April is the sound of rain on soil. It is mud on boots, green on every branch, petals scattered like offerings along the ground. The world no longer whispers its return – it sings it. Everything is swollen with life now. Sap rises. Roots stretch. The air smells of leaf mould and damp earth, this is not the delicate beginning of March. This is spring in all it’s glory. There is life everywhere, bird song fills the air and nesting birds are tucked into every nook and crevice. Insects are emerging and life is verdant and lush.
This month I am busy in the vegetable and flower garden, planting, weeding and trying my best to tame the abundant growth. Everyday there is something new to look at and enjoy. The weather is as unpredictable as ever in Scotland, with all the seasons in a day but there is more daylight and more sunshine. April reminds us that growth is messy. It is mud and rain and broken petals. It is beauty that does not try to be tidy. The earth is not concerned with perfection –only with becoming.
April also carries the energy of fertility and blessing. In many pagan traditions, this is the month of sacred unions, of earth and sky meeting through rain and sunlight. It leads us toward Beltane, when the world will blaze with fire and desire. Traditionally celebrated at the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, Beltane celebrates spring at its peak and signified the coming of summer. It is when the Green Man emerges with the May Queen to Herald in Spring and the growing seasons of the year.
May this month bring you vitality, abundance, and the courage to grow wildly.
In the Studio
I am busy this month, in the full throes of making, honing skills and learning new techniques. Timings start to get faster now as the clay dries out quicker, making turnarounds faster. Instead of waiting weeks for things to dry out enough to work on, I find myself in that sweet spot of being able to make one day and then develop the work within a few days. The kiln is on more often now as more work is made and I only have so much space on my shelves. Soon the studio pace will be frantic as the weather gets better and temperatures rise further but for now there is a steadiness and enjoyment in the pace and flow of making and finishing work.
A Small April Ritual
Dandelion Body butter
I love making my own cosmetics and body butters are great. At this time of the year dandelions are starting to be in full bloom – remember not to pick too many as they are great for early emerging insects like bees but pick just enough to fill half clean jam jar with blooms. This will be enough to make 1 -2 jars of body butter. Fill the jar up with oil of your choice – either almond, coconut, olive or sunflower. Close the lid and pop in a dark cool cupboard for 4-6 weeks, remembering to shake the bottle once a week. A quicker method to infuse your oil is to cover the top with a piece of cheese cloth and rubber band and pop onto a sunny windowsill for 4-5 days.
Once you have infused your oil you can then make your body butter as follows:
- 56g Mango Butter
- 30ml Dandelion flower infused oil strained
- 20-30 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional) lemongrass gives a nice citrus scent, rose is good for the skin,
- ¼ teaspoon arrowroot (optional) added to help stop butter feeling too oily on the skin
Method:
- Place mango butter in a heatproof jar or container and place into a saucepan containing a few inches of water. Place pan over a low heat and heat the mango butter until it melts and remove immediately from heat – too long and it can go grainy.
- Stir in dandelion infused oil and place in fridge for about half an hour until it just starts to firm up.
- Take out and using a whisk (hand or electric) whisk until light and fluffy.
- Add essential oils and arrowroot and whisk for another minute or so.
- Put body butter into a clan lidded jar and store in a cool, dark area away from direct sunlight. Shelf life of 4-6 months.