The Quickening New Eclipse Moon and Blackthorn Blossoms.
Should we prepare for each season or allow ourselves to be shaped by them?
The awakening and fullness of early life in all the kingdoms is hard to ignore right now. Catching my attention, eye and energy more than any other is Prunus spinosa, commonly known as Blackthorn, at present in full bloom. Despite its resemblance to Hawthorn, Blackthorn stands out distinctly darker and more mysterious, exuding a unique potent allure in every aspect. The Blackthorn blossoms before it has even come into leaf, the first white blossoms to fill the hedgerow.
I see the Cailleach archetype within Blackthorn, symbolising darkness, death, wisdom and renewal. Every year I'm captivated and slightly unnerved by the sight of blackthorn in blossom. I see a physical expression of the final days of the feminine half of the year, rather than the joy of an early spring flower. It prompts me to reflect on things I may have left un-said or undone.
As this New Moon and eclipse approach I sense a quickening, making it even more potent in some mysterious way. Between the blackthorn in blossom and the astronomical forces at play i’m not quite sure if i’m coming or going. I’m finding the transition from the dark half of the year (samhain - bealtaine) into the bright half confusing. Whilst looking forward to the sunshine, warmer days, life and growth i’m finding it hard to let go of the dark, comforting, intuitive close days.
Which has me wandering: Should we prepare for each season or allow ourselves to be at their mercy and be shaped by them?
For the past six months I’ve been on a journey toward learning and practicing how to feel the seasons within me. What I mean by this, is that rather than purely ‘feeling’ on an intellectual and conceptual level, I’ve been diving into deeper realms within my body, on an internal physical perceptive level, an experiential pilgrimage of sorts. This process has been transformative, healing, challenging, creative and inspiring.
It has prompted me to look at necessity and desire as this new moon approaches. The relationship between the two is complex. Sometimes there’s harmony between necessity and desire, and sometimes there is not. Desires can often simply be cravings that are actually of no real benefit, on the other hand though, they can be the spark towards something new. Embodying what I long for is something that is crucial for me and my practice, if I ignore this pleasurable expression of life force, I find I’m cut adrift.
The sweet spot is to find and cultivate the intersection between the two - the place of potency. For some reason unknown to me for now, blackthorn blossoms are a perfect example of this place, the keeper of dark secrets, little green leaves hiding long sharp thorns once the flowers have fallen, and sour round, hard black fruits in autumn. Just like the crone herself, forceful and stubborn, supportive yet exuding a steely resolve, resilience and an unyielding nature. A plant not to be trifled with, I’ve decided for now to be at her mercy…
I can not tell you how the light comes
what I know is…
I see the blackthorn blossoming through the mists
I notice an energy dance on the twilight time
my body twitching and turning towards her
sap flowing once more
the crone’s throned farewell
I can not tell you how the light comes
what I know is…
I see blackthorn blossom on every roadside verge and hill
reminding us that the spiral of darkness
always precedes the light.