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By Jemma Foster
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
Mama Xanadu is the experimental botanical studio led by Jemma Foster, who is the author of Wild Alchemy Lab: An Astro-Botanical Remedy Deck (Laurence King, 2023)
By Jemma Foster
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
Mama Xanadu is the experimental botanical studio led by Jemma Foster, who is the author of Wild Alchemy Lab: An Astro-Botanical Remedy Deck (Laurence King, 2023)
By Jemma Foster
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
Mama Xanadu is the experimental botanical studio led by Jemma Foster, who is the author of Wild Alchemy Lab: An Astro-Botanical Remedy Deck (Laurence King, 2023)
By Jemma Foster
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
rusted
November days
cold clipped
two dam the night sky
to collect the light
filling this pool
round and luminous
full
with reflections of the sun
two sleep soundly
in their makeshift lodge
until the well
spills its silver beads
and fades into the darkness
of the new moon
The Beaver Moon, also known as the Frost Moon, is a time for turning inward, setting the traps for winter sustenance, a time of distillation and discernment, preparation and prayer.
MOON
Ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus
In esoteric law and in modern astronomy, it is thought that the Moon came from the Earth, expelled by another body such as a planet or asteroid, so there is a particular type of shared resonance between the Earth and Moon. The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, the near side of the Moon always faces the Earth, so we never see the dark side fully - Lunar forces are represented in our hidden, shadow side, our subconscious and our memories.
The Moon is receptive and reflective, it has no light itself, only reflecting the light of the Sun out into the cosmos, which in itself is an alchemical process - it takes the raw external conscious energy of the Sun, internalises it, dissolves and distils it into a more refined expression. As the closest celestial body to the Earth, it receives the rays of all the planets and filters these to Earth. The Moon is the crescent cup that holds our inner waters and like a still, mirror-like lake, holds them up to us. Where the Sun is an outward expression, upward and expansive energy, the Moon is magnetic, pulling down and in, an inward expression of cosmic consciousness.
In astrology, the position of the Moon in a chart represents the inner waters, the emotional and the subconscious influences, the shadow self and the mother archetype. The sign of the zodiac the Moon is in when you are born reflects the areas that might be sensitive to external influences and how we might adapt to change. The Moon rules the waters of the body, the flow of fluids and electromagnetic currents, it guides the tides of the sea and the inner tides of the female menstruation cycle. Cold and moist by nature, it governs the fluids of the brain, the lymphatic system and the stomach. Sympathetic plants are ruled by the Moon, Venus and Neptune, correlating to the waters of the body, with milky saps and soothing mucilages such as poppy and aloe vera. If there are excess lunar forces, causing swelling or leaking of the fluids in the body, or damp stagnation these can be channelled with lunar lymphatics or remedied with the drying heat of Sun and Mars plants, or given boundaries via Saturn.
The Lunar Nodes, describe the relationship between the path of the Sun and Moon. The line that the Sun draws in the sky from the position of the Earth is called the Ecliptic. The Moon follows a separate path and where this path crosses that of the solar ecliptic, are called the North and South nodes, which are key points in astrology. The North Node represents those qualities that we are drawn towards, entangled with our soul’s purpose and growth. It causes an excess of energy, associated with growths and abscesses, accumulation of toxins. The South Node has a draining, diffusive nature and its position in the chart can indicate areas where energy leaks out causing weakness and fatigue. It causes a decrease in energy, weakening the vital force, associated with malnourishment, addiction, mental illness and psychic attack.
The Moon takes on average 28 days to orbit Earth, so governs the germination of seeds. Lunar plants are often water-dwelling, oily with succulent leaves and white or purple in colour. Lunaria (Lunaria annua) or Moonwort, meaning moon-shaped, gets its name from its silicles (pods) that appear as translucent silvery disks. For this reason it is also called Silver Dollar, Money Plant and Honesty. In modern medicine, it has been used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis due to high levels of nervonic acid (mono-unsaturated Omega 9) which nourishes the brain.
Willow (Salix alba) grows by water and once gave its name to Helicon, the abode of nine muses who were orgiastic priestesses of the Moon Goddess. It reflects back the cold and moist conditions of the phlegmatic lunar forces through its cold and dry astringent action. The cooling and moisturising properties of Chickweed (Stellaria media) have solidified its use externally for skin conditions and inflammation. Its petals fold up when rain is coming and at night. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) has the lunar signature of milky sap and contains lactucarium which is similar to opium poppy as a mild sedative and is used for pain relief and as a sleep aid, sympathetic to the Moon’s governance of the fluids of the brain. Wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is not narcotic as the opium poppy but also has soporific qualities and is used a folk sleep aid in Greece. Other plants with lunar signatures include lotus, watercress, datura (moonflower), white poppies (opium), white roses, milky oats, vitex agnus-castus, camphor, purslane, chickweed, rockrose, lady’s smock, water lily.
REMEDY
Poppy & Wild lettuce Sleep Elixir
Gather wild poppy petals and wild lettuce leaves on a full moon, ideally before dawn when the dew is still moist on the plants. A well-placed Neptune or Pisces transit may aid in dream magick. Place the petals into a glass jar and cover with brandy and a spoon of raw local honey. Add a few drops of crystal essences with an aligned purpose for sleep and dreaming such as selenite, amethyst, blue howlite and unakite. Leave for one lunar cycle, stirring intermittently and ensuring the plant matter is covered. It will turn a purple colour. Take a teaspoon at night before bed.
Mama Xanadu is the experimental botanical studio led by Jemma Foster, who is the author of Wild Alchemy Lab: An Astro-Botanical Remedy Deck (Laurence King, 2023)