“The rare moon is a doorway. And rare moons open onto rare possibilities. The things we have been carrying privately, year after year, deserve a doorway sometimes.”
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On the night of May 30–31, 2026, three rare things converged in the same sky: a Blue Moon, a micromoon, and an occultation of Antares — the ancient heart-star of the Scorpion. In this episode, we follow the phrase “once in a blue moon” all the way back to its origins, from a 1528 anti-clerical pamphlet to a 1946 magazine misprint that changed the definition forever.
We explore the Celtic lunisolar calendar, the intercalary moon that belonged to no festival, and the Irish folk practice of bringing the sick to a lake on the sixth night of a full moon so the reflected moonlight could touch them. And we close with a simple lunar infusion — mugwort, vervain, and rose — three herbs that have kept company with the moon for as long as anyone has been watching the sky.
🌿 Herbs & Favorite Tools
(affiliate links — thank you for supporting this work)
Herbs featured in this Show:
1. Mugwort Dried Herb
2. Vervain Dried Herb
3. Rose Dried Herb
My favorite tea-making tools:
BAYKA French Press Coffee Maker,
Cold Brew Coffee Filter for Wide Mouth Mason Jar,
Heat-proof wide-mouth mason jars
📚Bookstore – Brenda J. Sullivan Books
https://www.brendajsullivanbooks.com
🌱My Garden Journal – A How-To Garden Book for Kids
Because every gardener starts with a single seed — and a little curiosity.
My Garden Journal is part how-to guide, part creative keepsake, designed to help children (and their grown-ups) learn the basics of growing food and flowers while documenting their journey.
Inside you’ll find:
- Simple planting guidance
- Space for drawings, photos, and notes
- Imaginative themed gardens (Harry Potter Herb Garden, Young Chef’s Garden, Monarch Butterfly Garden)
Perfect for homeschooling families, budding herbalists, and anyone who wants to grow confidence by growing plants.
✨ You’ll be amazed at how much you — and your garden — grow when you take time to journal the journey.
🌿 Work With Me
🌙 Herbal Consultations (Now Open)
Root your wellness in the wisdom of the plants — and the stars.
My one-on-one consultations offer gentle, grounded guidance rooted in traditional herbalism, vitalist principles, and (if you wish) astrology. Each session begins with listening.
👉 Learn more here:
https://mailchi.mp/351efb18cd6b/one-on-one-consultations-landing-page
☕ Buy Me a Cup of Tea
If this story brought you comfort, you can support the channel here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/thompsonstg
🎶 Music Credits
A heartfelt thank you to Alexander Nakarada for the music featured in this story.
I am a Patreon supporter of Alexander’s work.
🎼 Song: Planning – 320bit – September 5, 2021
🔗 https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/
🌿 Stay Connected
Youtube:
https://youtube.com/@thenewenglandherbary?si=f7_MB0XEz0vn0Xr
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thenewenglandherbary/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578148227744
Thompson Street Farm LLC is the parent company of the New England Herbary:
https://thompsonstreetfarm.com/
💬 I’d love to hear how this story landed for you. Feel free to share your reflections in the comments.