Neptune Angelica • Planherbarium linocut paper print

These botanical prints are all part of research done between 2016 and 2018, called Planherbarium: it studies the relationship between plants and planets in astrology, medicine, mythology, usage and folklore.

In classical mythology Neptune is the son of the lord of time Saturn, and brother of the lord of abundance Jupiter; he is the one who presides over the ocean worlds, over what lies beneath the apparent surface of Life. In Kabbalistic tradition he stands in Kether -also called the Citadel of Light, the third eye-. In astrology we find him ruling the constellation Pisces, and in the human body at the feet, the roots that allow the tree of life to expand upwards in the quest for Light. God of ocean waters, clear and crystalline, vital receptacle, connection between lands; but also god of the unfathomable abysses, of the unconscious, of frightening creatures, of oblivion. His symbol is the Trivarga, the Trident, Algiz, third eye are just some of his names.
It suggests the inner journey, prayer (it reminds one of a man with open arms towards the sky), where will and desire are turned towards Truth.
It is that part of us that does not identify with our everyday identity; it reminds us that the key is awareness, in a world where everything is illusion.
When the doors of perception open, there is the risk of losing oneself in Madness, dissolving into Neptunian turmoil and deviance by being guided solely by daydreams and emotionalism that governs the lower waters. Exactly the opposite is the gift of Madness: initiatory mystical ecstasy, the light of awareness. Neptune calls for transcending the Ego without abandoning it, but rather using it as a tool after understanding, and then mastering it.
When the spiritual energy tends to fade, the flame that should illuminate the Way fades and the saturnine cold cools the spirit, the Angelica Sylvestris - Archangelica comes to our aid as a divine messenger. In Nordic legends, it is said to have been given by an archangel in times of plague, and its healing and purifying properties on the three planes (physical, mental and spiritual) saved entire populations. This plant is up to two metres tall and grows where it finds water, pure air and sunshine.
The most commonly used parts of the plant (seeds and roots) represent the balance of the Earth-Sky axis: opposites are actually equal, to understand what is above one must know what is below, without darkness there is no awareness of light. The use of this Neptunian essence is therefore perfect medicine to balance excessive discouragement and melancholy, but as everything has a measure: the abuse of this plant leads to the excessive opening of the Vision, which is equivalent to blindness, and to the return to Oblivion.

This print measuring 35x22cm circa, and is printed in dark green Caligo ink on Favini Materica 250g printmaking paper.
All prints in this limited edition are handmade and handpulled on a press, and each print is signed and numbered.
This a limited edition of 10 prints that will never be reprinted due to the extreme wear and tear of the blocks.

Due to the slightly structured texture of the paper, this print is a bit difficult to print, and is likely to have a bit of "lino noise" and slight variations. This is not to be considered a flaw, but is inherent to the handmade nature of the artwork and process, and a welcome reference to the particular tradition of printing it stems from.