4th Quarter Moon

Today the moon entered her fourth quarter. I am glad. It has been a busy cycle, and I'm ready for rest and restoration (read more about how I follow the moon and her cycle here.) I associate the moon's fourth quarter with the North, with inner reflection, with exquisite self care [a term I learned from a very lovely woman], with preparation to start a new cycle, refreshed and energized.

I don't feel particularly energized right now.

It has been a busy week, and I have been a little bit on edge.

It started on Monday when Jai came home from school with an ear infection [cured with a little garlic oil]. He took a long nap, so that night he stayed up later and I went to bed with him [which means no evening mama time. Evening is my sacred time to do whatever I want, and I cherish it]. But it was all good, my baby was sick and I wanted to take care of him.

The next day the kids and I all woke up with colds. Didn't we just get over the last one??? I must say, having a child in school has really thrown me for a loop. I never used to get sick. Ever. And since Jai started school in the fall, I have been sick more times than I can even remember. My oh my.

So anyway, we have colds. Ick. And that night, after I spend 45 minutes getting Yasmina to fall asleep, she wakes up ten minutes later. Like AWAKE. I spend an hour trying to get her back to sleep. So that night, no sacred mama time.

The next night, I put Yasmina to bed. She wakes up ten minutes later, AWAKE. I want to pull my hair out, but thankfully Anthony was home to keep me sane. And even though I was feeling grumpy and frustrated, it's really impossible to stay upset at Mina. She's so dang cute. Especially when it's late and she should be sleeping, she really puts on a show.

So maybe it was because I went three nights in a row with no sacred mama time, or maybe the planets were not aligned in my favor, or maybe I just have some crazy energy seeking release, but the next day was a rough one for me. I was irritable and had all this pent up frustration inside. I ate cheap Easter chocolate when i really didn't want to. I got upset at Anthony because he's not building our greenhouse "fast enough" [he's been working his butt off]. It was cold and rainy. I felt crappy.

[Then I pushed through the crappiness and wrestled with the kids on the bed. I drank some tea. And then I felt much better.]

I think part of my problem is the springtime energy coursing through my veins. The warmer temperatures, the sunshine, the growing expanding golden green energy makes me want to work in the garden all day, every day. I want to dig and plant and plant some more. However, I have two small children. They are amazing gardeners already, but they can only focus for so long. [And especially for Mina, that's not very long]. So there's all this gardening I'm aching to do, but I just can't. And I'm trying really really hard to feel joy and satisfaction at what we do get done [which is impressive, all things considered], but sometimes it is a struggle.

So this week with my fourth quarter moon, I am focusing on slowing down. On enjoying the process. On releasing excess [negative, frustrated, crappy] energy. On letting go of expectations. As Anthony reminded me the other morning, it's not about what happens to you, it's about how you deal with it. I choose to deal with it [children, garden, husband] with humor, flexibility, and love. [And yes, I'm going to write that on my hand so I don't forget....humor flexibility and love. humor flexibility and love.]

As long as Mina stays asleep...

*blessings*

Our First Spring Planting: The Cycle Begins Anew

A few days ago, the new moon blessed us right before she slid over the horizon. We could see her whole form, dark in the sky, with just a tiny slice glowing bright. The time of the new moon is a time of new beginnings. The time of the new moon is a great time for starting our garden.

Spring appears to be here early this year. It was the first day of February when I noticed the first daffodils pushing their way out of the cold ground, and now things are budding all around us. My dad has been very busy in his greenhouse, starting tray after tray of new seeds. He gave us a whole beautiful flat of little peas, so strong and hopeful.

Yesterday we took advantage of a balmy, sunny morning to transplant our pea starts into their garden beds. The ground is still so wet that the only place to plant them is in a raised bed. We prepared the bed by raking some homemade fertilizer into the soil. The recipe is from my personal gardening bible.

Jai is a very enthusiastic and helpful gardener. I love working with him, but gardening with children does require one to be flexible and not too concerned about doing things perfectly right. It is a good time to practice deep breathing and to trust that all will be well.

Yasmina also delights in helping us in the garden. She loves the dirt - getting it on her hands, her face, all over her clothes.... thankfully she's over the phase of loving to eat it. She also prefers to pull the plants out of the ground rather than put them into the soil. Remember, deep breath.

She did discover that it's fun to plant them, too. 

I love sharing the wonder and miracle of life with my children. The garden is such a natural and satisfying place to do that. We talk about how the plants grow from the energy of the sun and the nutrients of the earth, and we in turn grow from the plants. A miracle, indeed.

Yesterday it was sunny and warm, and our peas got planted. Today it is cold and snowing. The peas look out bravely from their bed.

May our peas grow tall and strong. May they be nourished by the sun and the earth, and may we be nourished by the peas.     *Gratitude*