The Parsley Patch

The full Oak Moon has risen and the total eclipse has occurred! What a solstice eve this has been and with my new Canon G12, I had a blast taking pictures despite the frigid temperatures and high wind. The conversing of the Full Oak moon, the Winter Solstice and total lunar eclipse only occurs once every 300+ years so it was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

The energy of the green world that has been stirring deep within since the last moon is now becoming outwardly visible. As it does, we are overcome with a flush of energy and desire to be outside. As this fever of spring grabs hold we’re fired up to rejoice in the passing of winter and the return of spring once more.

Winter has been long and hard. As the sunlight increases and the morning bird-song becomes louder, we know that spring is immanent. As the season begins to change, it’s also a time of new beginnings, new jobs, promotions and the start of a new gardening season.

For those in cold climates, the Ice Moon is aptly named for February where winter seems to be relentless in presenting one storm of frozen precipitation after another. The energy of these storms can be a clue to the great energy that is also beginning to swirl beyond our sight. The February moon is also known as the quickening moon, for it seems that daylight is increasing at an incredible rate and in the light of the sun’s massing power ice and snow from winter storms doesn’t persist as long after storms have passed.

January’s Wolf Moon calls to mind our wolf brothers and sisters whose howl in the silence of moonlit Winter stirs us. As people huddled around the hearth to remain warm at this, the coldest time of Winter, the wolf could be heard howling in the distance as he came closer to man in search of food. The approach of the wolf rouses us from our quiet and contemplative time of inner work that has been our focus.

As the December Oak Moon shines down upon us, the energy flow that began last month continues as Winter arrives. The oak is the mightiest of trees that can survive the harshest of weather, while observing the world through many ages. The ancient oak tree has roots planted deeply in the earth with its arms stretched high towards the heavens. This allows the oak to exist in two worlds at the same time — below ground, the place of birth and death, and above the ground where life is played out.

While it may be Autumn, Winter’s chill can be felt growing stronger every day as the sun barely reaches past the tree tops. In the early morning light dew becomes a frosty and ephemeral hint signaling that the first snows will soon arrive to coat the Earth in a protective blanket of glistening white crystals.

The harvest is now complete and we’re readying ourselves for the long, cold and dark days of winter that lie ahead. The name “Blood Moon” may at first seem to have a sinister connotation of sacrifice and blood letting. The name derives from the practice of culling and salting sickly or poorly livestock that would not make it through the winter at the end of the harvest season.

The days of summer have waned as we’ve toiled endlessly in our gardens and played with the carefree abandon of a child. One last task remains before putting the land to bed for the winter and that is bringing in the grape harvest. Traditionally, grapes are harvested and pressed for wine now, giving us the alternate name for this moon – the full Wine Moon.

The harvest season is now upon us as we great the moon as she rises higher in the sky than she has all summer. Our respite from the lazy days of summer are now over as we work diligently to harvest the bounty of the season. Now is a particularly good time to harvest herbs to dry for both magical and mundane use. It’s also a great time to can and preserve fruits and vegetables from your garden.