Moon walks and meditations
Land walks and line works.
July’s full moon bought heat and a quiet sense of a chapter ending. Considering full moons are known for completion, this comes as no surprise, however it now leaves me with a sense of directionless or, rather, which creative avenue to focus on next.
Over the past couple of months my desire to draw has quietly re-bloomed, and I have been using this as a meditation of sorts. Here are the first 3 sections of my new piece ‘Roots and Blooms’.
Free-flowing drawing is so very intuitive for me, and I find it very relaxing. I used to pair drawing with music, but lately I’ve enjoyed sitting in complete silence, letting each line take the lead. In this fast paced world, it’s a much needed way to quench the thirst for supporting internal rest.
Energetically speaking, spring and summer are when I connect to the land the most - the vitality awakens within me after a long winter and I simply love the colours that adorn the landscape.
Near to my home is a canal walk that I regularly take. Unfortunately, the walk isn’t circular but leads to a river which is a meditative experience; observing the reeds move with the current and catching the light dancing on the water is peaceful to me.
Plants reveal themselves to you at the right time, or so I’ve found. I’ve walked this route plenty of times, and not paid too much attention to the banks of the river as nothing caught my attention, but since I’ve begin my herbalism course, I’ve come to notice everything in finer detail. This year - these cream coloured blossoms appeared to me and I’ve been captivated since. Another walker en-route explained to me that this almond-scented bloom was Meadowsweet.
I cut a few stems off to make a tincture at home - purely as an experiment - I’ve come to learn that meadowsweet is used to aid pain, fever and inflammation. It’s such a beautiful bloom - soft and expresses an almond scent. Meadowsweet contains salicylates (such as salicin), which your body converts into salicylic acid, similar to how aspirin metabolises. It can be used to ease uterine cramps, lower back pain and lessen low moods during the menstrual cycle.
Another plant I love but not delved into deeply is Milk-Thistle; I just love the hot pink which complimented the hazy blues, purples of the setting summer sky. One more Meadowsweet bloom for my windowsill to enjoy - take only what you need & not more.
July’s full moon bought a little more progress to ‘Roots and Blooms’ - the blue and white reminded me of a cyanotype - a camera-less photography technique that uses the sun to imprint onto coated paper.
I hope to have Roots and Blooms finished by the next full moon.