Maybe it's my natal Moon in Taurus and/or a very busy 2nd house by progression, but I LOVE that you're including the Earth as an important planetary influence. YES! 🌎The Earth's voice has been traditionally (and contemporaneously) repressed. That's a truth worth considering. What a wonderful, fecund season worth celebrating in bare feet on the earth, eyes wide with wonder and appreciation.
We started a big, deep new Asparagus bed this spring and it is coming along nicely. All the crowns sent up wispy, young spears and we're practicing patience by not touching them until the third year. We've really enjoyed tending this bed, watching the daily progress and transformations "in the trenches". I've moved many of my perennial herbs into the beds where we've been growing annual vegetables. The Elecampane, Mugwort, Yarrow, Echinacea, Mimosa, and Irises are coming along beautifully and the wildlings, like Motherwort, Nettles, Dandelion, Catnip, Chickweed, Mustards, and Anise Hyssop are clustering around, welcoming the new arrivals. It's really beautiful so far and a bit wild, which I appreciate. We connected with our closest organic farms over the winter as we planned our strategy for supporting our neighbors who are growing sustainably . We found one farm (organic produce, eggs, chicken) that is less than 3 miles from us, although we didn't even know about them! They even do weekly CSA box deliveries. We have at least 5 other nearby farms we'll be supporting as we dive deep into our unique relationship with this good, green garden planet. Right now the Crabapples and Dogwoods are blooming gloriously, the Iris buds are ready to burst open any day, and the Violets are a carpet of explosive beauty. We're eating Nettles daily and feeling so energized by their vitamin and mineral richness. This is all a big experiment but I feel so at home on the Earth as never before. Allowing, appreciating, celebrating!🌿💚
Oh so hard to wait for asparagus! (And imagine my sorrow when we moved from our Illinois house and left my asparagus behind.) I love your detailed observations, by name (that could be a poem). And so fortunate that you have a nearby CSA, plus that network of local farms. I hope you'll be writing about that--and give others an idea of how they can do that in their local areas. What are you calling your network when you think of it to yourself? Does it have a name?
Oh, I'm going to be thinking of a name for this network---even if just for me! Thank you for asking that. 🌿💚💚💚
Over the winter, when we were all resting from the work of the others seasons, I knew that the local farm folks would have time to chat. Some I invited to our home. Some we met up with at our newest local-vore restaurant called 'Wild Roots Cafe'. I kept asking each one, "What are your dreams and what are you plans for your farm/gardens/community this year and how can we support you best?" Each meet-up was empowering for everyone, including us, at a difficult, discouraging time. Two young herbalists were so inspired by being asked to share their dreams that they have rented a small cottage in a nearby town and are opening a tearoom this summer!
Thank you for the thoughtful references for plants to add to garden in late April and early May. We have a 6 foot row of herbs in our largest raised bed, appropriately called Conestoga (for the shape of chicken wire covering). That bed is 3 steps off the back deck, so easy to reach the fresh herbs. The middle of that bed contains wintered over leeks and Swiss Chard that am slowly pulling up for soup and stir fries. Thank you for a month of resting mind from deep reading. I did just finish a new 2025 published book “The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America” which was interesting for all the rides he took across New England and the way the patriots passed messages.
Do you have names for your other beds? I found that so helpful when I had a largish raised-bed garden: made it easier to discuss with Bill and think what needed to be done in that bed. So good that you have it close to your kitchen!
The Ride is on my list. I'm intrigued by the idea of structuring a book around an iconic event that (when pulled apart and studied) is a network of related events, involving a great many people, all working toward a single end. Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, all four raised beds have names. The Railroad bed, we inherited when we bought our 1/4 acre home 13 years ago, after moving south from Juneau. It had 2 rhubarb and we added two more, then experimented with growing asparagus, but it’s to shady, so added garlic. It is only bed without cover. The three other raised beds are covered to protect from mostly squirrels and occasional raccoon. During Covid, hubby Neil built a 5 foot bed for deck, called Deck bed, which grows lettuce and carrots. It too is covered. Then there is “Big Bertha” bed, so named cause when my brother came to help move it, he said “this is big enough to bury great aunt Bertha!” She weighed close to 330 lbs. She went to heaven 30 years ago, but it is a standing way to remember family. In this case not a nice way. Bertha bed grows leeks, spinach, chard, carrots, and radishes. I love cooking with leeks and they are the most expensive vegetable to buy, since I only use the bottom quarter of the stalk. We have also grown potatoes in two large round black sacks, but quit, as the amount we harvested wasn’t worth the water for them.
The beds have chicken wire hoops on frames attached to a 1x2 inch wood bottom all the way around and a hinge on back, so they can be lifted up and held up with a V-notched stick, when I am planting, weeding or harvesting. Hubby Neil hung drip emitters in all the beds on a timer system for watering (so we can go on RV trips 6 months of year). And Big Bertha has a an 8 inch lip to rest my hip on while planting or weeding. We also planted our raspberries and blackberries in huge planters with drip irrigation, both so they don’t spread and easier to prune and pick berries. Thanks for listening and replying. Your columns and books help keep me sane and connected.
Oh, funny about Big Bertha! Your covers are all hooped? I tried that with frost covers one year (low hoops) but we have too much wind and it proved a constant battle. Also, a problem at one end of the garden: the 2 beds there were invaded by thirsty juniper roots, searching for water. Another battle to keep them out. But the potato/carrot beds were lovely, altho I had to plant short-season potatoes (usually Red Norland and Yukon Gold). Now, though, I suspect the seasons are long enough to get a better crop. I've seen photos of that potato-growing method but haven't tried it.
Susan, you are re-arranging the cosmos this morning! I love it. Why has no one considered this before? So brilliant and timely. Calling upon Gaia as our astrological Earth Being/Mother is a prayer worth evoking from the heart. Empowering.
AMAZING: "What we’re doing here—placing Earth-as-Gaia on the zodiac—is not just metaphor, and it isn’t astrology-as-usual. It’s a reframing of Taurus as the steward of life’s living web. (Readers curious about this approach can look for a backgrounder post coming soon: “Where’s Earth? Astrology’s Invisible Planet.”)"
It has been considered before, by Chrissie Blaze, a British astrologer, in Earth: Astrology's Missing Planet (2018). But the book dropped into a black hole, perhaps because Blaze tied the concept to evolutionary astrology (which incorporates past lives). She mentions Gaia once, in passing.
I think we need to model Earth-as-Gaia in the Lovelock/Margulis sense. The ancients had that idea once (a relic: the rulerships of planets over plants, rocks, the human body, all things). We lost that in the "Enlightenment." Ironic, isn't it? Time to get it back.
The omission of Earth as a planetary influence in astrology is incredible and humbling (since I never thought of it, either). But I have long considered Earth as a living Being with life regulating agency. If the Lovelock/Margulis theories are a stepping stone to a deeper connection, then it's time to get that back. You're on to something, Susan!
I agree. When I studied astrology and learned to cast charts with my first herbal mentor nearly 4 decades ago, she taught that the reason the Earth was not included was because astrology takes a geocentric approach so everything is viewed from the perspective of the Earth. As a beginner (which I still am!) that made sense. Now I question that. It's an assumption that leapfrogs completely over the opportunity for self-awareness. Like a person who possesses a mirror but never bothers to peer into it. Lovely to think of Venus (who loves looking glasses) and Earth joining forces to help us see ourselves more clearly and understand our place in the myriad life forms on the planet and in the cosmos. 🌿💚🪞
That is a lovely way to look at Earth's planetary influence on Earth's peoples. I'm thinking of the Native American folktales about the cause of earthquakes—that disruption and chaos above causes the earth to break apart below. But what if the Earth itself were expressing discontent, its energies affected? The continuum of life force.
I think that's exactly the right way to think of this, Kate. Consider the quakes here in Texas caused by fracking. Earth's protest against the invasion. And the release of methane as the permafrost thaws. And the forest fires and hurricanes. Lovelock wouldn't buy this POV, but Margulis might accept it. (Symbiotic Earth is a good place to start with her work. Note the title!)
Symbiotic Earth is quite a revolutionary concept, Susan! I'm recalling books of theosophy I read back in the 1970s that told of the spiritual interconnectivity of all life including the planet as a Being. There was some mention of resistance to evolution, blockages among humanity, so that the Earth would rudely shake them out, or cause these beings to choose not to reincarnate on Earth out of fear, that the human population of Earth would decrease, thus creating a better balance of life. Shocking, I know!
A beautiful analogy, Leenie! I'm thinking that we'll have another, supplementary view when we consider Earth in the other two earth houses. We owe so much to Lovelock (and Margulis!)
Laura sent this to me, in an email: I vote for a book.
how much rather sit down with the book and make notations and read and look things up then to dig through posts and I hate reading and receiving regular things online.
My reply: I understand what you’re saying here, and I value the impulse and the desire. But we’re in a new world, Laura—it may have to be a digital book, since I use so many links to online resources. That’s precisely the reason I’m hesitating about the project.
This cyclical material (zodiac-based) is a standard book-trope (ie farmer's almanac, seasonal diaries, year-long projects, etc). But the way I've developed it depends on many internet resources. So it would have to be ebook only. Just not sure about that.
Thank you for another month of interesting information. I've never heard of earth-as-gaia, but I like the concept. After reading this, I may re-consider my planting plans! 🌿🌼
You're welcome! I think regarding astrological Earth as ecological Gaia and putting her on the zodiac might give us a whole new way of seeing our planet.
I love the idea of exploring the Earth's archetype, and associated "herbs of" a la Culpepper!
Maybe it's my natal Moon in Taurus and/or a very busy 2nd house by progression, but I LOVE that you're including the Earth as an important planetary influence. YES! 🌎The Earth's voice has been traditionally (and contemporaneously) repressed. That's a truth worth considering. What a wonderful, fecund season worth celebrating in bare feet on the earth, eyes wide with wonder and appreciation.
We started a big, deep new Asparagus bed this spring and it is coming along nicely. All the crowns sent up wispy, young spears and we're practicing patience by not touching them until the third year. We've really enjoyed tending this bed, watching the daily progress and transformations "in the trenches". I've moved many of my perennial herbs into the beds where we've been growing annual vegetables. The Elecampane, Mugwort, Yarrow, Echinacea, Mimosa, and Irises are coming along beautifully and the wildlings, like Motherwort, Nettles, Dandelion, Catnip, Chickweed, Mustards, and Anise Hyssop are clustering around, welcoming the new arrivals. It's really beautiful so far and a bit wild, which I appreciate. We connected with our closest organic farms over the winter as we planned our strategy for supporting our neighbors who are growing sustainably . We found one farm (organic produce, eggs, chicken) that is less than 3 miles from us, although we didn't even know about them! They even do weekly CSA box deliveries. We have at least 5 other nearby farms we'll be supporting as we dive deep into our unique relationship with this good, green garden planet. Right now the Crabapples and Dogwoods are blooming gloriously, the Iris buds are ready to burst open any day, and the Violets are a carpet of explosive beauty. We're eating Nettles daily and feeling so energized by their vitamin and mineral richness. This is all a big experiment but I feel so at home on the Earth as never before. Allowing, appreciating, celebrating!🌿💚
Oh so hard to wait for asparagus! (And imagine my sorrow when we moved from our Illinois house and left my asparagus behind.) I love your detailed observations, by name (that could be a poem). And so fortunate that you have a nearby CSA, plus that network of local farms. I hope you'll be writing about that--and give others an idea of how they can do that in their local areas. What are you calling your network when you think of it to yourself? Does it have a name?
Oh, I'm going to be thinking of a name for this network---even if just for me! Thank you for asking that. 🌿💚💚💚
Over the winter, when we were all resting from the work of the others seasons, I knew that the local farm folks would have time to chat. Some I invited to our home. Some we met up with at our newest local-vore restaurant called 'Wild Roots Cafe'. I kept asking each one, "What are your dreams and what are you plans for your farm/gardens/community this year and how can we support you best?" Each meet-up was empowering for everyone, including us, at a difficult, discouraging time. Two young herbalists were so inspired by being asked to share their dreams that they have rented a small cottage in a nearby town and are opening a tearoom this summer!
Thank you for the thoughtful references for plants to add to garden in late April and early May. We have a 6 foot row of herbs in our largest raised bed, appropriately called Conestoga (for the shape of chicken wire covering). That bed is 3 steps off the back deck, so easy to reach the fresh herbs. The middle of that bed contains wintered over leeks and Swiss Chard that am slowly pulling up for soup and stir fries. Thank you for a month of resting mind from deep reading. I did just finish a new 2025 published book “The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America” which was interesting for all the rides he took across New England and the way the patriots passed messages.
Do you have names for your other beds? I found that so helpful when I had a largish raised-bed garden: made it easier to discuss with Bill and think what needed to be done in that bed. So good that you have it close to your kitchen!
The Ride is on my list. I'm intrigued by the idea of structuring a book around an iconic event that (when pulled apart and studied) is a network of related events, involving a great many people, all working toward a single end. Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, all four raised beds have names. The Railroad bed, we inherited when we bought our 1/4 acre home 13 years ago, after moving south from Juneau. It had 2 rhubarb and we added two more, then experimented with growing asparagus, but it’s to shady, so added garlic. It is only bed without cover. The three other raised beds are covered to protect from mostly squirrels and occasional raccoon. During Covid, hubby Neil built a 5 foot bed for deck, called Deck bed, which grows lettuce and carrots. It too is covered. Then there is “Big Bertha” bed, so named cause when my brother came to help move it, he said “this is big enough to bury great aunt Bertha!” She weighed close to 330 lbs. She went to heaven 30 years ago, but it is a standing way to remember family. In this case not a nice way. Bertha bed grows leeks, spinach, chard, carrots, and radishes. I love cooking with leeks and they are the most expensive vegetable to buy, since I only use the bottom quarter of the stalk. We have also grown potatoes in two large round black sacks, but quit, as the amount we harvested wasn’t worth the water for them.
The beds have chicken wire hoops on frames attached to a 1x2 inch wood bottom all the way around and a hinge on back, so they can be lifted up and held up with a V-notched stick, when I am planting, weeding or harvesting. Hubby Neil hung drip emitters in all the beds on a timer system for watering (so we can go on RV trips 6 months of year). And Big Bertha has a an 8 inch lip to rest my hip on while planting or weeding. We also planted our raspberries and blackberries in huge planters with drip irrigation, both so they don’t spread and easier to prune and pick berries. Thanks for listening and replying. Your columns and books help keep me sane and connected.
Oh, funny about Big Bertha! Your covers are all hooped? I tried that with frost covers one year (low hoops) but we have too much wind and it proved a constant battle. Also, a problem at one end of the garden: the 2 beds there were invaded by thirsty juniper roots, searching for water. Another battle to keep them out. But the potato/carrot beds were lovely, altho I had to plant short-season potatoes (usually Red Norland and Yukon Gold). Now, though, I suspect the seasons are long enough to get a better crop. I've seen photos of that potato-growing method but haven't tried it.
Our chicken wire hoops have a
Susan, you are re-arranging the cosmos this morning! I love it. Why has no one considered this before? So brilliant and timely. Calling upon Gaia as our astrological Earth Being/Mother is a prayer worth evoking from the heart. Empowering.
AMAZING: "What we’re doing here—placing Earth-as-Gaia on the zodiac—is not just metaphor, and it isn’t astrology-as-usual. It’s a reframing of Taurus as the steward of life’s living web. (Readers curious about this approach can look for a backgrounder post coming soon: “Where’s Earth? Astrology’s Invisible Planet.”)"
I concur, Kate!
It has been considered before, by Chrissie Blaze, a British astrologer, in Earth: Astrology's Missing Planet (2018). But the book dropped into a black hole, perhaps because Blaze tied the concept to evolutionary astrology (which incorporates past lives). She mentions Gaia once, in passing.
I think we need to model Earth-as-Gaia in the Lovelock/Margulis sense. The ancients had that idea once (a relic: the rulerships of planets over plants, rocks, the human body, all things). We lost that in the "Enlightenment." Ironic, isn't it? Time to get it back.
The omission of Earth as a planetary influence in astrology is incredible and humbling (since I never thought of it, either). But I have long considered Earth as a living Being with life regulating agency. If the Lovelock/Margulis theories are a stepping stone to a deeper connection, then it's time to get that back. You're on to something, Susan!
I agree. When I studied astrology and learned to cast charts with my first herbal mentor nearly 4 decades ago, she taught that the reason the Earth was not included was because astrology takes a geocentric approach so everything is viewed from the perspective of the Earth. As a beginner (which I still am!) that made sense. Now I question that. It's an assumption that leapfrogs completely over the opportunity for self-awareness. Like a person who possesses a mirror but never bothers to peer into it. Lovely to think of Venus (who loves looking glasses) and Earth joining forces to help us see ourselves more clearly and understand our place in the myriad life forms on the planet and in the cosmos. 🌿💚🪞
That is a lovely way to look at Earth's planetary influence on Earth's peoples. I'm thinking of the Native American folktales about the cause of earthquakes—that disruption and chaos above causes the earth to break apart below. But what if the Earth itself were expressing discontent, its energies affected? The continuum of life force.
I think that's exactly the right way to think of this, Kate. Consider the quakes here in Texas caused by fracking. Earth's protest against the invasion. And the release of methane as the permafrost thaws. And the forest fires and hurricanes. Lovelock wouldn't buy this POV, but Margulis might accept it. (Symbiotic Earth is a good place to start with her work. Note the title!)
Symbiotic Earth is quite a revolutionary concept, Susan! I'm recalling books of theosophy I read back in the 1970s that told of the spiritual interconnectivity of all life including the planet as a Being. There was some mention of resistance to evolution, blockages among humanity, so that the Earth would rudely shake them out, or cause these beings to choose not to reincarnate on Earth out of fear, that the human population of Earth would decrease, thus creating a better balance of life. Shocking, I know!
A beautiful analogy, Leenie! I'm thinking that we'll have another, supplementary view when we consider Earth in the other two earth houses. We owe so much to Lovelock (and Margulis!)
Laura sent this to me, in an email: I vote for a book.
how much rather sit down with the book and make notations and read and look things up then to dig through posts and I hate reading and receiving regular things online.
laura
My reply: I understand what you’re saying here, and I value the impulse and the desire. But we’re in a new world, Laura—it may have to be a digital book, since I use so many links to online resources. That’s precisely the reason I’m hesitating about the project.
This cyclical material (zodiac-based) is a standard book-trope (ie farmer's almanac, seasonal diaries, year-long projects, etc). But the way I've developed it depends on many internet resources. So it would have to be ebook only. Just not sure about that.
Thank you for another month of interesting information. I've never heard of earth-as-gaia, but I like the concept. After reading this, I may re-consider my planting plans! 🌿🌼
You're welcome! I think regarding astrological Earth as ecological Gaia and putting her on the zodiac might give us a whole new way of seeing our planet.