The Aspen Tradition

As the Buck Moon waxes full in Capricorn, we find ourselves standing at a threshold—not just of the lunar cycle, but of a nation in flux. The Wheel of the Year turns toward Lammas, the first harvest, and yet the fruits of our collective labor feel bruised. In the United States, the signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” has gutted social programs, slashed Medicaid, and intensified deportations. The sun may be high, but the shadows are long.

In Wiccan cosmology, Capricorn’s full moon invites us to take stock of our commitments. What have we nurtured? What have we outgrown? Saturn retrograde (beginning July 13) whispers of reassessment—urging us to reflect on the structures we’ve inherited and the stories we’ve internalized. This is a time for discerning which roots nourish and which entangle.

🌾 Lammas approaches. Traditionally a celebration of grain and gratitude, it now invites inquiry: what are we gathering in this political landscape? Are we honoring the efforts of those who’ve persisted through hardship, or overlooking those most impacted by systemic shifts? The Wheel reminds us that sacred observance can live alongside civic awareness—that reflection, when rooted in compassion, becomes a practice of collective healing.

The spiral path is not one of despair. Uranus entering Gemini this month signals a radical shift in communication and collective thought. Mercury retrograde in Leo (beginning July 17) invites us to revisit our creative voice, to speak truth not from ego but from soul. Let us use this cosmic moment to re-enchant our activism, to infuse our resistance with ritual.

🕊️ A spell for July: Light a candle for the ancestors who fought for dignity. Place a grain of salt on your tongue in remembrance of the social programs we’ve lost. Speak aloud one truth you’ve been afraid to name. Then listen—to the wind, to the stars, to your own breath. There is wisdom in the pause.

💬 We welcome your voice in this sacred conversation. If there’s a topic close to your heart—seasonal, political, spiritual, or otherwise—send it our way. You can also reach out to aspen@aspentradition.com if you’re facing a personal crossroads and would like spiritual guidance.

We especially hold space for those navigating LGBTQ+ experiences, knowing that identity and spirit are deeply entwined. Whether you’re seeking support through transition, grief, coming out, or quiet moments of sacred becoming—we offer gentle insight drawn from myth, ritual, and a trauma-aware ethic of care. You are welcome here, wholly.

May this July bring clarity, courage, and kinship. 🌕