Full Moon In Capricorn
July 13th
New Moon In Leo
July 28th
It’s Summer!
The celestial gates of play and expansion are open and you are invited to explore and connect to your sense of adventure, to delight in the abundance of Nature in her peak of fruition and glory!
Draw on the liberating feelings of school ending and Summer travels beckoning. Recall all of the times you grew and learned more about yourself by trying new things, going to new places and getting out of your comfort zone. Notice the abundance of the Earth and her gardens – she is inviting you to enjoy the fullness of life and to taste the many flavors of her healthy, delicious fruit!
Summer is a time to enjoy, celebrate and cultivate the abundance of Nature within you and all around. July is the month to shine your light and experiment with your creative energy, to follow your bliss, and pursue your passions!
The key to your summer health and vibrancy is enjoying the expansion while grounding yourself and cooling the high fire energies. Be an alchemist and balance the elements within you and all around.
Cyclical Insights
The peak of Summer invites you to deepen your relationship with the elements of Earth, Air, Water and Fire.
This is the season when the energies of Fire are the strongest. The days are long, which originally meant people spent cooler evenings in the garden, tending the abundance of the land and ensuring this season of growth would bring bounty for months to come.
In our modern culture, the gifts of Summer can aggravate our tendencies to overcommit, overdo, overthink and multitask. Those who already have a lot of Fire and Air energy can start the Summer excited, throw themselves into too many projects or adventures, and then end the season burned out.
Here are some ways to balance the Fire element and
reap the abundant rewards of Summer:
• Wake up early and watch the sunrise. Meditate or start the day with quiet and calm.
• Drink cooling herbal teas during the day. Choose a nourishing herb full of vitamins, chlorophyll and minerals (dried Nettles, Oastraw or Cleavers) and add equal parts dried Mint. Infuse a big handful of this mixture in a quart size mason jar with hot water and leave overnight.
In the morning strain, put it in the fridge and drink throughout your day to stay nourished, grounded, calmly energized and clear.
• Eat cooling and hydrating foods. Watermelon, Cucumbers, salad, fresh veggies and fruit all hydrate the body and nourish us deeply.
• Take a siesta after lunch. If possible, avoid expending most of your energy at the hottest time of day. Many cultures take a long lunch break and spend time with their family mid day, and then work later into the evening when it’s cooler and easier to focus.
• Connect with Earth Pace. Avoid multitasking. When you feel yourself getting anxious, close your eyes and practice “box breathing”. 2 minutes of deep breathing will reset your nervous system and help you stay grounded.
• Spend time outside everyday. Be active, get together with friends to play sports, to potluck, and also make sure you are planning an equal amount of quiet and alone time in nature to do nothing. Sit in your garden, lay in a hammock, watch the clouds move, listen to the birds.
This is a form of meditation and a forgotten art of “idling” that is crucial to human mental health, creativity and spiritual well being.
Themes of This Moon
Atmosphere: The Earth is abundant in fruit and food! She beckons you to delight in the diversity of flavors and to contribute to the health of the land and your body by growing a garden, visiting local farmers markets, and eating fresh local foods.
Movement: Practice stillness and rest in moments of overwhelm and heat. Enjoy expansion, adventure and exploring new places, by walking, biking, or kayaking.
Flower: Larkspur — A romantic and fairy-like annual flower, Larkspur attracts pollinators, is a favorite in cottage style gardens and makes for wonderful Summer bouquets. 
It symbolizes love, affection, and light heartedness and comes in many colors.
Herb: Mint — Any Mint will do! The Mint family is easy to identify – they have square stems and are often highly aromatic. Mint spreads in the garden with the abundant energy of Summer. It can be used fresh or dried, in food, tea, water, smoothies or desserts to cool heat, support digestion, bring clarity of mind and open breath. Thyme, Oregano and Lemon Balm are also in the Mint family and share those attributes. Use the Mints generously and allow them to grow abundantly!
Tree: Mimosa — This stunning tree blooms in what look like pink fireworks in July, 
attracting pollinators and supporting the abundance of the Summer garden. All parts of this tree are medicinal or edible and spiritually, its flowers are used for cleansing, protection and heart healing. Known as “the Tree of Collective Happiness,” the bark is a common remedy in TCM and is used to elevate the mood and treat depression, anxiety and insomnia.
Summer in the Garden
Greens and fresh lettuces
Fresh herbs
sprinkle some fresh Oregano on grilled fish for a burst of flavor.
Make taboulie - a summer salad with cooling Parsley and Mint
Zucchini, Squash, Eggplant
and many veggies to throw on the grill
Tomatoes are coming into season!
… what else is in season at your farmers market?
It Is Also A Great Time To Grow A Garden
Go to a nursery and get the following to get a head start. These groups of three love to grow together and enhance each other’s flavor. Companion planting also is a natural way to repel insects.
Tomatoes, Basil, Cilantro
Squash, Corn, Beans
Zucchini, Dill, Oregano
Strawberries, Lettuce, Chives
Healing Ritual
This spiritual bath connects you to the elements and balances them within you, while offering you an embodied space for meditation.
Go on a walk before sunset, when the light is warm and low. Open your senses to the wind on your skin, to the colors of the light on the plants around, pause to smell the flowers and rub leaves, feel the Earth beneath your feet. Walk with the intention and request beaming from your heart: To find and collect some flowers or leaves that wish to offer you their healing energy.
As you continue walking in this meditative and open hearted state, see which plants call to you. Don’t overthink it, but approach the ones you notice and ask if you may take some. If you feel a yes, harvest a little bit, but not enough for the plant to look harvested from.
Collect your flowers and go home to draw a bath.
Put on some relaxing music and light a candle. Add salt to your bath, baking soda or both. Add your flowers and herbs and turn off the lights.
As you lay in the bath by candlelight connect to the elements of Water, enveloping your body; to the Fire in the candle and your desires in your heart; to the Air around you as you breathe slowly and deeply; to the Earth, the flowers, salt and minerals offering you healing energy.
Allow yourself to just be. Relax and receive the healing energy of the Earth.
Blessings.
