New Books Network Spike Bucklow, "The Year: An Ecology of the Zodiac" (Reaktion Books, 2025)
Sep 15, 2025
Spike Bucklow, an author and former chemist known for his work on art and material culture, discusses his book, focusing on nature's annual cycle through the lens of the zodiac. He delves into how each season invites reflection and transformation, using winter as a time for introspection. Bucklow blends modern ecology with insights from historical figures, enhancing our connection to nature and time. A fascinating exploration of astrology reveals its relationship with environmental changes, enriching our understanding of life’s rhythms.
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Crossing Science And Humanistic Curiosity
- Spike Bucklow links his background in chemistry and conservation to writing a natural-history book informed by astrology workshops.
- He framed The Year after monthly field notes correlating terrestrial events with zodiacal ideas.
Circular Time Suits Ecology Better
- Bucklow contrasts Western linear time with circular, seasonal time and argues the latter fits ecology better.
- Losing sight of circular time undermines our ecological thinking, he warns.
Hipparchus Tied Zodiac To Seasons
- Bucklow traces how Hipparchus tied the zodiac to seasons, shifting Western astrology toward immediate, agricultural time.
- This linked celestial signs more directly to observable plant and animal cycles.
