Nicholas Culpeper – Herbalist Astrologer – England’s Merlin

by Elizabeth Worley. 1 June 2026

A book that I have always had in my possession is that of Nicholas Culpeper’s A Complete Herbal, a book that has been in print continuously since 1652. It is a book that captivated and inspired me in many ways as a child, and still continues to do so as an adult.

I have always been in awe of the common garden and native wild plants that have medicinal qualities that I have become acquainted with during my seasonal foraging walks and in my greenhouse, along with their connection and correspondences to the planets that I could see moving through the constellations of the night sky throughout the phases of the Moons cycle. This has been a growing interested that was seeded  when I was young and has grown and begun to bloom as I have aged.

Pondering upon these topics over the years of gardening, botany, herbalism, medicine along with astronomy, astrology and more of its occult connections such as alchemy and magic, has led my down many a garden path, all of which ultimately culminate in my wonder at the natural living world around me and also of my part in it.

I had often looked at Nicholas Culpeper’s natal chart that was displayed within The Complete Herbal, and have always wanted to decipher and understand the meanings of the chart. What follows is my delineation of his chart, whilst using other charts and traditional techniques to peer into his short life, he died at the age of 37. I briefly touch on the death of his parents, his romantic relationships, his marriage and children, his finances and inheritances along with his education and a few of his important friendships. I look at his health, his death and his legacy.

I appreciate that this is a chart from several hundred years ago, that the documented chronology may be out, and I am working from secondary sources, so errors are likely but is a fun activity nonetheless.

Nicholas Culpeper

Birth data, quick rectification check and house system

28 October 1616, 12:12 pm, Ockley England. 51n09, ow2. Rodden rating A. I make a mental note that there was a calendar change in 1582.

I am using his chart with details taken from Astrotheme.com which gives the birth data an A Rodden rating for accuracy, I believe it is rectified. I have looked at several different charts for Culpeper, the location and date of birth are all the same however the time differs by up to 12 minutes between them. Along with that, each chart used a different house system.

This 12 minute difference puts the MC and IC axis out by 4 degrees, which contributes to a four year difference when it comes to progressions and Solar Arc calculation, which is an issue for timing events. So to test which chart I wanted to work with I chose to compare the Solar Arc directions for those years and match up the most likely planetary aspects with Culpeper’s documented chronology.

The 12:00 time of birth chart had the aspect I found relevant; Mars sextile and Trine the IC-MC axis, on the 6^th October 1639, while the 12:12 birth time chart had those same aspects on the 11 October 1642. This timing rectification check and another technique that I’ll mention later support the later date of 1642 being the date that is indicated by the Mars sextile and trine the MC- IC axis, with an historical reference to support it.

I currently suspect that it is the accusation of witchcraft, being imprisoned and Star Chamber trial that refers to this aspect- Mars sextile and Trine the IC-MC axis – that would have such an impact on his home life and occupational and public reputation, as this is what the MC-IC axis topics are associated with. The penalty for witchcraft was death. I believe this aspect and associated circumstances acted as a catalyst for the succession of events that followed.

I will initially use the whole sign house system, for simplicity and ease, incorporating Placidus and or  others if required, these are the two I am most familiar with. The reason being that I want to use a few Hellenistic techniques and medical astrology that are both recommended and associated with the use of Whole Sign houses and I am not so proficient to work both combined.

I will use the traditional planetary rulership’s based upon the Thema Mundi.

A brief outline of life events for Nicholas Culpeper

• 28 October 1616, Ockley England. 51n09, ow2 at ‘just after noon’ or 12:12pm.
• Culpeper’s father died 13 days before his birth
• He grew up in his grandparents religious Puritanical home where he learnt Latin, Greek, Astronomy, Astrology and Botany. His ancestry is of a prestigious family line on both sides.
• 1632-1633 Entered Cambridge College aged 16
• It is suggested he met William Lilly, author of Christian Astrology – some dispute this as fictional
• 1634 Planned to elope with his fiancé, however upon the date of departure to meet together, her carriage was struck by lightning and she died. Thereafter he left Cambridge due to depression and a nervous breakdown. Some dispute this as fictional.
• 1634 Took up an Apothecary Apprenticeship under Francis Drake, with Samuel Leadbetter
• 1639 Aged 23 he nursed his mother until her death, his inheritance had been spent and he was depressed and poverty stricken. Francis Drake Dies, Samuel Leadbetter takes over Apothecary.
• 1640 Aged 24 he married Alice Field, a wealthy heiress, who he fathers seven children with, of which only one outlives his short life. He uses his wife’s dowry to set up business and buy a home.
• By marrying, he breaks the contract of being an apothecary apprentice. Starts practicing medical astrology.
• 1642 he is accused of witchcraft, imprisoned and awaiting possible death penalty, though later he is acquitted.
• 1643 he is a soldier surgeon in the battle of Newbury where he suffers a musket shot wound to the chest. Later receives another chest injury in a duel. His two wounds left him tubercular.
• 1643 Samuel Leadbetter is forced to dismissed Culpeper from the apothecary
• Worked at a printing press which allowed him to print and distribute his documents cheaply.
• Translated and openly copied Latin botanical texts and re-structured them for English speaking common folk and sold them cheap, which got up the authorities noses, just like the surname Culpeper was associated with.
• He exposed the ingredients of pharmaceutical products that were hidden by their Latin names by translating them into English.
• Wrote numerous books, the main books were The Complete Herbal, A Directory for Midwives, Astrological Judgement from the Decumbiture of the Sick and The London Dispensary. After his death others wrote in his name.
• 1651 He received John Dee’s show stone -the crystal that was used in seances with Edward Kelly – as a gift from Arthur Dee, John Dee’s son, in gratitude for helping heal a knee issue that Arthur had been experiencing. He later said was possessed by perverted spirits.
• He died 11 January 1654 aged 37 from Tuberculosis.

Delineation

According to these details Culpeper was born of a Venus day in the hour of the Sun, four days after a full moon.

Ascendant, ASC Ruling Planet, Sun and Moon.

I begin with looking to the Ascendant or Rising sign, this is 7 degrees of Capricorn a cardinal earth sign. This indicates the moment of dawn on this day. The ruler of Capricorn is Saturn, Saturn in retrograde, who is tenanted in the fixed earth sign of Taurus in the 5^th house of children along with the IC angle and the Lot of Spirit/Daimon. Venus is the dispositor of Saturn, the ruling planet of Taurus where Saturn resides, and is in an opposing aspect to Saturn himself. The Ascendant placement indicates an ambitious and disciplined character who is hardworking and serious. This is how Culpeper would approach new beginnings and tasks.

I read Saturn’s placement to show the tragically short lives of his children.

I note that this is a diurnal chart, the Sun is above the horizon and located at 5 degrees in Scorpio in the 11^th house within a stellium which includes the MC angle, Venus and Mercury. Mars the ruler of Scorpio is the dispositor of the Sun from his location in Leo in the 8^th house, and the Sun is the dispositor of Mars, from Scorpio in the 11^th house. Thus there is a closed circuit of dispositors acting a bit like a merry-go-round as to who is the boss; the sect leader of the chart, or the most malefic of the chart? This will be a continuing theme throughout Culpeper’s life.

Scorpio is a fixed water sign, stubborn, persistent, intuitive and sensitive. The Sun placed here describes the natives general personality. Within a stellium involving Mercury and Venus, their associated attributes are blended with the Sun’s. So the intellect, thought process and learning style, attributed to Mercury will also have a stubborn, persistent and outspoken quality. Venus likewise, however Venus is in detriment in Scorpio, so doesn’t give or receive love and pleasure as easy, she has to work hard for her self-esteem and worth, and also for money, and may achieve less than optimal results in comparison to the effort put in.

The other luminary, the Moon is at 21 degrees of Gemini in the 6^th house of health, is in its own sect, below the horizon, in a 5 degree conjunction with the Saturn – Mars midpoint and opposite Jupiter in Sagittarius in the 12^th house. Mercury is the dispositor of the Moon, being the ruler of Gemini. This is where the Moon has to look for resources to help it in this placement. Both are Peregrin, hold neither dignity or debility, so are a little hard to judge as to their predictable actions. However Mars is the dispositor to Mercury and as already noted is in a closed circuit dispositor loop with the Sun.  This Moon in Gemini placement indicates that Culpeper’s emotions are quick witted, intellectual and fun. Both Gemini and Mercury indicate the lungs and respiration and we know that Culpeper had chronic lung issues following two injuries in close succession.

Jupiter is in Sagittarius in the 12^th house. Jupiter is his own ruler, with no dispositor and with good essential dignity for being so. However he is in an unfortunate house, one where Saturn would usually find its Joy. Jupiter is usually considered to bring abundance and blessings being a benefic, however being in the 12^th house associated with periods of confinement, isolation, prison, addictions, self-undoing and of hidden enemies, we see that these themes are quite strong throughout Culpeper’s life. Being directly opposite his Mars-Saturn midpoint and also the Moon in the 6^th house that is associated with health indicates problematic issues. We know that Culpeper was a heavy smoker of tobacco which he appears not to have given up even while he was ill, he spent a short time in prison after being accused of witchcraft, he took a few months on a recovery health retreat to heal after having a duel, which followed shortly after an injury as a soldier where he was shot in the chest. In this sense I do not feel that the benefic Jupiter has been helpful, but has exacerbated problems of 12^th house topics relevant to the other aspect relationships.

However, the 12^th house is also connected to the occult, similarly to the 8^th, here we may see, (or not as the term occult means hidden from view) apparent blessings in occult matters. He did have connections to at least one other prestigious occultist. He was given John Dee’s show stone as a gift from Arthur Dee, John Dee’s son. However it appears that he thought that it possessed perverted spirits.

Benefics and Malefics

The most benefic planet for Culpeper is Jupiter of the diurnal sect is at 26 degrees Sagittarius in the 12^th house as already noted.

His most malefic planet is Mars, of the contrary sect to the chart, is at 16 degree of Leo in his 8^th house. His Mars is also slow, giving it an extra intensity and power, and would station in 72 days after his birth.

Prenatal Eclipse

On the 11^th September 1616 there was a Solar Angular Eclipse at 18 Virgo in the House of God. For Culpeper this would influence his higher learning, religion and philosophy and legal issues. Mercury rules Virgo, however, the dispositor to Mercury in this case is Mars.

Angles, Nodes, Lots, Midpoints and Aspect Patterns

Important angles within this chart are the MC and IC. The IC which has Saturn retrograde in a 6 degree orb to it, and is in an 8 degree orb to the Hermetic Lot of Spirit/Daimon. The MC angle is part of the stellium within Scorpio, within a 2 degree orb to Venus, 7 degree orb to the Sect Ruler, the Sun and 9 degree orb to Mercury. As mentioned previously the MC angle represents occupation and public recognition, where the IC represents the home life.

I see that the nodes are on the mutable axis of Pisces and Virgo. Within medical astrology, this relates to the involuntary nervous system which would be weakened by the south node and the immune and lymphatic systems indicated by the north node placement, possibly somewhat strengthened. Culpeper is said to have suffered a nervous breakdown in connection to the death of his fiance and his mother.

The Lot of Fortune denotes prosperity and wealth and is at 23 degrees Leo and was conjunct Regulus who appears to have been at 24 degrees Leo in 1616. The LOF is in an 8 degree orb to Mars in the 8^th house. The Lot of Spirit/Daimon denotes career life and direction and purpose and is at 20 degrees Taurus within 8 degrees to the IC in the 5^th house.

The Mars – Saturn midpoint is situated at 26 degrees Gemini in the 6^th house.

There is a T-Square pattern between the Scorpio stellium, Taurus Saturn and IC and Leo Mars, Lot of Fortune and Regulus. This pattern is renowned for tension within the associated life areas, here of friends and public reputation, family and home, death, secrets, shared finances and inheritances. This likely  caused a great deal of conflict, however also it is also likely to have created a very strong character.

Antiscia, Contra-Antiscia and Fixed Stars

Both the Antiscia and Contra-antiscia charts have interesting characteristics. They generally indicate hidden mirrored shadowed conjunctions and oppositions when the chart is ‘folded’ upon the solstice and equinoctial axis.

The antiscia Lot of Fortune is directly conjunct his natal Saturn retrograde. The contra-antiscia chart is a little more complicated; his Contra-antiscia Lot of Fortune is 1 degree orb conjunction to his natal Sun, his Contra-antiscia Mars is 1 degree conjunction to his natal MC and Venus. This configuration is mirrored so that the Contra antiscia Sun is in 1 degree conjunct the natal Lot of Fortune, the Contra-antiscia MC and Venus are 1 degree orb to his natal Mars.

These folded and mirrored connections are in fixed signs and strike me as having huge effect and influence. It is like these placements are reverberating and echoing the T-Square configuration around fixed signs which are known to have already stubborn and lasting effects.

The regal star Regulus also known as the king, Lion Heart, Watcher of the North and is one of four Guardians of the Heaven, is associated with high ideals, success and strength of spirit and military honour. Remembering that the LOF is conjunct Regulus, I feel this is deeply connected to his surviving legacy several hundred years later.

Time Lords and Transits

The Hellenistic time lord techniques of ancient astrology dictate that only certain planets are active at any one time. Using the time lord techniques of Profections and Zodiacal Releasing allows a deeper assessment and evaluation of the natal chart in that it allows a personal astrological chronology to be read for the whole of persons life, forwards and backwards, with foresight or hindsight. It is like reading a persons life as a book, with paragraphs, sentences and words as deeper levels of timed detail are explored.

Like any good story, there are foreshadowing periods that will be hinted at ahead of time and with foresight can help prepare for the peaks and troughs.

Equally reading the life back with hindsight can help explain or give closure or put them in a more suitable perspective if needed. Or here with Culpeper, is associated with his life’s chronology.

In Culpeper’s case, with regard to Zodiacal Releasing I see that the angles from the Lot of Fortune are all in fixed signs, this shows that the most active periods of his life will be in fixed signs, especially that of Taurus and Leo, the 1^st and 10^th houses from the LOF. Unfortunately for Culpeper, Leo and Taurus contain both the malefics, Mars and Saturn.

This dictates that any time a profection year occurs in the fixed sign houses, or where the Lord of the Year is a malefic, both malefics and thus the T-Square aspect pattern are triggered, giving Culpeper very challenging situations to deal with.

On the 16 Jan 1642 Culpeper experiences a Loosing of the Bond from the Lot of Spirit/Daimon. This is where a major change of trajectory, of significant importance happens, a break in the sequence of one’s life direction, a pivotal point.

Zodiacal releasing in this way can be used to rectify and test the natives chronology.

On 17 December 1642 Culpeper is imprisoned and tried for witchcraft in a Star Chamber Court with threat of penalty of death, later acquitted. This is the event that I attribute to the Solar Arc directions aspect where Mars trines and sextiles the MC-IC axis, that confirms the birth time to 12:12 or ‘just after noon’. This is a 3^rd house profection year with The Lord of the Year or ruling planet for that profected year, is Jupiter. As already mentioned Jupiter is in his 12^th house of isolation and prison.

The transits for January 1642 has Mars transiting over Culpepers 12^th house where Jupiter resides.

By the time we get to the 17 December 1642 transiting Mars is making a 3 degree orb to Natal Saturn retrograde in Taurus in the 5^th house. Fortunately the Sun in applying a 1 degree orb to Jupiter in the 12^th which I believe to contribute to Culpeper being acquitted.

In 1643 Samuel Leadbetter is forced to dismiss Culpeper from the apothecary. Also in 1643 Culpeper joins the Battle of Newbury as a soldier surgeon where he received a wound to the chest that he would never completely recover from and that would leave him tubercular.

Both the occupation of soldier and surgeon are associated with Mars, so is a musket shot wound. The chest, where he was shot is associated with Leo. Again, this is where Mars is placed in his natal chart. Remember that another name for Regulus is Lion Heart, within the chest is the heart, represented by the Sun, which also represents the King within mundane astrology, and he was fighting against the King. It is also interesting to note that Culpeper lived on Red Lion Street in Spitalfields where firing cannons was practised.

Culpeper experienced three other Loosing of the Bond periods between the Lot of Spirit/Daimon and the Lot of Fortune.

He experienced a LOF Loosing of the Bond which started on 26 Feb 1634. It was in 1634 he experience the death of fiancé, left Cambridge and entered the apothecary apprenticeship.

He experienced a LOF Loosing of the Bond is on the 18^th November 1652, this is the year that The Complete Herbal is published, however he was very ill by this time.

The final Lot of Spirit/Daimon Loosing of the Bond period started on the 31 December 1653, 11 days before he died.

Anareta 

I would love to see deeper into Culpeper’s life story and view the foreshadowing events that precede the Loosing of the Bond periods during this incredible man’s short life.

Almost everywhere I look, with regards to the relationships and interconnections of this chart take me to Mars in Leo in the 8^th house of death. The most malefic planet of the diurnal sect, ruler of the stellium in Scorpio and angular to the Lots of Spirit and Fortune. This man had an influential, eventful and tragic short life, with the best parts of this life often coinciding with the worst.

I do have more to say with regards to Culpeper, his work and his legacy, but his will have to do for now.

© Elizabeth Worley

Bibliography

I have taken the main chronology from Culpeper’s Medicine by Graeme Tobyn.

Books

Brennan, C. (2017) Hellenistic Astrology The study of fate and fortune. Amor Fati Publications, Denver, Colorado. USA.

Culpeper, N. (1655) Astrological Judgement from the Decumbiture of the Sick. Astrology Classics. USA.

Culpeper, N. (1762) A directory for midwives: or, a guide for women, in their conception, bearing, and suckling their children.  Reproduction from the British Library. London.

Culpeper, N. (1826) Culpeper’s Complete Herbal and English Physican. J Gleave and Son, Deansgate. Manchester.

Hill, J. (2004) Medical Astrology A guide to planetary pathology. Stellium Press, USA

Tobyn, G. (2013) Culpeper’s Medicine. A Practice of Western Holistic Medicine. Singing Dragon. London.

Online

Albert, S. W.(2002) The People’s Herbalist: Nicholas Culpeper. https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/The-Peoples-Herbalist-Nicholas-Culpeper/ [access 17 May 2026]

Culpeper, N. (?) Mercurius Anglicus: Or, England’s Merlin.https://www.proquest.com/docview/2090355700?sourcetype=Books&imgSeq=12 [access 17 May 2026]

Daniels, T. (2022). The Decumbiture 11: Culpeper’s use of Mooncrisis Charts. https://www.taniadaniels.com/the-decumbiture-ii-culpepers-use-of-mooncrisis-charts/ [accessed 17 May 2026]

Davis, D. W. (?) Nicholas Culpeper, Herbalist of the People. https://www.skyscript.co.uk/culpeper.html [Accessed 31 May 2026]

Encounter with Lilly. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230371538_5 [accessed 17 May 2026]

Harmes, Paul and Christina Hart-Davies (2014) The Life of Nicholas Culpeper and his Sussex Records. https://www.sussexflora.org.uk/resources/articles/life-nicholas-culpeper-sussex-records/ [accessed 17 May 2026.

Historical Notables. https://www.culpepperconnections.com/ss/xHistorical.htm [access 17 May 2026]

Merlinus Anglicus: or, England’s Merlin. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A74927.0001.001/1:4?rgn=div1&view=fulltext [accessed 17 May 2026]

Mr Culpeper’s Ghost. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A81149.0001.001/1:4?rgn=div1&view=fulltext [accessed 17 May 2026]

Nicholas Culpeper (2022) https://library.chethams.com/blog/nicholas-culpeper/ [accessed 17 May 2026]

Nicholas Culpeper English Herbalist and Astrologer. https://www.greekmedicine.net/whos_who/Nicholas_Culpeper.html [accessed 17 May 2026]

Nicholas Culpeper. https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Culpeper,_Nicholas [accessed 17 May 2026]

Nicholas Culpeper. https://www.famousscientists.org/nicholas-culpeper/ [accessed 17 May 2026]

Nicholas Culpeper: An astrological article and guide. https://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/Nicholas_Culpeper [accessed 31 May 2026]

Nicholas Culpeper’s statement about John Dee’s crystal, England, 1651-1658. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co104492/nicholas-culpepers-statement-about-john-dees-crystal-england-1651-1658 [accessed 17 May 2026]

Pearce, JMS. (?) Nicholas Culpeper and Herbal Medicine. https://hekint.org/2019/09/30/nicholas-culpeper-and-herbal-medicine/ [accessed 17 May 2026]

The Online Books Page. Online Books by Nicholas Culpeper. https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Culpeper,+Nicholas,+1616-1654 [accessed 17 May 2026]

The sixth book of practical physick. Of occult or hidden diseases. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A59200.0001.001?view=toc [accessed 17 May 2026]

Tobyn, G. (2024) Culpeper’s Herbal The English Physitian and its debt to apothecary John Parkinson. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11655157/ [accessed 30 May 2026]

I would like to thank Fiona Aedgar, my astrology teacher in her encouragement throughout my studies with her.