Using Astrology in the Garden
Planting
by the Moon: Gardeners
for ages have known that planting
by the moon can help grow better crops.
In very general terms, waxing
moons (time before the full moon)
is better for
handling above
ground crops.
Waning moon
(after the full moon) is better for
some root crops and doing garden maintenance like weeding and trimming.
Garden Astrology: Using the
planetary
positions at the time of planting can affect how that
plant grows later on, so think of it as checking
the horoscope for your garden.
Some signs are better for planting
than others, some signs are better for pruning and weeding the
garden.
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Zodiac Home Herb Garden
By Janet Suzalski
Cultivating a zodiac home herb
garden has been practiced amongst many civilizations for centuries. In
fact, once upon a time every doctor too was an astrologer because
having knowledge of astrology and the zodiac was absolutely essential
in being able to diagnose and treat many types of illnesses. There are
specific illnesses most commonly associated with a particular zodiac
sign. Having this knowledge enabled the doctor to assign a particular
herb or herbs to the patient.
A zodiac garden is tailored to
an individuals astrological sign. Our ancestors studies the universe,
the stars, the planets and nature thus structuring their lives around
the amazing sciences stored in the universe. Specific to this topic,
these findings provided a clear direction for knowing which types of
herbs to plant and when to plant them.
Many individuals of today are
carrying on this practice and personalizing their gardens to their
specific astrological signs. The following is an outline of the twelve
astrological signs, the body parts that is ruled by the sign, and the
herbs associated with the corresponding sign:
Aries
Body: Head
Herbs: carnation, chervil, basil, nettle,
catmint, wormwood, geranium, cypress pine.
Taurus
Body: Neck & Throat
Herbs: primrose, mint, thyme, violet,
marshmallow, catnip, rose, carnation, saffron, honeysuckle, jasmine,
tansy, wormwood, yarrow, soapwort.
Gemini
Body: Hands, Arms,
Shoulders And Lungs
Herbs: mint, parsley, anise, Dill, lavender,
marjoram, licorice, fennel, honeysuckle, horehound, oregano.
Cancer
Body: Breast And Stomach
Herbs: parsley, sage, aloe, evening
primrose, myrtle, cinnamon, lemon balm, hyacinth, bay leaves, water
lily.
Leo
Body: Back, Spine &
Heart
Herbs: dill, lemon balm, tarragon, rue,
chamomile, clove, sandalwood,
frankincense, camphor, eyebright, sunflower.
Virgo
Body: Intestines &
Nervous System
Herbs: chervil, dill, caraway, mint, morning
glory, lily, horehound, lavender, marjoram.
Libra
Body: Buttocks, Lower Back
And
Kidneys
Herbs: Catnip, thyme, elderberry, iris,
lilies, ivy, St John's wart,
lemon balm, bergamot.
Scorpio
Body: The Genitals
Herbs: catmint, basil, sage, catnip,
honeysuckle, nettle, onion, coriander, garlic, wormwood, elder.
Sagittarius
Body: Liver, Thighs &
Hips.
Herbs: chervil, saffron, sage, basil, sage,
borage, nutmeg, clove.
Capricorn
Body: Knees, Bones &
Joints
Herbs: dill, tarragon, caraway, rosemary,
chamomile, lambs ears, rosemary, marjoram.
Aquarius
Body: Ankles, Circulatory
System & Shins
Herbs: daffodil, sage, comfrey, rosemary,
valerian, fennel, mint.
Pisces
Body: Feet
Herbs: sage, lemon balm, basil, lilac,
nutmeg, borage, lilies, clove.
Each sign of the zodiac is
associated with one of the following four elements; these
elements are
water, air, fire and earth. As the moon is traveling through a
particular sign of the zodiac it is in one of the four aforementioned
elements. For instance, if the moon is in an air sign like Libra it is
a good time to plant herbs and root crops.
The following is an outline
of each element, its corresponding zodiac sign and the ideal time to
cultivate and/or harvest your herbs:
Element- Earth: Zodiac
Sign: Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus. These signs are fertile signs and
therefore a good time for growing herbs.
Element- Water: Zodiac
Sign: Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces. It is a good Idea to plant annuals in
these signs.
Element- Fire: Zodiac
Sign: Sagittarius, Leo & Aries. It is best to harvest during these
signs.
Element- Air: Zodiac
Sign: Gemini, Libra & Aquarius. Harvesting or cultivating is ideal
when the moon is in an air sign.
Happy
Zodiac Gardening!
Janet Suzalski is an
herb
garden enthusiast and enjoys spending her time writing & teaching
others about herb gardening. For more great information and tips on
cultivating a home herb
garden visit her site at http://www.herb-gardening-info.com
and while you are there feel free to sign up to her FREE Mini-Course on
Herb Gardening Secrets. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Suzalski
http://EzineArticles.com/?Zodiac-Home-Herb-Garden&id=3419357
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Star
Gardening: A Guide to
Gardening by Starlight
Gardening by the Signs of the Zodiac
The first farmers were probably the first
practical
astrologers. Their crops seemed to respond to the signs in the heavens
and this became a convenient method of ensuring good harvests and
provided a functional approach to husbandry.
Modern agriculture echoes many of these ancient principles.
Certain
seasons brought changing conditions which seemed to either help or
hinder the growth of crops. Each season presented different alignments
in the constellations and these patterns would evolve into
horticultural astrology as it is often practiced today. The following
is a brief outline of the zodiacal roots of gardening by the stars and
signs of the zodiac.
Pruning by the Moon
It was believed that in order to insure
against
infestations when pruning vine crops, trees and woody growths the
following formula applied. The Moon must be full in the constellations
of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Sagittarius. When pruning is done during
this period the plants will not suffer from parasites nor disease.
Grafting
Ancient gardeners were believers in never grafting plants or trees when
the moon was waning or not visible. Decreasing moonlight or the total
absence of moonlight was considered crucial in the successful
propagation and grafting of all types of vegetation.
Harvesting by the Signs of
the Zodiac
Crops and other plants that were to be preserved for future use were
always cut while the light of the moon was decreasing. This was
believed to aid in the length of time that produce could be stored
without spoiling. This was especially true of timber which was to be
used in construction. If wood is cut at the end of the winter and
during the decline in moonlight it will be hard and durable.
Plant Regeneration
When cutting or gleaning crops and plants that produce more than one
yield the moon should be waxing and in its first quarter. Also, the
moon must be high in the sky at this time and in conjunction with the
planets Venus or Jupiter. When this equation is followed yields will
increase and new growth will be rapid.
Sowing Seeds by the
Moon
Sow or plant your garden when the moon is in Taurus, Virgo or Scorpio
and is near Saturn. This is the time of maximum benefit for seeds and
transplants which, if planted now, will grow with strength and
vitality. Also, when the moon is in Libra or Capricorn it is a good
time to weed your garden and trim trees and shrubs.
When to Avoid Planting
Never plant any type of vegetation when Saturn is in one of the fixed
signs of the zodiac. This will cause poor crops and limited harvests.
In ancient times this stellar alignment was associated with famine and
death.
 The Stellar Gardener
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eugene_DeFazzio
Eugene DeFazzio is the webmaster of XtraAstrology.com
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Moon
Gardening: Planting by Moonlight
Moon Phases and Planting
Planting by the phases of the moon is a method of
cultivation as old as
agriculture and civilization. Based both in tradition and superstition,
the character and growth traits of plants were seen to vary with the
phases of the moon. Through the corridors of time this rhythm of growth
was recorded and passed down to following generations.
Today we have access to this half forgotten
knowledge and what has
endured is a schedule of plant growth that we can use just as those
gardeners of yore. It is an example of mankind's struggle to understand
and harness the forces of nature and in so doing master this world.
Moon, Tides, Seeds and Water
The Earth is in a gravity well that is constantly altered by both the
sun, moon and planets. The ocean tides are at their highest during the
time of the full moon, when the sun and moon are lined up with the
earth. The ancients believed that as the moon draws the tides in the
seas, it also draws upon all water, causing moisture to swell up in the
earth, which promotes growth. This is the best time for planting seeds.
The Full Moon: A window of
opportunity for planting seeds
When the moon is full the lunar gravity draws
water up and causes seeds
to germinate. It was also believed, in ancient times, that the
increasing moonlight created balanced root and leaf growth. This, they
thought, was the best time for planting above ground annual crops that
produce their seeds outside the fruit. Examples of such crops are
lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain
crops. Through time and trials cucumbers were thought to like this
phase also, even though they are an exception to the rule.
The Second Quarter Moon: A window of opportunity for
planting above ground crops
In the second quarter moon (i.e. waxing half moon)
the pull of gravity
is less, but the moonlight is substantial and on the increase, which
was believed to encourage strong leaf growth. It was generally
considered a good time for most types of planting and the prime time
for this was usually two days before the full moon. The types of crops
that prefer the second quarter moon are annuals that produce their
fruits above the ground, but the seeds form inside the fruit, such as
beans, melons, peas, peppers, squash, and tomatoes.
The Third Quarter Moon: A window of opportunity for
planting root crops
When the moon enters the third quarter its light
is diminishing (i.e.
waning half moon), the light energy is dwindling. But during this time
the gravitational pull is still quite high, creating increased moisture
in the soil. Also, at this time the moonlight is decreasing, which our
forefathers believed was putting energy into the roots. This was
thought to be an excellent time for planting root crops which include
beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, and peanuts. It is also considered a
good time for planting perennials, biennials, bulbs and transplanting
because of the active root growth. Pruning is also best done in the
third quarter moon.
The New Moon: An opportunity for maintaining the
garden
At the time of the new moon both the gravitational
pull and the
moonlight are decreasing and was thus considered a resting period.
Growth during this period was believed to be stable and steady
providing strength to the plants and a good time for maintenance. This
was predicted to be the best time to cultivate, harvest, transplant and
prune.
Brother Sun and Sister Moon
The role of the sun and the moon in agriculture is
undeniable. The sun
powers the forces of growth and the moon enhances or discourages the
various stages of plant formation. This was believed by many
generations of gardeners to be the ultimate guide to robust crops. We
can either accept or omit this system of understanding the nature of
plant maturation but in the end we are but stewards in this cycle of
life.
Eugene DeFazzio is the webmaster of XtraAstrology.com
Article Source: Eugene DeFazzio
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