Monday, July 13, 2026
Dark Moon
Pluto, Mercury, Neptune Retrograde
Welcome to a new week! I mentioned that I hope to use some ingredients from each week’s reading this month. Last week, I used a lot of garlic, and it definitely mitigated the heaviness of some of the days. I also used lemon water. I had hoped to drink some pomegranate juice, but didn’t. Does it count if the cherries I ate were in a cherry Danish?
Today is the dark moon, which means tomorrow is the new moon. Since it’s in a Mercury Retrograde, I will focus more on the planning/planting portion of new moon energy than launching myself out of the gate. If I try to start too hard during a Mercury Retrograde, I will trip over my own feet and go splat.
Counting today, we only have 11 more days in Mercury Retrograde. Hang in there.
This month, we use The Magic Pantry Tarot by Cedar McCloud. The deck is based around food and cooking. Since we are in peak CSA season, I thought it would be a good choice for July. I plan to use some of the ingredients in the week’s reading over the course of the month, and see how those ingredients affect the decisions made from the time of the reading. Cedar McCloud has several books and decks out, and you can learn more about them and buy this deck on Cedar’s website, Numinous Spirit Press.
This is one of my spreads, that I call The Elemental Spread. It is very similar to many of the Medicine Wheel spreads I’ve seen, but I made a few tweaks to the way I use it over the years.
We start in the center, with Spirit/Self. This is the overall energy of the week, and how we relate to it.
We move to the position above, with is North/Tangibles, connected to the element of Earth, advice on how to deal with the week on a tangible, materialistic level.
We move clockwise to the third position, East/Thought, connected to the element of Air, advice on how to intellectually deal with the week.
Then we move down to the bottom of the spread, the 4th position, South/Passion, connected to the element of Fire, advice on how to deal with the week from a place of passion and identity.
Then we move up to the left side of the spread, the 5th position, West/Emotion, connected to the element of Water, advice on how to deal with the week from a place of creativity and emotion.
We wind up where we started, at the spirit center, integrating all the information for the week.
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.
Center – Spirit/Self: Temperance
Temperance is a wonderful card to have as the central driving energy for the week. It’s about balance and flow, and the ingredient here is water. Where I live expects high temperatures and humidity this week, so I will use water to hydrate, keep cool, and stay in balance. I may try to spend some time up at the lake near my house this week, to enjoy some tranquility. There’s a lot of chaos in the world, so by maintaining our own tranquility, we can meet chaos with equanimity, rather than disassociation.
North – Earth/Tangibles: Five of Swords
The 5 of Swords often warns of argument, and it’s in the position of tangibles, so watch your words with others today, and let others’ sharp words roll off you. The ingredient is tomato, one of my favorites. I’m enjoying tomato-basil-mozzarella lunches in the hot weather, and I’ve been using tomatoes with pasta quite a bit. Remember that basil is an herb of harmony. If you’re arguing with someone this week, maybe prepare a pasta with tomato sauce, use a lot of basil, and talk it through without either of you getting hostile or defensive? Or agree to share a pleasant meal and have the discussion after Mercury turns direct.
East – Air/Thought/Intellect: The Fool
The Magic Pantry deck has two Fool cards. One uses eggs as the ingredient, and the other tofu. I am not a fan of tofu, so I will not be using that ingredient this week! However, the Fool in the realm of thought suggests taking a chance on a new idea. Since this week has a new moon in it, I figure I’ll get an idea for a new piece and can start planning. I won’t take the steps yet, until Mercury goes direct, but I can use the playful aspect of the Fool to play with the idea.
South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Page of Cups
The Page of Cups is a card I often respond to as one of creative curiosity, and willing to learn new things in the realm of creativity. The apple is one of my favorite foods. It’s out of season right nowhere I live, but the art on the card of the apple and the books reminds me to keep learning and growing as part of who I am. Tied with the Fool, of new ideas, it suggests that I start playing with the new idea, but I probably won’t take much action on it until apples come back in season.
West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Two of Swords
Asparagus is another food of which I am not fond. Two of Swords is often a stalemate card, and, in this case likely ties into the 5 of Swords up in the position of tangibles. Since we’re in the midst of all these retrogrades, especially Mercury, don’t make any big decisions. It might be a case of misunderstanding and temporary stalemate (since it’s a two). If it was an eight, it’s more likely to suggest the end of a creative project or relationship, but this is a two. Tap into the Temperance energy of the week, so you don’t say something you will regret when Mercury goes direct. Think before you speak. Then pause, and think again.
We have two Major Arcana cards this week (big energy), and three Minor Arcana cards (the daily details), including one court card. There are only swords and cups this week, no wands or pentacles.
Keeping your mouth shut and staying hydrated looks like a good bet this week! Play with ideas, but don’t share them yet.
Did anything resonate with you, or did you get something different? I always love to hear about it.