Moonspired: Midwinter Highlights

The February full moon shines tonight and shines a light into this season. Now is a time for observing subtle shifts leading us to and through the intensities the cycle of life brings. It’s still cold outside and storms can equate to setbacks. But the days are growing longer and there is much on the horizon. It’s natural to be in tune with nature! This Full Snow Moon was named by Native American indigenous tribes. “The growing and dying of the moon reminds us of our ignorance which comes and goes- but when the moon is full it is as if the Great Spirit were upon the whole world.” (Black Elk, Oglala Sioux)

Full moon is symbolic of opposing forces, astrologically speaking, and this one does not disappoint. It’s still cold and dark now, but the constellation this moon shines out from is Leo, the fieriest of the fire signs. The Leo Full Moon connects to the human heart and spine on the axis of the airy sun sign of Aquarius. Breathe deeply! Deep in the heart of winter, we are reminded to light the hearth and the heart, to turn up the heat and turn on our own love light.

We are just past Imbolc, the Feast of Brigit, or even, Groundhog Day are other names of the recent cross-quarter day on February 1-2. We honor midwinter at this time, the halfway point of the sun cycle between winter solstice and spring equinox. We can see the shift in the arc of the sun rising now day by day. The sap begins flowing in the maples and the earliest buds break through on the almond trees. Sometimes even the daffodils bloom (usually too early, IMHO), but the cycle of time is now clearly shifting toward Spring.

TuBshvat , in Judaism, the New Year of the Trees, is also celebrated at tonight’s full moon. It was a biblical time of taxes and tithing, and the imagery of the holiday also hearkens all the way back to the Tree of Knowledge and Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Trees, with their cycles seeds, leaves, fruits, and flowers, are a magical piece of our existence, nourishing in a million ways. They literally allow us to breathe. And breath is spirit. Trees are such a powerful connection for humans to both the material and the ethereal realms. With this acknowledgment comes awe and making a blessing is appropriate. There is power in giving thanks and praises. Bless the trees at this full moon!!! Since we are referencing Jewish tradition, a fitting bible verse, “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore. But they shall sit each person under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:3-4) Still so powerful, still so needed.

The cannabis plant, as a holy sacrament is quite literally a celebration of trees on every level. For us and for many in Mendocino and beyond, that includes growing it ourselves and sharing it with others. In fact, all the herbs and food we grow ourselves feel imbued with a connection to the energy field we all exist within. This same higher level of connection between plants and people can be found at farmers’ markets and community gardens, also at locally owned small businesses like craft breweries, bakeries, or restaurants that source high-quality fresh ingredients. As this February full moon arrives, we are still busy making plans for the whole year, especially around what and when we will be planting.

We recently attended an epic Emerald Triangle celebration of culture and community. The day was all about trading sensi, stories, and seeds of wisdom, along with some of the best breeders in the world offering genetic gems from their own collections. Heady old-school farmers from all over northern California & as far away as Oregon came out of the hills to The Soil King Garden Center in Cloverdale, CA last weekend for “Jerry’s Seed Swap: For the Community, By the Community” hosted by Jerry Munn, who is as OG as they come. Jerry was Dennis Peron’s favorite farmer. As an activist in the medical marijuana movement, Jerry worked for the original San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club alongside Dennis from its inception.

Last weekend, the hippie hair & the dankest smoke were flying everywhere. It wasn’t about sales or marketing brands, everyone there was in the industry in some capacity. People were sharing and sampling delicious weed and of course, swapping seeds and smiles. Jerry and Marnie of First Cut Farms and Mendo Seeds, along with Joel and Kelleen, of Ital Foundation and Mama Kush International welcomed a couple hundred folks to Patrick King’s place with food and music, a focus on education, and family-friendly fun. This was not a corporate event, it was a cultural gathering. Grassroots ideals are always a strong foundation and it was clear everyone there felt those strong vibes. Sustainably focused regenerative seed-born sun-grown cannabis farmers are so deeply connected to the plant and the land it grows in.

So much to buzz about such a beautiful day, “Being able to share cannabis seeds with each other has been lost amidst the current regulations and the idea for the seed exchange was to be able to give folks a chance to forward their legacy genetics in a noncommercial setting. I assembled breeders for this panel who have done a lot of work and deserve to be spotlighted. This was intentionally timed to spread the seeds around for those who want to start early by planting on the next new moon. Our community needed a free, low-key event, and it was so well received.” (Jerry Munn) Cannabis is medicine and community is a healing balm. More of these please…

Everything in the physical world is a metaphor for a deeper spiritual concept. It does not matter your personal religion. All of the traditions discussed here have different stories yet at their core remind us that the moon, the sun, the trees, the flowers, the fruits, the bees, the other wild creatures, and so on, are all one intertwined system that has the ability to connect us humans to powerful universal loving awareness that we sometimes forget we are already intrinsically a part of. We are all ready here, the entire planet together. This full moon is a time to let the sap of juicy ideas flow within, to learn to open our minds and open our hearts to all the amazing possibilities!

You can find the epic breeders panel online at Emerald Triangle TV
https://vimeo.com/794226118 and www.emeraldtriangletv.com

Panelists:

Joel, Ital Foundation, https://www.instagram.com/ital_foundation/

Noah, Golden Fig Gardens and Novelty Selections, https://www.instagram.com/goldenfiggardens/ and https://www.instagram.com/novelty_selections/

Benjamin F Grant, Humboldt County, https://www.instagram.com/benjaminfgrant/

Nick, Green Source Gardens, https://www.instagram.com/greensourcegardens/

Jerry, First Cut Farms and Mendo Seeds, https://www.instagram.com/firstcutfarms/ and https://www.instagram.com/mendoseeds/

Also, couldn’t have done this event without LOVE from Marnie & Kelleen https://www.instagram.com/mama_k_international_/

& special thanks to Patrick King for providing the awesome space https://www.instagram.com/thesoilking/

Our links:

FB @LoveLight Ink
FB @martyjuana
IG @martyjuanafarms
www.marijuana.com