Rhubarb, Taurus & what my Grandmother knew

During this Taurus season I feel called to slow down, ground, pay attention to nature and to be practical---something I often resist. Last year I lost myself a little in the dream of moving to Portugal and living on the land—- planting my own food, connecting with the seasons, challenging myself in ways that felt new and exciting. It's a dream that is still alive but I know it's not for this moment in time. Through this I realized, even while living in the city.  I can create a deeper connection to nature and the seasons and incorporate slow living. 

Filip suggested we cooperate with an urban farm here in Prague called Metro Farma, its a biweekly box of fresh vegetables and herbs grown across the river near Stromovka, a luscious park filled with trees, ponds, and activities where we often spend time. 

We jumped on the opportunity and took a stroll through the park on Tuesday to pick up our first box, we arrived to a piece of land with a laid beach feel and many people planting their gardens, we received spring onion, spinach, green garlic, mixed salad, parsley, and rhubarb, the woman began describing rhubarb and what you can do with it, she asked me if I'm familiar with it and I said yes of course my grandmother always grew rhubarb. I knew at that moment I would have to call my mom for one of grandmother's recipes. This felt exciting and so aligned as my grandmother on my mothers side passed at the end of March. Honestly, I'm still in the process of grief and letting go. 

As I touched the plants it was as if they spoke to me, all the wonderful and creative ways I can cook with them. The first night I made potato gnocchi with spring onion and yogurt, think sour cream and onion vibes but add parmesan cheese on top. Next I made spinach, Spring onion, and garlic quiche with feta cheese. I infused Lilacs in honey and made  strawberry vinaigrette salad with fresh greens and goat cheese. It feels like spring in my kitchen ! Last night  I made Grandma's Rhubarb Cobbler. I waited until her birthday to make it. I called my mom to walk me through the recipe and it was a beautiful way to honor Donna. I made the dough and folded it over the beautiful pink and green rhubarb. I added some strawberries as I wanted to ensure it would be juicy and full of fruits and vegetables. I covered the top with sugar, cornstarch and a cup of boiling water and stuck it in the oven for 50 minutes. I sat and journaled--- immediately I felt connected to my grandmother and her experience, the tears began to fall —- I  welcomed the emotional release and sat with my feelings. 

I realized she never had a grandmother, or a mother really. 

She lost her mother to tuberculosis when she was just six years old, she was separated from her siblings and went to live with her evil aunt. She didn't have supportive feminine energy in her life but yet she was so nurturing, she had a beautiful garden, she always cooked, canned, and prepared meals for others. She had a beauty shop where she helped women feel beautiful. She was practical, grounded, and slowly built a life that provided her exactly what she needed. 

When I was young I would often clash with my grandmother. I saw her life as so simple, in the middle of nowhere South Dakota in a tiny town with “nothing” as I saw it. We lived near St. Paul, Minnesota and the allure of the city was strong— I desired the glitz and glamour,  I wanted action. Slow small town life in South Dakota wasn't interesting to me.

It's funny because in many ways my Grandmother had everything I now dream of, a cozy home, a yard with a garden, a storage room filled with her canned fruits and vegetables, a beautiful basement beauty shop where she could work from home and invite her clients to come to her. She could pop a pie in the oven and cut a lady's hair at the same time. She had community and routine, she started the day with hot water and a walk —she took time to care for her body and to move. I'm sure she noticed the little things like the flowers in bloom and the changes of the season. She was very connected to nature, without intentionally thinking about it.

 I had the realization last night that the feeling of a bit of a clash between us —is because she is a Taurus and I am a Scorpio. We are opposite each other on the Zodiac wheel, opposites attract and also create friction. Both are fixed signs and neither likes to be controlled. I find Taurus to be very stubborn, but I must admit that I am as well.  Taurus wants stability, predictability, comfort, loyalty, physical peace—--exactly what my Grandmother created. I on the other hand want emotional intensity, truth, transformation, emotional merging,  I also desire experience and freedom. I could always feel that we were very different, now I have some clarity and understanding of the ways in which we were different as well as complementary. 

It was always very grounding for me to visit Grandmas, I enjoyed what her steady focus built and I really appreciate these things and will incorporate many of her traditions and ways of living into my life. She had a way to bring me down to earth, Taurus can ground Scorpio and Scorpio can bring depth to Taurus. I understand now that often when she was with me, memories of her past would come up, emotional experiences and traumas, when I was around her towards the end of her life I could feel fear and sadness. My depth may have been bringing these emotions to the surface. I wish I could share this with her now, and see how she felt it. Towards the end she developed dementia so these topics were not discussed. 

Last Friday was the full moon in Scorpio in the season of Taurus. I could feel the intensity. My bleed came early, I was more emotional than usual and it was at some moments hard for me to function. I have both my sun and moon in Scorpio --- I felt physical exhaustion, and an interesting sensation of my stomach bloating and feeling full of emotion. I am working to release these emotions and the act of writing is helping me to digest, as I'm digesting on the page, I notice the same in my body. I can feel the connections in my mind on a physical level in my body. 

Rhubarb cobbler was always made for Grandma's birthday. It makes sense because rhubarb is what is growing and ripe on May 7th. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), rhubarb is considered a valuable remedy to promote the purification of the body, support intestinal regularity, and rebalance the energetic flow. Rhubarb contains active compounds such as anthraquinones and polyphenols, known for their action on the digestive system.  These components support the body’s natural elimination processes, making rhubarb particularly useful during periods when fatigue, bloating, and slowed metabolism are more likely to occur. This connection to the land and eating what is in season, supports our bodies in so many ways– the rhubarb was actually exactly what I needed for support during this season. Grandma may not have thought about the Rhubarb supporting her in the spring, I don't know if she ever studied plants but Im sure she felt the connection ---through planting and harvesting seasonally she supported her body, family and those around her.

When I think of my grandma, I will remember that practicality can serve me and that a slow life can bring me peace. 

During this Taurus season, I invite you to explore the ways in which you can bring some practicality to your life through the following journaling prompts:

How can you make things a bit more simple? 

What easy daily routine can you incorporate to bring a sense of grounding to your day?

What plants are growing near you? Can you incorporate them into a recipe this month, think lilac infused honey, rhubarb cobbler, spinach & spring onion quiche etc.

Id love to hear from you, if you'd like to share your journal entries, recipes, or thoughts on Taurus season, let's learn together and explore how understanding plants, astrology and the world around us can bring us a deeper connection within.

With Love,

Anna

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