Working Paper on Astrological Physiognomy: History and Sources

k. Judith Hill (living)
<strong>Working</strong> <strong>Paper</strong> on Astrological Physiognomy: History and Sources
Redheads Research Project. In 1987, Judith Hill began a study designed to test the hypothesis
that individuals with red hair had Mars in close proximity to the natal Ascendant degree. Initial
results proved statistically significant and held over a larger sample. The original research was
published by Borderland Research Sciences Journal; an abstract was produced for The Mountain
Astrologer, May 1996, and reprinted in The Astrological Body Types (see next).
The Astrological Body Types: Fact, Form, and Expression. Bayside, Ca.: Borderland Sciences,
1993. Book Link: http://www.judithhillastrology.com/books.html
Building Blocks (pp. 35-36)
HILL'S TABLE OF SIGNIFICATOR'S OF PHYSICAL APPEARANCE IN THE BIRTH CHART
1. The Moon’s sign (especially in females)
2. The Ascendant sign (the Ascendant or rising sign)
3. The sign tenanted by the planetary “ruler” of the Ascending sign
4. The Sun sign. Beware of sign cusps. People born within one, or even two days of sign cusps or borders may
resemble their neighboring sign. This is most frequent for people born at the tail-end of one sign. The same
rule can hold for cusping Ascendants.
5. The opposite sign to the Sun sign. This can be more obvious than the Sun sign for persons born close to sunset
or midnight.
6. The planets nearest the Ascending degree (either side of the Ascendant). Planets conjunct the Ascendant take
precedence over the sign on the Ascendant (e.g., should Jupiter be rising in Capricorn, the physical appearance
will, in most cases, be more “Jupiterian” the “Capricornian”).
7. Any planet closely conjunct the planetary ruler of the Ascendant, Sun or Moon.
8. Any sign possessing two or more ‘personal’ planets, i.e., Mercury, Venus, Mars.
9. Any sign possessing a “stellium” of five or more planets.
10. Stationary planets. This is a planet that has no apparent motion at the time of birth. It is very powerful and may
dominate the physical appearance. Consider any planetary “stations” occurring within one day from birth for
Mercury, Venus and Mars and one to three days for slow planets.
11. Dominant Element: Fire, Earth, Air, Water. Look for at least two important indicators such as Sun, Moon,
Ascendant, or ruler of Ascendant posited in one element.
12. Dominant Mode. Rare. Must be an overt dominance.
Rules for Judgment (p. 33)
Indicates first four building blocks contribute 25-75% of physical appearance. Hill states
“There exists no reliable method for determining exactly which of Significators 1-4 will
predominately reflect in the physical appearance.”
Final eight building blocks are of secondary importance.
Hill’s Astrological Body Types includes both planet-based and sign-based physiognomy
rules illustrated copiously with the author’s own drawings. The book includes many of the
author’s own findings based on over 6000 natal readings conducted over a twenty year period
which are not found in any other source, astrological or non-astrological. Identification of
multiple body types for a single planet/sign may be indicative of the influence of decans, but Hill
does not ascribe the importance to decans maintained by other authors.
www.regulus-astrology.com
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