Canning Across America: A Stellar Approach to Putting Up Food

Photo © ALEX CARRILLO

When many people think of astrology, they associate it with the daily snippets they read in the newspaper or the monthly horoscopes to be found in the back pages of fashion magazines, Yet, in addition to personalized insights, astrology can offer ways to frame what is happening on a cultural and collective basis.

For instance, for the past two years we have all been facing a stand off between the planets Saturn and Uranus. This has manifested as a push-pull between the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus), standard practices (Saturn) and innovative approaches (Uranus), the tried-and-true (Saturn) and the possibilities that change can invoke (Uranus). This energetic dance often ushers in a questioning and overthrow of accepted ways, with innovative approaches taking hold in society. In fact, the last time we experienced this planetary alignment was 1965-7, a period infamous for change and re-evolution.

This current Saturn/Uranus cycle began on November 4, 2008 (Presidential Election Day, which definitely reflected the change vs. stay-the-same archetype of this planetary pair). There have been three other alignments—February 5 and September 15, 2009 and April 26, 2010—since then.

What’s this got to do with food preservation, you may wondering? Well, in the past two years, canning and the art of putting up food has re-emerged. As we strive to take back control of the food that we serve to our families and as we get in touch with our craft-oriented creativity, canning kettles, glass jars, and pantries have found their way back into our home kitchens. The revolution (Uranus) in the way we relate to the Earth and our nourishment has brought back the time-honored traditions (Saturn) of putting up food.

The last of this cycle’s Saturn/Uranus oppositions is soon upon us. July 26 to be exact, the day after this year’s Can-A-Rama weekend. And while we didn’t plan it that way, the synchronicity of the timing makes sense to me.

After all, we’ve changed (Uranus) the ways we relate to and experience our food in the past few years by bringing back the wisdom of well-regarded practices well-rooted in tradition and history (Saturn). Therefore, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the last of the structure-revolutionizing Saturn/Uranus oppositions than by participating in and promoting this year’s Can-A-Rama event. Viva la Canvolution!

CAA Contributor Stephanie Gailing, MS, CN is an astrologer, wellness consultant, and natural health writer. She is the author of Planetary Apothecary: An Astrological Approach to Health and Wellness (Crossing Press, 2009). She holds a masters degree in Nutrition from Bastyr University and currently serves as Co-President of the Washington State Astrological Association. You can find her daily writings on astrology and wellness at her blog, Planetary Apothecary.