full flower moon ○ the risk to blossom

Written By coyote west

[welcome to YUCCA MOON HOUSE]

“and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” - Anais Nin

spring is a time for re-awakening. every shift is a chance for re-calibrating.

It’s the pink flower moon. The first full moon of spring. There are buds on the branches of the lilac. Sap is running. Tender feathery foliage of yarrow, star-shaped sprouts of lupine, and the curled starts of arrowleaf basalmroot are emerging from the soil. The first bumble bees and butterflies are making an appearance. The river is running faster, fuller.

the april 12th full moon in libra is one for coming back into balance. for re-focusing. for alignment in our relationships with ourselves and each other and the world around us.

Ritual offers bridges that connect us with ourselves and our environment. It can be a small thing. It doesn’t have to be candles and altars, but it can be. It can be the small moments that mark the beginning and ending of the day. A cup of tea. A bonfire in spring when the earth is damp. Cleaning the dust. There is sacredness in the material. All of our ancestors marked the movements of the moon and stars in relation to the earth, and developed ceremony around the seasons that rule our lives. Spring is the earth’s “new year,” an opportunity to re-calibrate and reconnect with these patterns, and our selves.

herbal recipes for a budding spring…

Building relationships with plants brings us more in-tune with our bodies and the earth. A conscious herbal practice is a bridge to remembering and reclaiming our inherent connection to the land.

These recipes support our bodies in transitioning into the warmer, busier seasons.

nettle + oatstraw vinegar

the wealth of minerals held by nettle and oatstraw are best coaxed out in a vinegar infusion. (this recipe uses dried herbs, as spring comes late to Montana)

you will need:

  • dried nettles and oatstraw, broken/chopped into fine pieces (but not powered), enough to fill your chosen jar 1/2 way.

  • sanitized glass jar and plastic lid* (you can sanitize by submerging jar in a pot of water with a canning lid underneath to keep it off the bottom of the pot. Bring to boil, boil jar for 15 minutes. carefully remove jar with canning jar tongs, making sure not to touch the inside of the jar with anything that hasn’t been sanitized.

  • apple cider vinegar, or other natural vinegar of choice (not distilled white vinegar)

fill sanitized jar halfway with dried nettles and oatstraw. top off herbs with vinegar to fill the jar with one inch of space at the job. cover with lid, and label the jar with “nettle and oatstraw vinegar” or what ever you want to call your infusion, along with the date you made it. Leave in a cool + dark place (or your refrigerator if you have a warm or particular temp- fluctuating house), and allow to infuse for 4-6 weeks. Strain into a sanitized jar or vessel with a non-metal lid. Store in cool dark place, or your fridge.

*if you want to avoid using plastic, you can place a layer of wax paper underneath a canning jar lid, making sure the vinegar will not come in contact with the metal, as it will cause it to corrode.

herbal soak for welcoming the sunnier season.

a gentle and sunny mix of flowers and oatstraw, these herbs are commonly found in most apothecary or herbal shops, or easy to order online from responsible sources.

in a french press (or you can use a handled vessel and fine-mesh strainer), combine small “palm full” each of oatstraw, whole calendula flowers, and marigold petals.

Steep in boiled water for at least 20 minutes, and strain into a drawn warm bath. add a half cup of sea salt, and optional drizzle of honey.

Relax and soak for 20 minutes.

coyote west