Probably like the rest of the world right now, I'm hoping for a time of calm seas during this Pisces season. I need to recover from the WAKE-UP! beating Aquarius season hammered home.
For some reason, I had forgotten that ancient connection between Jupiter and Pisces. I knew it but it didn't ever really click until reading this newsletter. I think that's an essential component to understanding Piscean energy. There is a lot that both attracts and baffles me about Pisces. Maybe that is why my life is populated by so many of these deep, mysterious folks. Learning all the time! I love the idea of playing around with my imaginal garden as a place of reflection and peace. I've defaulted to equating the garden with a place of labor. I've neglected to visit often enough simply to enjoy it and be nourished by the quiet growth, the visiting pollinators, and the creatures who also depend on the plants, animals, and the cycles of the seasons for their sustenance. I've planted most of the cold-loving greens you've listed in my cold-frame and will add the peas soon. But maybe even sooner I will simply go sit on the bench in the center and be still to see what dreams may come.
Leenie, I've always had questions about those outer planet assignments--especially when it comes to the related plants. All the narcotics are recent assignments, based on Neptune's "dreaminess." The earlier assignments (through Culpeper) are all Jupiter. Out of curiosity just now, I asked my AI (I call him Ptolemy when we're doing astrology) to tell me when Neptune was first associated with Pisces. I'll paste his answer into a separate reply box here. What follows is from ChatGPT.
Ah, a good historical inquiry! Neptune was first discovered on September 23, 1846, by Johann Galle and Heinrich d'Arrest, based on calculations by Urbain Le Verrier. The astronomical discovery was quickly followed by astrological debates over its rulership.
Neptune was formally assigned as the ruler of Pisces in the late 19th to early 20th century by Theosophically inclined astrologers, particularly those following Alan Leo (1860–1917). Before that, traditional astrologers had considered Jupiter the ruling planet of Pisces.
The Shift from Jupiter to Neptune:
19th Century (Post-1846) – Astrologers speculated about Neptune’s rulership. Some saw it as co-ruler with Jupiter; others linked it to Cancer (due to its watery, mystical qualities).
Early 20th Century (Alan Leo & Theosophy Influence) – Neptune became widely accepted as the primary ruler of Pisces. Leo’s work was influenced by esotericism, associating Neptune with mysticism, illusion, and transcendence—qualities that fit Pisces well.
Mid-20th Century (Mainstream Adoption) – By the mid-1900s, most Western astrologers had solidified Neptune as Pisces' ruler in popular practice.
Key Takeaway:
The full astrological assignment of Neptune to Pisces happened gradually between the late 19th century and early 20th century, reaching widespread acceptance by the mid-20th century. However, traditional astrologers still recognize Jupiter as Pisces' original ruler, and some modern astrologers use dual rulership (Jupiter + Neptune). If you’re looking for the first definitive published attribution, that likely comes from Alan Leo’s work between 1890–1910.
If you’re looking for the first definitive published attribution, that likely comes from Alan Leo’s work between 1890–1910. Want me to dig up his earliest mention of it?
Lovely post and comments on Pisces (and gardening people some have known!) This is the time of year when anyone who likes to garden gets the bug! For me that includes the moon calling for me to pay attention to it's phases. I use a small book published annually by a local seed company to easily stay on top of the moons passing through the signs. Here in the Pac NW we are usually waiting for the soil to dry out before we can disturb it. One can easily ruin their garden soil by digging around in it while it is soaking wet. So we dream of what we will do this year and what and where things will go. As we now are also dealing with very dry summers, gardening takes careful consideration of how much time and energy you have to tend to what you've planted. Here in Pisces, dreaming and imagining seems a good fit! Happily my daffodils have weathered our recent very cold weather and are budding up nicely! And after a fierce wind and rain storm last night, a large flock of robins is bopping around and grazing in the field before continuing their journey north. Yes, this looks like Pisces to me.
It's hard for me to associate the Pacific NW with dry summers, but that's climate change realities we're all being forced to adapt to. Here, I'm in awe of flocks of Summer Tanagers who have shown up in the last week or so. The variations in their plumage from a sort of dirty straw yellow to vivid red fascinates me. I feel like I am beginning to recognize specific individuals. The male's coloring changes depending where they are in their seasonal mating cycle and their maturity. They can be dingy or brilliant over time. Lots of other birds around but this species has my full attention this year.
Lucky you Leenie with those Summer Tanagers! They certainly are eye catching. Even while molting. Would love to hear if any of your Summer Tanagers stay for the summer. I occasionally would see a Western Tanager. Also hard to miss!
Ah, wonderful to hear about those grazing robins. So they leave you and move north for the summer? That makes me wonder how far north our winter robins will go--a question I've never asked. Thanks for the little nudge.
And yes, so hard to wait to get into the garden. I know you must be more than ready.
Oh yes, my brain wants to get started in the garden but, my body says 'we' should wait for it to warm up. Which is a good thing. On the robins, some stay here for the spring and summer. But these early flocks of 10 to 30 (often with a few variegated thrush tagging along) are usually just passing thru and will only linger for a day or 2. Like you, I have wondered where they are headed. I know one can see robins in Victoria and Vancouver BC much as you might here in the summer. We occasionally have a few robins that winter over. I love the ones that hang out with me when I am turning any bit of soil, just waiting for me to step away so they can look for worms! I try to accommodate them with tea and a rest breaks in a near by lawn chair where I can see their activity and listen to their chirping.
"This is a season for reflection, healing, and compassion—both for ourselves and for the world around us." Yes. Thank you for this nuanced understanding of Pisces season and especially for the reminders of what it means in the world of gardening and plants.
I hope your first Pisces in your new home brings you joy and peace, Susan. I know you know the seasons there, but even though Pisces is good at hiding things, there's always something to discover.
I once hung out for a time with an old woman who tended one of the big community gardens in one of the worse neighborhoods in Brooklyn. She taught me, much as you are, about paying attension to the moon/alinement of planets, as well as such things as how plants communicate to one another and p[rovide companionship through their seasons. 88 yrs old and could never keep up with her but soaked in her wisdom....I can't wait until you get to scorpios.
I had one of those lovely old women for a neighbor when I was a kid, Pat. Mom was suspicious of her (called her an "old witch." But I sneaked over there when I could--she had a green parrot and the most incredible garden. I was too young to properly appreciate her (although I adored that parrot). But I do now. She introduced me to the Farmer's Almanac.
I've always tried to remember when to plant according to the moon phases because our ancestors knew this intuitively and that wisdom seems to have been lost at some of the nearby plant nurseries. Thanks for this thorough information, Susan. I do hope this becomes a book! (Also, the picture is magical!)
Thank you, Shawn! And yes, I agree: paying attention to the moon's phases does take us closer to earth's clock/calendar. Not sure about the book because so much of this is almanac material that needs annual updating and I don't want to do that. But it works really well as an online-feature.
I've always loved the format of an almanac and have been fascinated by almanacs since I was a child. We always had the current year's Almanac hanging on a nail in the kitchen near my grandparents' rockers and the woodstove. Someone consulted it for something daily. I continue that tradition in our home now. I guess it's all that earthy Capricorn energy that attracts me to calendars, planners, almanacs, and things that measure time.
Probably like the rest of the world right now, I'm hoping for a time of calm seas during this Pisces season. I need to recover from the WAKE-UP! beating Aquarius season hammered home.
For some reason, I had forgotten that ancient connection between Jupiter and Pisces. I knew it but it didn't ever really click until reading this newsletter. I think that's an essential component to understanding Piscean energy. There is a lot that both attracts and baffles me about Pisces. Maybe that is why my life is populated by so many of these deep, mysterious folks. Learning all the time! I love the idea of playing around with my imaginal garden as a place of reflection and peace. I've defaulted to equating the garden with a place of labor. I've neglected to visit often enough simply to enjoy it and be nourished by the quiet growth, the visiting pollinators, and the creatures who also depend on the plants, animals, and the cycles of the seasons for their sustenance. I've planted most of the cold-loving greens you've listed in my cold-frame and will add the peas soon. But maybe even sooner I will simply go sit on the bench in the center and be still to see what dreams may come.
Thank you!🌿💚
Leenie, I've always had questions about those outer planet assignments--especially when it comes to the related plants. All the narcotics are recent assignments, based on Neptune's "dreaminess." The earlier assignments (through Culpeper) are all Jupiter. Out of curiosity just now, I asked my AI (I call him Ptolemy when we're doing astrology) to tell me when Neptune was first associated with Pisces. I'll paste his answer into a separate reply box here. What follows is from ChatGPT.
Ah, a good historical inquiry! Neptune was first discovered on September 23, 1846, by Johann Galle and Heinrich d'Arrest, based on calculations by Urbain Le Verrier. The astronomical discovery was quickly followed by astrological debates over its rulership.
Neptune was formally assigned as the ruler of Pisces in the late 19th to early 20th century by Theosophically inclined astrologers, particularly those following Alan Leo (1860–1917). Before that, traditional astrologers had considered Jupiter the ruling planet of Pisces.
The Shift from Jupiter to Neptune:
19th Century (Post-1846) – Astrologers speculated about Neptune’s rulership. Some saw it as co-ruler with Jupiter; others linked it to Cancer (due to its watery, mystical qualities).
Early 20th Century (Alan Leo & Theosophy Influence) – Neptune became widely accepted as the primary ruler of Pisces. Leo’s work was influenced by esotericism, associating Neptune with mysticism, illusion, and transcendence—qualities that fit Pisces well.
Mid-20th Century (Mainstream Adoption) – By the mid-1900s, most Western astrologers had solidified Neptune as Pisces' ruler in popular practice.
Key Takeaway:
The full astrological assignment of Neptune to Pisces happened gradually between the late 19th century and early 20th century, reaching widespread acceptance by the mid-20th century. However, traditional astrologers still recognize Jupiter as Pisces' original ruler, and some modern astrologers use dual rulership (Jupiter + Neptune). If you’re looking for the first definitive published attribution, that likely comes from Alan Leo’s work between 1890–1910.
If you’re looking for the first definitive published attribution, that likely comes from Alan Leo’s work between 1890–1910. Want me to dig up his earliest mention of it?
Lovely post and comments on Pisces (and gardening people some have known!) This is the time of year when anyone who likes to garden gets the bug! For me that includes the moon calling for me to pay attention to it's phases. I use a small book published annually by a local seed company to easily stay on top of the moons passing through the signs. Here in the Pac NW we are usually waiting for the soil to dry out before we can disturb it. One can easily ruin their garden soil by digging around in it while it is soaking wet. So we dream of what we will do this year and what and where things will go. As we now are also dealing with very dry summers, gardening takes careful consideration of how much time and energy you have to tend to what you've planted. Here in Pisces, dreaming and imagining seems a good fit! Happily my daffodils have weathered our recent very cold weather and are budding up nicely! And after a fierce wind and rain storm last night, a large flock of robins is bopping around and grazing in the field before continuing their journey north. Yes, this looks like Pisces to me.
It's hard for me to associate the Pacific NW with dry summers, but that's climate change realities we're all being forced to adapt to. Here, I'm in awe of flocks of Summer Tanagers who have shown up in the last week or so. The variations in their plumage from a sort of dirty straw yellow to vivid red fascinates me. I feel like I am beginning to recognize specific individuals. The male's coloring changes depending where they are in their seasonal mating cycle and their maturity. They can be dingy or brilliant over time. Lots of other birds around but this species has my full attention this year.
Lucky you Leenie with those Summer Tanagers! They certainly are eye catching. Even while molting. Would love to hear if any of your Summer Tanagers stay for the summer. I occasionally would see a Western Tanager. Also hard to miss!
Ah, wonderful to hear about those grazing robins. So they leave you and move north for the summer? That makes me wonder how far north our winter robins will go--a question I've never asked. Thanks for the little nudge.
And yes, so hard to wait to get into the garden. I know you must be more than ready.
Oh yes, my brain wants to get started in the garden but, my body says 'we' should wait for it to warm up. Which is a good thing. On the robins, some stay here for the spring and summer. But these early flocks of 10 to 30 (often with a few variegated thrush tagging along) are usually just passing thru and will only linger for a day or 2. Like you, I have wondered where they are headed. I know one can see robins in Victoria and Vancouver BC much as you might here in the summer. We occasionally have a few robins that winter over. I love the ones that hang out with me when I am turning any bit of soil, just waiting for me to step away so they can look for worms! I try to accommodate them with tea and a rest breaks in a near by lawn chair where I can see their activity and listen to their chirping.
"This is a season for reflection, healing, and compassion—both for ourselves and for the world around us." Yes. Thank you for this nuanced understanding of Pisces season and especially for the reminders of what it means in the world of gardening and plants.
I hope your first Pisces in your new home brings you joy and peace, Susan. I know you know the seasons there, but even though Pisces is good at hiding things, there's always something to discover.
Life would be boring indeed if there wasn't always new knowledge and new experiences. :)
I once hung out for a time with an old woman who tended one of the big community gardens in one of the worse neighborhoods in Brooklyn. She taught me, much as you are, about paying attension to the moon/alinement of planets, as well as such things as how plants communicate to one another and p[rovide companionship through their seasons. 88 yrs old and could never keep up with her but soaked in her wisdom....I can't wait until you get to scorpios.
I had one of those lovely old women for a neighbor when I was a kid, Pat. Mom was suspicious of her (called her an "old witch." But I sneaked over there when I could--she had a green parrot and the most incredible garden. I was too young to properly appreciate her (although I adored that parrot). But I do now. She introduced me to the Farmer's Almanac.
As for Scorpio, you're in luck--we've been there (maybe while you were doing one of your pie-trips?).The main post is here: https://susanwittigalbert.substack.com/p/growing-green-with-scorpio The workbook Is here: https://susanwittigalbert.substack.com/p/the-growing-green-workbook-toward
I've always tried to remember when to plant according to the moon phases because our ancestors knew this intuitively and that wisdom seems to have been lost at some of the nearby plant nurseries. Thanks for this thorough information, Susan. I do hope this becomes a book! (Also, the picture is magical!)
Thank you, Shawn! And yes, I agree: paying attention to the moon's phases does take us closer to earth's clock/calendar. Not sure about the book because so much of this is almanac material that needs annual updating and I don't want to do that. But it works really well as an online-feature.
I've always loved the format of an almanac and have been fascinated by almanacs since I was a child. We always had the current year's Almanac hanging on a nail in the kitchen near my grandparents' rockers and the woodstove. Someone consulted it for something daily. I continue that tradition in our home now. I guess it's all that earthy Capricorn energy that attracts me to calendars, planners, almanacs, and things that measure time.