Pulling up mint
Dear friend,
It’s not my fault. I wouldn’t have dared put them in the ground. My experienced gardener of a mother, however, thought that you can never have too much mint, and now I’m at war with one of my favorite aromatics.
This war is also part of my stewardship of dear mint, as when they become overcrowded, there’s a greater risk of ailments like mint rust or fungal infections. So every day I walk down to our herb garden, pull up any shoots coming up outside of the designated area and thin out the main patch in general.
Pulling up mint is a fragrant, but illuminating process. Mint spreads out its roots in every direction and sends up new leaves. Sometimes I’ll find a little shoot several feet away from the main plant, and as I tenderly reach into the earth and follow the root, it’ll lead me back to the rest of its colony.
Aside from helping the mint thrive, thinning out the plants helps the rest of my garden get the nutrients, sunlight and water it needs in order to be healthy and continue to grow. By reducing the competition, there are more resources to go around.
If the garden were my brain, mint would be social media: an ever-growing network of new ideas and connections that without proper care could choke out everything around it. It takes careful tending to keep it in check, and if I miss a few days, it takes even more effort to restore the balance in the delicate ecosystem of my mind.
If the garden were my brain, mint would be social media: an ever-growing network of new ideas and connections that without proper care could choke out everything around it.
It sounds like I’m against social media, but that’s not the case. Much like mint, social media can bring clarity when harnessed in a way that’s constructive. For me, that looks like using it to find people I resonate with and then supporting them in their business or other endeavors. It also means finding new realms to explore that I may not have found on my own.
I’m going to be honest with you: I haven’t tended my mental garden all that well lately, and the social media has taken over. Sometimes stewardship involves drastic measures, and that’s where I am right now. What this means is that I’ll be taking a social media break until the Winter Solstice, or at least that’s the plan. I’ll probably still pop in from time to time, maybe watch some occasional stories, but my hope is to do so very sparingly. The best way to stay in touch will be this newsletter, or via email (mercboundastro@gmail.com).
I’ll also be closing my books starting August 16th for the Sun’s waning period. My own energy levels are considerably lower as the hours of daylight fade, and teaching requires a great deal of my attention. I’ll be back when I’m able to hold space for clients and provide the care and precision that astrology requires. (You can still get a session now, though, and I’m running a $20 off sale with code BIRTHDAY20.)
tl;dr I’m taking a social media break and closing my books from August 16th to the Winter Solstice
As I take my absence from social media and consultations, it’s my goal to put down my roots. I’m not sure if they’ll be gnarled, reaching deep into the clay-rich soil, or horizontal runners that pop up all over the place. Both have their place in an ecosystem, and that’s the point. I want to be part of an ecosystem, not just mentally, but with my whole body. I want to feed the crows and complain at the town hall about the cars speeding down the road, and take the neighbors a casserole when they lose a loved one. I want to comment about the weather with strangers and try to hide the fact that I’m choking up when a kid I care about gets recognized at school. And I want to build relationships with those around me, because I know that when times get tough, communities may be our best support system.
Though this is perhaps not the thought-provoking letter I’d hoped to write, I do hope it serves as a reminder that part of stewardship is not just taking care of others, but also taking care of ourselves, assessing (and reassessing) our needs, and taking concrete, supportive actions.
Rest assured, I’ll be back next month to tell you how things are going!
Wishing you all the best,
Robert
Mercury Bound Astrology