Iridology
What is Iridology - Iridology Resources - Iridology Services - Reading the Iris - Iridology Constitutions - Iridology Brain Zones - The Eyes Do Change - How to Take Eye Photos
What is Iridology - Iridology Resources - Iridology Services - Reading the Iris - Iridology Constitutions - Iridology Brain Zones - The Eyes Do Change - How to Take Eye Photos
Iridology Constitutions – Structure, Strength & Constitutional Types
In the evolving art of Iridology, the distinction between structure and constitution invites thoughtful contemplation. While the visible features of the iris—its fiber strength and alignment, the presence of lacunae, rings, and furrows, the infinite arrangements of color, pigmentation, and tone—may help define or outline a person’s constitution, the concept of constitution itself is not exclusive to iridology, nor is iridology limited to the realm of constitution alone.
Constitution is a concept as ancient as medicine itself. From Ayurveda to Chinese medicine, it speaks to the innate terrain we are born with—the vitality, resilience, and elemental nature that shape not just our physical body, but often our emotional and mental tendencies as well. To understand one's constitution is to gain a framework—a guiding compass for how to care for a particular body and spirit. A classic example might come from Ayurveda: those with a pitta constitution, marked by fire, are often advised not to run in the hot midday sun, as they already carry heat within, and are more prone to inflammatory conditions. This is the gift of knowing one's constitutional nature: not as a sentence, but as a strategy.
Yet, constitution does not a person make. Our constitution is a starting point—not a limit. And this is where my view aligns closely with the teachings of Dr. Bernard Jensen. He often emphasized that the eyes do change. We may inherit a constitutional tendency—such as a structural weakness, a lacuna, or a reactive zone—but that does not mean it must define our future. As we cleanse, as we align, as we heal, the eye reflects these shifts. Pigments lighten. Tension zones soften. The fiber pattern begins to breathe. In Jensen’s words and work, the iris is not a static diagram—it is a living record of evolution.
While the German iridology tradition emphasizes fixed constitutional types—lymphatic, hematogenic, biliary—as useful diagnostics, I see these not as boxes, but as lenses. My approach is one of direct observation: sitting with the iris in its full, luminous individuality. Each eye is its own landscape—its own language. And in that language, I listen for the story: of strength, of vulnerability, of ancestry, and of choice.
For me, the iris is Infinite: both a map of inheritance and a mirror of transformation—reflecting not only what we’ve received, but what we’ve chosen to become.
Constitution is a concept as ancient as medicine itself. From Ayurveda to Chinese medicine, it speaks to the innate terrain we are born with—the vitality, resilience, and elemental nature that shape not just our physical body, but often our emotional and mental tendencies as well. To understand one's constitution is to gain a framework—a guiding compass for how to care for a particular body and spirit. A classic example might come from Ayurveda: those with a pitta constitution, marked by fire, are often advised not to run in the hot midday sun, as they already carry heat within, and are more prone to inflammatory conditions. This is the gift of knowing one's constitutional nature: not as a sentence, but as a strategy.
Yet, constitution does not a person make. Our constitution is a starting point—not a limit. And this is where my view aligns closely with the teachings of Dr. Bernard Jensen. He often emphasized that the eyes do change. We may inherit a constitutional tendency—such as a structural weakness, a lacuna, or a reactive zone—but that does not mean it must define our future. As we cleanse, as we align, as we heal, the eye reflects these shifts. Pigments lighten. Tension zones soften. The fiber pattern begins to breathe. In Jensen’s words and work, the iris is not a static diagram—it is a living record of evolution.
While the German iridology tradition emphasizes fixed constitutional types—lymphatic, hematogenic, biliary—as useful diagnostics, I see these not as boxes, but as lenses. My approach is one of direct observation: sitting with the iris in its full, luminous individuality. Each eye is its own landscape—its own language. And in that language, I listen for the story: of strength, of vulnerability, of ancestry, and of choice.
For me, the iris is Infinite: both a map of inheritance and a mirror of transformation—reflecting not only what we’ve received, but what we’ve chosen to become.
Bernard Jensen’s Constitutional Typing: Fiber Weave as a Window to Strength
Bernard Jensen, widely regarded as the father of modern American iridology, emphasized structural analysis of the iris fibers (trabeculae)—as the foundation for determining constitutional strength. While European iridologists developed more formal iris types, Jensen approached constitution as a continuum of strength and weakness based on the density, uniformity, and integrity of iris fibers, with color (blue, brown, or mixed) playing a secondary role.
He did reference the classic iris color types, and noted that generally blue eyes had more lymphatic congestion, or 'cattarh', while brown eyes exhibited more signs related to blood and liver related instances—but placed more diagnostic emphasis on the quality of the fiber weave itself.
✦ Strong Constitution
Observation: Tight, evenly distributed trabeculae
Meaning: A person with strong vitality, robust resistance to disease, and the ability to heal quickly.
Analogy: The iris fiber density is likened to oak wood or fine silk—tough, elastic, and enduring.
“A body able to resist illness and disease, recovers quickly.”
✦ Weak Constitution
Observation: Open, separated trabeculae; “daisy petal” appearance
Meaning: Weaker genetic inheritance, more prone to illness under stress or abuse, slower recovery times
Analogy: Compared to pine wood or burlap, this looser weave reveals inherent vulnerability.
“Poor genetic heritage. Body tissues are weak. Likelihood of illness increased when the body is abused.”
Jensen’s Structural Markers of Constitution
In his system, the constitution was further refined by interpreting iris signs that indicated how the body manages stress, toxicity, and inherited weakness:
Jensen’s Philosophy: Constitution as a Map of Life Force
Jensen saw constitutional strength not merely as a clinical category, but as a reflection of the life force—how well the individual’s body holds up under stress and how effectively it adapts to life’s demands.
He often compared iris fiber structure to familiar materials:
Rather than creating a rigid set of types, Bernard Jensen offered a spectrum-based, fiber-centered system. He taught that how the iris is woven tells the story of inherited strength, environmental stress, and the body’s healing potential. While later systems like Farida Sharan’s expanded into emotional and soul-based constitutions, Jensen’s approach remains a cornerstone of structural iridology—grounded in observation, analogy, and the elegant simplicity of nature’s design.
He did reference the classic iris color types, and noted that generally blue eyes had more lymphatic congestion, or 'cattarh', while brown eyes exhibited more signs related to blood and liver related instances—but placed more diagnostic emphasis on the quality of the fiber weave itself.
✦ Strong Constitution
Observation: Tight, evenly distributed trabeculae
Meaning: A person with strong vitality, robust resistance to disease, and the ability to heal quickly.
Analogy: The iris fiber density is likened to oak wood or fine silk—tough, elastic, and enduring.
“A body able to resist illness and disease, recovers quickly.”
✦ Weak Constitution
Observation: Open, separated trabeculae; “daisy petal” appearance
Meaning: Weaker genetic inheritance, more prone to illness under stress or abuse, slower recovery times
Analogy: Compared to pine wood or burlap, this looser weave reveals inherent vulnerability.
“Poor genetic heritage. Body tissues are weak. Likelihood of illness increased when the body is abused.”
Jensen’s Structural Markers of Constitution
In his system, the constitution was further refined by interpreting iris signs that indicated how the body manages stress, toxicity, and inherited weakness:
- Murky Iris: Suggests systemic toxicity and poor lymphatic cleansing
- Lesions or Lacunae: Indicate localized tissue weakness, often inherited
- Closed Lesions: More chronic and encapsulated conditions, harder to heal
- Open Lesions: Easier to address metabolically, indicative of current tissue stress
- Psora or Hyperpigmentation: Brownish specks denoting drug or toxic residue, weakening vitality
- Toxicity Zones: Areas of darkened fiber or pigmentation indicating tissue burden
Jensen’s Philosophy: Constitution as a Map of Life Force
Jensen saw constitutional strength not merely as a clinical category, but as a reflection of the life force—how well the individual’s body holds up under stress and how effectively it adapts to life’s demands.
He often compared iris fiber structure to familiar materials:
- Silk or Oak: Strong constitutions, able to withstand wear
- Linen or Pine: Medium strength, responsive to care
- Burlap or Cheesecloth: Fragile constitutions, needing greater support
Rather than creating a rigid set of types, Bernard Jensen offered a spectrum-based, fiber-centered system. He taught that how the iris is woven tells the story of inherited strength, environmental stress, and the body’s healing potential. While later systems like Farida Sharan’s expanded into emotional and soul-based constitutions, Jensen’s approach remains a cornerstone of structural iridology—grounded in observation, analogy, and the elegant simplicity of nature’s design.
Constitutional strength is the measure of how well you hold up under stress. It’s written in the very fabric of your iris.
(Bernard Jensen)
(Bernard Jensen)
Dorothy Hall’s Iris Types: The Fabric of the Soul
Dorothy Hall’s Iris Types: The Fabric of the Soul
Few iridologists brought as much personality, metaphor, and intuitive wit into iris analysis as Dorothy Hall. An Australian herbalist, naturopath, and third-generation healer, Hall didn't just look at eyes—she listened to them. She believed every iris told a story, not just about the body, but about the whole person. Her signature contribution to constitutional typing was a poetic classification system based on fabric metaphors—a reflection of the weave, strength, and resilience of a person’s physical and emotional constitution.
Hall’s iris types go beyond biology. They explore temperament, emotional patterning, structural resilience, and healing pathways, offering one of the most psychologically insightful systems in Western iridology. Here's a closer look:
✦ The Silk Iris
✦ The Silk/Linen Iris
✦ The Linen Iris
✦ The Hessian Iris
✦ The Net Iris
Supplemental Patterns and Special Iris Types
Dorothy Hall also described a range of supplemental structural and color patterns that deepen our understanding of iris constitution and temperament. These are not separate iris types in her fabric model, but rather modifying overlays or distinct presentations that provide further insight.
✦ Zig-Zag Fibres (Crimped, Angular)
✦ Velvet Brown Iris – No Fibres Visible
Mixed Blue/Brown Iris (Color Overlay)
Dorothy Hall’s legacy is one of insight over doctrine. Her iris types remind us that we are woven from many threads—some tight, some loose, some silken, some coarse—and that healing begins not with judgment, but with understanding the fabric we’re made of.
Few iridologists brought as much personality, metaphor, and intuitive wit into iris analysis as Dorothy Hall. An Australian herbalist, naturopath, and third-generation healer, Hall didn't just look at eyes—she listened to them. She believed every iris told a story, not just about the body, but about the whole person. Her signature contribution to constitutional typing was a poetic classification system based on fabric metaphors—a reflection of the weave, strength, and resilience of a person’s physical and emotional constitution.
Hall’s iris types go beyond biology. They explore temperament, emotional patterning, structural resilience, and healing pathways, offering one of the most psychologically insightful systems in Western iridology. Here's a closer look:
✦ The Silk Iris
- Structure: Ultra-fine, tightly woven fibers with a soft sheen. Rare, elegant, and almost flawless.
- Personality & Health: Calm, stoic, unshakeable. These people have extraordinary endurance, a high tolerance for physical stress, and a low tolerance for emotional drama. They tend to see life in straight lines and expect others to "get on with it" just as they do. Often emotionally reserved but deeply kind in action.
- Challenges: Their downfall is overdoing it—pushing past human limits until something breaks. They may ignore warning signs until collapse.
✦ The Silk/Linen Iris
- Structure: Strong like silk, but with a softer texture. Slightly looser fiber pattern, indicating both resilience and sensitivity.
- Personality & Health: Capable and balanced. These individuals blend strength with adaptability, work ethic with emotional presence. They still prefer action over introspection but are more flexible than pure Silk types.
- Challenges: Tend toward tightness and rigidity in later life. May develop joint issues or mineral buildup if they don’t stay active.
✦ The Linen Iris
- Structure: A visible weave—neither too tight nor too loose. Fibers may vary in thickness and show minor lesions or breaks.
- Personality & Health: The middle ground. Sensitive, often empathic, and responsive to holistic healing. They do best with steady routines and emotional support. Prone to low-grade fatigue, mood swings, and digestive issues.
- Strengths: Able to heal with gentle nutrition, herbs, and consistent lifestyle care.
✦ The Hessian Iris
- Structure: Coarse, knotted, open-weave fibers—like burlap. Strong in character but structurally uneven.
- Personality & Health: Emotionally complex and highly adaptable. Hessians are resilient, but not through brute strength—rather through flexibility, psychological insight, and survival instinct. They bend, they flow, and they dramatize.
- Strengths: Often inventive, artistic, or eccentric. They bring emotional color to every situation.
✦ The Net Iris
- Structure: The most fragile type. Fibers are sparse and loosely arranged, often with gaps like a fishing net.
- Personality & Health: Hypersensitive, vulnerable to overwhelm, and easily depleted. Yet, these individuals are often spiritually attuned, deeply empathic, and capable of profound healing work—once they've restored their own strength.
- Challenges: Require deep rest, nourishment, and protection from emotional or environmental toxicity.
- Healing: Best supported through energy medicine, herbal infusions, warm baths, solitude, and gentle encouragement.
Supplemental Patterns and Special Iris Types
Dorothy Hall also described a range of supplemental structural and color patterns that deepen our understanding of iris constitution and temperament. These are not separate iris types in her fabric model, but rather modifying overlays or distinct presentations that provide further insight.
✦ Zig-Zag Fibres (Crimped, Angular)
- Structure: Fibers that crimp or zig-zag, resembling an open zipper around the iris.
- Meaning: Sign of frustrated, unused energy—common in people who are emotionally or physically restricted, or who feel they should be doing more with their lives.
- Emotional Layer: Restlessness, unexpressed ambition, or blocked vitality.
✦ Velvet Brown Iris – No Fibres Visible
- Structure: True genetic brown iris with a velvet-like or matte surface. No visible fibers, even under magnification.
- Metabolic Note: These irises operate under a different biochemical system—utilizing minerals like sodium, potassium, chlorine, and sulphur, instead of the calcium-magnesium balance typical of blue irises.
- Interpretation: Not a weak structure—just a different one. These eyes reflect deeper systemic rhythms and often come with a naturally grounded constitution.
Mixed Blue/Brown Iris (Color Overlay)
- Structure: Typically a blue iris overlaid with brown discoloration or pigment clouds. These changes are often functional, not genetic.
- Significance: Indicates inherited or acquired toxicity, especially liver or metabolic congestion. With healing, the overlay may lift, revealing clearer fiber structures beneath.
- Hall’s Insight: This pattern is not a separate type, but a transitional or reactive iris. It should be read with attention to both its origin (usually blue) and its current biochemical environment.
Dorothy Hall’s legacy is one of insight over doctrine. Her iris types remind us that we are woven from many threads—some tight, some loose, some silken, some coarse—and that healing begins not with judgment, but with understanding the fabric we’re made of.
Josef Deck’s Iris Constitutions: Classical Precision, Biological Terrain
Dr. Josef Deck, one of the most respected German iridologists of the 20th century, is known for refining and systematizing the constitutional types that continue to influence European iridology today. His work built on Pastor Felke’s original classifications but added greater diagnostic precision, subtypes, and metabolic interpretations.
Deck’s model is grounded in the belief that iris color reflects core metabolic and elimination tendencies, and that the structure, hue, and pigmentation of the iris correspond to constitutional strengths, weaknesses, and disease susceptibilities. His system centers around three primary iris constitutions, each with multiple subtypes:
✦ Lymphatic Constitution (Blue Eyes) Core Traits:
✦ Hematogenic Constitution (Brown Eyes) Core Traits:
✦ Mixed or Biliary Constitution (Hazel/Green-Brown Iris) Core Traits:
Specialized Patterns and Reflex Zones
Deck also refined interpretation of reflex signs and sub-constitutional syndromes:
Josef Deck’s Legacy
Unlike more psychological or holistic approaches, Deck's system remains highly biological, metabolic, and terrain-based. Yet it deeply honors the inherited constitution—recognizing that while structure may be fixed, function can be improved. His influence continues to ripple across Europe and through iridologists who blend classical insight with natural therapeutics.
Deck’s model is grounded in the belief that iris color reflects core metabolic and elimination tendencies, and that the structure, hue, and pigmentation of the iris correspond to constitutional strengths, weaknesses, and disease susceptibilities. His system centers around three primary iris constitutions, each with multiple subtypes:
✦ Lymphatic Constitution (Blue Eyes) Core Traits:
- Typically found in individuals with blue or light-colored eyes
- Associated with a cold, moist metabolic terrain
- Tendency toward mucus congestion, lymphatic stagnation, and hypersensitivity
- Often susceptible to catarrhal conditions, allergies, and weak skin/elimination
- Hydrogenoid Constitution: An excess water retention type; marked by cloudy, whitish overlays in the iris. Prone to edema, infections, and poor kidney function.
- Atonic Lymphatic: Pale blue iris with loose fibers—linked to sluggish metabolism and weak immune tone.
- Irritative Lymphatic: Brighter blue iris with radii solaris, indicating a more reactive, hyperimmune tendency.
✦ Hematogenic Constitution (Brown Eyes) Core Traits:
- Solid brown iris with no visible fiber structure
- Dense pigmentation tied to the liver-blood axis
- Tendency toward blood disorders, hepatic congestion, and circulatory strain
- Emotional traits include passion, fire, and long-term systemic buildup
- Cholesterol or Sodium Ring Type: Often has white arcs near the iris periphery; reflects vascular stiffness, lipid congestion
- Psoric Constitution: Marked by darker specks or brownish blotches, indicating toxic or medicinal residue accumulation
- Uric Acid Diathesis: Especially prone to rheumatism and gout; iris may show grey clouds in kidney and joint zones
✦ Mixed or Biliary Constitution (Hazel/Green-Brown Iris) Core Traits:
- Iris shows both blue base and brown discoloration, particularly around the digestive zone
- Reflects a combined lymphatic-hepatogenic burden
- Prone to digestive disorders, gallbladder issues, and nervous tension
- Digestive-Biliary: Brown pigments dominant in the stomach and intestinal zones
- Neurogenic-Biliary: Includes zig-zag or furrowed patterns pointing to nervous system strain
- Toxic-Biliary: Heavy discoloration across multiple zones, often paired with scurf rim
Specialized Patterns and Reflex Zones
Deck also refined interpretation of reflex signs and sub-constitutional syndromes:
- Cardio-Renal Syndrome: Constitutional weakness where lacunae appear in both heart and kidney zones; both organs must be treated together
- Cardio-Abdominal Syndrome: Highlights the gut-heart axis; seen in central congestion and upper collarette flattening
- Aortic Insufficiency Zone: Precisely mapped at 2:00 on the left iris; suggests structural heart weakness
Josef Deck’s Legacy
Unlike more psychological or holistic approaches, Deck's system remains highly biological, metabolic, and terrain-based. Yet it deeply honors the inherited constitution—recognizing that while structure may be fixed, function can be improved. His influence continues to ripple across Europe and through iridologists who blend classical insight with natural therapeutics.
“The constitutional iris is the mirror of systemic harmony or disturbance, seen in the way color, density, and reflexes align—or fail to align.”
Josef Deck
Josef Deck
Farida Sharan’s Holistic Constitution: Inner Terrain, Soul Terrain
Farida Sharan brings a deeply integrative, spiritually aware voice to the field of iridology. Trained in both European iridology and natural medicine, she developed a constitution-based system that reflects not only the physical body, but emotional energy, psychological patterns, and soul evolution.
While she acknowledges the classical constitutional categories of the European school—lymphatic (blue), hematogenic (brown), and mixed (biliary/hazel)—Sharan expands their application into a living energetic map. For her, iris constitution isn’t a fixed label, but a doorway to transformation. She views iris signs as revealing soul wounds, healing gifts, and ancestral imprints.
She teaches that blue-eyed individuals often carry emotional repression and inherited congestion, while brown-eyed beings may carry heat, drive, and systemic pressure from ancestral responsibility. Hazel eyes show transformation in progress—a soul mid-journey, integrating layers of inherited and chosen experience.
Her work emphasizes: The relationship between right and left eye (masculine and feminine lines) The soul lessons embedded in iris signs (e.g., orange in the lymph = emotional trauma) A counseling-based interpretation that brings emotional intelligence into iris reading.
The iris reveals the internal landscape of a person—not just their body’s story, but their soul’s path and personality language.
Sharan sees the iris not as a static code but as a living mandala of the soul’s experience—where every marking speaks of story, potential, and the alchemy of healing. The constitutions she identified blend anatomical insight with archetypal resonance and emotional patterning. Her types are not prescriptive labels but guides for inquiry, nourishment, and integration.
Below are the core Faridian Constitutions, with expanded insights on color, fiber structure, emotional tendencies, and healing approaches:
✦ Immune Reactive Constitution
Structure & Color: Heightened fiber activity, possible radii soleris, and orange or yellow pigments in the lymph/digestive zones. Often on a blue or mixed base.
Tendencies: Over-reactive immunity, allergies, inflammation, irritability
Emotional Layer: Defensive or reactive in the face of perceived threats
Healing Keys: Immune modulation, lymphatic support, emotional grounding
✦ Nervous Sensitive Constitution
Structure & Color: Delicate fibers, zig-zag nerve rings, signs of adrenal strain, often pale blue or mixed
Tendencies: Anxiety, light sleep, sensory overload
Emotional Layer: Fragile boundaries, highly empathic
Healing Keys: Nervines, deep rest, earth connection, rhythm restoration
✦ Lymphatic Sensitive Constitution
Structure & Color: Soft, loose fibers; pale blue iris; signs of sluggish lymph such as cloudiness or tophi
Tendencies: Stagnation, low-grade inflammation, inherited weakness
Emotional Layer: Gentle, protective, sometimes overwhelmed
Healing Keys: Breathwork, dry brushing, juices, slow activation
✦ Lymphatic Holding Constitution
Structure & Color: Denser white overlays in the periphery, thick fiber structure, possibly scurf rim
Tendencies: Mucus accumulation, weight retention, endocrine burden
Emotional Layer: Holds pain silently, often stoic
Healing Keys: Warmth, deep detox, voice liberation, herbal sweating
✦ Glandular Digestive Emotional Constitution
Structure & Color: Rust or orange digestive pigments, mixed/hazel iris, contraction furrows near pupillary zone
Tendencies: Hormonal swings, adrenal burnout, digestive volatility
Emotional Layer: Self-worth tied to nourishment/giving
Healing Keys: Blood sugar balance, adaptogens, loving nourishment
✦ Structurally Open Constitution
Structure & Color: Very light or pale iris with sparse, open fiber weave; weak collarette tone
Tendencies: Mineral loss, poor resilience under stress
Emotional Layer: Energetically open, intuitive, can be depleted
Healing Keys: Structure through minerals, soul rituals, boundaries
✦ Circulatory Hardening Constitution
Structure & Color: Thickened scurf rim, white arcs or sodium/cholesterol rings; typically in darker eyes
Tendencies: Arterial tension, poor peripheral flow, rigidity
Emotional Layer: Strong-willed, yet resistant to change
Healing Keys: Blood movers, flexibility practices, forgiveness
✦ Anxiety Gastric Constitution
Structure & Color: Sharp contraction furrows, tight collarette, inner zone tension, light or hazel eyes
Tendencies: Nervous digestion, spastic colon, sympathetic dominance
Emotional Layer: Unsettled, often high-strung
Healing Keys: Belly massage, chamomile, grounding routines
✦ Mixed Color Constitution
Structure & Color: Brown overlays (especially in digestive zones) on a blue base; often transitional
Tendencies: Liver toxicity, inherited digestive patterns
Emotional Layer: Transformation in progress
Healing Keys: Liver detox, clarity practices, simplicity
✦ Velvet Brown Constitution
Structure & Color: Deep matte brown iris with no visible fibers; mineral-based metabolism (sodium/potassium axis)
Tendencies: Dense tissue, mineral retention, constitutional grounding
Emotional Layer: Ancestor-linked, resilient, systemic
Healing Keys: Mineral balancing, blood purification, reverent detox
Farida reminds us that these constitutions are not categories to conform to, but languages of light and shadow that help us listen more closely. The iris, for her, is a map of personal evolution, and the work of healing is not to force change, but to create space for the soul’s remembering.
While she acknowledges the classical constitutional categories of the European school—lymphatic (blue), hematogenic (brown), and mixed (biliary/hazel)—Sharan expands their application into a living energetic map. For her, iris constitution isn’t a fixed label, but a doorway to transformation. She views iris signs as revealing soul wounds, healing gifts, and ancestral imprints.
She teaches that blue-eyed individuals often carry emotional repression and inherited congestion, while brown-eyed beings may carry heat, drive, and systemic pressure from ancestral responsibility. Hazel eyes show transformation in progress—a soul mid-journey, integrating layers of inherited and chosen experience.
Her work emphasizes: The relationship between right and left eye (masculine and feminine lines) The soul lessons embedded in iris signs (e.g., orange in the lymph = emotional trauma) A counseling-based interpretation that brings emotional intelligence into iris reading.
The iris reveals the internal landscape of a person—not just their body’s story, but their soul’s path and personality language.
Sharan sees the iris not as a static code but as a living mandala of the soul’s experience—where every marking speaks of story, potential, and the alchemy of healing. The constitutions she identified blend anatomical insight with archetypal resonance and emotional patterning. Her types are not prescriptive labels but guides for inquiry, nourishment, and integration.
Below are the core Faridian Constitutions, with expanded insights on color, fiber structure, emotional tendencies, and healing approaches:
✦ Immune Reactive Constitution
Structure & Color: Heightened fiber activity, possible radii soleris, and orange or yellow pigments in the lymph/digestive zones. Often on a blue or mixed base.
Tendencies: Over-reactive immunity, allergies, inflammation, irritability
Emotional Layer: Defensive or reactive in the face of perceived threats
Healing Keys: Immune modulation, lymphatic support, emotional grounding
✦ Nervous Sensitive Constitution
Structure & Color: Delicate fibers, zig-zag nerve rings, signs of adrenal strain, often pale blue or mixed
Tendencies: Anxiety, light sleep, sensory overload
Emotional Layer: Fragile boundaries, highly empathic
Healing Keys: Nervines, deep rest, earth connection, rhythm restoration
✦ Lymphatic Sensitive Constitution
Structure & Color: Soft, loose fibers; pale blue iris; signs of sluggish lymph such as cloudiness or tophi
Tendencies: Stagnation, low-grade inflammation, inherited weakness
Emotional Layer: Gentle, protective, sometimes overwhelmed
Healing Keys: Breathwork, dry brushing, juices, slow activation
✦ Lymphatic Holding Constitution
Structure & Color: Denser white overlays in the periphery, thick fiber structure, possibly scurf rim
Tendencies: Mucus accumulation, weight retention, endocrine burden
Emotional Layer: Holds pain silently, often stoic
Healing Keys: Warmth, deep detox, voice liberation, herbal sweating
✦ Glandular Digestive Emotional Constitution
Structure & Color: Rust or orange digestive pigments, mixed/hazel iris, contraction furrows near pupillary zone
Tendencies: Hormonal swings, adrenal burnout, digestive volatility
Emotional Layer: Self-worth tied to nourishment/giving
Healing Keys: Blood sugar balance, adaptogens, loving nourishment
✦ Structurally Open Constitution
Structure & Color: Very light or pale iris with sparse, open fiber weave; weak collarette tone
Tendencies: Mineral loss, poor resilience under stress
Emotional Layer: Energetically open, intuitive, can be depleted
Healing Keys: Structure through minerals, soul rituals, boundaries
✦ Circulatory Hardening Constitution
Structure & Color: Thickened scurf rim, white arcs or sodium/cholesterol rings; typically in darker eyes
Tendencies: Arterial tension, poor peripheral flow, rigidity
Emotional Layer: Strong-willed, yet resistant to change
Healing Keys: Blood movers, flexibility practices, forgiveness
✦ Anxiety Gastric Constitution
Structure & Color: Sharp contraction furrows, tight collarette, inner zone tension, light or hazel eyes
Tendencies: Nervous digestion, spastic colon, sympathetic dominance
Emotional Layer: Unsettled, often high-strung
Healing Keys: Belly massage, chamomile, grounding routines
✦ Mixed Color Constitution
Structure & Color: Brown overlays (especially in digestive zones) on a blue base; often transitional
Tendencies: Liver toxicity, inherited digestive patterns
Emotional Layer: Transformation in progress
Healing Keys: Liver detox, clarity practices, simplicity
✦ Velvet Brown Constitution
Structure & Color: Deep matte brown iris with no visible fibers; mineral-based metabolism (sodium/potassium axis)
Tendencies: Dense tissue, mineral retention, constitutional grounding
Emotional Layer: Ancestor-linked, resilient, systemic
Healing Keys: Mineral balancing, blood purification, reverent detox
Farida reminds us that these constitutions are not categories to conform to, but languages of light and shadow that help us listen more closely. The iris, for her, is a map of personal evolution, and the work of healing is not to force change, but to create space for the soul’s remembering.
Healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about listening to what has been silenced.
(Farida Sharan)
(Farida Sharan)
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