ASTROLOGY AND HEALING: STRESS

Fight = Mars..................Flight = Saturn

Stress is the organism's response to external or internal (self-generated) conditions or stimulus, the body's manner in which to react to a challenge.  External causes of stress can be major life changes, relationship difficulties, financial problems, children and family.  Internal causes of stress can stem from lack of assertiveness, unrealistic expectations and inability to accept uncertainty.

In today's world, stress is so commonplace as to become a way of life.  Stress isn't always a negative if occurring in small amounts as it can motivate a person towards achievement.  An overdose, however, will exact a heavy price on your mind and body.  Depending on the stressful event, the response will become either fight or flight, impacting a person's mental and physical well-being.

Our nervous system responds to a perceived threat by releasing a flood of stress hormones which include adrenaline and cortisol, so as to prepare the body for emergency action.  These hormones are ruled by the planets Mars and Saturn.  The physical changes - heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, muscles tighten, breath quickens, senses sharpen - increase strength and stamina, speed reaction time, and enhance focus - preparing you to either fight (Mars) or flee (Saturn) from any danger.

Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in our bodies; long-term exposure can lead to serious health problems as it suppresses the immune system, increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, speed up the aging process, and rewire the brain so that one is vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

SOLUTIONS FOR MARS: 

The adrenal glands should be kept strong and vigorous through affording them a diet including Vitamin A, Vitamin B-1, Vitamin C, Iron and a variety of proteins.  They will then have at hand the materials from which they can manufacture adrenalin and cortin, and not be called upon to do the impossible.

The thought-cells of Mars has a strong desire to perform some constructive work that this inner-plane work will absorb so much of their energy that they will have insufficient left with which to attract negative events.

This is best accomplished by using the Domestic thoughts, ruled by the Moon, as an antidote.  These are thoughts that relate to helping the weak, the helpless and the unfortunate.  They should be substituted for the Mars thoughts whenever these begin to enter objective consciousness, and they should be cultivated through forming some plan, project or work in which pleasure can be experienced, having to do with the comfort of the family, or which contributes to the welfare of the aged or young or those otherwise helpless.

Typical negative Mars thoughts are those of anger, irritation, lust, and those which accompany the feeling of antagonism and the tendency to strife, undue haste, or the undue expenditure of energy.  Whenever any such states of consciousness begin to be felt the attention should be resolutely turned to some constructive effort that will assist those who are unable to help themselves.  And to give more energy to these thoughts and feelings, Moon planetary energies may be tuned in on and used as Rallying Forces.  To tune in on the Moon planetary energies the feeling should be induced such as a mother feels for a babe in her arms, but this feeling should be towards the weak or helpless individuals to whom help is being given.

SOLUTIONS FOR SATURN:

Saturn tends to weaken through deficiency, the diet should also contain variety of the mineral salts and vitamins.  While variety of protein is recommended, too much meat tends to produce an acid condition of the blood stream, and this in turn places an additional burden upon the adrenalin supply, one function of which is to neutralize the acids.  The blood stream should be kept slightly alkaline by eating lots of fruits and vegetables.  Additionally, make up a mixture of apple cider vinegar, concentrated cranberry juice and fresh squeezed lemon juice, dilute with spring water and add Stevia to sweeten.  Your liver will be most grateful.

To prevent the Saturn thought-cell activities from exhausting the adrenalin supply, through deficiency of mineral salts from giving an acid blood stream, and through vitamin or protein deficiency lowering the physical energy, whenever thoughts of anxiety, fear, greed, selfishness or disappointment start entering the mind, these should be displaced with pleasurable thoughts involving the affections or social interests, and by maintaining the Sun feeling that the energies are slightly pressing outward and holding the Sun attitude of power, poise, vitality and self-respect.

Additionally, you can boost your serenity with regular relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation that will increase your ability to stay calm under pressure.