Rheumatism

Rheumatism stiffens the joints, and the pattern is an inner rigidity - inflexibility and stubbornness held toward certain people or situations. Afraid of being hurt, one projects being above it all while inwardly feeling a victim of injustice, rehashing grievances into constant criticism of oneself and others, in a martyr's stance that gives no leeway. One tradition adds that the destruction itself is read as the work of anger - rheumatic wearing of the joints named among the things long-held anger corrodes. The short explanation's "insisting upon having life on one's own terms" is that hardened, unbending stance. Relief is described as softening the rigidity, releasing both the sense of being wronged and the corrosive anger beneath it, and treating oneself and others with more give.

Example from the findings: the stiffness is read as inflexibility and a martyr's grievance, the joints worn by the anger held beneath.