night, the ninth of april
dark furrow
old knowledge preserved
early spring
the soil warms. the light returns longer each day.
what was sleeping is not sleeping anymore.
late spring begins in 7 days.
still cold enough to frost. the season is not settled yet.
the moon is waning gibbous, 55% lit.
the world is turned away from the sun.
12h 41m of daylight today. +2.3 minutes from yesterday.
the old dark furrowfills with rain and waits for warmthsomething stirs below
go to bed. tomorrow there will be something new. ❧ the old farmers planned by lamplight. seed orders, crop rotations, next year's beds. the quiet hours are for thinking ahead. ❧ the moon is waning. harvest what is ready, cut herbs for drying, prune what needs shaping. the energy is drawing inward. what you cut now heals faster. ❧ leo the lion climbs high, the bright star regulus at his heart
wind in early spring is different from winter wind. it is warmer and wetter and it smells like mud. the old word for it was simply "the thaw wind." ❧ the worm moon is coming or just passed. some called this the crow moon, for the sound that breaks the silence at the end of winter. the sap moon, because the maples are running. the ground is unlocking. ❧ nettle tea, if you can find young nettles. iron-rich, good for the blood. wear gloves picking. ❧ regulus, the heart of the lion, was another of the four royal stars of persia. it marked the summer solstice four thousand years ago. the name means "little king," and in spring it rules the high sky.
spring remedies are about waking up. the body has been indoors too long. bitter greens and sharp roots shake the dust off.