Heal Within and then Come for the World
There is a full moon coming up April 5 (or 6, depending on where you are in the world). This is Libra's full moon, and she is shining her light on balance, boundaries, and compromise in our individual lives, in our relationships, and in our communities. If you are curious about herbs that can support the energies of this full moon and need some inspiration for where you might want to explore these themes in your own life, this post is for you!
This Full Moon is also opposite to the recent Jupiter/Chiron conjunction that occurred on March 12th, bringing to light the need for healing and growth on both personal and collective levels.
It’s a continuance of a theme that is just beginning to emerge, and that will be with us for the next three years. Frankly, the world is out of whack, and the opportunity to bring it into equilibrium is here, now.
But first, we’ve got some personal healing to do.
Jupiter is the planet of expansion, abundance, and growth, while Chiron is the asteroid of healing and self-discovery. When these two come together, there is a potential for deep transformation and growth, but also for challenges and wounds to surface. As the Full Moon in Libra shines a light on this conjunction, we are invited to reflect on how we can find balance and compromise in our personal lives and relationships, as well as in the wider world.
If this rings a bell for you, here are some prompts to explore during the April Full Moon in Libra:
Work-life balance: The paradigm of working ourselves to death is done. There is a saying, I don’t remember who said it (if you know, comment below), but it goes something like this: “Find three hobbies you love: One to make your money, one to keep you in shape, and one let your creativity flow.” If you are spending too much time making money doing something you don’t love, it’s time to address that.
Relationships: Maintaining healthy relationships with partners, family members, and friends can sometimes require compromise and communication. It also requires boundaries. Where are you giving too much to others, but not feeling cared for in return? How can you communicate what you need from your partner, friends, and family? If these questions trigger your heart, tap into the Libra Full Moon energies and journal some responses to these questions.
Self-care: Taking care of ourselves both physically and mentally is crucial for our overall well-being, but most of us don’t practice self-care enough. Maybe it’s guilt, or overload, or, ahem…boundaries…do you feel that you care for yourself enough? If the answer is no or not sure, can you commit to one new self-care practice to work into your routine?
Of course, I know some herbs to help with this.
There are many herbs that can assist us with our own personal healing. I'd suggest consider incorprating some or all of these into a routine of refelction and healing for the next six months - until the new moon in Libra (which will represent the end of this cycle),
Ashwagandha: Considered “nature’s gift to mankind,” Ashwagandha is an incredible adaptogen, known for its ability to help the body cope with stress and promote balance and harmony. We love ashwagandha as a tincture added to tea, you can also take it in capsule form.
Holy Basil: Also known as Tulsi, this herb is revered in Ayurvedic medicine for its ability to support the body's natural stress response and promote balance and harmony. Tulsi opens up your crown chakra and deepens your connection to your own divine inner-knowing… and with that, comes more conviction, less compromise, and stronger boundaries. You can take holy basil in capsule or tincture form, or make a tea by steeping the leaves in hot water for several minutes. We absolutely love Tulsi and use it in many of our own tea blends, such as Afternoon Alignment and Women’s Balance.
Rose: Often associated with love and romance, rose is also a symbol of balance and harmony, and can be used to promote emotional balance and healthy boundaries. Buy yourself a bouquet of roses and as you arrange them think of all the things you love about yourself. Burn dried rose petals in your incense bowl to inspire feelings of love and compassion for all, or add rose petals to your tea and set your intentions as you stir the petals in your cup.
Chamomile: This gentle herb is often used to promote relaxation and calm, making it a great choice for those seeking balance and compromise in their personal lives, while also promoting healthy boundaries. You can take chamomile as a tea by steeping the dried flowers in hot water for several minutes, or use it as a tincture.
Lemon Balm: Known for its uplifting and mood-boosting properties, lemon balm is a popular choice for those seeking inner peace and balance, while also supporting healthy boundaries. Our Afternoon Alignment Tea combines lemon balm with Tulsi for a perfectly balanced blend that aligns your heart and mind. You can also take lemon balm as a tincture to calm the mind (a great pre-meditation tool to help you ease into a more gentle mind space).
This blog post was hard to write - I would find myself spiraling into the parallels between personal healing work and the healing work that is needed on a collective, societal level. But, this is what I have to remind myself whenever I get overwhelmed by the state of our world - we each must find our own version of peace within, if we are going to be at all helpful in spreading peace with-out. As we explore, understand, and even heal ourselves, that energy automatically flows out into the rest of the world. Compassion and love are viral.
The peaceful utopia I dream of for this world already exists inside of me (as does yours in you). I like to use herbs, planetary ponderings, and garden naps, as tools to find and connect to that dream. I hope by sharing some of these ideas, you connect to your utopia, and together we create within what is needed without.
May the stars above and herbs below always guide you on your journey!
xo
Leslie
