Every so often, a conversation unfolds that reminds me why I fell in love with medical astrology in the first place. This panel (see video below) on planetary remediation was one of those moments. It wasn't a neat, linear lecture, but a living exchange between practitioners who have spent decades at the coalface of astrology, herbal medicine, and clinical practice.
I had the pleasure of being part of this discussion alongside Will Morris, Marcos Patchett, and Andrea Gehrz who each brought a distinct lineage, discipline, and way of thinking about how astrology actually functions as a healing art.
What emerged wasn’t a single definition of planetary remediation, but something far more useful: a shared understanding of how astrology becomes medicine when it is applied with skill, ethics, and context.
Planetary Remediation: Practices, Principles, & Ethics of Astrological Healing
What Is Planetary Remediation?
At its simplest, planetary remediation is the practice of using astrological information to guide healing interventions.
But that definition barely scratches the surface.
As Andrea beautifully articulated, any remedy can become planetary remediation if it is chosen with reference to the chart — herbs, sound, colour, movement, ritual, lifestyle change, even relationship dynamics. What matters is not the modality, but the astrological logic behind the choice.
From a traditional perspective, this often involves working with:
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Sympathy — strengthening what is weak
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Antipathy — moderating what is excessive or inflamed
In practice, most of us do both at once, whether we consciously label it that way or not.
A weakened system may need support, while an overactive or stressed pattern may need calming. Rarely is it one or the other.
Charts, Context, and the Person in Front of You
One of the strongest threads running through the discussion was this:
Astrology is a context-dependent art.
Whether we are working with the natal chart, a decumbiture, a consultation chart, or timing through transits, the chart must describe the lived reality of the person in front of us. If it doesn’t, we pause.
Will spoke about coherence. The moment when the chart, the symptoms, and the practitioner’s observations all align. That coherence is what gives remediation its power. Without it, even the most elegant astrological theory stays theoretical.
In my own work, I lean heavily into constitutional astrology, understanding the long-term patterns someone was born with, while also respecting the reality of acute symptoms, life stress, and timing. Healing does not happen in a vacuum.
Treating Symptoms vs Transforming Patterns
This question comes up constantly, both from students and clients: Do we treat symptoms, or do we change the deeper pattern?
The honest answer is: both, and in the right order.
Symptoms are often what bring someone through the door. Ignoring them isn’t holistic; it’s dismissive. At the same time, symptoms are rarely the whole story. They are signals pointing toward something deeper.
In practice, this often looks like:
- Short-term support to reduce suffering
- Medium-term constitutional work
- Long-term changes to habits, environment, and self-relationship
Astrology excels here because it helps us name the pattern, not just suppress the expression.
Timing: Powerful, Useful — and Not Everything
Timing sparked one of the most animated parts of the conversation.
Yes, timing matters. Planetary cycles, lunar phases, transits, and returns can all be used to:
- Anticipate flare-ups
- Apply remedies preventatively
- Work with the body’s rhythms rather than against them
But timing is a tool, not a commandment.
Most clients don’t want to wait three weeks to start feeling better — and nor should they have to. In my own practice, I use timing strategically, not rigidly. Sometimes that looks like adjusting how long something is taken, or when support is emphasised, rather than insisting on perfect electional moments.
And ethically, I’m very cautious about predictive statements around health. Astrology can inform timing — but it should never remove agency, create fear, or plant unhelpful expectations.
Ethics, Hope, and the Nocebo Effect
This was perhaps the most important part of the discussion.
As practitioners, we are part of the remedy.
Our words, tone, framing, and presence all influence outcomes. Astrology can heal — but it can also harm if used carelessly.
Several key principles emerged clearly:
- We are not obliged to say everything we see
- Hope is not deception — it is medicine
- Fear-based prediction undermines healing
- Free will must always be preserved
One of the most powerful reminders was this:
The goal is not to diagnose fate. It’s to restore possibility.
Choosing the Right Remedy
When it comes to selecting remedies — herbs, food, sound, colour, movement, or ritual — there was unanimous agreement: It depends.
It depends on:
- The chart
- The body system involved
- The person’s constitution
- Their belief system
- Their medications
- Their capacity to implement change
There is no universal remedy list for Mars, Saturn, or Neptune. Real remediation is relational. It unfolds through listening as much as analysis.
Does It Work?
The final question was deceptively simple: How do we know when a remedy is working?
Sometimes the answer is obvious — pain reduces, energy improves, sleep returns.
Other times, the changes are subtle:
- greater resilience
- clearer emotional boundaries
- fewer relapses
- better recovery after stress
Healing often becomes visible in hindsight, once someone realises how far they’ve come.
And sometimes, the most important work is helping someone see that progress has occurred at all.
A Living Art
What this conversation reinforced for me is that planetary remediation is not a formula.
It’s a living, breathing practice that sits at the intersection of astrology, medicine, psychology, and ethics. It demands skill, but also humility.
If you’re interested in how astrology can function as a true healing language — not prediction for prediction’s sake — I highly recommend watching the full discussion.
It’s long. It’s nuanced. And it’s exactly how these conversations need to be.
—
Kira
