New Moon Notes | May 2026
Seasonal reflections, favorite things, and a three-card draw for the moon cycle ahead
I’ve been reading a few things about May being a *month* - one filled with that vibrant spring energy (maybe even overflowing). Exuberant, vivacious (see below for more on how that word cropped up in other ways for me), and just filled to the brim. And how that energy can leaving us feel.1
That type of energy can make us feel excited, with fizzy feels - and it can also leave us feeling a bit disembodied. Crossing that threshold from the quieter, gentler energy of early spring, into the energy of full on Mid-Spring can leave us feeling a bit…tired, wrung out. And then maybe a bit guilty (especially for those of us in climes where we’ve had chilly, grey days in winter & spring, and we feel like we should be Embracing all that Spring has to offer).
Well I’m here to tell you – I feel this, all of it!
I also feel a bit of a mellowing in that big spring energy – do you? No worries if your feels don’t match – they don’t have to.
This is simply an invitation to pause for a moment, take a breath (breathe in, breathe out), and notice. How your body feels (tired, anxious, restful, restless?), and what’s going on in Nature around you.
Does what’s happening in Nature around you match your feelings, your energy, your mood?
Again, it doesn’t have to match – it’s simply about noticing. Nature, ourselves – where things are the same, and where they are different. Without judgement (as best we can).
I’m grateful for the pause – most especially when I remember it; when I remember to DO it. To notice the clouds out my office window for a moment, trace their path with my eyes.
That reminds me – the other evening, before the craziness of mid-spring set in over the past couple of weeks – my husband and I were enjoying some quiet time in our little hot tub. There was a cloud off to the south, shaped vaguely like a dragon. Or a mushroom smoking a blunt [insert laughing crying face]. Over the next little bit, that cloud morphed, spreading out due to wind movement we couldn’t feel down closer to the soil. We chatted about what it shifted into, and enjoyed the quiet simplicity of something we haven’t done in a long, long while.
Serendipitous, easeful, quietly joyful.
An online connection wrote + shared a lovely mid-spring poem and I loved these lines as they seemed to tie directly into this experience + feeling:
“Lie down now,
beside the hawthorn.You have time—more than you think—
to be still
beside the thorned heart of things.Dilly dally, says the hedge.
Linger with time, and your fingers may forget their purpose.
Turn stones for no reason.
Comb the grass, for a spell,
with fingers of a lover with nowhere else to be.”From Bushel of Berry, Bushel of Sky: A Spell for the Tree Lover (Hawthorn) by Audrey Gilbert
I think the cards I’ve drawn for this upcoming moon cycle reflect this desire to find something just a bit more easeful – which is again serendipitous.2
As I’ve shared previously in this New Moon Notes, it has been my goal to connect with a wider variety of plant friends via my three oracle decks.
As I pondered that goal/desire prior to drawing in anticipation of this week’s New Moon, I was planning how I might make things so that I am more likely to get new friends. I didn’t put the ones from last moon cycle back, so that helped.
And I wanted to keep the card selection light and easy this time around (due to previously mentioned energy levels).
As I was thinking about what I might do, how I might go about drawing, I pulled the first deck out of its box. Without any thought, I simply turned over the deck in my hand, and looked at the card on the bottom.
As soon as I spied the card - lo and behold, it felt right.
Quick Side Path That Connects (Promise!)
The other evening at dinner, we were chatting about my son’s high school soccer team, and the difference between two brothers who both play. One is a bit quieter, more reserved. While the other is much more energetic and exuberant. As I was trying to think of a word to describe this person, the word Vivacious jumped to mind. I looked up the definition later and felt it was still the right word to describe this person.
And that little conversation, and the word vivacious, jumped to mind again as I looked at that card of Beebalm.
Since that first accidental draw worked so well, I just continued on in that way. Removing each deck from its box and going with the one on the bottom of the stack.
The other cards I drew also seemed to connect (always love how that happens – finding connections between random draws!).
Here’s what came up this month for plant allies to follow through the next moon cycle.
New Moon Plant Guides
Beebalm: Vibrance
Soulflower Plant Spirit Oracle
To me Vibrance can look different ways - it can be the highly vigorous, an outward facing type of energy, or it can be something that is bubbling up from inside - an excitement - joyful, playful, light & lively.
Beebalm can definitely take on the aspect of the flower fireworks of the garden! And it’s often a happening community spot - with hummingbirds, bumbles, and lots of other bees stopping by throughout the day. Hmmm…that’s got me thinking, I’ve not had much chance to observe it in the evenings…might be something to keep in mind once the blooms show up this summer. To hang out and see who else stops by during the dusky hours.
Ponder & Reflect:
What kind of Vibrance might feel good in this moment? Where might it lead to? Is there something that is energetically calling for your vibrant attention?
Air: Breath, Logic, Exchange
This deck has some bonus cards that are not plants - but definitely feel plant related. And the lovely artist, who is also a Druid, has a plant on this one - Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa). A plant that attract butterflies in abundance - a creature I associate with air. And of course pleurisy root is historically associated with supporting lungs when illness settles in.
Ponder & Reflect:
What might a deep breath support right now? Or what is in the air for you at this moment? Pause and take a breath - what do you smell? How does the air feel on your skin?
Marshmallow: A Spoonful of Sugar
For those of you who have taken classes with me, it is no secret that I adore Marshmallow. Growing it in the garden has brought a lot of joy. It’s pale pink flowers and oh so soft leaves are something I always stop to admire & touch. There are also a lot of garden friends who like to visit marshmallow (sensing a community theme among the plants here this moon cycle!). Garden snakes, frogs, butterflies, and lots of bees. It’s a popular stop - for good reason! A bit of softness can be nice when the world can be so harsh sometimes.
Ponder & Reflect:
Where might some softness and sweetness be beneficial for you in this moment?Does it look like a little sweet treat? Or maybe in how your inner voice talks to you?
Favorite Things
Here are some things outside of my plant work that have been bringing me joy lately.
Books
Busy life has led to a little less reading lately. Here’s what I’ve read that I’d recommend to friends.
Enchanting the Fae Queen - the second in a series; I enjoyed the first one a little bit better, but this one was charming and kept me engaged - a light and easy read, fun for tough times when your brain needs a break (frankly - that’s mostly what I read!).
Silver & Blood - one of my fav authors, Jeesie Mihalik, so always an easy choice with her; quite enjoyable overall, pacing was a tiny bit slow at times and I honestly wasn’t quite sure where the story was going (not a bad thing necessarily!). Interested to see where the story goes next!
Two Can Play - I generally enjoy Ali Hazelwood stories, and this one was no exception, enjoyed the setting of video game design and the flashback technique to tell the story; I got through it fast, partly because it’s more of a novella than full novel.
Watch: TV, Movies & More
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix) - I have laughed out loud while watching this one, so far highly enjoyable! No spoilers please - we’ve only gotten a few episodes in - hoping to dive back in soon. A story about friendship among women along with a lot of mystery - can’t wait to see where this story goes!
Margot’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV) - I am invested! Such good story telling, especially via the actors. Someone mentioned to me they didn’t finish the book because they didn’t like the characters - I am rooting for this small family, and particularly am enjoying Nick Offerman & Elle Fanning - so good! So many layers and things to ponder about how we view things in the world (you can make it as deep as you’d like, which is nice!).
90’s Nostalgia - my son recently watched 10 Things I Hate About You with his girlfriend, which got my husband I talking about our fav movies from the 90’s. So we’ve been watching a few as a family:
Blast From the Past (with Brendan Frasier - my fav!!)
Empire Records (forgot about one main character breaking the 4th wall - so good!)
Cowlitz Beaver Cam - a local Indigenous tribe has set up a live streaming cam of a little beaver family they are caring for until it’s time to release them - so fun to get a close up view of these intriguing ecosystem engineers!
Listening: Music & More
Noah Kahan has a new album out and I’ve been hearing some of the new songs here and there; he played Doors on SNL last weekend
Head & the Heart - I heard their new one Grace and enjoyed it!
Florence & the Machine - I continue to hear her music online as well from her new album; great for when I’m feeling a bit…angsty, off, cranky, ragey, etc. and I would appreciate some amazing femme singing to feel better
When Cello Meets Dark Techno - I listened to this one for my moon journaling practice a week or so ago and it kept me focused & my energy up at a time when I was a bit tired and scattered
I hope you enjoy the vibrancy & vivaciousness of mid-spring at your own pace!
*Note - most links for decks & books go to Bookshop.org, and are affiliate links. I will earn a small commission from any purchases you make, and support independent bookstores too. This is one small part of the garden that is my income and your support is greatly appreciated!
sadly my efforts at locating said readings was not successful, if I do happen upon them again, I’ll come back and link them here – they were good stuff!
Another serendipitous happenstance - while working on this piece to share this week, we had some thunderstorms come through, which ended up sharing quite a bit more rain than expected - lightning + rain means a bit of a break from outdoor work, which was much needed & I am grateful for!