WHAT JULY IS WHISPERING
Monthly Correspondences & Folk Magic
The front door's unlocked, the coffee is brewing & I saved you a seat at the table.
Every July I find myself slowing down just enough to notice things…to savor the magical bits of mid summer. The rosemary's getting a little wild, the bees seem busier than ever & somehow the evenings always convince me there's still time for one more cup of tea outside.
If you're anything like me, you've probably planted a few seeds this year. Maybe you've started a garden, a creative project, or a dream that's still finding its footing. Maybe you're simply becoming a version of yourself that feels a little more like home.
July is a good reminder that not everything blooms on the same schedule. Sometimes the most important growth is happening quietly while we're simply showing up, one day at a time.
You'll find folklore, seasonal traditions, astrology, practical magic & the occasional old wives' tale tucked into these pages. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't & make the practice your own. Different traditions do different things & I think there's something beautiful about that…magic has always worn many faces.
So grab a cup of something good, get comfortable & let's see what July is whispering about.
The Sky This Month
Before we start gathering herbs & lighting candles, let's step outside for a moment & see what's happening in the sky.
We begin the month in Cancer season, a time that gently turns our attention toward home, intuition, family & the places that make us feel safe. Cancer reminds us that some of the most meaningful magic happens in ordinary moments…sharing a meal, tending a garden or creating a home that feels like a sanctuary can be just as sacred as any ritual.
Around July 22, the Sun moves into Leo & the energy begins to shift…Leo invites us to be seen. It's creative, confident, playful & warm. If Cancer wraps us in a cozy blanket, then Leo opens the windows & reminds us not to hide our light.
This Month's Moon
New Moon in Cancer
July 14
This Cancer New Moon is rooted in themes of home, family & inner security. It's a softer kind of beginning, one that asks you to turn inward before reaching outward. What makes you feel safe? What feels like home, not just physically, but emotionally & spiritually?
We're also moving through a retrograde period, which makes this New Moon especially suited for revisiting old dreams, unfinished ideas & intentions that may have been set aside. Instead of rushing forward, this is a moment to reflect, reconnect & gently tend to what still matters.
Set intentions that feel nourishing rather than urgent…think of this as planting seeds in familiar soil… trusting that what is meant for you will grow in its own time.
Full Moon in Aquarius (Buck Moon)
July 29
The Full Moon in Aquarius brings a very different kind of light. Known as the Buck Moon, it carries themes of growth, strength & renewal, but through the lens of innovation & community.
Where the New Moon asked you to turn inward, this Full Moon invites you to look outward. It shines on your connections, your place within your community & the ways you share your gifts with others. Aquarius energy is forward thinking, a little unconventional & deeply tied to collective growth.
This is a beautiful time to celebrate progress, especially the kind that may not have followed a traditional path. It’s also an excellent time release anything that keeps you feeling disconnected or small & make space for ideas, relationships & visions that feel expansive and aligned with who you're becoming.
Also Happening in the Sky
Each month we'll also keep an eye on the bigger celestial happenings. Retrogrades, planets changing signs, eclipses & other notable events all have their own stories to tell. You don't need to know all the astrology to work with the energy… I'll keep it simple & share what I think is most helpful.
July at a Glance
Theme
Growth • Confidence • Joy • Abundance • Visibility
Zodiac Seasons
Cancer • Leo
Tarot Card
The Sun
Planet
The Sun
Element
Fire balanced by Water
Colors
Gold • Yellow • Orange • Green
Crystals
Citrine • Carnelian • Sunstone • Aquamarine
Herbs
Rosemary • Lavender • Basil • Calendula • Chamomile
Seasonal Foods
Tomatoes • Peaches • Berries • Corn • Fresh herbs • Honey
A Little Bit of Folk Magic
Rosemary is one of those plants that shows up again & again in folk traditions for a reason. It's long been associated with protection, remembrance, blessing the home & for setting intentions. It's also one of the easiest herbs to find, which makes it an excellent place to begin if you're just starting to weave a little more magic into everyday life.
A sprig of rosemary by the front door isn't just beautiful, it can become a simple monthly ritual. For some, it's a symbol of welcoming in peace, abundance & good company while leaving stress & worry on the doorstep. Others keep it in the kitchen, where it's long been connected to both nourishment & the heart of the home.
Witch Tip
Tie a small bundle of rosemary with a piece of twine or ribbon & hang it near your front door, a window or in the kitchen. As it dries, let it become a gentle reminder of the intention you set at the beginning of the month. When it's ready, you can crumble a little into a simmer pot, add it to a sachet or tuck it into a small jar to carry the season with you a little longer.
Simple rituals like this remind me that magic doesn't always have to be elaborate…sometimes it's just choosing an ordinary moment & treating it as something sacred.
This Month's Journal Prompt
What am I quietly growing that deserves more trust and less rushing?
Sometimes our biggest transformations happen long before anyone, including ourselves, can see the results.
Looking Ahead
Psst… I have a little secret to share.
I've been quietly working on something behind the scenes that I've been dreaming about for a long time & next month it's finally coming to life.
The House of the 13th Moon Monthly Almanac.
It's everything I love about folklore, seasonal living, practical magic & following the rhythm of the year, all gathered together in one place.
I have a feeling you're going to feel right at home.
Thanks for hanging out with me this month. I hope you found a little inspiration, a little magic, a few new ideas or maybe just an excuse to spend a little more time outside with your feet planted firmly in the grass.
I'll be back next month with a fresh pot of folklore, practical magic and whatever the season decides to bring with it.
Until then...
Go make a little magic.
Maxxie
Pop Tart Goblin | House of the 13th Moon
Hexed or Human?
Have you been hexed or do you just need a snack?
Let's talk about it.
Because every witch eventually has that moment…the car won't start, the dog threw up on the floor, your sweater got stuck on the door knob (IFYKYK) youforgot your password, you've cried 52 times this week & Mercury is in the microwave…again.
So naturally the question is
Am I hexed?
I mean maybe…but before we blame dark magic, an evil eye or your weirdo ex, let's make sure you’re not simply having a very human experience.
I know, I know…much less exciting. whomp whomp.
Step One: Check The Human Stuff
Before you start marathon cleansing your house & side-eyeing your neighbor, ask yourself:
Have I been sleeping?
Have I eaten something besides caffeine and pop tarts?
Am I dehydrated?
Am I under unusual stress?
Am I grieving, overwhelmed or burnt out?
Have I been watching too many episodes of Supernatural?
Because exhaustion can feel a lot like bad energy & anxiety can definitely feel like a psychic attack.
Stress has a funny way of convincing us that the universe is personally targeting us & sometimes what feels like bad energy is really just exhaustion wearing a spooky costume.
Step Two: Look For Patterns
One bad day isn't a curse, 3 inconveniences in a row isn't a hex. Unfortunately, life is messy & being a human is so weird.
Pay attention to when something feels persistent, unusual or out of character.
Maybe the energy in your house suddenly feels heavy or slushy.
Maybe you're having repeated unsettling dreams.
Maybe everyone in the house is snapping at each other & things feel off in a way that's hard to explain.
Trust your intuition…just don't let fear drive the bus.
Step Three: Cleanse First
If you're unsure of what’s going on, start simple.
Clean your space.
Open the windows.
Take a cleansing bath.
Cleanse your space with smoke or sound or whatever is a part of your practice.
Ground yourself.
Most of the time you'll know pretty quickly whether the energy shifts, if things feel lighter after, amazing.
If not, you can always dig deeper.
Step Four: Use Divination Responsibly
Notice I didn't say panic…I said investigate…become your own private detective.
Pull cards.
Meditate.
Journal.
Ask questions.
Get curious.
The goal isn't to prove that something terrible is happening, the goal is to gather information.
The Good News
In the millions of years of doing this work, I've seen far more people who were exhausted, overwhelmed or carrying energy that wasn't theirs than people who were actually dealing with a true hex. Most of the time you're not cursed, you're stressed or grieving or you're carrying too much. (color me shocked)
Or you're simply having a rough week. And guess what? That's okay.
That doesn't make your experience any less real…it just means it's worth checking the practical things before we assume the worst.
Want To Check Anyway?
I've included my free Match Test, Egg Cleanse & Grounding Practice guide. HERE
It's one of the simplest ways to check in with the energy around you without spiraling into fear or convincing yourself that every inconvenience is supernatural.
So take a deep cleansing breath & most importantly, trust yourself.
Drink some water, eat a snack and be gentle with yourself.
You'd be surprised how often that's the real magic.
And remember:
Sometimes you're hexed…but most of the time you're just human. (sorry about that)
XOXO,
Your Resident Folk Witch, Ghost Host & Magic Manifestor-
Maxxie