Midsummer Magick ☀✨
Happy Gemini New Moon!
After a long winter, we’ve made it to the Summer Solstice which, also known as Midsummer or Litha in most Wiccan circles, is considered one of the most sacred and holy days in virtually all Pagan and witchcraft traditions. According to the old Celtic agricultural year from which the eight Wiccan Sabbats loosely originate, the Summer Solstice celebrates the fact that the work of sowing our seeds and preparing the land for growth is complete, with little left to do but enjoy the fruits of our labor as we nurture our (now independent) young plants from seedlings, eagerly await new growth, and harvest what we can. But even for the 64% of Americans who don’t own land at all — and the much higher percentage of us who don’t use the land we have exclusively or even primarily for horticulture — the Summer Solstice heralds a joyful, long-awaited moment within the year. Here in Upstate NY where the winters are long and brutal, most of us feel inspired to mark the moment and celebrate summer’s official arrival — as the sun reaches peak strength and we’re surrounded by lush greenery and spectacular blooms, we intuitively rejoice in the fact that the day temporarily reigns over night, with light and life proving triumphant over the darkness and cold of the prior eight months. The crop-tops and flowy dresses come out, the kids are out of school, and everything once dormant is now alive and thriving. The Summer Solstice is a time to open ourselves to the solar energies of growth, abundance and renewal, confidence and self-worth, and it’s absolutely worth celebrating in whatever way works for you and your household. But if you’d like to more intentionally connect to the magick and symbolism of the Solstice, read on for some light inspiration, spells and ritual ideas, modernized yet steeped in ancient tradition!
Create An Herbal Spell Pouch
Traditionally, wise women knew that Midsummer was a powerful moment to harvest the herbs and flowers they intended to use for healing and magick throughout the year — suffice it to say that on this day, your pots full of perky basil, aromatic lavender and prolific mint are at peak power, holding the Pranic energy of the sun within their cells and, if plucked now, they’ll bring this warming, potent energy into whatever spell, charm or dish they’re used for. Depending on the size of your yield, you may wish to harvest your herbs for the entire year on this day and dry them in bulk — if your home is small like mine (with an over-abundance of jarred herbs and flower petals already) you may prefer to harvest only what you need for today’s spell-work or kitchen witchery. I enjoy the Solstice as the time to create my spell pouches for the year, made intentionally with my own magickally-grown herbs. Spell pouches are one of the easiest, most effective magickal tools a witch can work with, and carrying one is a spell within itself — you can create a spell pouch for any purpose or intention, from prosperity or protection to dreamwork and visioning. While you can certainly purchase spell pouches from working witches you trust (many of which will contain herbs picked on the solstice!), I think there’s a special magick in creating your own, beginning with selecting the ingredients and harvesting them intentionally. I typically use small organza bags for my spell pouches (you can buy these in bulk quite affordably on amazon) and I’m intentional about the color, always selecting one which corresponds to my intention (blue, for example, channels the water element and represents communication, peace and tranquility, while yellow or gold evokes solar energies along with abundance, confidence and willpower.) Pre-making spell pouches in bulk on the Solstice is highly efficient — I carry them throughout the year to activate a number of different energy streams and intentions — but you could also just make one, based on whatever specific energies you’re trying to call in at this time. Harvest your herbs (or, make a quick trip to the farmer’s market!) and fill the organza pouch with as many as you’d like — I’ve included some common herbs and flowers and their traditional symbolism in magickal workings below. You can also write an incantation or draw a sigil on a small piece of parchment paper, tucking that in to imbue the herbs with specific power words or symbols (and if you’re working with large, firm leaves, you can write on those directly!) I like to tuck at least one crystal into my spell pouches, too, choosing one that corresponds to my intention (crystals and herbs work fantastically well together.) Once assembled, leave the herbal spell pouch beneath the sun to further absorb it’s rays; carry directly on your person whenever you feel you could benefit from it’s magick, or keep it somewhere it can continuously engage with your energy (in the glovebox of your car, for example, or under your pillow.) The below list is by no means comprehensive, and I always recommend imbuing a plant spirit with symbolism and meaning specific to you (as well as conducting further research into your favorites.) However, here are some common, widely-accepted associations of some herbs and flowers available for harvest around this time.
Sage ~ Wisdom, abundance, cleansing (white sage)
Catmint ~ Love (leaves and flowers), peaceful sleep
Basil ~ Abundance, prosperity, cleansing
Parsley ~ Safety on travels
Mint ~ Fertility, happiness, good fortune, prosperity, success within business (carries the energy of Mercury)
Sorrel ~ Love charms
Rosemary ~ Protection, removal of unwanted spirits or energies, purification, love, remembrance
Lilac Flowers ~ Visions, past-life regression (carries the energy of Venus)
Dill ~ Wisdom
Bay ~ Confidence, empowerment (carries the energy of the sun)
Thyme ~ Purification, psychic powers
Lavender ~ Purification, healing, visions
Rhubarb ~ Fertility, divine masculine energy
Elder ~ Blessings (berries and flowers), ability to see Otherworldly beings
Rose ~ Love, beauty, creativity, health (petals and buds)
Peonies ~ Compassion, beauty, connection, good fortune (petals)
Zinnias ~ Friendship, remembrance
Marigold/Calendula ~ Sacred to Midsummer because it carries the energy of the sun; dispels melancholy and often used in love magick (pick while the moon is in Virgo)
Geranium (Pelargonium) ~ Happiness, protection, confidence, cleansing (petals)
Magick Mixology
At the risk of sounding like a lush, I love the idea of creating and consuming a cocktail (or mocktail) as a spell — and I’m not the only one. Witchcraft-themed bars serving enchanted libations and intentionally-curated concoctions are popping up all over the country, and many witches are working mixology into their spell-craft right at home for the simple reason that it’s fun, effective and satisfying. After all, the Summer Solstice is a time of celebration and indulgence — perhaps more so than any other Sabbat, it has a festive, lighthearted feel, and it falls at a fantastic time of the year for making refreshing cocktails with freshly-plucked muddled herbs and simple syrups made from ingredients found right in the backyard, garden or local farmstand. If you’re part of the growing sober community, I can strongly recommend sun tea as a fantastic foundation for a delicious mocktail. To prepare sun tea, I use about 20 tea bags to a gallon of spring water for a nice, strong flavor — I use black tea bags for a neutral, refreshing base, as I plan on later adding simple syrups and herbs, but you could certainly experiment with flavored teabags (Yogi’s sweet orange and chai blend are delicious chilled and pair really well together!) Add these to a sealed, clear glass jar and simply place in direct sunlight for 1-2 days, depending on how strong you like it (I like to leave it out overnight, too, to expose it to some moonlight!) The warmth of the sun will actually brew the tea and, in doing so, infuses the water with solar energy and vibrant magick. Weather permitting, I definitely recommend making sun tea on the solstice to capture that peaked energy — you can add crystals directly to the water to layer in additional energies (I like to add rose quartz to my sun tea, as it’s gentle and heart-opening, but you could also add citrine or carnelian for a more energizing, robust elixir.) Simply strain the crystals out along with the tea bags (and make sure to use a crystal that isn’t water soluble, toxic, or prone to color loss in sunlight) and serve the tea chilled over ice, combined with pretty much any simple syrup you like (I love to infuse my mint and/or blueberry syrups into my sun tea, along with some freshly muddled mint leaves and an edible flower garnish!) If you and your coven prefer a boozier Midsummer treat, I might recommend a Rhubarb—Elderflower Solstice Refresher — it pairs excellently with a London dry-style gin, but you could also use vodka as your base spirit. Typically, the Solstice falls toward the end of what’s considered Rhubarb Season here in Upstate NY — stalks harvested around this time tend to be more bright and bitter while early spring Rhubarb has more sweetness (if you prefer the latter, you can make this syrup months before consumption but I’d recommend freezing it after two weeks.) I usually plan on two solid harvests of the rhubarb in my backyard — one early spring, the other about a week before the Solstice — and you can make this syrup easily with a 1:1:2 ratio of sugar, water, and diced rhubarb (again, feel free to sub regular spring water with a crystal elixir of your choice!) Add all the ingredients together in a medium-sized saucepan — I just do 1 cup of sugar and water and 2 cups of rhubarb, which is a typical harvest from our little rhubarb patch— and bring this to a boil while stirring consistently. Once boiling, remove from the heat and allow the mixture to slowly steep and cool (about 20 -25 minutes.) Strain out the sweetened, cooked-down rhubarb (I save this spread and enjoy it on toast or as an accompaniment to a cheeseboard; puree it for a smoother, more jam-like consistency) and store the simple syrup in an airtight mason jar for up to 2 weeks. In magick, Rhubarb carries the energy of the divine masculine, which is perfect for the Summer Solstice as we’re celebrating the more yang half of the year — when mixed with delicate, floral elderflower liquor, this concoction becomes a bit of a love/fertility potion (but don’t worry — this tasty elixir facilitates the birth of anything new — not just babies — by bringing your inner masculine and feminine energies into alignment!) Elderberry shrubs are traditionally sacred to the Summer Solstice, as the berries and buds are just beginning to burst forward come the third week of June. I don’t personally work with these ingredients in my cooking — both the berries and flowers are mildly toxic if handled improperly, which I prefer not to mess with — but I love elderflower liquor, and a splash of St. Germain pairs so nicely with the tart, vibrant flavor of rhubarb and is available at any liquor store. Mix 2 oz. of your chosen spirit with 1 oz. of rhubarb simple syrup, a splash of St. Germain and a squeeze of fresh lemon and as you shake the mixture with ice, contemplate how your inner divine masculine and feminine intermingle to co-create beauty and bounty in your life. Serve on the rocks with a float of seltzer and a sprig of fresh mint to garnish, preferably picked moments before and holding the energy of the Solstice sun. Sip solo or cheers and enjoy with your coven, inviting everyone to share what they’re ready to receive this growing season!
Simple syrups are so easy to make and are an enchanting way to treat your coven at your New Moon/Solstice gathering, particularly if made with ingredients from your own magickal garden! It’s also a great way to capture the essence of your herbs when they’re at their peak power. All you need is equal parts sugar, water, and whatever berry, herb or flower you’re infusing — for the above Rhubarb syrup, I use 2 parts fresh Rhubarb to 1 part sugar and water for a stronger infusion and to get the scarlet color you see here, but for my mint syrup (pictured on the left) or a berry simple, I stick to equal parts.
Connect to the Fire Element
While all the Wiccan Sabbats are fire festivals, the Summer Solstice is the day we celebrate the sun’s life-sustaining rays at peak strength — thus, it makes sense to celebrate with a little fire magick, which thankfully, takes many other forms than an outdoor bonfire, a burning ritual, or use of open flames in any capacity. Weather permitting, I love to soak up the sun on the days surrounding the solstice — most dermatologists would beg to differ, but to me, few activities are more healing or connect me more to the fire element than sprawling out in the sun for hours and exposing myself to it’s warming rays, meditating on it’s power and opening myself to receive it’s energy and vitality. If sunbathing isn’t enjoyable to you or your skin type doesn’t tolerate direct exposure well, consider busting out the SPF 50 and finding a way to celebrate beneath the sizzling sun that better suits you. While dancing around the Maypole is usually a Beltane festivity in modern North American witchcraft, a lot of cold-weather Germanic countries erect a May-Pole for their Midsummer celebration each June, as temps are more comfortable and there’s more lush greenery and flowers to decorate it with (like in the freaky Ari Aster film but, you know, minus the cult sensibility and looming sense of doom.) All you need is a large stick (found, not removed — unless you’d like to piss off your resident nature spirits, which I don’t recommend!), some ribbons, flowers and greenery to decorate it with, and ideally, some friends, sunshine and good music! I like to greet the sunrise at both the Solstices, and if you’re an early riser unlike me, you might even consider a sunrise walk or hike. I usually abandon this plan in favor of cappuccinos on the front porch but this year, I’m lucky enough to be spending the Solstice on an oceanside vaca with my man — thus, an early shoreline walk is definitely in order. But a cloudy sky or rain need not snuff out our Solstice fun and festivity, and we can celebrate the sun and connect to the fire element while completely indoors. Cooking, or kitchen witchery, is inherently a type of fire magick (called alchemy) because it involves transforming raw ingredients into a more palatable finished product, and even more so if we’re working with herbs and vegetables grown beneath the sun’s rays. I love my abundant access to culinary plants and herbs this time of year, plucked right from my backyard — there’s nothing like cooking with fresh herbs or vegetables that were alive and growing just moments before — and because I live in a seasonal environment, I also get access to local chicken every June for the first time since winter, so the Summer Solstice feels like a celebration of returned access to these fleeting seasonal delicacies. But we can connect with the Fire Element in lots of other ways — such as decorating the house with fresh marigolds, drinking a Carnelian gem elixir, or working with the Wands suit of the Tarot. If you’re pulling cards today, ask questions like How can I connect to my inner fire today? or What is my inner fire ready to transform or create?
Now, here’s the important astrological dates for the Gemini Moon Cycle!
Sunday, June 18th. While every New Moon is potent for casting spells, Mercurial New Moons (like today’s in Gemini) are wish-granters and prayer-answerers, particularly when influenced by Neptune (more on this below.) A change in mindset or a perspective shift seeded today could incite dramatic, positive changes or new beginnings, and old school mini-spells like wishing on a star, reciting positive affirmations or basic visualization techniques are extra powerful this New Moon, quickly shifting situations in your favor. Otherwise, the annual New Moon in Gemini is an auspicious moment to morph our communication style as well our mindset, to revamp social media profiles, or to re-affirm or cultivate new buzzy synergy or rapport, introducing fresh new perspectives and facilitating open, breezy dialogue. This New Moon features a square to Neptune in Pisces, and while mutable squares manifest quickly and can be difficult to sufficiently prepare for or anticipate, this one brings no shortage of spell-casting potential while also advising us to keep our energetic boundaries firmly in check, as we’re more sensitive now to the people and circumstances who feel course, unrefined or are simply not a match to our own vibration. While essentially helpful by amplifying our emotional awareness, this influence is not necessarily convenient as we go about our daily real-world interactions, facing gritty circumstances, abrasive people and inevitable brushes with bland pragmatism. Despite today’s overall vibe of levity, lightness, and magick, notice any suddenly intense aversions and keep your guard intact around known boundary-testing people or situations. Subliminal communication is strong today — whether intentionally or not, others are transmitting information and subconsciously conveying a message, motive or specific piece of intel — and while this may or may not be imminently useful, it does clarify our relationships to the people around us, emphasizing rapport and energizing alliances while also highlighting the annoyance factor of those people or situations we merely tolerate. If possible, avoid the latter until a few days after the New Moon and embrace the moment’s metaphysical potential with your version of prayer/spell-casting/wish-making.
Monday, June 19. Jupiter — recently in Taurus as of May 19th — harmonizes with Saturn in Pisces, retrograde as of yesterday. Jupiter in Taurus is a beneficial influence which will remain consistently in play until May of 2024. The largest planet in the Solar System and widely considered the outermost personal planet by astrologers, the cosmic giant moves through the zodiac on a 12-year cycle but rarely spends an entire year in one sign respectively; more frequently, the planet’s annual four-month retrograde intervenes within months of an ingress, causing a back-and-forth phenomena (which has been Jupiter’s trend for the last several years, with the planet of luck and largesse flitting between Aries and Pisces throughout 2022 and, prior to that, splitting time between Pisces and Aquarius in 2021.) All of this is to say: it’s been a while since Jupiter has remained uninterrupted in any one sign for a whole year and, to put it simply, it’s lucky. In Taurus, Jupiter rewards time-tested financial values and strategic saving with consistent and steady growth, and it’s particularly lucky for anything or anyone Taurus-themed (including but not limited to commerce, building or growing things, fixers and creators, beauty, art, horticulture, fashion, body-work, ecology and design.) For perspective, Jupiter hasn’t been in the sign of the Bull since June of 2012 — so this transit could re-introduce themes in play around that time or produce opportunities to build on dreams seeded around then — but more broadly, it brings expansion and luck to the areas of the birth chart occupied by Taurus (and yes, if you’re a Taurus person by nature — meaning that this is your sun, moon, rising or Venus sign — you’ll enjoy this lucky vibe all year, particularly with regard to the themes ruled by the Taurus sector of your birth chart.) While this isn’t exact until April of 2024, the next year will usher us into a wonderful Jupiter/Uranus conjunction. Jupiter and Uranus haven’t aligned since the winter of 2011 (and they haven’t aligned in Taurus since 1941) so this cool event is not only rare, but marks a fantastic time for a big announcement, launch, release or event, especially wherein longevity is the goal — if you’re planning a wedding, for example, or working toward purchasing land or opening a business, this could be your lucky moment. But as one of the first major aspects formed by Jupiter in Taurus, today’s sextile between these cosmic superpowers is also especially significant (and it’s potent for new beginnings, particularly within the 24-hour window of yesterday’s Gemini New Moon.) The five-month period of Saturn Retrograde is a time for fortifying, consolidating and restructuring, while Saturn in Pisces has us all collectively thinking about how we can bring more soul or artistry into our worldly, pragmatic undertakings (this ethos is reflected in recent films like Everything, Everywhere all at Once) and Jupiter in Taurus emphasizes a builder mentality and a slow, sustainable approach. If something arises in the coming days that’s nourishing at the soul level or feels spiritually symbolic and has the potential to grow, build on itself or become lucrative — anything from a relationship to a business idea or even a creative venture or piece of real estate — it’s a solid time to create a plan or begin implementation. Sustainability and the consolidation of energy is key — don’t anticipate speedy results or try to channel this energy into an overnight success type of venture — but thinking more long-term and acting slowly and deliberately now will garner the optimal outcome, with developments likely to unfold when Saturn turns direct around November 4th.
Wednesday, June 21. It’s the Summer Solstice! The Sun enters Cancer, marking the beginning of the season of the Crab and the longest day of the year for those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sunday, June 25th. Just before Mercury enters Cancer tomorrow, The Messenger God locks into a tense aspect with Neptune — another mutable square, tricky in that it’s effects manifest quickly with a sudden, in-the-moment kind of vibe. Especially falling this close to Neptune Retrograde and the Solstice — a day where the veil between the worlds is thin and the Fey run wildly amuck —there’s a very metaphysical element to today’s Mercury/Neptune entanglement. Dreams might be especially potent, meaningful or weighty, we intuitively hear other people’s thoughts and effortlessly read their emotions, and Spirit communicates to us through everything from flowers or animal sightings to repeating numbers (but we’re more likely to actually get the message, or translate the symbolism into something deeply personal and relevant.) We don’t need to do anything special to access this vibe but certainly, the witchy rituals or props help (it’s a good day for a Tarot reading, dream-work, hypnosis, or to consult any tools which help access inner guidance or spiritual messages) and — even if it’s not typically a practice you reach for — free-style journaling could reveal illuminating insights. The challenge of this aspect? A looming sense of mental fog, an arrested ability to exercise discernment and the possibility of deliberately obscured (or simply under-researched or half-revealed) information. It’s simply not good astrology for technically sound decision-making — especially where the results of our choices or actions could have a resounding, long-term impact — and it’s also not recommended to speak out on a subject or get adamantly behind another person’s movement or concept, as we likely don’t have all the information yet (which doesn’t necessarily mean something is maliciously or intentionally withheld from us — for any number of reasons, the full truth of our situation could be nebulous or hard to parse.) As long as we don’t push ourselves into premature decisive action or try to force linear, logical or conventional acts of productivity, we can revel in today’s witchy vibe by creating art, casting spells and getting deep into self-inquiry. Otherwise, any mental fog or sense of disillusionment lifts in a few days, allowing us to see our situation more clearly and move forward in an aligned direction (ideally, solidify your decision, response or next course of action on the 30th when Mercury and Saturn harmonize.)
Monday, June 26. Mercury enters Cancer today until the second week of July and when the Messenger God passes through this lunar realm, it conjures memories, mysticism, psychic impressions, and intensifies our awareness of our emotional/psychological landscape. While they may seem random or the meaningless result of general moodiness, we should pay close attention to our daily ebbs and flows, our gut hunches and intuitive responses over the next two weeks, as they’re shedding light on some of our most complex emotional and psychological terrain and guiding us toward what we most need (and with Mercury synergizing with the moon’s nodes tomorrow, anticipate helpful realizations about how past influences or factors have shaped our present needs, urgings and responses — and possibly, serendipitous meetings or run-ins with individuals who inspire these moments of insight.) Mars and Uranus also square today, an influence which has been developing since the Warrior God entered Leo on May 20th. In many ways, this aspect is brilliant, boosting performance instincts and self-confidence while supporting bold personal statements via art, style, or appearance. But while it’s personally liberating and inspires ingenuity and autonomy, a Mars/Uranus entanglement can tax already strained relationships by making others less flexible and more committed to their vision, authority or ownership, thus activating control drama theatrics and promoting a restless, jumpy vibe which shouldn’t be mistaken as a definitive cue to act boldly. For the best results, focus on channeling this energy into areas of life where extra courage, creative moxie and dramatic flair are always beneficial — it’s brilliant if you’re in the midst of composing or creating something or preparing to deliver a presentation or performance, or if you’re looking to cultivate an empowering new identity, defy convention, or divorce anything which squelches your ability to confidently self-express — especially via your creative artform, physical appearance, or a specific bold demonstration or announcement. But this is a square so while the idea of a big reveal, performative stunt or a haughty, dramatic exit may seem satisfying, consider whether you’ve got a proper post reveal/exit strategy before slamming any doors or delivering any revelatory monologs — otherwise, this astrology works really well with bold moves and confident risk-taking, and for an extra boost of luck, rock big Leo-inspired hair or the color yellow.
Wednesday, June 28. The sun harmonizes with Saturn, grounding creative endeavors in a sense of level-headed pragmatism and helping us approach usually tedious chores or bureaucratic obligations with gusto, vigor and even enthusiasm. With the sun in witchy Cancer and Saturn in shamanic Pisces, there’s a strongly metaphysical element permeating today’s water trine — we find spiritual inspiration in the most mundane places, and even making the bed or watering the plants propels us into connection with our ancient matriarchal ancestor spirits. Another possibility? The nature or reason for a recently-influential insecurity — possibly one which surfaced around the Saturnine Sag Full Moon last month — is illuminated and thus disempowered (even if not completely or permanently resolved, it feels less oppressive today.)
Friday, June 30. Neptune turns retrograde today until December — an annual event lasting nearly six months — and while the Neptune Retro half of the year shouldn’t be considered major astrology which affects our day-to-day lives, the few days surrounding the initial change of direction can feel very Neptunian (with Pisces people being especially affected.) While this energy peaks today, it likely began a week ago and will continue for another five to seven days; for some of us, it can manifest as a strange but persistent feeling of being uncharacteristically scattered or unfocused, from misplacing the house key to forgetting an appointment altogether, while for others, we find ourselves romanticizing the past or aching for a quick and easy endorphin rush when what we really want is deep spiritual nourishment. It’s only frustrating if we’re trying to use this time to lock down details or clarify nebulous concepts and it does have it’s upsides — even if technically poor for productivity and anything requiring practicality or extended focus, lean into the fashion/style acumen, metaphysical potential, poetic genius and heightened empathy levels to make the most of this two week-period where we’re acclimating to the adjustment. Mercury also trines Saturn today and while this doesn’t cancel out the moment’s Neptunian haze, it’s beneficial for negotiations and open dialogue within business and personal relationship dealings and presents a glimmering opportunity to ground theoretical concepts, supporting clear, realistic thinking and sound decision-making.
Saturday, July 1. The new month begins with some really harmonious astrology including a Mercury/Sun alignment — known by ancient astrologers as a cazimi — with both planets harmonizing with Jupiter. The sun synergizing with Jupiter is always lucky, enterprising and expansive — it’s a great time to seed or tend to whatever your Jupiter in Taurus dream or goal is or to nurture and address matters related to your natal Taurus house — and with the sun in Cancer, we can anticipate subtle inner promptings which guide us toward greater emotional fulfillment, security and structure within our worldly endeavors (and with Mercury involved, the message translates easily.) Again, this doesn’t cancel out the moment’s scattered Neptunian vibe, but Mercury/Sun alignments are known to bring moments of empowering clarity and brilliant, ingenious creativity (while Jupiter would amplify this and Neptune recently Retrograde would emphasize the inspirational factor.)
Sunday, July 2. Venus in Leo squares Uranus in Taurus which is fantastic for bold, experimental moves within the Venus-ruled realms of dating, relationships, fashion, beauty and creativity. Venus squares in general tend to urge up-in-the-air decisions around these matters toward a definitive yes or no, and others can be more unwavering or opinionated about these subjects than usual (so don’t try to persuade other people against a new romance, a stylistic change, or a bold new creative venture — even if you think you’re being a good friend by doing so!) Venus Square Uranus is a creative/romantic/style catalyst and while this transit supports decisive actions within dating, décor, artistic pursuits, and personal beauty/adornment, it’s worth noting that the Evening Star has been within the shadow of her retrograde since June 20th — as such, it might not be the best time to initiate changes or shake-ups that are particularly long-lasting or irreversible, as we’re likely to re-think radical actions and agreements implemented around this time (I’d wait to schedule cosmetic surgery, for example, along with big home renovation projects, massive or sudden changes in physical appearance, or major relationship moves or commitments.) Rather, think of it as a kind of Venusian research/development phase — play with a new nail color, hair cut or make-up trick, date outside of your usual romantic “type” or slowly redecorate a particular room in the house. It’s even better if the liberating stunt expresses your essence more authentically, helps reclaim a lost vibe or obliterates an old/outdated Venusian paradigm!
Monday, July 3. Today’s Full Moon in Capricorn comes each year to fortify and create structure, but this one features a host of harmonious planetary contacts including a sextile to Capricorn’s ruling planet, Saturn, and a trine to auspicious Jupiter in Taurus. While cardinal full moons are always somewhat of a call to action, this one will feel more like a gentle nudge in the direction of growth (as opposed to a drill sergeant’s screeching whistle or the judgmental whack of Saturn’s gavel.) Capricorn Full Moons reward tenacity, the careful conservation of resources and a cool, detached demeanor (if not a full stiff-upper-lip mentality) but they hold the potential to accentuate our underlying insecurities or to highlight the areas of life in which we fear we’re falling short. With Luna opposite Mercury in Cancer today, we’ll get the message loud and clear— our Full Moon lesson or area of life in need of Saturnine structure will become obvious (for a hint, look to the house in your birth chart containing eleven degrees of Capricorn) and very likely, this insight could be illuminated by an outside source, a chance encounter or an incoming development or newfound piece of intel. But if we welcome this Full Moon as fuel and a friendly push toward productivity, it’s brilliant — Saturn and Jupiter amp the potential for this to be a lucky, prosperous, empowering Full Moon, seeding the development of strengths and wisdom with long-term benefits which introduce game-changing possibilities. But first, we must take the necessary practical actions and apply any relevant methodology rather than devolving into victimhood over past grievances and so-called failures, or dwelling excessively on the ways in which we feel inadequate. For the best results, alchemize any perceived weaknesses which arise this Full Moon into a newfound strength or superpower, and if it remains relatively uneventful, celebrate the ways in which the people or circumstances of your past have made your path less-than-easy to traverse, rendering you strong and self-made!
Friday, July 7. Mercury harmonizes with Uranus bringing flashes of ingenuity and insight, connections with an unexpected twist, and grounding futuristic trends or concepts applicably into the present moment. Mercury in Cancer trine today’s waning Pisces Moon amps the paranormality factor and because we can more easily parse the emotions of other people — and understand/communicate our own emotional landscape with intellect and ease — it’s a technically good time for making balanced, informed decisions within relationships, promoting a cozy interpersonal vibe and facilitating easeful intimacy while also offering the lucid objectivity of a Mercury/Uranus synergy.
Sunday, July 9. We finish the weekend with Mercury trine Neptune — exact today — which occurs twice each year and is fantastic for both psychic awareness and artistic sensibility. Whatever the extent to which you’re usually sensitive to subliminal energies/psychic impressions and/or are creatively gifted, multiply that threefold!
Monday, July 10. Mercury in Cancer squares Pluto today which facilitates psychological transformation and the morphing of a perspective, along with massive reveals and incoming confessions, revelations or epiphanies. As one of the first major aspects formed by the Dark Lord since his return to Capricorn on June 11, it sets the tone for this period and while Pluto will re-enter Aquarius in January of the new year, 2024 sees more back-and-forth with the God of Transformation finally getting settled in Aquarius in November 2024, remaining in the sign of the Water Bearer until 2043. As the furthest planet from the sun, transits of Pluto don’t really influence us personally as much as we experience them collectively — as such, Pluto back in Capricorn for the rest of the year brings revelations and epiphanies regarding the old paradigms about to be dismantled in the Pluto-in-Aquarius era, it’s influence likely to transpire socio-politically as opposed to at the individual level (anticipate this cosmic muckraker to “out” clandestine shady dealings, leak confidential intel or reveal behind-the-scenes political power plays.) Mars enters Virgo today until August, and while it can make us seethe over minute offences or obsess compulsively over details, it’s fabulous for conjuring fresh enthusiasm or instilling the motivation to create spread-sheets, de-clutter, or to concoct a new health/wellness regimen. Depending on one’s sensitivity to the cosmos, we tend to feel Mars in Virgo viscerally — some of us even have more difficulty sleeping during this time or develop other symptoms of physical restlessness or neurosis — but any adverse side effects can be easily squelched with physical movement, or when channeled into productivity or devoted acts of self-nurturance.
Tuesday, July 11. Mercury enters Leo today for two weeks and squares the Lunar Nodes as they trine Mars — it’s fabulous for bold announcements, personal declarations or big reveals as well as on-the-fly speeches, performances or improv. Artistically, aesthetically and romantically, it’s favorable now to go big, especially with Venus also in Leo (where she’ll remain until October due to a retrograde starting later in the month.) This transit accentuates our appreciation of glamour, luxury and well-timed dramatic flair — if you need to capture the attention of an audience or work on your stage presence/performance acumen, the two-week period between now and the 28th are ideal for this. More generally, Mercury in this fixed fire sign is good for creativity and charisma and promotes sparky, passionate dialogue which, especially with the North Nodes activated, clarifies present circumstances through awareness of both past experiences and future trends (and with Mars’ involvement, this leads to an empowering call-to-action.)
Friday, July 14. It’s the Dark Moon in Gemini, supported by the sun harmonizing with Uranus. Creative genius and quirky ingenuity are the result, only likely to emerge through acts of rest and rejuvenation (bringing the realizations and inspiration we otherwise would miss.) Allow the Uranian flashes of insight to marinate and by Monday’s New Moon in Cancer, they’re cohesive enough to implement or act upon.
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