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Your October 2025 Horoscope for the Full Moon in Aries

By
Samuel
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0
A full moon hides behind a twisty, black bare tree.

The first lunation of the new season is finally upon us: a full Moon in the middle of Aries. It takes place on October 6 at 11:47pm.

Aries is one of the equinoctial signs; when the Sun crosses Aries and Libra, we get quick turns and sudden shifts that prepare the ground for what follows. Change under these signs is often fast and visible, but things don’t tend to settle; instead, space is cleared, and some direction gets set that moves us toward a conclusion. The effect is heightened because Aries carries the charge of Mars and, secondarily, the vitality of the Sun. The result is a sudden burst of energy, adrenaline, and movement after the wishy-washiness of the Virgo–Pisces axis that we visited in last month’s eclipses.

The Ram of Aries is youthful and forward-leaning, sometimes brave, sometimes rash. Under this lunation there’s a push to speak, act, or decide without much delay. That can be useful as action gets easier, but don’t expect humility in your day-to-day encounters. Admitting fault or apologizing isn’t the Aries way, even when people want to talk. Arguments and public debates are as likely to shed fire as light under configurations like this.

Full Moons always draw attention to relationship dynamics; here the focus is less on harmony and more on honest engagement. This is a good time to notice where you’re eager to take a stand or try something new, while remembering that first impulses set tone even if later revisions will follow.

Venus and Saturn with Jupiter’s interlude

Venus moves through a demanding meeting with Saturn, a contact that presses on love, partnership, art, and mutual understanding. The period often comes with some relationship strain, coolness in affection, or a forced accounting of what a bond is worth. Money matters can feel tight and priorities that should be soft start to sharpen under this opposition.

Saturn is retrograde, so unfinished business returns – past partners, unresolved debts, or choices left unsettled may resurface. Before that reckoning, Venus draws on a brief and supportive link to Jupiter. This can appear as a gift, an encouraging ally, a financial lift, or a creative opening that renews confidence. Taurus, Libra, Virgo and Pisces feel these themes most closely, yet everyone may observe them in personal life, cultural stories, or public figures navigating love and value under pressure.

The Lights Square Jupiter

Both Sun and Moon form tense squares to Jupiter, inflating mood and ambition beyond practical limits. Feelings swell with hope for growth, yet can push faster than conditions allow. The Moon shows this through emotional reach – generosity, optimism, and faith that more is possible. The Sun amplifies the urge to expand plans, take risks, or preach a big idea. Cancer, Sagittarius and Pisces take the brunt of this surge, but anything touching both lights is likely to be felt universally.

Some astrologers (myself included) might suggest that the challenge this describes is one scale: commitments, spending, or promises may exceed real capacity. At its best, this aspect drives learning and wider perspective; it tests belief systems and long-term vision against lived reality, encouraging measured growth and confidence grounded in what can actually be carried forward. Whatever the case, molehills become mountains under Jupiter contacts, and one micro-moment can come to define the whole period – for better, worse, or neither.

The Mars-Heavy Sky

This full Moon lands in Aries, Mars’ daytime sign, while Mars itself stands strong in Scorpio. Mercury has just crossed into Scorpio as well, tying everyday speech, writing, and news directly a sharpened blade. Information moves quickly and with keen edges; debates spark and actions follow fast. Aries pushes outward and initiates, while Scorpio Mars works with depth and strategy – together they create movement that is both immediate and penetrating. Mercury’s role adds friction to conversation, contracts, and the small exchanges that shape daily life. Cooling these conditions comes through the kind of steadiness we see in the earth signs: slow your reactions, check facts before answering, ground choices in tangible evidence. Discernment keeps action effective and prevents heat from turning to flames.

The Moon on Alpheratz, the Hair of the Woman in Chains

This full Moon rises on Alpheratz, the bright star marking Andromeda’s head. In myth, Andromeda is the princess chained to a rock as sacrifice to the sea monster sent by Poseidon, later freed by Perseus. Her story is one of peril and release, or vulnerability and heroic rescue.

Astrologically, Alpheratz has long been read as a fortunate star, blending the warm, generous qualities of Jupiter with the grace of Venus. It suggests independence, freedom, and the power to emerge from limitation with dignity intact. When joined with the Moon, the star’s influence turns inward and personal: emotional courage, creative self-possession, and the ability to break free from inherited or imposed bonds.

Placed here at the first full Moon of autumn, Alpheratz offers an image of reclaiming agency as seasons shift. It encourages working through what constrains us – be they expectations, old fears, even cultural patterns – while honoring the resilience gained from those very same struggles.

Seasonal Guidance: Fall is Finally Here

Autumn begins as the year tips from heat toward coolness and from the active, outward push of summer into a slower, more inward rhythm. The air dries, nights start to lengthen, and a subtle coolness replaces summer’s restless blaze. In humoral terms, we leave the choleric (hot and dry) months and enter a more melancholic time (cold and dry). Energy can feel sharper but also thinner. This is the season to steady yourself against increasing dryness, preserve warmth without overheating, and cultivate routines that protect mood and resilience as the outer world grows cooler and darker.

Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

Fire signs are naturally warm and dry, and autumn’s cool dryness can leave them parched and a bit over-wound as temperatures fall. Focus on moisture: stewed fruits, broths, cooked grains with a little oil. Use spices lightly and drink more warm liquids than you think you need. Keep movement early and steady rather than late or explosive; save ambition for when the body feels nourished. Evening rituals that quiet the nerves – reading, stretching, slow conversation – help keep inner fire from running too fast as days shorten.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

Earth is cool and dry by nature, and the season adds another layer of dryness that can harden routines and slow digestion. Counter with warmth and gentle moisture: roasted vegetables, slow-cooked meats or legumes, spiced grains, and a bit of healthy fat. Avoid long fasts and cold salads. Walk after meals or do moderate, warming exercise to keep circulation easy. Small variations in routine – a new route, fresh flavors, occasional outdoor meals – help prevent autumn from becoming heavy and rigid.

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)

Air signs carry lightness and motion, but the dry, cooling turn of autumn can make energies brittle and easily depleted. Anchor with warm, substantial foods: lentils, root vegetables, hearty grains. Eat at regular times rather than grazing. Protect sleep by reducing evening screen time and giving the mind a quiet landing. Choose rhythmic, moderate movement – cycling, dance, brisk walking – to keep the body engaged without scattering energy. Social life is healthy in balance; give yourself clear pauses to restore steadiness.

Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)

Water is cool and moist, and autumn’s cool dryness can draw that moisture away, leaving energy flat and mood thin. Keep meals warm and moist – soups, stews, hot cereals – and drink hydrating teas through the day. Skip extremes of raw or very spicy food that strip what little moisture remains. Gentle morning exercise and stretching help keep circulation smooth without draining reserves. Prioritize emotional replenishment: calm surroundings, trusted friends, and regular sleep all help sustain vitality as the season deepens.

Sabian Symbol for 14° Aries: in a quiet moment, a creative individual experiences the flow of inspiration

This image is about craft, story, and continuity. A figure sits at day’s end, working threads into pattern. There’s a practical and creative side to weaving a blanket, which offers warmth and protection, but may be done so in bright, vibrant colors and pictures. Multi-generational weavers are often quoted saying that each thread holds memory: inherited skill, cultural knowledge, even the quiet dignity of making something by hand. In a world that often prizes speed and novelty, this symbol asks us to value slow creation, work done carefully, without rush, when no one is watching.

The setting Sun suggests time passing and light fading; the day’s energy is nearly spent. Yet rather than scramble or chase more, the weaver keeps at their work. The weaver is enjoying a private rhythm, losing themselves in the act of shaping something real from what once lived only in their imagination. Maybe this symbol is a call to translate inner vision into tangible form, to let work become meditative and meaningful.

Under this full Moon, the symbol certainly seems to encourages steady attention to craft and heritage – to the “warp and weft” of life itself. It favors practical expression over endless thought, and warns against letting dull routine erase meaning. Work that honors tradition, skill, and care builds both security and a quiet sense of place.

Find the October Full Moon in Aries Horoscope for Your Zodiac Sign

Aries

This full Moon can heighten anxiety and make everyday pressures feel sharper than usual. Yet Mars, your ruling planet, is powerfully placed in Scorpio, signaling strength and deep reserves. You’re well positioned for progress if you can step back and hold the bigger picture in view. Decisions made now have momentum, but they land best when taken from a calm, measured frame of mind. Keep adrenaline in check so your drive works for you rather than scattering focus.

Taurus

This full Moon may feel demanding. Venus, your ruling planet, moves into a hard exchange with Saturn, bringing relationship or financial strain into focus. At the same time, Mars crosses your seventh house cusp, energizing partnerships and encounters with others. Astrologers joke about this transit as “going to war” because it often feels combative, though most conflicts are symbolic rather than literal. Expect extra friction and try not to force perfect outcomes. Next month looks gentler; for now, respond steadily and avoid pressuring yourself to solve everything at once.

Gemini

Saturn is nearly finished with its long stay in your tenth house of career and public standing. Saturn moves slowly and tends to bring large, structural challenges rather than single dramatic events – extra responsibility, pressure to mature, or delays in advancement. As it prepares to leave, those burdens begin to ease. You may find yourself stepping into responsibility with more confidence, or watching obstacles dissolve so work feels lighter. Career matters aren’t effortless yet, but the path forward grows clearer and more manageable.

Cancer

This lunation may pull you in several directions at once. Work could bring sudden developments or chances to make a strong impression and move forward. At the same time, themes of leisure and creativity ask for space, so leave room for personal joy. Travel looks touchy under this Moon – if plans are set, review details carefully and prepare for changes. Aim to balance ambition with replenishment so you can seize opportunities without letting stress drain your reserves.

Leo

Attention turns toward family, home, and close ties – including elders and long-standing relationships. This full Moon highlights those spaces as worth time and effort. The Venus–Saturn opposition touches your second and eighth houses, so be deliberate with spending and shared resources; keep finances clear and avoid knots that take months to untangle. Travel shows promising signs under this sky – planning or short trips could refresh perspective and help balance heavier domestic themes. Invest in security while leaving space for movement.

Virgo

This full Moon highlights the Venus–Saturn opposition, placing extra weight on relationships and emotional sensitivity. Protect your natural tenderness; don’t let the world’s heaviness press too hard on your heart. At the same time, local life looks lively and promising. Neighborhood gatherings, markets, and outdoor events before the chill sets in can lift spirits and connect you with supportive people. Revisit old friends or familiar spaces for grounding. Gentle social activity and nearby pleasures help balance heavier feelings and restore some coziness.

Libra

It may be time to make some financial calls, Libra! This is a good time to take decisive action with money – investments, savings, or improvements to your home and surroundings. Hard work is paying off, yet the pace could push toward burnout if you don’t pause to restore yourself. Regeneration matters; even short breaks or day trips can help reset energy. Steady progress should be preferred over huge leaps, and make choices that secure your future while keeping daily life sustainable.

Scorpio

I’ve got some good news for you: momentum is with you! Mars, your ruler, moves through your first house and doubles the effect of your efforts. This is a period to advance personal goals, launch projects, and assert direction with clarity. Your actions carry unusual weight and follow-through, making now ideal for taking initiative. Over the next two months, others may look to you for guidance or support; how you respond can shape your role well beyond this season. Use the present drive to move forward with focus.

Sagittarius

Old romance may surface – a former partner, lingering feelings, or unfinished story. Give it room to breathe rather than rushing resolution. If love isn’t the issue, Venus at your midheaven can point to friction with friends or colleagues, or a sense of overwork without enough appreciation. Relief builds later this month as Mars moves into a smooth trine with your ruler, Jupiter, giving courage and fresh energy. New plans or adventures started then have tailwind and feel easier to sustain.

Capricorn

You may feel drawn inward just as outer demands pile up. Both spaces matter; use trusted partners and friends to help sort priorities and avoid overwhelm. Saturn, your ruling planet, is preparing to station direct, a turn that strengthens discipline and helps you rebuild momentum after months of reflection (maybe even upheaval). Let others support where they can while you focus on what truly matters. Structure and steadiness are coming back – avoid scattering your energies before that clarity arrives.

Aquarius

Professional power is front and center. Mars energizes your tenth house of career and public reputation, giving you a rare push to act decisively and claim space. Use it to advance, lead, or break through barriers that have slowed you. At the same time, watch financial matters closely. The Venus–Saturn opposition tightens budgets and can stall large investments or shared-resource plans. Strategic restraint now helps avoid strain before conditions improve in 2026. Keep ambitions high while closely managing your bottom line.

Pisces

Saturn is preparing to leave your sign for decades, easing a long period of self-discipline and weighty responsibility. Its final act may involve relationship review, as Venus opposes Saturn from your seventh house. Some romantic disappointments or clarifications could surface. Jupiter in your fifth house offers a release valve: leisure, joy, and creative expression can balance heavier themes. If romance isn’t central now, use this time to play, create, or reconnect with pleasures that renew optimism while Saturn completes its work.

Horoscope Author

Wade Caves, based in Brooklyn, NY, is an astrological consultant and educator specializing in problem-solving applications of astrology. He teaches astrological divination and astronomy at the School of Traditional Astrology. Wade also publishes his work on world astrology through Skyscript’s In Mundo publishing desk. He even hosts the World Astrology Summit. A conference dedicated to the advancement of astrology for global problem-solving. Website: wadecaves.com • skyscript.co.uk/inmundo. Email: hello@wadecaves.com.

Story by Wade Caves
Photo Courtesy of Pramod Tiwari

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Tending the Roots in Jackson Alexander’s Garden

By
Staff Author
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0
man reaching in jacks garden to green plants

Is gardening a respite from too much screen time, a meditative practice, or an opportunity to nourish friends? Backyard gardener Jackson Alexander says it’s all three at once. And more.

overview of jack's garden with two large wooden bins

A Garden Grown from Silence

Life on Earth is loud, but the earth itself is quiet. The soundless soil swallows your thoughts like a nightcrawler and digests them back as fertile silence, a place to sow your spirit. In the garden you work with the silence, let it consume you, heal you, teach you.

Santa Fe’s backyard gardener Jackson Alexander, with help from photographer Leroy Grafe, is not only sharing produce with his community, but also the beauty of these quiet moments via the Instagram account @jacksgardensantafe.

fresh yellow and green produce from jacks garden laid out on table

Nature as Art, Healing as Practice

Vrije University Medical Centre in the Netherlands found that just viewing images of nature can be enough to lower your stress levels. So even if you’re not the one actively getting dirty, you can still soak in some of the benefits from pictures of a garden. For folks like Alexander who spend much of the day in front of a screen, a few moments scrolling through vibrant pictures of produce or the movement of soil falling from one’s hands can be a welcome reprieve for the mind.

hands holding fresh tomatoes from jack's garden

“Gardening is the most calming thing that I’ve ever found,” says Santa Fe’s backyard gardener Jackson Alexander. “It’s meditative and all other thoughts leave when I’m deep in it. It’s a beautiful hobby.”

Those moments when the air shifts and the sun shines just a little brighter wake up something primal within us to plant flowers, start seeds, and watch new life grow. Somewhere in our DNA we know that through every heirloom seed we are connected to the whole of human history.

jack's garden santa fe sign

“My grandmother and mother are both super-passionate gardeners, so I grew up around floral gardens,” says Alexander. “I also love the look of xeriscaping. I found that there’s a sort of simplicity to it that is reminiscent of Japanese Zen gardens.”

From Compost to Connection

Alexander, who studied communications and graphic design, credits photographer Andy Goldsworthy as spurring along his interest in making nature as art. He admired the way Goldsworthy manipulated nature into ephemeral pieces of art and decided to get his hands dirty, too.

two hands holding falling soil from jack's garden

“I love the production of food, and half of it to me is arranging and dressing beautiful spaces and working with the landscape to create that balance between what is manmade and what is natural,” he says.

Using only his backyard in Santa Fe’s Agua Fria neighborhood, Alexander starts his own seeds and grows more than enough to share. Some of his goals are to make small-batch hot sauce and learn more about the art of bonsai.

man holding up yellow bin with three plants from jack's garden

“You can never really do enough, so if you have a little time, you can always go and tinker around in the garden. It’s never-ending. It’s so satisfying to grow your own food. You get to make meals with family and friends with all this food you’ve grown.”

Gardening as a Digital Detox

One of the most important things Alexander says he learned was from YouTuber Charles Dowding: do not till the soil, but just add compost on top, year after year.  “One of his main points is about composting and the importance of soil heath. That was something I’d never thought about. How all this food waste coming out of my kitchen, or all the leaves on the ground in the fall are incredible soil-building material.”

large green cabbage plant from jack's garden

At some level we never outgrow playing in the dirt. If you need a hug from Mother Earth, Alexander recommends popping some beet seeds in the ground because you can grow a lot in a small space. You can spend the roughly 70 days it will take them to grow collecting recipes for all the amazing ways to cook them, from roasting to pickling.

Story by Ungelbah Davila
Photography by Leroy Grafe

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The Ube Lemonade Craze

By
Staff Author
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0
glass with purple ube lemonade on white table

A new purple ingredient stirs its way into visually dazzling drinks this season: ube, which means “tuber” in Tagalog, imparts a slightly sweet, nutty flavor to a mocktail or cocktail.

Ube and It’s Purple Impact

The delectably bright hue of Catch Poke’s ube lemonade comes from a vegetable. Ube, a purple yam originally from the Philippines, is often used in desserts in the region. Its naturally vibrant color and distinct flavor have made it a favorite in everything from ice cream to pastries—and now, drinks.

Chef Dakota Weiss of Catch Poke first discovered ube as a beverage ingredient when her local café served an ube horchata. The electric purple yam inspired her to mix ube with lemonade. It is blending its slightly sweet, nutty flavor with the refreshing taste of a classic summer cooler.

To make your own, you can stir frozen ube pulp (available online) into the lemonade of your choice. For extra flavor and texture, consider adding a splash of coconut milk or a dash of lime juice.

From Filipino Desserts to Trendy Beverages

Ube lemonade is not only delicious, but it also makes for a striking presentation. Its jewel-toned color instantly elevates any tablescape and is sure to impress guests. Serve it over crushed ice with a sprig of mint or a lemon wheel for a playful, polished finish.

For an afternoon gathering, she would suggest pairing ube lemonade with lobster rolls. Additionally, perhaps a seafood variation on a hot dog. For a more mature version of ube lemonade, she recommends adding vodka or gin for a simple yet satisfying cocktail. Its flavor pairs well with herbaceous spirits, making it a great base for creative mixology.

Story and Photography by Gabriella Marks
Florals by Renegade Floral and Mini Falls Farm 

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The Passing of Living Legend Florence Jaramillo of Rancho de Chimayó  

By
Kylie Thomas
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0
Florence Jaramillo smiles outside holding a book up to her chest.

Florence Jaramillo was known by many simply as “Mrs. J”. The beloved owner of Rancho de Chimayó Restaurante passed away last week at her home in Chimayó at the age of 94. She was a mother, grandmother, friend, visionary, businesswoman, author, philanthropist, and community leader. It’s impossible to overstate the impact she made not only on the culinary world but also on her community.   

A woman smiles at a yellow table as a waitress laughs nearby.

The Legendary Florence Jaramillo

She worked tirelessly to preserve the traditions and culture of Northern New Mexico and countless people not only worked at her restaurant but came to see it and her as part of the heart of their community. Florence always said, “God blessed me with one child, but gave me thousands of children to raise.”  

She opened Rancho de Chimayó Restaurante – which is about to celebrate its 60th birthday in October – with her former husband Arturo Jaramillo, in the restored home of his grandparents Hermenegildo and Trinidad Jaramillo. Among her many achievements, she was named a New Mexico Culinary Treasure in 2014 and awarded the 2016 James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Award.  

A woman in a red dress shakes hands with an older southern couple.

Leaving a Mark

One person whose life Florence touched was James Beard award-winning food writer Cheryl Alters Jamison. “Florence and I worked on two book projects – the two editions of her Rancho de Chimayó Cookbook – 25 years apart.” Jamison says they kept up a steady friendship between the two and after. “She had tremendous vision and was always decisive, as well as good fun to work with. I will miss her terribly,” she says.  

A woman in a pattern dress sits with a woman in blue, looking over a book.

“I really owe my culinary career to her. She took a chance on my late husband Bill and me writing what turned out to be our very first cookbook for her.”  

Up until about a month ago, Mrs J was at the restaurant daily, greeting longtime customers, meeting new ones, and ensuring that the restaurant ran to her standards, and doing it all with her renown radiant smile. 

Funeral arrangements and a celebration of her life are pending announcement.

Florence Jaramillo holds a black tshirt about New Mexico in front of her, smiling.

Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Photos Courtesy of Chris Corrie

Pear Brandy (Or Vodka)

By
Ethan Chmura
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0
Pear Brandy in mason jars with pear on side

Pear brandy or pear vodka preserve the magical abundance of autumn … and ease the cold nights ahead.

Summer’s long days and languid nights seduce us into thinking it will never end. Then one day there is a nip in the air and a hint of gold in the leaves, and fall is upon us. Mother Nature softens the blow, going overboard with tomatoes, corn, and the smoky char of chile roasted in metal cages in parking lots across the state.

A Magic Match of Pear and Brandy

During harvest time, dust off your copper jam pan and stock up on Ball jars. Find a friend with a pear tree or swing by a farmers’ market. Make a batch of spiced pickled pears from the late British food writer Jane Grigson’s classic Fruit Book. Perfumed with spices, they’re the perfect accompaniment for ham on a cold winter’s day.

Or make your own pear brandy or vodka–nothing more complicated than a simple syrup, sliced pears, and lots of alcohol. Leave to macerate and then decant into bottles. Hold a flask up to the light and the honeyed glow will be a welcome reminder of summer past and summer to come. Share with friends … or not.

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Pear Brandy in mason jars with pear on side

Pear Brandy

  • Author: Julia Platt Leonard
Print Recipe

Description

A hint of citrus and cloves is perfect for this homemade pear brandy. You could also add a cinnamon stick or vanilla pod.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups water
  • 2 ½ cups sugar
  • 2 whole cloves
  • Peel of ½ an orange or a whole lemon
  • 6 pears, peeled, cored, and sliced into 4–6 wedges
  • 2,750 ml bottles of brandy or vodka

Instructions

  1. Sterilize a 100 oz glass jar with lid.
  2. Place the water and the sugar in a pot and dissolve the sugar over low heat.
  3. Stud the cloves in the citrus peel and add to the sugar mixture along with the pears. (If you’ve kept the pears in lemon water, drain first.)
  4. Cook at a very gentle simmer until the pears are tender but still hold their shape.
  5. Place the pears, sugar syrup, and peel in the sterilized jar. Top up with the brandy until the jar is full; depending on the size of your pears you may not need all of the second bottle.
  6. Seal and give a gentle shake. Store in a cool place for 30 days, giving it a shake every few days, then decant the liquid into smaller bottles, discarding the citrus peel. The leftover boozy pears are perfect served on cake, ice cream, or simply on their own.
  7. Store the decanted pear brandy in a cool place for 6 months before serving.

Notes

The pears will discolor once peeled so work quickly, or stash the prepped pears in water with a squeeze of lemon to keep them from turning brown.

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Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Photography by Tira Howard

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Master Pinto Bean Recipe

By
Ethan Chmura
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0
Master Pinto Beans Recipe

There are many ways to cook beans, including soaking them overnight before cooking or making them in a pressure cooker. Another option is to boil them for a few minutes, allow them to rest covered for an hour, before simmering them until cooked and tender. Save the cooking liquid as it’s handy in other recipes and to thicken soups and stews. Start with Julia Platt Leonard‘s master pinto bean recipe and branch out from there!

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Master Pinto Beans Recipe

Master Pinto Beans Recipe

  • Author: Julia Platt Leonard
  • Yield: 5 cups 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Fragrant and hearty, these simmered pinto beans—infused with onion, garlic, cloves, and herbs—yield about 5 cups of tender beans perfect for soups, stews, or sides.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 medium white onion, peeled
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 sprig thyme
  • 2 cups dried pinto beans, rinsed and sorted

Instructions

  1. Stud the onion with the cloves and place it in a large pot along with the garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and beans.
  2. Cover by at least 4 inches of water, bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat, cover, and allow to rest for one hour.
  4. Place back on the heat, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered until the beans are tender but firm, about 1 ½ hours.
  5. Drain, reserving the cooking liquid.

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Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Story and Recipe by Julia Platt Leonard
Food Photography by Dave Bryce

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Pinto Beans with Sausage & Wilted Kale

By
Ethan Chmura
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0
Pinto Beans with Sausage and Wilted Kale

This recipe leans on the hearty traditions of rustic European cooking, where beans, sausage, and greens are a natural trio. Whether you choose spicy chorizo for Spanish flair or Italian sausage for a mellower note, the combination is deeply satisfying and built for cool nights. The beans soak up the richness of the sausage, while kale adds a touch of bitterness to balance it all.

The Power of Beans

Beans have long been the backbone of hearty, nourishing meals across cultures. They’re packed with protein, fiber, and minerals, making them both sustaining and healthy. In this recipe, their creaminess forms the perfect base, absorbing the savory sausage and aromatic herbs while still standing strong as the star of the dish.

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Pinto Beans with Sausage and Wilted Kale

Pinto Beans with Sausage and Wilted Kale

  • Author: Julia Platt Leonard
  • Yield: Serves 4
Print Recipe

Description

This hearty dish of chorizo, tender pinto beans, and wilted kale is delicious.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½–2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb fresh chorizo or Italian sausages, about 2–3 large links
  • 1 medium white onion, diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 2 cups cooked pinto beans (see “master recipe”)
  • 1 cup bean cooking liquid
  • 2–3 handfuls of kale, washed and woody stems removed

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 ½ tablespoons of the oil in a frying pan. Take the sausage and gently squeeze the meat out of the casing into approximately 1-inch balls and place in the pan.
  2. Brown the sausage balls on all sides until cooked then remove from the pan, leaving the fat.
  3. Lower the heat and add the onion, bay leaf, thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and sauté over low heat until softened, about 15 minutes. If the pan gets too dry, add the rest of the olive oil.
  4. Add the garlic, sauté for a few minutes, then add the diced carrots, cover again and cook for another 10 minutes or so until they start to soften.
  5. Add the beans and one cup of the bean cooking liquid. Simmer uncovered until the carrots are tender and the liquid is nearly absorbed.
  6. Add back in the sausages then the kale, raise the heat and cook until the kale is just wilted.
  7. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve in bowls with a drizzle of olive oil.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Story and Recipe by Julia Platt Leonard
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Sip and Sculpt at Tumbleroot Pottery Pub

By
Lynn Cline
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0
girl looking closely at sculpture on table

Would you care for some clay with your cocktail? Absolutely, if you’re at Santa Fe’s Tumbleroot Pottery Pub, where you can sip craft beer and artisanal cocktails from handcrafted ceramic vessels, while making your own masterpiece out of clay.

Raise a Glass and Shape Some Clay at Tumbleroot Pottery Pub

This unique hands-on experience was concocted by Angela Kirkman, who owns Paseo Pottery. It is a ceramic studio and gallery founded in 1991 by Kirkman, and her husband Jason Kirkman. Her husband also co-owns Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery‘s master brewer and distiller.

“It’s actually an idea that’s been hatching for 30 years,” Angela says. “Jason and I met in college and I started making pottery and he started brewing. We always dreamed of having a place where we could work together. We drink everything at our house out of pottery so we thought about serving everything out of pottery.”

Tumbleroot stocks the pub’s bar with its award-winning craft beer and spirits. It blends with a community pottery studio filled with work tables, shelves of plates, vessels and other ceramics. All ceramics are handmade by local Santa Fe artists and are available to purchase.

Artisan Spirits, Handcrafted Vessels and Help Along the Way

Begin at the bar and order a beverage—maybe an Olmec Old Fashioned with mole bitters. Try a Mexican spice or a Bees Knees with flamed rosemary sprigs, served in beautiful vessels specifically designed for each beverage. Next, get your pound of clay (it’s self-drying so you can take your piece with you when you leave).

Have fun shaping your own creation, or take part in the monthly themed contests like their past iterations of Mad Hatter Tea Party, Ice Cream, and Sculpt a Person in the Room. At the end of each month, the bartenders compare photos of the clay contenders that are posted on social media. Then, they choose the winner, who receives a set of ceramic whiskey sippers. Help is always at hand. “We walk around to see if people want any guidance or advice and teach them how to use the tools and slips,” says Angela.

Angela loves sharing her passion for clay with the pottery pub’s guests. She also wants to “watch other people touch clay for the first time, and see that spark in their eye,” she says. “Clay has been a passion throughout my life and it’s been really amazing to share it with people.”

Story by Lynn Cline

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Ruidoso Uncovered: Santa Fe’s Mountain Gem

By
Staff Author
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old designed bar called win place show with sign in view

Often known for summer Quarter Horse racing at neighboring Ruidoso Downs, the village of Ruidoso offers much beauty in its summer activities. The appeal of a small mountain town surrounded by gorgeous landscapes. It was shortened from Rio Ruidoso, which means “noisy river” in Spanish, to Ruidoso. The village was named after the river that runs through it. Here is a checklist of great Ruidoso spots to explore.

The Roots

Owners of Roots, Justin and Nenada Huffmon, have always have a single espresso machine running. This is so that shoppers can get a cup for $1.50 to enjoy while perusing offerings of coffee and teas.

roots ground coffee bags lined up on wooden table

This additionally includes cocktail-related items, local goods and crafts, along with an assortment of house plants. “It looks like a jungle in here in the summer,” says Justin.  

roots in new mexico red sign in front door

Happy Hiker

Enchanted Vine Winery pioneer Mary Jo Piedmont opened the Happy Hiker to sell everything needed to tackle the Ruidoso trails, including bear spray. “Forestry Service always sends people over to get some,” says regional manager Nicole Warner.

winery outside with wooden chairs and large tin room

The store carries products that give back in some way to the National Parks, Forestry Service, and other green organizations. Their offerings go beyond hiking supplies with self-care products, pet supplies, gifts, and discs for disc golf. “Disc golf is huge around here,” says Warner, noting that there are four courses in the area.

Old Barrel Tea Company

Owned by Dana Huffmon and the female members of her family, Old Barrel Tea Company offers loose and bagged teas made with New Mexico-harvested ingredients. Of note: the Green Chile Bischocito tea. The shop also carries tea paraphernalia such as pots, strainers, and local jams and honey.

Café Rio

Café Rio fans line the walls with hand-drawn pictures on napkins and notes of admiration that read things like, Café Rio is the bomb. Thin-crust pizza is served up by a young squad of hipsters. “This is some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. You guys are pizza geniuses,” said a couple of cowboys on their way out the door.

town center sign with ruidoso sushi appearing

Ruidoso Sushi

Local Tom Balderrama says, “You get a little nervous sometimes eating sushi way out in a mountain town, but it’s always fresh and he makes good shit.” He is Chef Lam Ho who serves up typical sushi fare, but also makes off-the-menu items, like takoyaki—dough balls stuffed with octopus topped with fish roe.

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino

Inn of the Mountain Gods is a family-friendly resort. The Ted Robinson-designed champion golf course, casino, fine dining, 1852 cigar lounge, and concerts are available for the grown-ups and an arcade, pool, and food court are for the kids. 

Big game hunting and horseback riding are offered in the spring and summer. The resort is located on the 463,000-acre Mescalero Apache reservation that includes the Sierra Blanca Peak, which the Apache refer to as White Mountain. They believe it is the home to the protective mountain gods.

Ski Apache Zip Line

The third longest zip line in the world at the highest elevation of any is Ski Apache’s zip line. The three-span line starts just shy of 600 feet below the mountain peak at 11,400 feet above sea level. The first mile stretch allows liners to reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. The last leg lands brave adventurers at 9,600 feet.

resort in front of water with zip line in view

Win, Place & Show Axe Throwing

Win, Place & Show has been a local watering hole since 1956. They have the original, duct-tape-repaired bar stools to prove it. “We just tape them up and hope it sticks,” says bartender Lori Phillips with a smile.

old designed bar called win place show with sign in view

“We’re a combination of honky-tonk, liquor store, and axe throwing,” says Win, Place & Show owner and self-proclaimed bourbon steward, Mike Cheney, who decided to convert the parking lot into a beer patio-slash-axe-throwing venue last year.

axe in wooden wall at throwing center

Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts

The Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts sits like an architectural jewel on the 20-acre lot in Alto, NM that once belonged to its founder Jacqueline Spencer Morgan. Opened in 1997, Spencer Morgan built the theater for her love of the arts and the love for her husband who became ill with kidney disease.

“They loved Broadway shows and the symphony,” says publicist Kathleen McDonald. She explained that once his illness made it difficult to travel, Spencer Morgan decided to build the theater. This would allow the performances come to them instead.

The newspaper heiress selected Antoine Predock, a renowned architect from Albuquerque, to design the structure. Inspired by the Sierra Blanca peak, Predock conceptualized the building to emulate its silhouette.

inside of theater with metal chairs and tables with glass bar and pink flowers

Enchanted Vine Winery

Just down the road from the Spencer Theater, you’ll find the Enchanted Vine Winery. You might pull up to find wild horses or bucks snacking on grass and leftover apple peels—byproducts of the cider-making that also happens at the facility. Staff offer tours of the winemaking process every weekend.

winery outside with wooden chairs and large tin room

No Scum Allowed Saloon

For the real-deal Wild West experience, head to No Scum Allowed Saloon (aka, White Oaks Bar, circa 1885). It is nearby White Oaks and provides great drinks, dancing and live music.

Outside of saloon with deer fixture and man in cowboy hat

This no-frills, high-altitude watering hole oozes frontier charm with its creaky wooden floors, weathered bar, and handwritten signs. “No Scum Allowed” is a motto the bar lives by. Once a booming gold rush town, White Oaks is now a near-ghost town. The saloon stands as its most lively remnant.

so scum allowed bar inside look with shelves of bottles behind bar

On weekends, locals and visitors alike pack the place for live country music, cold beer and boot-scootin’ dancing under the stars. It’s rowdy, friendly, and full of character. It’s exactly what you’d hope for in an outlaw-approved saloon at the edge of nowhere.

Story by Wendy Ilene Friedman

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Museum of International Folk Art’s Angels and Demons

By
Keith Recker
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A group of devil figures that look as if they are made from dough.
From Calderón Pichincha, Ecuador. Artist unknown.

Angels and demons dwell peacefully together in the storage vaults of the Museum of International Folk Art. Decades of curators keep them safe for future generations. What can we learn from this cohabitation of seeming opposites?

The Museum of International Folk Art

Founded in 1953, the MOIFA holds more than 160,000 objects. Legendary 20th century designer Alexander Girard and his wife, Susan, gifted over 106,000 of these to the institution. This donation made it the largest collection of international folk art in the world.

Angels and Demons Vaults of Art

Ancient Sumerians may have birthed the first angels approximately 3,000 years ago with their sculptures of otherworldly winged guardians. Nearly as old are Zoroastrian visions of a great battle between good and evil fought by angels and demons. This may have influenced subsequent Biblical accounts.

History and Spirit Collide

According to Yale University scholar Dale B. Martin, it’s only in the 2nd century CE that the Old Testament story of Lucifer—the most beautiful (and errant) of the angels—begins to change. This is when the idea emerges that angels and demons occupy branches of the same family tree.

Generations of curators carefully preserve depictions of these cousins from cultures around the world in the storage vaults of the International Museum of Folk Art. These art-whisperers care for works in the permanent collection. Works to organize exhibitions, and through their scholarship, bring light to their origin stories from communities around the world. They also help us perceive the meanings and lessons suggested by these works of art. This includes the context in which they were created. 

In the varied countenances of Michaels and Mephistopheleses we most certainly find signs of kinship in the curve of a smile, the tinkle of an eye, the flourish of a gesture. How could we not? These artifacts of humanity reflect back to us facets of ourselves.

In our polarized times, we can find both wisdom and comfort here. If angels and demons—symbols of opposing extremes of human nature—are kin, how can we not pause and try to understand each other better? MOIFA’s website states that part of the organization’s mission is “to illuminate human creativity and shape a humane world.” Awakening such ideas within us shows that curators, past and present, are very much on the job.

From Prague, Czech Republic. Artist, Hana Králová, 1966.

Into Temptation

The devil can sweep the most angelic of us off our feet! This licentious spirit rendered in linen lace has taken innocence by surprise. The ancient tale of Persephone tells of how she set the seasons in motion by eating a few pomegranate seeds during her first visit to the underworld. This encounter may carry similar weight. Who knows what surprises might follow?

From San Gabriel, Suchitepéquez, Guatemala. Artist unknown.

Lucifer

MOIFA’s notes on this devilish figure link him to pre-Christian imagery. “The development of the Christian devil was influenced by the pagan god Pan, who was half goat and half man. Pan’s carnal appetite made it easy for early Christian worshipers in the Roman world to associate this god with all things forbidden, and he soon became synonymous with sin.” The cloven hoof of Pan’s left foot, his crab claw hands, serpentine tail, horns, and unconcealable lust for life all reinforce his association with the wildness of life outside customs and norms.

Candlesticks made by a Poqomam artisan in Chinautla, Guatemala in the 1960s.

A Glory of Angels

Far more circumspect than Lucifer, these ceramic angels conceal their nether regions under round skirts stone-burnished to a beautiful sheen. The dove-bearing beauties are known as emblems of heavenly elegance and propriety.
They still show signs of devilish cousinship. This is history of heat and passion written in the flame-kissed markings left behind by their time in the fire.

From Tabay Mérida Venezuela. Artist

Guardian Angel

The hooks on its back suggest that someone likely hung this carved bas-relief wooden angel on a wall. Under its wide-set blue eyes, could anything bad possibly happen? Probably not. Is the definition of “good” accommodatingly broad when your guardian angel’s robe is a provocative red and his/her neck is as sturdy as a bull’s? This winged watcher might have accepted an invitation to share a bottle of wine over a discussion of the complexities of personal morality.

From Calderón Pichincha, Ecuador. Artist unknown.

Bread Dough Devils

Not even Valentino or Versace could come close to the level of splendidness found in the feast day finery of these hand-rolled and sculpted bread dough devils. Artists paint and varnish them after a few days of drying. The art piece rose in the 1940s out of an All Souls’-Day tradition in Calderón Pichincha, Ecuador. The tradition involves bread babies by its enviable exuberance.

They’d fit right in with the angel in red on the opposite page. They might hog the wine and hijack the conversation towards the virtues of parties and other earthly pleasures.

Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Tira Howard
Information by MOIFA Director Kate Macuen

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