Monday, July 28, 2025
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Neptune, Saturn, Mercury Retrograde
Happy New Week! We’ve survived Mercury Retrograde so far, and have 15 more days to go.
Chiron goes retrograde this week, on the 30th, until Jan. 2 of next year, giving us a chance to heal old wounds.
Lammas is next Friday, the first of the harvest festivals, starting to pull us farther out of the light portion of the year towards the darker half.
Last week, I definitely used lots of basil for just about everything!
We’re using the Herbal Tarot for July, from herbalist Michael Tierra and artist Candis Cantin. I’ve had this deck since the mid-1990’s, and just love it. In fact, I used it during the month of June for ancestor work. In addition to the meaning of a particular card, it pairs with an herb that you can use to navigate the card, and, in general, with which to expand your herbal knowledge. You can learn more about Michael here and about Candis here. You can buy the deck here.
This is our last week with this deck. We will switch to a different deck for August with next week’s reading.
Since I am not a certified herbalist, I will focus on the spiritual meaning of each herb rather than the medicinal. If you are interested in the medicinal properties, which are discussed in THE SPIRIT OF HERBS guidebook that goes with the deck, I encourage you to invest in that book, research the herbs in other reliable texts, or consult with a certified herbalist.
If you’re new to the weekly readings, this is a spread of mine. It’s read from left to right, 5 cards. Any card that needs more interpretation can be built into further, above and below, with either more tarot cards, another tarot deck, or an oracle deck.
These interpretations are mine, based on my experience, intuition and responses to the artwork. You may have a different experience. This is an overview of the week as it stands now; every decision we make from the moment of the reading can change the outcome. If there’s something in the reading that worries you, you have the information ahead of time so that you can plan, make better choices, or handle it differently than predicted for a better outcome. Tarot sets out possibilities, which you change through your choices and actions.
Left to right, the positions are as follows:
1. The Collective Energy of the Week
2. The Week’s Challenge
3. The Week’s Opportunity
4. The Week’s Stretch
5. The Week’s Comfort
The Collective Energy of the Week – Knight of Pentacles
The Knight of Pentacles makes progress, but it’s slower and more methodical than many of the other knights. He takes his time, considers every angle, and makes measured decisions. Reliable, loyal, and patient, he takes longer to get where he’s going, but it’s worth it. After last week’s Eight of Wands quick-moving energy, a slower energy this week is a welcome relief. It allows us to enjoy the energy of the herb Elecampane, which keeps us grounded and reminds us of our inherent worth and beauty.
The Week’s Challenge – The Lovers
This is an interesting card to have in the “challenge” position. The Lovers often demands a decision. The previous card, the Knight of Pentacles, reminds us not to make hasty decisions that may bring regret. Look at both sides of the issue (taking both of the Lovers into account) and make a balanced decision. Don’t allow a partner to push you into a decision before you’re ready. Parsley is the herb associated with this card, balancing yin/yang energy. If you’re eating with others this week, add a little parsley to the food to keep things in balance.
The Week’s Opportunity – The High Priest
The High Priest is about traditional, institutional structure. It’s about teachers, both inner and outer. This week, there’s a chance to learn something from someone who has a traditional background, but you can funnel it through your own inner teacher to process it. Maybe use some sage for this, the herb connected to this card. Whether you burn some sage or sprinkle fresh or dried sage on your food, connect with the herb as you process new information slowly (Knight Pentacles) and don’t rush into a decision.
The Week’s Stretch – Eight of Pentacles
The 8 of Pentacles is about showing up and doing the work, whatever that work may be. Take pleasure in your skills and your craft. With the new knowledge you gain this week, and the time you want to take to process it properly, you still have to show up for your commitments. Enjoy the work this week. You may be distracted and feel like you just want to sit and think. Build in “sit and think” time, but also do the work you have to do. The herb associated with this is ginger. Ginger’s warmth will help fuel the fire in your work. It’s also considered a money-drawing herb (cinnamon gets more attention for this, but ginger works, too).
The Week’s Comfort – Five of Cups
Again, an odd card to turn up in this particular position. The 5 of Cups indicates loss and grief. However, although two cups are spilled, three are still intact. Grieve the loss, acknowledge your feelings, but also look to what’s left and what you can create out of what’s left (cups are creative vessels as well as emotional). Horsetail, the herb associated with this card, makes room for the grief, and also helps it flow through. The loss you might mourn this week may be an old one, not necessarily something that occurs this week. Give yourself the time and space for that mourning, while also looking ahead to the creation of the next cycle. Take your time, look at issues from different angles, be willing to learn from others and process that learning through yourself, show up and do the work, and integrate the grief and loss and you prepare for the next cycle.
Did anything in particular resonate for you in this reading? Or did you get something else? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!