So, I’ll warn you now…I’m gonna be extra this month because MARCH IS MY M-F’IN BIRFDAY MONTH, Y’ALL! I can’t help but get turnt up – like Jonathan from Queer Eye turnt. Despite the weather usually coming in cold and crusty this time of year, I’m ‘bout to make it steamy up in here.
The constellation of Pisces weighs in as the fourth largest of the twelve zodiac constellations and fourteenth largest in the whole night sky (#respectthechunk – shout out to @pictureme_scrolling). Containing twenty-one main stars in its asterism, the Alpha starling is Alrischa, meaning “knot in the rope”. Its most brilliant beam comes from Eta Piscium, or Kullat Nunu, which has a luminosity that is 316 times greater than the Sun. That’s right – we hella bright!
At 60-millon-years-old, Beta Piscium is called Fum Al Samakah in Arabic, which translates into “the mouth of the fish”, and can be found hanging out almost 500 light-years away from Earth. Thirteen galaxy groups have been identified within Pisces; with one annual meteor shower, aptly named the Piscids, delivering an average of fifteen shootin’ stars per hour in the early parts of October.
Last month I mentioned that Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the Roman god of freshwater, the sea and horses. As a quirky correlation, I recently read a piece where the proposed spirit animal for Pisces is a seahorse, so that’s fun and fortuitous. Oh, and I’m a zebra in primal astrology (a new branch of astrology for me), which I actually totally get. Yep, Jonathan.
Did you miss the Neptune suggestions in the gift guide for February? I got you, boo.
As much as I’d love to ramble on and on about myself and how Pisces is the best sign blah blah blah…I’ll use my innate Piscean humility and turn the spot light on for my party pal, Aries, who’s also gettin’ turnt this month. Aries officially kicks off the celebration on the 21st, and we all know these rowdy rams get it in since they’re considered the opening gig of the zodiac line-up. Making Pisces the closing act, befitting.
Aries is said to have deep roots in the sky, dating back to the astrological systems of the Babylonians. The asterism formed by its three prominent stars, Alpha, Beta and Gamma Arietis, have been used for navigation for centuries. In Greek mythology, a story speaks of a gold colored ram who rescued twin boys, Phrixus and Helle, from peril. This is the same ram that is sacrificed to Zeus; and mentioned in the fable of Jason and the Argonauts, which involves the Golden Fleece made from the golden-haired winged ram.
Several meteor showers are associated with Aries, and since we’re still kind of at the beginning-ish of the year, here is a handy link for all upcoming 2020 meteor showers so you can mark your calendars!
Masculine Mars mojo feeds the ram, and we’re literally crazy about the Red Planet, so you’re in luck, my fiery friends! Peep these brand new amazing Mars-related gift ideas for yourself or your beebee, and feel free to do the happy dance while you do it.
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Still looking for some more rad ideas? Here’s a random list of things I love, so you might love them, too: the entire LightSail jewelry collection for The Planetary Society (Y'know, that thing that Lauren saw get shot into space? It's awesome. Wanna get the latest LightSail mission scoop? Click here!).
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These inexpensive and uber cute adjustable galaxy rings (especially with Crab, Orion Light, Jellyfish or Stars in Scorpius).
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All da keychains (I mean, everyone has keys, amirite?)
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And our ridiculously awesome enamel pins of the Solar System and Moon Phases because I know there’s a sad jean jacket or backpack out there longing for a dope decorative pin. Make a jacket (and the person wearing it) happy today.
xo
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