by Serah Blackstone-Fredericks
So, we have made it through the eclipse portal and are in a new era of being.
As someone who has been working with and engaging with plants for many years, I find most joy in getting to know plants in great detail. As your resident mercurial being of calm and chaos, I invite you to see how you are feeling.
This week, we have just transitioned into Libra after our second eclipse of the month, which was in Virgo on Sunday, Sept. 21. Maybe you said something to someone you need to simmer on before you circle back to apologize or try to fix anything. Pause is the best remedy, especially when you feel the urgency to overcorrect or apologize. An apology can only really land if it is sincere.
So, here we are, with Monday gifting us with a new season: Libra, which encompasses romance, transitional weather and illuminates how our relationships are or are not working, and how we may be in or out of balance. I am enjoying my most magnificent hermit-girl era, which includes seeing as few people as possible, with respect to the energetics of a hermetic, Virgo year. If you are going to have some lush, enjoyable, romantic times, Libra season offers that lush venusian warmth which makes anyone able to swoon.
Questions we could simmer on are:
How do you offer diplomacy in your life?
Are you leaning too heavily in one direction, closing yourself off to other people’s perspectives?
In what ways can you offer resolve to a situation or feeling that might have come up during the last couple of weeks that is compassionate, kind, and open?
How can you engage more with your community and still protect your peace?
What is coming up for you this week? What do you notice?
For water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces (sun, moon, rising):
This week is a really good week to stay hydrated. Watch your time around community and notice when you feel tired. If you need to, take a moment of pause away from the crowd. Stay in bed more just because your body calls for it. Rest is your friend this week.
Good tea herbs this week would be: chamomile, red raspberry leaf and hibiscus. If your nerves are shot, roots such as ginger, astragalus and ashwagandha can ground you and settle your tummy too.
For earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn (sun, moon, rising):
This is a good week to tether to the earth. We are in a transitional axis and the sun has officially shifted in the sky. The greenery looks and feels different and how we engage with it as the days start to get shorter feels a bit different too. Shifting from earth — Virgo — to air — Libra — may feel supportive or it may feel a bit jarring. Invite in a gentleness this week with plenty of time to rest and transition from places.
Good tea herbs this week would be: lemon balm, skullcap, catnip, and valerian — the latter of which must be used with care. If you feel like you need some rooting, dandelion and burdock are good choices.
For fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius (sun, moon, rising):
The energy of summer is waning and I imagine you want to capture it and do all the things. Pace yourself and your fire as we exit eclipse season. Nurture it with some quality time dedicated to the season shift and to slowing down so you don’t burn out. If you find yourself moving way too fast, take a walk near a body of water. Even a pond will do.
Good tea herbs this week would be: tulsi, nettle, yarrow, passion flower, blue vervain and rose.
For air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius (sun, moon, rising):
Okay, my swift moving air sign friends, it is time to start to decrease the acceleration and enjoy the magic of an air sign season. The chatter may be up and you may have many brilliant things to say with verbosity and be mindful and intentional with your words. Don’t be less you; be mindful and watch how much airtime you are taking with your friends who enjoy listening to your word magic.
Good tea herbs this week would be: gotu kola, milky oats, lavender, lemon balm and tulsi. A birthday herb blend for Libra’s would be rose and tulsi, a personal favorite. And happy birthday season!
Happy Libra season!
Gemini out,
Disclaimer: All of these herbs are merely suggestions. You can enjoy them individually, or mix and match. If mixing, let your nose tell you what will be good. I find any blends beyond 3-4 herbs tend to become less delicious, especially if you are new to making tea blends.
Supporting our local herbal ecosystem and voting with our dollars is where things count. A challenge about herbalism can be access, and we are beyond lucky to have two stores available to us in our area. Arcata is home to Moonrise Herbs while Humboldt Herbals provides in Eureka, and both are excellent. Support these stores so they can support your nervous system in return.
Serah Blackstone-Fredericks is a cross-disciplinary anthropology major, minoring in arts in health and narrative medicine. A writer, musician, and mother, she weaves together her studies with creative practices like gardening, cooking, fermenting, and natural dye experiments. Her work explores the ways culture, storytelling, and connection shape how we live and heal. Feel free to connect with her at sb625@humboldt.edu