New Moon, 21 Cancer 41, July 14, 2007, 8:04 am EDT
This New Moon is in the sign most associated with motherhood and the home, and of memory and origin. As the cardinal sign ruled by Moon, Cancer symbolizes the tides of the sea, womb of hte Mother from which all life emerges. Venus, especially bright in the evening sky now, enters the sign of Virgo at 2:25 pm on this New Moon day. This adds themes of practical, common sense as we enter this new lunar cycle, and this theme is also assisted by Mercury's direct motion. But before we will begin can develop, it must be born! Cancer is also known for heightened insinct. To apply all that to our understanding of the significance of this new cycle and what we must do to launch it, let's go to visit the sea, or if not that, our closest body of water (be it lake, stream, pond, pool or puddle or none of those are available, your own bowl of water, to honor our Mother and listen for Her message.

Ritual for Cancer's New Moon
Gather small flowers or petals as an offering. If you are using any water other than saltwater sea, bring a small amount of salt and sprinkle it into the water, for salt and water combine the elements of Water and Earth to create the elixir of life. Wade into the water, if you can, or sit close beside it. Dip your fingers into the water and touch them to your face and body as you meditate on the love of Goddess and call Her presence within. Sprinkle your petals over the water as you chant:

Continue washing yourself in the water. Sprinkle it gently on your face and body as you relax, allowing your mind to be free of all stress and open to the feel of the water and all of Nature around you. Notice thoughts that come to you. One or more of them may contain just the message you need to get you started successfully into this new lunar cycle. If you are near a natural body of water, you may spot a small gift from her (a shell, or perhaps a pebble). If so, accept it with thanks to the Mother, as a special reminder of the message She has given you.

Crescent Moon, 10 Virgo 14, July 18, 2007, 1:20 am EDT
Practical attention to the work at hand is a theme for this Moon sign, and Moon's trine to Mars today favors your actiivity. But her opposition to Uranus and ending aspect of a square to Plulto tomorrow morning suggest that your New Moon best intents for new beginnings may now need a bit of change in process. Well, this is a phase in which to expect some level of challenge as you work to increase the light of your intent. So, whatever tasks need to be done, don't complain. Just do them.

First Quarter Moon, 29 Libra 06, July 22, 2007, 2:29 am EDT
This phase begins in the wee hours of Sunday morning when you're most likely sleeping, and is the final aspect of Moon in Libra, which means void-of-course, so for all practical purposes, this "crisis of action" phase has a Moon in Scorpio theme—Moon moves into Scorpio at 4:18 am EDT.
Moon's string of aspects in Scorpio begins benignly enough, first sextile Venus at 9:16 am followed by trine Mercury just one half hour into Monday and then trine Uranus at 5:17 pm. You may be tempted to coast, but Sunday's Scorpio Moon action and much of Monday's work day can progress smoothly with accomplishment, if you take advantage of it. Moods becomes more intense and likely perplexing later Monday, as we move past the soft aspects toward the 9:43 pm Moon opposition Mars, then square Neptune, and ending with Moon square Saturn at 6:30 am EDT July 24.
Because of that closing square to Saturn, be wary of choosing Monday to initiate significant new action. If you encounter intense feelings from others this evening, you are at least aware of that potential. Avoid walking into a problem,if you can, but if you do, you can lessen it by remaining calm, and helpful to others.
Moon moves into Sagittarius at 4:29 pm July 25. If you want a good time to elicit favorable action while still within this "crisis of action" phase, a best time to choose could be during the morning of July 25 as Moon moves toward conjunction with Jupiter at 12:25 pm.

Gibbous Moon, 17 Sagittarius 58, July 26, 2007, 3:30 am EDT
Or the first day of Gibbous Moon—Moon nearly full but not quite, looks good for intiating action, too. Here's a little ritual to aid you in setting the magical intent for your action on the spiritual plane as well as the physical:

Ritual for First Quarter or Gibbous Moon Action
Use a symbol for the action you are taking, or if not that, write it on a paper. Prepare a tool of each of the four elements and cast sacred space—I'll suggest them as we go. Within your ritual space, bless your symbol and your intent by scribing a clockwise circle around it with each of hte four elements, concluding with a pentagram within a circle as you say:

Full Moon, 6 Aquarius 31, July 29, 2007, 8:48 pm EDT
The time of optimum magic and potential fulfillment is at hand, and it's always good to share Full Moon with others, if you can. Aquarius is an open, friendly sign, often motivated by humanitarian instincts. Your group energy in sharing the "Magical Moon" could be directed toward a group goal in which you weave a web of unity with both individual and group intent for a common goal.

Web-Weaving Ritual for Aquarius Full Moon
You'll need a big ball of yarn or string (colored yarn is easier to use and see, in my opinion—bright blue is good color for Aquarius). Your group goal should be talked through and generally agreed upon before you begin, and you should also explain the web-weaving process so everyone understands it. Then, at the part of your ritual for the magical working, have everyone stand in a circle and begin by tossing the yarn ball to someone else, while you hold onto the end of the yarn. Compliment that person for his or her prior participation in (or if new, interest in) the group goal. Each person receiving the toss should then toss it on to someone else with the same spoken theme. As the ball is tossed back and forth across the circle a weblike complexity of strings begins to form. When it comes back to you, change the dialogue by saying what you, personally, will next do to further the group goal. After each person has received the toss and spoken to that theme, then you might go around once more by asking if anyone has a suggestion to improve upon what the group as a whole is doing. Toss the ball to the first one to indicate he or she has a suggestion, and that person, afte speaking will as for another suggestion, toss the ball to that person and so on. Continue while the energy is high. When you sense that it is beginning to ebb, then conclude by saying that the network you have created is a magical bond among you for continued success. Lead the group in a final chant, nine times, with everyone holdng the web taunt as you move in a clockwise circle, building the tempo.

Then, move toward center, gathering the yarn network into a ball, as you conclude with: By all the power of three times three, as we do will, so mote it be! As we do will so mote it be! As we do will, so mote it be!

Disseminating Moon, 24 Pisces 50, August 2, 2007, 7:59 am EDT
This phase is about sharing. That's especially appropriate for me in this lunar cycle, for on this day, I'll be leaving for Merry Meet, the annual meeting of Covenant of the Goddess, to be held this year on the campus of University of Massachusetts, with Weaver's Local Council as our hosts. I'll be doing a class on magical timing there, and also having a vendor booth for my books and art products. Optimism that I'll enjoy it is enhanced by Moon moving into Aries in the afternoon, with a string of sextiles and trines.

Lammas, or Lughnasad, Sun at 15° Leo 00
August 7, 2007, at 5:31 pm EDT
CLICK HERE for my article on the mythology of this solar-seasonal Sabbat of early harvest, with suggested rituals for the occasion.

Last Quarter Moon, 13 Taurus 05, August 5, 2007, 5:20 pm EDT
Moon half light and half dark, and the dark will increase. This is the time of month when we begin winding down, finishing up and perhaps wondering what next...

Balsamic Moon, 01 Cancer 23, August 9, 2007, 4:00 am EDT
The period from Last Quarter through Balsamic Moon phases is the optimum time of the month for release of that which is past, or is no longer needed. Now we're back to Cancer, sign of the home. This could be the time you (and I) have needed to clean out the clutter, both physically and symbolically. I'm going to do it—how about you? Make it a ritual house cleansing. Once you've removed the stuff you no longer need, and rearranged what's left to your liking, then symbolically cleanse your space with the sprinkling of salted water and the wafting of incense. Then circle it with a white candle for the blessings of Spirit. You'll feel better once you've done this—I know I will!