No. 32 - On the Autumn Moon and the Legend Behind the Tea

There is something about early autumn — crisp mornings with warm afternoon sun, earlier sunsets that encourage lighting candles and quiet evenings with great books, and the bittersweet transition of the trees from vibrant green through yellows and oranges before, skeletal, they settle in for winter. It’s the season of legends and connection, so this week I’ll share one of my favourites with you. It was the inspiration for Autumn Moon: a story about a greedy lady, a rabbit, and a tree on the moon.

The legend behind Autumn Moon

Mid-autumn is celebrated the world over. Although the festivals and celebrations go by different names, they share the themes of gathering, giving thanks, and storytelling. The moon features frequently in these traditions and stories.

The legend ...

In one take on the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess, her story begins as that of the most beautiful woman in China. She was married to a famous archer who was bestowed by the gods with the elixir of immortality. When he did not take the elixir, not wanting to become immortal without his wife (aww), he hid it under the bed, where Chang’e found it and took it in his stead. Since it was not meant for mortals, she could not remain on Earth and floated away to the moon, where she lives forever with the Jade Rabbit, who pounds away at his mortar and pestle making, ironically, the elixir of immortality from the petals of the osmanthus tree.

... and the tea

The osmanthus blossoms that the rabbit uses in his elixir are, here on Earth, beautiful in tea. Less well-known in North America, they perfume autumn celebrations in China, where the plant has been cultivated for over 2,500 years. If one needs a reason beyond their beautiful apricot fragrance and light, sweet flavour to indulge in an osmanthus-laden tea, the flowers are well-known to practitioners of both Western Herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine for a wide variety of uses, ranging from easing digestion to anti-inflammatory actions to defending the nervous system. When combined with the serenity afforded by a five-minute pause with a beautiful cup of tea, body, brain, and soul are eased into a nourished quietude. Immortality? To be determined.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it is a lovely time for telling stories like that of Chang’e. As we come together with family and friends to bask in gratitude and the abundance of the harvest, let’s all commit to shelving our little pocket computers and dedicating the time to each other. Tell stories, real or imagined, and make connections over one more slice of pumpkin pie. Hopefully, the skies will be clear, and if you have a sweater to hand, head out with a cup of tea and gaze up at the autumn moon. And if you spy a goddess and a rabbit sitting under a legendary tree, say hello for me, and I’ll do the same for you.

One more thing...

"But see, in our open clearings, how golden the melons lie; Enrich them with sweets and spices, and give us the pumpkin-pie!"
- Margaret Junkin Preston

Until next time,
Steep Calm.
Bree