July New Moon Divination: This one feels personal.

Note: New Moon Divination goes up on the blog for everyone about a week after the actual New Moon. Subscribers receive theirs via email in real time. I do not edit the message to adjust for time-traveling.

Hello, all – I’m so glad I waited until today to perform this ritual. The correspondences came through so strongly, which always feels like grace, and I suspect I could not have accessed that part of my brain if I’d tried to squeeze it into last night. I’m so pleased you’ll have this before the new moon rises (albeit not visibly) tonight!

1. Overall Theme: Alder, for guidance and trust. Alder speaks to guidance we might receive from a trusted source, but here I think it’s talking about faith in yourself. What knowledge and insight is within you now? What guidance is your inner voice speaking? Are you listening? Most of the time, I already know what I need to do. Consult with that inner voice, even if you need to pretend that it’s somebody else speaking to you. In secular terms, think of this as the Mastermind group you build within. Heck, even if you prefer to lean on outside advice, be sure you pass it through your own filters before taking action. 

2. Potential & Allies: Ivy, for binding and persistence. Keep the promises you have made to yourself and those you care about most, even when it’s not the easiest thing. Maybe especially BECAUSE it’s not the easiest thing. I’m not saying you need to pick the hardest way to do anything. But stay connected to those deep desires, and wrap your actions and intentions around them so they grow.  

3. Static & Obstacles: Broom, for work that needs doing. Okay, it’s odd to see Broom in this position. What comes to mind for me is how easy it is to waste my energy on busywork. I get so preoccupied with accomplishing tasks that I forget which ones are going to move me closer to those deep desires that Ivy references. The task is not the goal. And the metric isn’t the goal either. The goal is the goal. Don’t burn torque on busywork. 

4. Letting Go: Hazel, for enlightenment and inspiration. Again, I seldom see Hazel in this light. However, however, however. Sometimes we are waiting for *a sign* that what we’re doing is meaningful, instead of just DOING the thing. If you’ve mapped out what matters most to you (with the wisdom of Alder and the purpose of Ivy), then it’s time to stop waiting for the timing to be perfect. Do it imperfectly. Start on the path and things become clear to you. I remember reading a Biblical reference that said something like: The miracle wasn’t in Moses raising his staff above the water; it was in the faith of the person who first stepped off the shore. It’s so hard for me to let go of my need for certainty. I think Hazel is reminding me, and us, that waiting is going to cost me. 

5. Helping Grow: Bird/Cherry, the modifier for Sky and air. Usually, I’d pull another ogham to see what the modifier is….well, modifying. Given the rest of this reading, though, I think it carries its own meaning: BREATHE! Preserve some empty spaces so you have room to maneuver and let your thoughts rest between actions. Openness matters. Let a breeze flow through and clear away some clutter. Let song and breath lift your heart. 

I hope that all feels as relevant to you personally as it did to me this morning. What else do you see? 

The astrology folks are talking about planetary alignments and things getting un-stuck. This reading feels congruent with releasing patterns and committing to the next evolution. May you be surrounded by all the care and grace you need to navigate the days and weeks ahead. 

Brightest blessings. 

Nicole

~ Nicole (Nikki, sometimes Saffron Hare) is founder and general manager at Nine Fires Press. Her Druidic practice has included solitary, small-group, and congregational worship, with a focus on liturgy and seership. She is studying for her Master Gardener certification, rehabbing an underground home in the Midwestern US, and loves to fall in love with bad ideas.