I've been contemplating how to make this series original. I'm admittedly a new herbalist & most of what I'm going to share will be sourced [ethically --- ALWAYS provide references] from those who've walked further down the path than I have. Then it dawned on me, an element that is found in my grimoire, but wasn't included in the etymology series, is astrology! At each moon phase, I record the sign of the moon, the start time, when it switches signs [rarely applicable], as well as, the sign it phases into, & the end time. I'm further along the astrology path than the herbalism path, so I no longer need to list beneficial activities for each phase, aspects of each sign, or correlations to the tarot. In keeping with the concept of COMMUNITY, however, I'm assuming that not everyone knows what I know. So, before we dive into the study of the Betula species, let's discuss the Final Quarter Moon in Gemini!
This evening --- September 3rd, 2026 --- at approximately 8:35 P.M. [MST] the moon will officially be in quarter moon status --- 52.5%. At 7:35 A.M. [MST] tomorrow morning --- September 4th, 2026 --- it will no longer be a quarter moon --- 47.2%. The moon remains in Gemini throughout this period.
A Final Quarter Moon is also known as a waning moon. It is the act of the moon retreating from its fullness & moving towards its shadow. The activities that are beneficial during a Full Moon --- cleansing, releasing negative energy, & focusing on healing --- are important during this phase, as well. It is a time of organization in preparation to set intentions during the New Moon.
A Final Quarter Moon in the sign of Gemini may mean this cleansing extends to your email inbox, your social media posts, your social media followers, your stack of unread mail [pay them bills, girl!], etc. Not all moons experience 'peak time' overnight. New Moons can be at their darkest in the middle of the day. Being that this one starts at night & goes through 'til the morning, your dream space could also be important. Your deities might be communicating with you. [I literally argued with Apollo last night] You may 'go through your filing cabinets' --- process memories. Or, something that didn't make sense, is suddenly easy to understand thanks to a revelation you have while sleeping.
Gemini correlates with 'The Lovers' in the tarot. So, this moon may have you thinking about old lovers --- maybe that's the negative energy that needs purging? You could also experience a renewed connection inside of your self[ves] or with your partner[s]. Your masculine & feminine essence may seem to be 'synced up' during this moon, meaning you aren't over-exerting yourself, nor are you sat back waiting to act.
I'd LOVE to know if any of this resonates for you!
But, please only share what you're comfortable with!
I swear to you I allowed a randomizer to choose the order with which I shared these blogs. But, you may not believe that statement after I've told you that Birch is the first tree in the Ogham, which is the Celtic tree alphabet. It is also one of the 'main characters' at every Celtic Beltane celebration; it's associated with 'fresh starts', 'new beginnings', 'Spring', & 'birth/re-birth'. Birch wood is often used to make cradles. Gardeners keep birch besoms [brooms] on hand to ensure their gardens are free from evil spirits.
Birch leaves are diuretic & antiseptic; one suffering from urinary infections or bladder inflammation may benefit from birch leaf tea or tincture. Birch sap can also be used; one with muscle pain could apply the sap directly to the area of complaint & possibly find relief. Additionally, birch sap has been known to keep pimply teenage faces at bay. In an article by James Duke, former USDA botanist & ABC Board of Trustees member emeritus, he reveals the constituents found in birch that can be extracted to target specific ailments --- betulinic acid & betulin. When tested on mice, betulinic acid proved to be a reliable way of targeting cancerous melanomas. Betulin has anti-tumor activity as well, but it's not as powerful. A 12-week study on Hepatitis C patients showed that birch bark extract could help reduce fatigue, relieve certain symptoms, & decrease depression, dyspepsia, & abdominal discomfort.
Dyspepsia is a 'fancy' way of saying indigestion that doesn't quit --- chronic stomach issues.
Betula comes from the Gaulish word 'betu', meaning bitumen or asphalt. This reflects the fact that the Gauls extracted tar from birch trees.
The fly agaric mushroom [the one commonly seen illustrated in fairy tales] grows alongside birch trees. This mushroom is sometimes referred to as 'the food of the gods', by extension birch is thought to help one feel closely connected to their spirit team. Some believe the birch herself is a goddess. The Celts make a direct connection between the goddess Brigid & the birch tree. In Siberia, birch is said to be a portal between this world & the spirit world. Much like in Celtic lore, where the Hawthorn tree is a portal to the faery realm.
If one were to obtain birch bark during this Final Quarter Moon, they could consecrate it on their working alter, imbue in it the intentions for the upcoming New Moon, during which they burn it as incense. Alternatively, one could write their intentions for the coming New Moon on the bark & hold onto it until that manifestation makes itself known. At which time, one could burn or bury the piece of bark. Adding a piece of birch bark to a protection ward, such as a personal witch jar, could also prove beneficial.
To make a personal witch jar:
Collect things that are tied to you personally [hair, nail clippings, snot, spit, etc.]
Collect items one would use in a banishing spell [nails, burrs, cacti needles, etc.]
Write a petition or protection prayer on a piece of paper
Place it all in a jar
Hide the jar underneath/on your front porch
If ill intent is cast your way, the jar will catch it before it passes through your doorway
"At Loschwitz above the city
The air is sunny and chill;
The birch-trees and the pine-trees
Grow thick upon the hill.
Lone and tall, with silver stem,
A birch tree stands apart;
The passionate wind of spring-time
Stirs in its leafy heart.
I lean against the birch-tree,
My arms around it twine;
It pulses, and leaps, and quivers,
Like a human heart to mine
One moment I stand, then sudden
Let loose mine arms that cling:
O God! The lonely hillside,
The passionate wind of spring!"
The Birch-Tree at Loschwitz by Amy Levy
I'd also like to end each of these blogs with a single card pull. Maybe we'll find a way to relate it to the subject matter at hand? Maybe it'll be entirely unrelated, but still helpful. Maybe it's just for fun! Whatever the case, I miss tossin' cards & it's looking like I won't be able to return to collective readings until closer to December [maybe even January].
Today's pull comes from the deck I lovingly refer to as my 'Tumultuous Tarot' deck. It is comprised of SEVERAL mis-matched decks & was gifted to me by a lovely person I met via social media last Winter.
Birch is said to have the capability to beat cancer, but if you've ever met someone who has beat cancer, you'll know the medicine they turned to only does SOME of the work. It takes strength to look a diagnosis, that historically has walked us toward the thresh-hold of death, in the eye & say, "NOT TODAY!" Whether you attribute your strength to a divine source of protection --- dragon spirits, deities, ancestors, the Almighty God, your higher self, etc. --- or wish to take all the credit yourself, is up to you. The key is to be willing to acknowledge it. Recognize strength in yourself[ves] & it'll be easier to see it in those around you. In seeing people's inherent power, you'll better understand who is worth collaborating with & who harbors evil spirits that require banishing via the gardener's birch besom. In embracing your own strength, you may find less use for pomp & pageantry when it comes to protection rituals.
I hope you enjoy reading this new blog series! I feel as if I will enjoy writing it. If you'd like to send financial support to show your appreciation, I welcome it. You may 'BuyMeACoffee' by clicking the button below or you can send through CashApp [$fourislesandco] or Venmo [@fourislesandco]. Thank you for your continued support & willingness to be a part of my budding community.
REFERENCES:
https://www.adkinsarboretum.org/programs_events/ipp/river-birch.html
https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbclip/herbclip-news/2011/the-various-uses-of-birch/
https://www.whiterabbitinstituteofhealing.com/herbs/birch/
https://allpoetry.com/The-Birch-Tree-at-Loschwitz
Be well.
Be you.
A.G.