The Beauty Witch: JULY

Heavy heated days turn to balmy starlit nights
that breathe magic into our dreams
and carry us beyond the sea.
The silent lull of moonlight
opens the path
to desires fulfilled
and hearts overflowing.

Somewhere between Midsummer and the harvest festivals that grace the first winds of Autumn lies a glorious spell: long days drenched with sun that melt effortlessly into the plush lips of sultry evenings, where romance simmers. It’s not only easy, but necessary, my Loves, to give in to the ripe pleasures of the season. No matter what your occupation, the feeling of an extended holiday is everywhere. Do you feel it? Even diehard workaholics right now can find rationale in stealing away for a beach romp, a shaded picnic on the lake, and a few night’s worth of staying out far too late – though we may be reluctant to admit it.

July gives us permission to play, and really, don’t we all need to? Though the Sun in comfort-loving Cancer is predominant this month, it also brings us the beginnings of Leo, and all the childlike joys inherent. Put them together, and we have the quintessential good vibrations of Summer. With major players Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Neptune all retrograding at the moment, there’s no better time to luxuriate in the slower pace, taking time to truly experience the sensuality of now.

July 12^th brings us a moody New Moon in Cancer at 10:48 pm EST, at precisely the same moment the Moon goes void-of-course, meaning that the silver lady is best described as being between signs. This can be translated as having no dominant planetary energy available to infuse your magic with. Now, normally a Cancer New Moon would be a fantastic time to set forth intentions for your home, work a little green magic, and nurture your creations. However, many witches feel that when the Moon isn’t aspected to a sign, lunar work can either yield no results whatsoever, or potentially disastrous ones. Though decades of experience can prove otherwise, it would be best to channel maternal Cancer energies by spending a bit of time inside the shell, so to speak.

Adding to the delicacy of the day, we also have a solar eclipse, a bit of a wild card astrologically speaking.  Solar eclipses tend to herald new beginnings – which can be incredibly exciting – so pay close attention to what arises on this one. The atmosphere will be highly charged, with news or revelations that can appear seemingly out of the blue, and with the emotional nature of Cancer predominant now, we want to keep ourselves as balanced as possible.

Embrace the sign of receptivity to nurture yourself, turn on your intuitive powers, and allow a little time to be a homebody. I have concocted this decadent bath potion to cradle you, my Darlings, in a pearlescent shell of tranquility, so that when you emerge you will feel open and loved, ready for whatever comes your way.

LUMINOUS BATH CRÈME

3.5 cups full-fat organic coconut milk
4 tablespoons almond flour
3 tablespoons pure vanilla powder
20 drops wild orange essential oil
15 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Begin by pouring the coconut milk into a large bowl. Gently whisk in the almond flour and vanilla powder, mixing thoroughly. Add in your oils, one at a time, and blend together clockwise, infusing your potion with healing, supportive vibrations. Decant into a gorgeous pitcher or cruet, and run yourself a warm bath. When your waters are ready, undress and step in. Standing up straight, take three deep breaths, and slowly pour the crème onto your body, beginning at the neck. Allow it to caress you as it glides along your skin, then plunges into the warm little sea you’ve created. Now ease yourself into the bath, close your eyes, and let the elemental wisdom come in.

This is a not only a strengthening and highly restorative ritual; it positively overflows with beauty benefits! The base of this month’s potions is rich, luscious coconut: creamy, delicious, and bursting with beauty fats, it is a classic Summertime favorite. Lunar and water-ruled, coconut holds the magic of spirituality and psychic awareness along with impressive moisturizing and hydrating abilities. It is particularly important to incorporate coconut into your rituals during the heat of Summer, when you can dehydrate easily, and your lovely skin can be prone to dryness and sun damage. (Even the palest, shade-loving fae must take extra care during these months!) And remember, the hard Cancer shell is designed to protect, but can also be rigid and off-putting, so let the softness in, both physically and energetically.

Almond is rich in age-defying vitamin E which prevents and lessens wrinkles, improves skin elasticity, and moisturizes. Ruled by air, it facilitates healing (and money magic!) while summoning the intellect, bringing level-headed balance to an active emotional state.

Vanilla is a sexy gift from love-goddess Venus, bestowing beauty and sensuality. Soothing and calming to the skin, its divine scent will lure you to exotic places.

Wild Orange trees aid in release of trauma, and bring clarity to emotions. Solar-ruled, their fruits hold purifying fire magic. These bright lights are fortified with vitamin C and beta-carotene for some serious wrinkle-fighting protection. Added bonus: their cheerful scent is a guaranteed mood-booster.

Ylang Ylang calms irritated skin, fights free radicals, and minimizes fine lines with antioxidant super powers.

It also brightens your mood, acts as a mild sedative, and is effective as a natural depression remedy.

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As we continue along our languid path this month, my Loves, we have another little planetary surprise: our friend Mercury is retrograding yet again, on July 26^th, giving us a total of five planets seemingly in backward motion. This is not a cause for alarm, but rather another cosmic nudge to proceed in every area of your life with care. This Summer is all about re-evaluating, closely examining, tending to details, and glancing back to see what might be unresolved. We are being given a fabulous pause to take stock, and see what needs addressing. Yes, it will feel woozy and tiring, but that’s where tending to our well-being comes into play. Never underestimate the value of strengthening our insides, nor the confidence that comes from caring for our outsides.

Speaking of caring, we are now officially between eclipses, as they always come in pairs, so pay close attention to children – including the furry, feathered, and scaled – as they are vulnerable at this time. Triple-check their environments, take extra precautions, and keep their stress-levels at a minimum.

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As the month winds down, we have a Full Moon lunar eclipse in Aquarius on July 27th, with potential for emotional challenges. Lunar eclipses usually mark endings or points of culmination, with the silver lining of clearing away what is no longer needed.

Fortunately, we have the airy Aquarian intellect to lean on, and along with it a characteristic ability to venture outside our comfort zones to stand up for things that matter to us, particularly in the areas of social causes and philanthropic interests. This is also the moment to really see the big picture, and how best all the little pieces fit into it.

Coming to your emotional rescue, should you require it, is a quenching, deliciously cool elixir that will lift your spirits, sharpen your brain power, and keep you going. Oh, and your skin will thank you threefold!

AQUARIAN ELIXIR

per serving

½ cup coconut water
½ cup almond milk
1 teaspoon matcha powder
½ cucumber, chopped (leave skin on)
13 large leaves fresh mint
1 tablespoon raw coconut nectar

In a high-speed blender, combine all ingredients and pulse until smooth. Serve chilled. Pour into a chic glass and garnish with a fresh mint sprig. You’re going to love this! It’s refreshing and minty, with a touch of sweetness. As you sip it, feel your cells hydrate, your skin glow, and your focus sharpen. Enjoy this especially during the heat of the season, when we all need a little extra soothing.

In addition to the beautifying and magical mixture of coconut and almond we used in our bath, we are adding a few favorite cohorts to the blend:

Matcha, a super-charged form of green tea, is the star of graceful Japanese ceremonial rites that are performed to honor mindfulness and presence. It is an antioxidant powerhouse with tremendous health benefits, which, when applied topically, is also a beauty bombshell that assists cell rejuvenation, provides UV protection, and acts as an anti-inflammatory. Magically, it is ruled by fire, giving courage, assisting in money matters, and elevating the conscious mind.

Cucumber is a lunar-ruled messenger of peace and healing, which plumps and firms skin with B and C vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. By leaving the skin on, you get the lion’s share of its nutrients, including silica, which strengthens connective tissues – an important part of keeping skin youthful.

Mint is another effective anti-inflammatory plant which helps to keep skin clear. Ruled by Aquarius, it brings us gifts of money, healing and purification, along with the added sparkle of lusty energy!

Beauty Witch Tip:  Guess what? This elixir can also be a facial masque! After you’ve prepared it, reserve two teaspoons. For a pre-sun treatment, apply one teaspoon onto clean skin with a fluffy brush or fingers, then let it drink in for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water, pat dry, and follow with a natural SPF moisturizer. Post-sun, massage gently into clean skin, let it sit, then rinse and apply a hydrating natural serum or cream.

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Have a beautiful, joyous month, my Sweet Ones! Remember to relax into the syrupy sweetness of Summer whenever and wherever you can, despite planetary bumps. In fact, the more you embrace the simple pleasures, the easier, and more satisfying the ride will be.

I’ll leave you with a few fun facts about July:  Known to witches as the Hay Moon, the Full Moon in July is sometimes referred to as the Blood Moon in a reference to those painful mosquitoes (!) but the actual witchy Blood Moon occurs in October. July also marks the marriage of Isis and Osiris, and the union of Venus and Adonis – another reason to surrender to beauty and love!

Love and Stardust,

xo Alise