July

	Sixth house Journal
	Seventh House Journal

July 1 If the first of July it be rainy weather Twill rain, more or less, for four weeks together.   On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, the Chinese shake out and air books and clothes. July 2 The start of the Dog Days, ruled by the Dog Star, Sirius, and called Loki's Brand  in Northern Traditions begin today. It is considered the hottest part of the year and it lasts until August 28th.   July 3 First Quarter at 22°16 Libra 4:00 am PDT First Quarter Moon in Libra encourages us to harmonize with our partners and friends. Tonight serves as a good time to enjoy beautiful surroundings and beloved company with Epicurean delights. This is the Moon that brings out a wide range of focuses on the need to create balance in various kinds of relationships, particularly those relationships of a close nature. Thought for the week: Never give "maybe" as an answer; instead practice the  magic of crisp, clear choices. Held in honor of the Goddess Athena, a six-day festival called the Panathenaea began on this day every four years in ancient Greece. July 4 The "birth" of the United States Kwan Yin's second birthday by the Lunar calendar (otherwise it's fixed on the 19th of July).  This birthday celebrates her vow to remain on the earth to help others reach the light. 11:33 AM Mercury Retrograde (Rx) 1º 22' Rx   July 5 Jupiter Direct 11:18 PM 8º 59'D This is old midsummer's eve Festival of the Forest Spirits begins July 6   July 7 Today is the festival of handmaids, or the maid's day out. This day is especially sacred to Frigg and her 12 Handmaidens Festival of the Forest Spirits ends   July 8 Celtic Tree month of Holly begins The Holly or kerm-oak is the evergreen twin of the Oak. Whereas the Oak rules light or waxing part of the year, the evergreen Oak (holly) rules the dark or waning part of the year.  Avagddu, the dark twin of Taliesin, the Sun-king is called the Holly King or Dark Successor (Tanist) in the Druid Calendar. The Holly represents the ever renewing aspect of the soul as the Oak represents the sacrificial ego. Hence the white horse of the Oak becomes the Unicorn of the Holly. One is tangible and real, the other mythical and eternal. The two trees form the pillars of a bridge that crossed the "Rainbow River" flowing into the entrance of Gwynvyd (the place of Druid union with our creator) and it is also where the evils of the world are dissolved. It is the void that can not be cut or destroyed but destroys all evil. Holly was also seen as a strong protective herb, guarding against 'evil spirits and short-tempered Elementals, poisons, thunder and lightening'. The idea of protection against lightening has basis in fact, as it has been shown that the spikes of Holly leaves act like miniature lightening conductors, granting immunity to the trees. It's ruling planet is Mars and it's Element is Fire. As a Magical herb, Holly brings clear wisdom and courage. It is also useful for dream Magic. July 9   July 10 Full Moon  @ 18°42  Capricorn 8:02 pm PDT Sabian Symbol: child carrying shopping bag filled with groceries   The Capricorn Full Moon is a time to take a fresh look at how the career and family responsibilities are balanced with each other. Are you career-minded folks spending too much time at your place of work? Are you homebound parents finding yourselves with cabin fever? Maybe a part-time job is in your future. In any event now is a time to find a better balance. Compare what you thought you wanted and asked for and what you have today. If the reward is not satisfactory, then redefine your desires.  At the time of full moon — Bring projects to a head. There is a lot of energy available at this time to complete things. The full moon signifies the harvest of all the work you've done before, so celebrate this recognition of your efforts.. Make your resolutions and carry them out over the next two weeks.   Day of Hel (or Holda). The Anglo-Saxon and Norse Goddess of the Underworld is honored annually on this day with prayers, the lighting of black candles, and offerings of rose petals. The sky-clad Lady Godiva was said to have ridden through Coventry on this day. Her procession at Southam, near Coventry, was said to include the images of two Goddesses, one the White Holda and the other the black Hel. July 11 Today is the feast of Sunnu, or Sunniva, the Norse sun goddess. which for the United States happens to be true Mid Summer (Since Summer starts with Memorial day and ends with Labor day)   July 12 Feast of Cerridwen.  Serve foods sacred to Cerridwen.   Salmon, hazelnuts, apples July 13     July 14   July 15 Ides of July,  Rowana, the tree goddess, is patroness of the knowledge of runes. The rowan is the tree of protection, and amulets cut from it this day will be particularly effective. Gorestnici, Fire Festival July was called the "hot month" in Bulgaria, partly because the people celebrated a fire festival of three days duration beginning on the 15th. July 16 Sea Serpent Day - This holiday always falls on the last Sunday in the Sign Cancer.  It is a wonderful day to honor all Dragons of the Sea.  Today is a great day to bring out the children's wading pool and let them play sea serpent.  Or else place on your lawn the little serpent metal sculpture and then turn on the sprinklers and let the children run through them.  Dragon's love children and this day is a special one to honor the relationship between Dragon's of the Sea and you own little ones.  If you don't have any children, play in the sprinkler yourself.   July 17 LAST QUARTER MOON at 17°25  ARIES :34 am PDT A Last Quarter Moon represents the "square" of the Moon to the Sun. Obstacles occur between emotions and personal expression. Aries has very little trouble expressing and emerging new energies. Last Quarter Moon requires letting go and not remaining too attached to unwanted energy. New energy at this time may kick into a false start. Allow your ambition to be placed in 'letting go of' rather than 'being attached to' emotional distractions.   The last day of the festival of the midnight sun July 18 The start of my personal 7th house.  Thought for the week Friendship is the best training for love.  Are you still friends with your spouse or significant other?  The 7th house rules equal partnerships.  How equal is your relationship> On the 23rd day of the 6th lunar month, the Chinese honor the Horse-god (Mawang).  In the Green Rose tradition this day would belong to Epona or since my annual totem animal is the horse this year it would be dedicated to the Horse as Guide July 19 Thunder God On the 24th day of the 6th lunar month, the Chinese celebrate the Thunder-god (Leigong) or God of War by setting off fireworks. This is also the Birthday of the Lotus. Festival of Sirius.  "I am the one who rises in Sirius, I am the one called Goddess by women, I separated the Earth from the Heavens, I showed the path of the stars. July 20 Birth of Horus- The birth of the Egyptian falcon-headed God Horus is celebrated on this day by many Witches and Wiccans of the Egyptian tradition. It is customary to light a royal-blue candle and burn frankincense and myrrh as an offering to the God. "The Day of Ups and Downs"  Individuals born on this day tend to experience many frustrations throughout life. However, the nature of the individual with this birthday will be one of pushing harder for achievements in their personal and private life. The advice for individuals born on this day is to stay focused on the goal and take heed of the instinctive messages that your inner self is sending to you on a regular basis. The individual born on this day should seek the calm, even in the face of clamor, in order to build a happy foundation for life. The rest of us could benefit from finding a quiet sanctuary for the day in order to heal our own weary souls. Five Tiger Spirits On the 25th day of the 6th lunar month, the Chinese honor the Five Tiger Spirits.  In the Green Rose tradition this day is sacred to the Ancestors of your feline familiar July 21   July 22 Sun moves into Leo 10:41 am PDT This Sun transit brings tons of energy and fun. Pleasure and positivity are the keywords right now; it's a time to be active and outgoing. You should enjoy yourself and also seize a super opportunity for self-growth. Challenges seem easily surmountable, and dares seem fun. Take a cue from Leo: Act the part of a courageous and confident person, and you can become that courageous and confident person. July 23 St Brigit's day the patron Saint of writers and poets.  Of course we know who this really is, don't we? On the 16th day of Hecatombion, and two days after the full moon, the Athenians honored Eirene or peace. Deep within the still centre of my being May I find peace. Silently within the quiet of the Grove May I share peace. Gently within the greater circle of humankind May I radiate peace. - The Druid Prayer for Peace   July 24 New Moon at 2°07  Leo 9:31 pm PDT Sabian Symbol: A woman having her hair bobbed to say fashionable As fixed fire, Leo energy is much more self-reflective and inner-directed than the average person might ever suspect.   The New Moon signifies a start of a new personal cycle each month. It's a time to renew or revise our goals, reach for what we wish for most and renew ourselves. Write down your wishes as close to the time of the actual new moon as is possible. You have up to 48 hours to write them, with the first eight hours being the most potent. Wishes should be hand written, not typed into a computer. Leo is the astrological sign which rules how we express or project our individuality. Through this sign's energies we joyously learn who we are and learn how to express this uniqueness through our creativity and the projections of our personalities. This is no time to stand in the shadows. Leo asks us to let our light shine out into the world. Our light is a unique, original, and wonderful expression of who we are. When writing goals this month it might be helpful to focus on areas of your life that you would like to develop more self-expression in. Step into your own power and don't be afraid of who you are. When you do this you will attract who (and what situations) are correct for you. If you have ever experienced being with a partner that felt completely fulfilling, than you'll probably realize that this was possible because you were simply being yourself. Thought:  How can I develop More Self Expression   July 25     July 26 Today is the Norse festival of Slepnir, commemorating Odin's eight-legged horse which could travel from Asgard to Midgard to Utgard, that is, from heaven to earth to the underworld.  This is an especially powerful day to take a shamanic journey This festival is called by the name of Odin's eight legged horse. We call it the festival of life because it reminds us of our link to all creation and that we are part of nature - not separated. We remember how we must return to this earlier wisdom. Our ancestors recognized this link and interdependence: today we see how ignorance of this destroys our very Mother Earth and ultimately ourselves July 27   July 28   7:39 PM Mercury Direct 21º 04'D   July 29     Look out! It's the Festival of the Tarasque wherein a man-eating monster charges down the streets of it's name sake city in France snapping at people...Doesn't sound quite as cuddly as Godzilla or Mothra. The old festival, commemorates the capture of the beast for which the festival is named, a fire-breathing dragon type thing. A dragon float is paraded through the streets of the city and touched by attendants for good luck. Despite the levity of the above, in the green rose tradition we dedicate this day to the wyvern.    July 31 The great thunder-God Thor was honored on this date with prayers for protection of the crops against destructive storms in the older times in Europe. Thor was known as the Thunderer, or High Thunderer, was considered to be a champion of the Gods, and an enemy of the Giants and Trolls. Thor ruled over strength, law and order, defense, oaks, goats, thunder, lightning, storms, weather, crops, trading voyages, water, courage, trust, revenge, protection, and battle. Legend say he struck the clouds to release the rains needed for crops. `` The feast of the Milky Way.  This is a movable holiday that occurs on the 7th night of the 7 month of the Chinese year. A cowherd and a spinning maid can only meet one night a year because they were so happily married that they forgot to work so the gods decreed that they could only see each other once a month.  The message was entrusted to a magpie who got it wrong, saying it was only for one night a year that they could meet.  So, once a year all the magpies leave earth and form a bridge in heaven over the Milky Way, so that the couple can be reunited. In Japan this holiday is celebrated by handing things on trees Streamers made from colorful washi: symbolizes the threads for weaving by Shokujo. Senbatsuru: (tsuru-crane) a crane made from origami, represents wishes for the safety and health of the family. In Japan cranes portray a life of 1000 years, and cranes can fly all the way to the Milky Way. Tanzaku: Small rectangular shaped paper with wishes written on it. Portrays the wish for knowledge and progress in calligraphy. Kamigoromo: (Paper Kimono), symbolizing a person and thought to take away illness and accidents. It also symbolizes progress in ones sewing ability. Kuzukago: Trash bags, symbolizing cleanliness and thriftiness, necessary for the functioning of a good society. Kinchaku: A large bag containing  wishes for thriving business, symbolizing a cloth bag closed with a string, used long ago.   Thoughts for the week are based on Rob Bresney's column Freewill astrology