Gemini Season & Rose Water Mandala Recipe

​Rose Water

Collect unsprayed, fragrant rose petals just as they are beginning 
to open and place into a glass jar (Alternatively, place the petals in a 
basket for an hour first to allow insects to escape)
Mix 3 parts witch hazel, vodka, or gin with 1 part distilled water.  
Pour this mix over the roses, making sure that the roses are
submerged with 3-4 inches of liquid over the top.  
Cover tightly and place in a warm area without 
direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks.  Strain and rebottle. 
Store in a cool location.    

Rose water makes a wonderful facial skin toner, hair rinse, 
base for homemade lotion, refreshing spritzer for face and body, 
and is a wonderful topical treatment for skin inflammation 
and redness.  Enjoy!     

Credit for this recipe:  Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal

 Gemini The Twins 

On May 20th, 2021, the Sun entered Gemini, and now we find ourselves in the time of Mutable Air.  As a recap, there are 3 modes and 4 elements, which gives us the 12 zodiac signs.  The Cardinal mode begins each season (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), the Fixed mode holds each season at its peak (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), and the Mutable mode transitions one season into the next (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).  So what are the themes of Gemini Season as we transition from Spring into Summer?  Read on my dear! 

To know where we are, it's helpful to remember where we've been.  Aries the Ram began the year with the spark of fire and determination.  Taurus the Bull followed, leading us to the peace and stillness that can be found through the element of Earth.  Now with Gemini the Twins we are introduced to the element of Air, which corresponds to our mind and intellect.   We have entered the world of duality, and none is more equipped than Gemini to navigate this new world of 'self' and 'other.'  The Gemini archetype exemplifies the natural curiosity and receptivity that enables the mind to keep learning and growing, all the while accepting the inevitable paradox and duality of the new things discovered.  Each sign naturally balances and builds upon the sign prior, so after the peace and stillness of Taurus season, Gemini is here to remind us that too much stillness can cause stagnation, so it's best to get moving and grooving and gather some new experiences!  Mutable Air can be understood as air in the form of wind, so it's no wonder that Geminis are often described as busy and on the go!  Look to the bees and visit as many flowers to pollinate new ideas and understandings!  Gemini is also often described in pop astrology and the talker, which certainly has its truth.  Yet the other side of talking is listening, which the Gemini archetype also excels at.  This reminds me of a favorite poem I found when our children were young: 

A wise old owl sat in an oak
The more he heard, the less he spoke
The less he spoke, the more he heard
Why aren't we all like that wise old bird?    

Next up we enter the Water element of Cancer Season on the Summer Solstice!   Until then, enjoy the busyness of late Spring, and remember to breathe deeply and often!