A Tarot Reading for July

What's coming in the month ahead?

A huge thank you to everyone who joined me for June’s Tarot + Tea event! We pulled cards about the energy of July (more on that below); explored individual questions around work, relationships, releasing old blocks, etc; and, of course, drank lots of tea and shared lots of laughter. We’ve got another one coming up at the end of July, so check out the details and come read with us!

Now, onto the energy of July…

Collective pull for the energy, challenges, blessings, and allies of July

At the top of the reading we have the theme for July: Two of Swords.

There’s a lot to unpack with the Two of Swords. This card implies a time of feeling stuck; perhaps even trapped. Like there’s a part of you that wants to move forward, but you find yourself sitting still nonetheless. Often, when the Two of Swords shows up, we feel as if things are outside of our control, like the circumstances themselves are keeping us from the goals we want to chase and the futures we long to step into.

In reality, when the Two of Swords shows up, this sense of being trapped is often one of illusion. In true swords fashion, it’s all in our heads. All this figure needs do to get out of their situation is set the swords down, take off the blindfold, and walk away.

The Two of Swords asks us what ideas or old beliefs we’re holding onto that are keeping us trapped in a situation we no longer wish to be in. Beyond that, it invites us to consider how setting these old stories down may allow us to take off the blindfold and find clarity on where to go from here.

With the Five and Seven of Wands in the place of challenge, informed by the Two of Swords in the theme position, there may be a feeling like no matter how hard we try, we just can’t seem to manifest the future we’ve been dreaming of. It might feel like our passions and desires for ourselves aren’t coming to fruition; like we’re fighting against all odds to bring our creative vision to life. It may also, at times, feel like we’re loosing that fight. Everything feels like a competition right now, and the route from where you are to where you want to be has disappeared.

Grounding this back in the Two of Swords, this is probably more of a perceived challenge than a real one.

Are there actually hurdles in our way, or do we just keep tripping on pebbles and telling ourselves they’re boulders?

In the blessing position, we have the Five of Pentacles, reversed, and the Knight of Cups. There’s a lot of ways these two cards can be read, but putting them together, I see a message of overcoming lack mindset and seeking emotionally mature and fulfilling relationship. When we place that in conversation with the challenge and theme cards of July, I think a lot of what this month comes down to is this:

Are you so caught up in old stories of competition, lack, and the impossibility of your dreams that you’re frozen in place? Can you set those ideas aside and instead believe that you have what it takes to succeed? Can you seek support from your community when the going gets tough, and view others as a source of inspiration rather than competition?

The Union and Family cards at the center of the reading reinforce the idea that now is a time to find support and bolstering from your connections, rather than feeling like you have to do this all on your own or even that you have to fight against others in order to succeed. The more we can build reciprocal, nourishing relationships with our community, the more ease we’ll find on the road ahead.

Finally, we have our allies. I love that we got Watermelon and Lady Bug—two very summery allies—and I look forward to using this as an excuse to eat an inordinate amount of watermelon. 🍉

The word associated with watermelon here is Fertility, and the phrase paired with the lady bug is “Appreciate Blessings”. Great news if you’re trying to get pregnant, but there’s a message here for those of us who love our birth control, too!

Given the context of this reading, these allies are a reminder that if we can set aside our insecurity and fear, we won’t just see the path ahead; we’ll see everything we’ve planted along the way. If we can listen to the advice of the reading and choose collaboration over competition—union over isolation—we will start to see the seeds we’ve planted grow fresh leaves. They might not be in full bloom yet, but the growth is happening, and this month is a good time to acknowledge that.

Lastly, there’s a hint in these last two cards of good things to come. It feels like a smaller, side note to the July energy. While most of this month is about releasing old stories and clearing the way to step into a more aligned, confident future, there’s a hint that there will be small delights this month and a reminder to take time to enjoy them. It’s summer, after all! Don’t forget to revel in the long, sunny days, the opportunities to get outside, the invitation to play and connect… there’s a lot of joy in summer, and the more we can embrace those blessings, the more we can release the beliefs that are holding us back.

That’s all for July! More to come in August. If you want to experience the reading in real time, get deeper interpretations on the spread, and bring your own questions to the Tarot, make sure to join us on July 25th at Spirit Rebel in Truckee, CA!

Also! I’m considering changing the time for Tarot + Tea moving forward, as I love to sleep early, so let me know which time works best for you. These events are always on the last Thursday of the month in Truckee, for reference.

I love a good altar. Come to my house and you’ll find a bookshelf full of them. One for my Ascended Ancestors, one for the various Goddesses and Good Spirits I work with, one for my Kitchen Witchery, one for the Land Spirits and Ancestors of the Elements… you get the gist.

One of my favorite summer traditions is to move my altar practice outside. I still tend the indoor altars, but on a weekly basis rather than daily, and I move my daily practice to an oudoor Earth Altar. Here’s the one I made this summer:

My current Earth Altar, featuring all four elements and a little froggy friend

I use durable items that can handle being outside for a few months, and avoid anything the bears/coyotes/chipmunks would be interested in. I make it when the snow finishes melting in June and keep it out until around Fall Equinox, give or take. For offerings, I keep my eyes peeled as I take walks or meditate outside and any time I see a pinecone, stone, feather, or other outdoor miscellaney that feels energetically aligned, I bring it to the altar.

My magical homework assignment/invitation for you this week is to make your own outdoor altar! Generally speaking, a cloth, candle, and glass of water are all you need for an altar, but I invite you to get creative and see what you feel called to add to yours. You can visit daily, weekly, or just every once in awhile, but use this as a place to connect with the Spirits of the Land and your own Good Spirits this season.

I’m hosting a one-day river retreat in Nevada City! 🌊

More to come soon, but I’m excited to share a little preview of Down & In: The River Retreat. Join me and my co-host, Jess Floum, for a day of embodied movement, Land Spirit meditations, and playing in the Yuba River! It’s going to be a lot of fun, of course, but beyond that, it’s a great way to slow down and reconnect with Self and Spirit this summer. The retreat is on Saturday, August 17th from 10a-6p, and we’d love to see you there!

Something big is coming soon 👀

I don’t want to give too much away, but I’m working on a very big and very exciting new offering that will be announced in August. This is the only hint I’ll give:

More teasers to come, but if you have a guess, let me know in the comments. If you guess right, there might be a little gift with your name on it…

• Currently 75% done with Please Stop Trying to Leave Me by Alana Saab. Heart-breaking, spiralic, and hopeful all in one, I feel so seen by this book and so proud of my friend (who wrote it).

• Morning walks with the dog, leaving my phone at home, and just listening to the birds and the summer stories they’re telling

• Getting ice cream from Little Truckee Ice Creamery and above Truckee for this stunning sunset view

1. Donate to help Ahmed’s family rebuild their lives in Gaza and get a Tarot Reading from yours truly!

2. Stand up against the criminalization of homelessness and take action with the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

3. Tell Congress to improve outdoor access with the EXPLORE Act!