Saturn in Pisces: Make the Dream Real

It began with a dream.

“What if we started our own nonprofit?” I asked my colleague and friend Michelle. I was sitting on my desk, legs dangling, chowing down on a turkey sandwich.

We had about two years left on a five-year federal project; the goal was to find adoptive and permanent families for Minnesota teens under state guardianship. It was time to start thinking about what came next.

“Yeah, we could… but you know, that’s the last option experts suggest. They say that first, you should try to partner with another agency that’s already doing similar work.” As Michelle spoke, I grabbed the pickle off her plate.

Michelle hates pickles.

“That makes sense. But seriously… who’s going to hire us?” I said, voicing my doubts.

The project was showing success, but along the way, we’d made plenty of people mad: We’d spent the past three years rocking the boat that was the child welfare system.

And changing entrenched systems doesn’t happen overnight. Or make everyone happy.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve wondered that, too,” Michelle offered.

Prior to the start of The Homecoming Project, research showed that only 4% of Minnesota teens awaiting adoption at age 15 would join a family. It was well documented that teens “aging out” of foster care faced grim prospects, many without a place to live, unemployed, and worse. And the problem wasn’t just in my home state: More than 25,000 young people were aging out of foster care each year in the United States.

“The project is working; we’re helping kids, so why not keep it going? Plus, what else are we going to do when Homecoming ends?” I wondered aloud.

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s true that there’s a problem, and you and I have skills to help address it…”

The Homecoming Project would succeed in connecting 57% of the teens we worked with to adoptive and permanent families. It wasn’t a perfect statistic, but it was a lot better than 4%.

“…so maybe we should think about doing it,” Michelle finished. “Maybe we should plan a time to sit down and really talk about what our own adoption agency would look like.”

Ampersand Families started with the two of us, a vision, a lot of idealism, an equal amount of hope, and no money whatsoever.

“Add some structure to the dream,” I added.

We needed two things: A solid plan, and a lot of trust on the path upon which we were embarking.

“Yeah. Make the dream real,” Michelle agreed.

We held loosely to the how of it all, but tightly to the why: We knew that kids whose lives had been disrupted by child welfare intervention deserved access to family – with an urgency that honored the brevity of childhood.

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“If you build it, they will come.”

- from the movie Field of Dreams

On March 7th, Saturn enters the sign of Pisces, encouraging all of us to add structure to our dreams – on both a personal and societal level.

Saturn will be in Pisces for roughly the next three years, from March 7, 2023 – February 14, 2026. (It takes a short break near the end, entering the sign of Aries from May 24, 2025 – September 1, 2025.)

When the outer planets change signs, they tend to herald big shifts, because they move so slowly. For example, think back to March of 2020 when Saturn, the planet of restrictions, entered Aquarius, the sign of the collective. (You don’t need me to remind you what was happening then, or what limitations took place in March of 2020, right?)

So, what will Saturn in Pisces offer us?

At a glance, the planet and the sign don’t seem to have a lot in common.

Consider the astronomy: With its restraining rings, its huge size, and its physical placement in our solar system, Saturn is the last planet visible with the naked eye.

And it helps to remember that, because heavyweight Saturn symbolizes a tangible boundary between what is known and seen and familiar, and that which lies beyond the known, beyond what we can see, beyond the familiar. It’s a limit, a border, a threshold – and as such, it also represents reality and rules and tradition… that which we know.

In astrology, sensible Saturn reminds us to be mature, work hard, and persist – lest there be consequences. I always say that Saturn is the school principal of the zodiac, encouraging us to do our homework, have practical goals, and put structures and plans in place to support our life and our calling.

Steely Saturn asks: What will you commit to building, and how can you take responsibility for yourself?

Pisces, on the other hand, is the boundless ocean. The benevolent water sign, represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions but held together by a string, suggests that we’re all connected as we swim along, even when it seems we’re headed in different directions. Imaginative Pisces understands that from the waters of creation we come, and back to the waters of creation we will eventually go, so it’s important to be compassionate along the way and to help the most vulnerable and marginalized among us. It makes sense, therefore, that nonprofits are ruled by Pisces.

Loving Pisces also paints a dreamy picture of empathy, transcendence, spirituality, forgiveness, creativity, and allowing things to end so that the new can arrive. Gentle Pisces understands that we’re all connected to something larger than simply our small egos.

Tender Pisces can heal, as well… but keep in mind that it’s also the sign of grief, loss, fog, deception, and confusion, so it can also tow us under if we’re not careful. Try to lean into the soothing properties of this restorative sign, instead of the escapist ones.

One planet, one sign – and so many differences.

Saturn is the container; Pisces is the water.

Saturn is the boundary line; Pisces is limitless.

Saturn is exacting; Pisces is malleable.

Saturn grasps onto that which is tangible; Pisces opens its hand and allows everything to flow in and out.

How can we helpfully work with these seemingly disparate energies?

Ask yourself: What supports can you put in place in pursuit of your dreams? What structures in your life are working and will help you achieve your vision – and which are holding you back and should be released? Can you invite faith or spirituality into your life (whatever that means to you) through a routine practice?

And with Pisces, it’s always worth pondering: Do your aspirations help more than just you? Is there a compassionate way you can help the grieving world at large… perhaps regularly making a donation to your favorite charity, or volunteering your time?

Or, if reflecting on the world at large feels too overwhelming, is there a way to aid someone nearby – shoveling snow for a neighbor, checking in on a friend, or helping out a stranger who comes up short at the cash register? Can you nourish and fortify relationships that have fallen away, if that feels safe and healthy?

Look to the horizon and dream your beautiful dream, and then consider: How can you make it real?

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“The house don't fall when the bones are good.”

- The Bones, song by Maren Morris

After that initial conversation, Michelle and I spent the next 24 months putting the supports in place to make our dreams tangible.

First, we wrote a detailed business plan, mooring concepts to paper.

Next, we carefully considered the mission statement, and hatched the idea to recruit and support permanent families for older youth, and champion practices in adoption and permanency that restore belonging, dignity, and hope.

We thought up name after name for the agency, putting them on a napkin, but were a bit stymied.

Eventually, a dear friend crafted the name Ampersand Families*, and thank goodness – because CAKE wouldn’t have aged well (Center for Adoption and Kin Excellence), although it sure would’ve been funny! “I’m heading over to CAKE to do some work.” Or, “The CAKE is located in Minneapolis.” Or, “The CAKE will be at the conference.” Hah!

Ampersand Families fit, though: In writing, the ampersand symbol – “&” – connects words and ideas. Our work was about connection, bringing together the people, resources, and ideas needed to build lifelong relationships on behalf of young people.

With the business plan, the mission, and the name in hand, we then applied as a 501(c)3, plopping down $600 from our personal checking accounts. For months, we waited and waited to hear back. Finally, in the spring of 2007, Ampersand Families was officially approved as a nonprofit!

Michelle and I hit the ground running – networking, locally and nationally. We talked to potential board members, bringing them on one by one, invigorated by the caliber of folks interested in the work. We spoke to corporations, looking for furniture and supply donations, and started writing grant after grant.

Then, a big donation came through, setting the stage to hire frontline staff and to scout office space.

Michelle and I toured the funky old Casket Arts Building in up-and-coming Northeast Minneapolis. At first glance, the dusty, grimy, junk-filled space seemed an unlikely place to put down roots. But we saw beyond the surface: The 2400-square-foot room was wide open, with big windows, exposed brick, and warm wood floors.

And the building was unusual: Dating back to 1882, it once was a warehouse belonging to the Northwestern Casket Company – where, yes, they used to manufacture coffins!

You can bet that little factoid fit our droll, gallows humor; honestly, you can’t spend years working in child welfare – learning about the very worst of humanity – without the aid of some dark humor.

But the building also held dozens of artisans, occupying the other offices. We liked that: Finding families for kids took some elbow grease… but in truth? Doing it well was part art, too. We cherished our new, artsy community – and they embraced us right back, donating enough pieces to hold a silent auction at our Grand Opening.

The Homecoming Project ended September 30, 2008. And the very next day, Ampersand Families opened for business. We had the scaffolding in place to launch the dream.

Later, Michelle and I would joke: What were we thinking?! Like, why didn’t we take at least one day off?

The answer: Because – like Saturn in Pisces – we had work to do. And a dream to fulfill.

How about you? What’s your dream? How can you plan for it? And what step-by-step actions can you take to build it?

As Michelle and I made our visions come to life, we were anchored in knowing that we were creating something worthwhile, and hopefully long-lasting. From the very start, we knew that Ampersand Families – at its core – was never about us as individuals, but rather, it was about the mission. It was about the work. How could we build that?

Making a dream real can require hard work, discipline, and effort.

But you don’t need to have every single move figured out in order to begin: Can you hold loosely to the how of your dream, while remaining steadfast in the why? What scaffolding can you put in place to support your vision?

Saturn in Pisces is here to remind you: You only need to start with one small step.

 Essay ©2023 Jen Braun, JJ Boots Productions LLC

Artwork credit: Brett Campos

*Brett Campos invented the name Ampersand Families! Back in the day, she also created the sandblasted, cut-glass artwork depicted in the photo, which represented both our physical office space and the place the agency held in our hearts: AmperLand. (Rest in peace, Bretty. Always. ♥)

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A big thanks to Michelle Chalmers, who gave her blessing to post this essay.

Interested in adopting a teen? To learn more about Ampersand Families, or to make a donation, visit the website.

To read more about my work history, visit my About page.  

And if you enjoy my articles and would like to support my dream of earning income through my writing, I invite you to make a contribution of any amount over at my PayPal! My essays have always been free and accessible to all, but your gifts help keep me going. 🙏🏻

Finally, if you’d like to read some Ampersand stories, hit the “WorkingWithTeens” tag below!