For the Love of the Flower Moon
a Scorpio Full Moon missive
I have two more Venus Diaries readings available in June. This is a special offering for the open-hearted artists, creatives, healers, and mystics inspired by my research into the Venus cycle. Learn more here.
Today is the Flower Moon, named by the Algonquin peoples, popularized by the Farmer’s Almanac, and the namesake of this newsletter. The Flower Moon is the Full Moon in May when spring flowers bloom. I chose this name because I am a Taurus baby, born one week before Beltane. I am a child of the tulips, violets, apple blossoms, and magnolias. Flower Moon speaks to my love and reverence for the Earth, flowers, Moon, and stars.
Taurus season is my favorite time of year. Partly because it marks my Solar Return and mostly because the Earth reawakens in a chorus of birdsong and blooms. I revere the seasons and bow to the necessity of winter’s dark, cold depths. However, I live for rebirth and rejoice as the wheel of the year turns between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.
This weekend, I visited my childhood home. I grew up on an acre of land and didn’t appreciate this privilege until adulthood. My stepdad is a prolific gardener who has tended the land for nearly 25 years. It’s funny how the place I rejected as a teenager is where I find peace in my 30s. Strolling barefoot through the yard, my senses were spellbound. The crabapple blossoms, red bud, sweet almond, and violets bewitched me. I was seduced like a bumble bee. As I lay beneath the crabapple, I realized this is all I need, a soft, sunny spot to savor the beauty of spring.
On April 24th, I celebrated my Solar Return, marking 32 revolutions around the Sun. With each turn of the wheel, I feel more at ease. I’m less burdened by the heartbreaks of my past. I am rooted in community, family, and lineage. My relationships with the Earth and the divine bring me meaning and purpose. At 32, I am finally present in my body, which allows me to savor the gift of being alive. I was inspired by Lindsay Mack, who shared 41 rainbows for her 41st Solar Return. Here is a list of 32 simple pleasures bringing me joy to honor my 32nd Solar Return.
Magnolias in peak bloom
The quiet solitude of a solo hike on the Ice Age Trail
Morning pages and coffee in the backyard as the Sun warms my face
Playing sheepshead, a card game integral to my family’s culture and lore
Caring for seedlings and planting them outdoors
Being inspired by the creativity and magic of my friends
A solo artist date to Zine Fest
Baby geese and baby bunnies
Crabapple’s vibrant blooms
Cowboy Carter drag brunch
Decolonized ingredients and the best meal of my life
My baby sister’s senior dance performance
A bookstore bunny named Zoro
Interviewing people about what lights them up
New Moon spells and Tarot spreads
The first bike rides of the season
Being in the presence of Lake Michigan
The poem William wrote for my birthday
Being part of the compost cycle
The love and support of my ancestors
Mysterious crow gatherings in the backyard stone fountain
My grandparents singing me happy birthday
Enchanting acoustic performances during an intimate house show
Bare feet and hands in the soil
Celebrating my sister-in-law and her baby-to-be
Ancestral Medicine book club
A Mother’s Day hike in the Kettle Moraine Forest
The magic flowing through my veins
The dreams William and I share
Planning our family Eurotrip
Anointing my body with handmade body butter
The life-sustaining love of my partner, family, and community
Attuning to the Cycle
The cycle began with the New Moon in Taurus on April 27th and culminates with the Full Moon in Scorpio on May 12th. The Taurus-Scorpio axis roots us into the cycle of death and rebirth. In preparation for planting seedlings, I cut back the husks of last year’s growth and mixed compost into the soil. Death nourishes life. Taurus abundance is fed by Scorpio decay. The Scorpio Full Moon illuminates what needs to be cut back and composted for new growth to flourish.
New Moon in Taurus - April 27th 2:30 p.m. CDT
First Quarter Moon in Leo - May 4th 8:50 a.m. CDT
Full Moon in Scorpio - May 12th 11:55 a.m. CDT
Last Quarter Moon in Aquarius - May 20th 6:59 a.m. CDT
Balsamic Moon in Aries - May 23rd 5:15 p.m. CDT
Sol Connections
Last month, my beloved co-hosts interviewed me about what lights me up. In the episode, I share my winding, spiralic journey through life and how support from my community and ancestors keeps me going. I invite you to listen to Ep. 11 | The Sun & Rooting into Community, the Earth & Divine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
Herbcrafting
Last spring, I enrolled in Kami McBride’s Handcrafted Healing Oils course, and I’ve been making infused herbal oils ever since. This month, I took the next step and made my first body butter. My blend is a mix of calendula oil, rose oil, and shea butter. While I love the feel of shea butter, the scent is strong, and it’s not an ingredient I can source locally. Next time, I intend to experiment with tallow as this is an ingredient easily sourced in Wisconsin.
My Latest Fascinations
🌱 My favorite Taurus season reads: Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, The Art of Frugal Hedonism by Annie Raser-Rowland & Adam Grubb, and How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell
🌱 I am deepening my Tarot practice and listening to Tarot for the Wild Soul.
🌱 Abracadabra by Lady Gaga is on repeat.
In simple pleasures, Emily
The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.
I love your 32 joys and pleasures list 😭 I can't wait to hear about your work with Tallow! That yard looks like one I want to spend the entire day laying in 😍
Ah, magnolias!!! Thank you for this read!