MOONSPIRED: Buck the Trend

Declare your independence from all negative influences! From within, from others, from all that is around you right now, from all that holds you back, from your past, from your worries, from your fears, from your struggle. Find strength in learning the lessons and let it be. “Cause baby, you’re a firework. Come on, show ’em what you’re worth” (Katy Perry). We process triumphs and traumas in order to make sense of our experiences and move on. It’s time to feel free to be the brightest light you can be. Now Shine…

Declare your interdependence as well! “I’m ok. You’re ok.” (Thomas Anthony Harris) A good motto, a good practice for this Capricorn full moon phase under the Cancer sun. Especially when we’re communicating with those with whom we don’t see eye to eye. Even in difficult circumstances, relating to others can generally take the form of diplomacy. A convergence of opposite energies is always a focus at a full moon because the axis of the earth and corresponding astrological wheel places the moon opposite of the sun. During this full moon, Capricorn’s earthy sea goat element often operates easily within the ebb and flow of the Cancer water sign. Remember to keep a cool head even on the hottest days.

It’s a good time to see interdependence in nature, like the practice of polyculture on our farm. We have finished planting our gardens for the year, and now we tend them and help them grow. “Bloom where you are planted” (Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva). One of the greatest gifts of our companion planting herbs and food is the delicious nutrition it provides for us and the earth. We just harvested garlic we planted last autumn that’s now curing in the coolness of the root cellar. At the same time, feasting on artichokes, a favorite perennial plant, with garlic aioli made with the last of the last year’s garlic. And enjoying the sunny yellow summer squash, as well as the intensely prolific as always zucchinis we eat every which way, from sautéed to stuffed to muffins to raw zoodles. Another wonderful gift of summer is harvesting marigolds and lavender while enjoying all the roses and daisies, and other flowers bringing beauty along with birds and bees.

This full moon, our farm projects involve feeding the cannabis plants as they are settling in after the big summer solstice transplanting. And watering extra on these 100-degree days. We use organic and biodynamic certified products like Fungi Perfeti MycoGrow and Malibu Compost tea. We are also now top dressing around the base of the stalks from our own compost pile and adding locally sourced straw to keep the moisture in during the time of hot summer sun. And we’re releasing predatory insects to combat pests. Microbes and mycorrhizae are an integral part of the health of our soil food web.

July is the full Buck moon in Native American lore. And we observe it to be so. Deer can be pests, too, who, given a chance, would eat most of all we grow. In fact, with the fences downed by last winter’s storms, a herd of deer was in our garden for months and ate all our winter crops except the garlic. The good news is we fixed the fences!!! They’re on the other side. We throw lots of garden goodies over the fence for them. Summer temp is rising, and so we’ve also put out water for the wild critters. The buck pictured and his gang have been spending a ton of time hanging around closely monitoring the garden. This particular edge of the forest dweller spends the daytime mostly in the shade of trees sleeping and salivating. And he’s been spending the nights under the deck of our house. While the does are birthing fawns this season, the bucks hang together in packs, separate from them but often nearby. Mamas and Bambis are also often traveling in groups. So many deer remind us to keep our tick-repellant close. Hygiene and healthy immune systems go hand in hand. And the spirit of deer is a symbolic reminder to be gentle with ourselves and our world.

Are you feeling edgy? Balance comes from within. But it helps to surround yourself with people and places and things that make you feel good. Life’s lessons provide us with an experiential education. The Dali Lama said, “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” Seems like a sad statement about society, but true. Yet, when people are given a strong foundation of confidence and compassion from a young age, there is an opportunity to thrive. Everyone has the capacity to explore passions and creativity. We all want to live our best lives. For some of us, that is easier said than done. But there are as many versions of a full and meaningful life as there are humans. There is so much possibility.

It‘s summertime, so you may feel obligated to be and do more than you want right now. But remember taking care of you is the most important duty. And only then can you fully be there for others. And, FYI, saying “No” is healthy and sometimes the right answer. Be aware your boundaries may provoke others in ways you don’t want or really deserve. Weigh what works for you. No matter what the situation, we always have the power to make the best of it. Honor all that you are and all that you dream to be.

“Having burned down my barn, now I can see the moon.” (Chinese proverb) Fireworks are banned in our area, except the professional displays, due to the heavily forested terrain. In all seasons that allow it, burn permits are required for pretty much anything bigger than a bbq. And, take note, burn permits are suspended as of July 1, usually until it rains in late fall or early winter. If you are playing with fire, carefully; you don’t want to get burned!

Tonight’s full moon will add to the luminosity of the pyrotechnic entertainment. Use the festivities of summer’s long days and hot nights to ignite the excitement inside you. Connect to your higher purpose, your soul’s intent, your deepest knowing. Follow that idea as far as you can, as crazy as it may sound, for it just may be what you are here to do.

Lie down on the ground and look up at the sky, at the moon, at the stars, at the fireworks display on the 4th of July… all that is before you can spark your imagination, your creativity, your emanation, your inspiration, your mission. Now spark up your personal sparkler and reflect that light back into the world; it’s your Divine right to shine. Happy Independence Day this week in the U.S.A.

Root deep into the earth while reaching for the sun, moon, and stars. Go buck wild!

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