Ripe Berries Moon (2), August 19

While the last Ripe Berry Moon focused on the sweetness and abundance of the ripe berries, this Ripe Berry Moon discusses the thorns that protect the berries’ juicy fruit. What do you do to protect yourself against unwanted energies? What if you used the protection of thorns?

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the delightful sweetness and juicy fruit of the ripe berries over the last moon cycle. Perhaps you’ve tried a few new recipes to incorporate the plentiful berries into your meals. While usually we purchase these berries on the grocery shelves or at a roadside or farmer’s market, it’s important to realize that for those picking the berries, they must deal with their thorns.

Most berry bushes have thorns of some type; even strawberries’ leaves can cause a skin irritation. These thorny devices are designed as protection – to protect the sweet, rich fruit. But protect them from what? Ideally these plants want to save their berries for those animals that, while eating them, will pass their seeds along, thereby propagating more plants. Those that fit this category are birds and animals with long, thick fur (such as bear and cougar). Usually the thorns do not cause pain and suffering to these animals, only those not intended for the juicy fruit – such as us humans.

It’s in part because of these thorns that protect their sweet flesh that berries have always been a favorite of literature, myths, and stories. With berries and thorns as a metaphor, we’ve developed idioms such as a “thorn in one’s side” to refer to someone that causes pain, irritation, or discomfort to us, and a “thorn in the flesh” to refer to something that is bothering or worrying us. Thorny plants guard castles and hide doorways.

While thorns may be about irritation or aggravation, this lunar reflection is really about strength and the strength that the berry plants obtain from their thorns. It’s all a matter of perspective. These thorns can teach us about how to guard against those energies that do not serve us, such as domination.

What do you do to protect yourself against unwanted energies? What if you used the protection of thorns? As part of the on-going Despacho ceremonies at Stonehouse books in Kirkland on Thursdays, we include a visualization to assist in clearing energies. Part of the visualization is to imagine a rose in front of you at arms length. Is it a bud? Is it in full bloom? What is its color? Does it smell? Imagine you reach out to touch this velvety rose, but be careful of its thorns. You can place this energetic rose in your energy field in case you encounter someone who may not be aware of energies and may step too harshly into your space. They will encounter this cut rose. They may even take it away, satisfied, but preserve the rest of your energies. Then, you can replace this rose as often as needed, thus keeping yourself protected.

Just like the berry plants and their thorns, we all need to protect ourselves. The ripe berries moon teaches us to protect ourselves. Develop a process to protect yourself and then keep yourself protected throughout the year.

Next Moon: The Harvest Moon is the last moon of the Summer season.