The Free Radical

I eat a lot of purple. By now, you’ve probably gathered that during my forages through the forest I tend to favour flowers. The only seasonal fruits available at this time in the wild are rose hips and choke cherries. Not to worry though; Nature has my appetites satisfied with the ongoing proliferation of wildflowers.

This is Aster… or, “A star.” She is the birth flower for the month of September. She is the stalwart defender of true love… but counsels patience. Her centre is the masculine power of the yellow Sun, but her emanating rays are a delicate purple, gently transforming all in accordance with true (beyond the illusion) love.

“Astrologically– for I am a Star– you have successfully transitioned into the realm of lasting peace as of last night. Locally, there was a brief skirmish in the wee hours of the morning… flashes of insight, and much grumbling among historically warring factions. [We had a spectacular thunderstorm at about 2:00 am last night!]

“It is resolved… but I still endorse the need for patience. Big messes take time and effort to sort out and clean up. However, the way forward is known– assuredly. Focus individually on your own transformations, but always remember your profound interconnections. We all spring from the same root. Each of your unique concerns and challenges may serve to help each other along as they’re shared and discussed with an intent toward resolution.

“Keep your wits about you in this tumultuous time of transition.”

It took me awhile to identify Aster, as she wasn’t listed in my manual of Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies… despite being rather ubiquitous in this area. This lovely little flower can be found everywhere along my chosen pathways. Even before positive identification, I had already developed a strong liking for her character and taste. (Yeah, sometimes I try unknown specimens in my search for the next seasonal delicacy– which breaks all of the rules for safe foraging. I’m such a rebel!) Asters have a great variance of flavours from one plant to another. They may taste like pine, dill, parsley or other mildly spicy combinations of culinary intrigue. I really like this little purple flower!