‘healing and healer clues’ in the chart.

Madonna Between the Veils, by Meneghello di Giovanni de Canali (1383-1427). PD-US.
Madonna Between the Veils, by Meneghello di Giovanni de Canali (1383-1427). PD-US.

In my own natal chart, for instance, Hygeia is conjunct – located very near – my natal Jupiter in Pisces and the ‘asteroid goddesses’ Circe and Fortuna. Chariklo is conjunct my natal Sun and Saturn in Aquarius, along with Damocles of the dreaded dangling sword fame.

The gist of these clues? When I don’t mind my Chariklo et al., and fall into the strongly conditioned toxic-normal masculine ways, the Damocles’ sword hangs over me and makes itself known. That’s usually attention-getting, inconvenient, and often painful, to say the least.

This is one way that wise astrology (hence, Sophiastrology) can offer helpful insights and clues.

You can find Hygeia in your own chart by looking to see where 10 Hygeia finds her home in your natal blueprint. To include Chariklo and the healing Feminine, see this Sophia’s Children article.

Just now, Hygeia transiting the heavens is in latter Libra once again, those Libran themes of possible right-relationship, equilibrium, and harmony (or the lack of them, signaling the opportunity for restoration).

That Hygeia (and Chariklo and others) are slowly finding their way back into the collective consciousness, through those called to re-see, re-speak, re-honor, and re-store such things and thus ‘seed the memes’, suggests that Life itself — the ultimate One consciousness — is restoring equilibrium and balance through such a remembering.

1826, by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. Commissioned by the German Apothecary and Pharmacist, Josef Moser.
1826, by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. Commissioned by the German Apothecary and Pharmacist, Josef Moser.

Don’t take my word for it, though.

Visit yourself with Hygeia, Chariklo, and others … or just Hygeia … by way of reflection and visiting her mythology, and see what arises in your own awareness, dreams, and intuitive understanding. See what healing insight stirs alive in and for you.

For Sixties Babies — those with Uranus and Pluto in Virgo, and Chiron in Pisces, this may be a very key purpose-clue theme — this soul-group is recently through, in, or on deck for the pivotal life-milestone Chiron Return.

This group has been called ‘the invisible generation by some demographers — sleeping healers — and are called into remembering now.

The ‘invisible generation’, or some from that soul group, become Phoenix-Healers Rising, gathering the experience of the journey thus far into wisdom and gnosis and presence that can be a powerfully healing force.

That’s the invitation and possibility.

For others as well — find your own clues by seeing where Hygeia and her sisters live in your own chart and being.

The more we remember and re-integrate, the more of a healing presence we add to the shared field and thus our immediate sphere of influence and the world.

And the more equilibrium and harmony and healing are restored.

To get the clues and insights on your own Chiron, Hygeia, Chariklo and other purpose-clues, schedule a Sophiastrology consultation, or ‘Graceful Relating & Communication’ mentor-coaching – you’ll find a Reader & Client Appreciation special here.

Big Love,
Jamie

The Fair Face of Woman, by Sophia Gengembre Anderson (1823-1903)
The Fair Face of Woman, by Sophia Gengembre Anderson (1823-1903)

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Labyrinth image credit: Green labyrinth in Luxembourg City. PD image from Lode Van de Velde, PDpictures.net.