The Secret of Secrets and Other Philosophical Treatises

...of Aries The zodiac sign of the Ram, marking the start of Spring. And it lasts for ninety-one days, thirteen hours, and a quarter part of an hour. This period is from the tenth day of the end of March until the thirteenth day of June. In this time, night and day are made equal in all regions. The weather grows sweet; the air becomes clear; the winds blow. The snows are dissolved; torrents run between the mountains; the springs bubble up. Moistures are raised to the tops of the trees and the ends of the branches. Seeds rise; the crops grow; the meadows turn green. Flowers grow and take on their colors. The trees are clothed in new leaves; the earth is adorned with buds. Animals are conceived; the flocks give birth. All things resume their strength. The birds sing and chatter; the nightingale original: "philomena" resounds. The earth receives its full ornament and its beauty once again, and it becomes like a gracious and most beautiful young girl, adorned with necklaces and various colors. And it appears to our eyes as if in a Paschal Easter feast. For the air is then hot and moist, similar to temperate air. In this season, the blood One of the four "humors" or bodily fluids believed to govern health rejoices and is spread through all the limbs of the body. It is beneficial because it is of an equal complexion—that is, temperate. During this time, certain things should be eaten, namely: young chickens, quails, and eggs (though not in excess, up to six), as well as wild lettuce which the country-folk call "scariola," and goat’s milk.

There is no better or more useful time for performing a minution The practice of bloodletting to balance the humors or an evacuation purging of the bowels than in this season. This is because at this time, the blood is at its most abundant and the humors are in flux. Therefore, in this season, the movements of the body, the loosening of the belly, exercise, bathing, games, and bloodlettings should be tempered so that the greed of lust is calmed by the removal of blood and other evacuations; for it is then that moistures are most aptly prepared to be converted into semen. Therefore, potions made of spices—that is, purgatives—should be taken then. Whoever lost their health through poor digestion or excessive bloodletting, this season restores them by its own moisture. Concerning Summer.
Summer begins when the sun enters the first point of Cancer The zodiac sign of the Crab. It contains ninety-one days, thirteen hours, and a third part of an hour. This is from the thirteenth day of June until the fourteenth day of September. In this time, the days are lengthened and the nights are shortened in all regions. The heat grows dry; the winds become fiery. There is tranquility on the sea and serenity in the air. The crops are dried out; serpents are born; venoms are poured out. The virtues of the body are strengthened. The world becomes like a woman who is gracious in body and complete, perfect in age, and inflamed with heat. The summer season is hot and dry, in which created things...