The Almanac
— ✦ —
July
2026
TODAY is Tuesday, July 28th, the
209th day of 2026, and there are 156 days left in the year. The moon is in Capricorn and the season is Summer (element of fire - peak energy, passion, and illumination).
The next sabbat, Lughnasadh, is in 5 days. Today's moon is waxing (14 days old) and 99% full. The full moon for this phase is on Wednesday, July 29th, and the new moon will be on Wednesday, August 12th.
In the Native American tradition, the July moon is named the Buck Moon. 
Mercury next goes retrograde from October 24th through November 13th, 2026 (88 days from now). Communication, intellect, and awareness are all within Mercury's domain, as are logic and reasoning, our manner of thinking, and how we create and express our thought processes. So, when Mercury is retrograde, remain flexible, allow extra time for travel, and avoid signing contracts. Review projects and plans at these times, but wait until Mercury is direct again to make any final decisions.
- Today's Correspondences -
- Sun Sign
- Leo (element of fire)
- Color
- red (courage and health, sexual love and lust), black (negativity and banishment), and orange (attraction and encouragement)
- Planet
- Mars (element of fire)
- Incense
- cypress, pine, tobacco, brimstone, and civet
- Herb
- nettle
- Stone
- bloodstone
- Tarot Card
- King of Cups
- Gods
- Mars, Ares, and Tiwaz.
- Keywords
- courage, energy, physical strength, and banishing negativity.
- Rune
- ᛃ Jera - The harvest cycle and patient effort rewarded in its own time and season.
- Today's Activity -
Your activity is to carry a bloodstone in your pocket or wear garnet-studded jewelry to reinforce your convictions. Wear the fiery colors associated with this day: scarlet, red, black, and orange. Don some of the more daring and bewitching colors of your wardrobe on Tuesdays and turn a few heads. Use Tuesday to assert yourself, make a mark and stake your claims.
- Weather Lore -
If smoke hovers low near the ground it is likely to rain.
- Seek the Cards -
Draw three cards and let the deck speak. Playing Card Divination — free cartomancy readings using a standard deck, with full interpretations and suit progressions.
- Also -
Mercury next goes retrograde from October 24th through November 13th, 2026 (88 days from now). Communication, intellect, and awareness are all within Mercury's domain, as are logic and reasoning, our manner of thinking, and how we create and express our thought processes. So, when Mercury is retrograde, remain flexible, allow extra time for travel, and avoid signing contracts. Review projects and plans at these times, but wait until Mercury is direct again to make any final decisions.