Minnesota Starvation Project

While websurfing about anorexia I came across an interesting study about the effects of starvation and malnutrition called the Minnesota Starvation Project. This was an experiment performed on conscientious objectors during World War II. Kind of weird that this was being done at the same time in the U.S. while the Holocaust was happening over in Europe. But, Cancer rules Food and Hunger and Saturn was in Cancer during this time and that's a good time to go on a diet. What can I say?

Excellent description of the experiment here: http://www.joyproject.org/overcoming/starvation.html

Brainchild of physiologist Ancel Benjamin Keys
b. Jan. 26, 1904
Sun 6 Aquarius (c.Saturn); Moon Taurus; NN 30 Virgo (opposing Jupiter, Squaring Neptune opposite Uranus - huge humanitarian effort to understand the effects of nutrition - Virgo).

The Experiment was conducted at the University of Minnesota from Nov. 19, 1944 to Dec. 20, 1945 and it was done to understand the effects of starvation from the War. 400 Volunteers applied and in the end 36 White Males were selected. These were healthy conscientious objectors and a large proportion were Mennonites & Quakers. One of the volunteers was Max Kampelman b. Nov. 7, 1920, New York, NY who later received Honors for future humanitarian efforts.

The study found that prolonged semi-starvation brings increase in depression, hysteria, hypochondraisis (right word?), self-mutilation, social withdrawal and isolation, preoccupation with food, loss of interest in sex, hoarding.

Aspects for Nov. 19, 1944:

Sun conjunct Mars in Scorpio: healthy robust men participating in research study. North Node in Cancer and Saturn at 11 Cancer Rx. Interesting that Saturn was not only in Cancer but Retrograde at both the beginning and end of study.

T-square with apex Jupiter Virgo-Chiron 1 Libra-Neptune 6 Libra (conscientious objectors). Neptune squares an opposition of Saturn in Cancer opposite Moon-Venus in Capricorn. That Moon placement really emphasizes the oppressive role of Saturn on the Moon.

Mercury 14 Sagittarius opposite Uranus Gemini and sextiling Pluto in Leo. The study was concluded at the Mercury return so this same configuration was repeating. And, it also might explain the sensitivity of the researchers to hysteria and other mental-emotional complaints. I just watched a video on You-Tube of every professional in the Eating Disorder Profession and they are all adamant that Anorexia is a Brain Disorder and not a result of family dysfunction or malnutrition.

End of Study: Dec. 20, 1945:

Sun 29 Sagittarius. Moon at 18 Cancer c. Saturn 24 Cancer Rx.
North Node just leaving the sign of Cancer and was at 30 Gemini.

Saturn was once again Retrograde and just about to leave Cancer.

Mercury had returned to the same spot where it was at the beginning of the project and was back in Sagittarius once again trining Pluto and opposing Uranus.

One interesting factor was that it took an average of 5 months after the study ended for the men to return to normal mental functioning. A couple of them never lost their obsession with food and became Chefs.