Borage, for courage

On giving and receiving

Hello dear hearts, how are you all today?

How are your hearts, those gorgeous, admirable, achy organs; red and real and beating?

The first borage plant of the year gave its first flowers, and I wept when it happened. Full body tears, joyful as they were salty.

I know, though it feels surreal to speak it, that this plant changed the course of my life. Her medicine has taken my heart and made it stronger, taken my body and made it softer, taken my heart and made it wider.

Borage for courage, and oh how we need that just now, all of us, across this beautiful burning planet.

I ate them, those first three blue flower heads, one after the other, outside the polytunnel, as the May sun made way for the May moon.

I took her courage and made it my own, and I was glad.

I’ve been thinking so much about giving and receiving. About community and courage and all that it takes to partake in Thai gorgeous circle of reciprocity…

May’s full moon gathering is a very special one indeed as it marks a full year of holding MOSS MOTHER MOON.

It is truly the most beautiful and nourishing thing I’ve ever had the joy to be part of. It is the things I’ve done in my life that has best helped me step into truth as a woman, and that is quite something in these times for me.

Milk moon / flower moon / planting moon / egg laying moon …

We will gather this Monday 12th May 7-8pm BST on zoom together, to welcome this first summer moon.

All women are welcome.

Email inchwhooperswan@gmail.com to book.

What an hounour to share this year with you , and hoping for many more to come…

OAK MOTHER— a free writing circle for mothers— meets every Thursday 10-11 am BST. Email me to join.

What does it mean to give and to receive at times like these ?

It means survival.

I’ve struggled in this lifetime to ever ask for support, having been used to always getting by alone but since moving here to Clare I’ve learned how to lean into and be part of real community. Being part of community means allowing people who want to help to do that in a real concrete way…

I’ve made a gofundme account to get us into our small stone cottage in the west of Ireland after too many seasons now of hardship. Any small gesture will help, including sharing with your own community . I have supported so many strangers (friends I’ve not yet met) this year alone so I know this is a thing we all want to do. With so many other real causes calling to our collective hearts I am so appreciative and blown away by the support we’ve already received. We have done so much already but there is still so much needing finished off, and this support takes the terrifying heavy load off my shoulders for the first time in two and a half years. I am so grateful. This will be the only time I share this fundraiser on here, and appreciate your being here supporting me any way you choose to, including reading mg words.

With love and gratitude, xxx