Hello friends:

As we move through the days around the 4th of July, a national holiday rife with symbolism, significance, controversy, and paradox, we've been drenched by literal storms here in Central Texas. Flash floods have surprised the Hill Country, taking precious lives and testing our capacity for more grief and bewilderment.

And yet, beneath this intensity, a deeper archetypal pattern is stirring. It's striking how this shows up in sky-based systems.

Today, the Mayan sacred calendar brings us 7 Kawok, the energy of the midwife and the storm, the rain that nourishes, and the tempest that destroys. According to Mark Elmy, Kawok is the moment just before birth, the contractions that clear the way. In astrology, we might liken this to the energy of a water trine meeting a square to transformative Pluto, a fertile mix of emotional release, inner confrontation, and breakthrough.

The number 7 sits at the midpoint of the Tzolk’in cycle, a place of balance and culmination. It signals completion, but also the choice point: Do we hold on, or do we surrender to the current? Our bodies are likely experiencing fatigue, congestion, and illness right now. How is this affecting you?

Astrologically speaking:

Venus conjunct Uranus in Taurus on July 3–4 ushered in a shockwave of spontaneity in love, values, and finances. A call to break routine and be honest in connection
Venus enters Gemini on July 5, sparking curiosity, playful conversation, and social engagement. ACTION: Connect: With Venus & Uranus in Gemini, invite sparkly, unexpected conversations. Try a new group, share a deeper story, lean into discovery.
Uranus enters Gemini on July 7, beginning a seven‑year era of communication revolution. Expect breakthroughs in technology, social media, and the very shape of our collective stories.
Neptune and Saturn retrograde in Aries (July 1 & 13), inviting us to reassess our dreams, boundaries, and ambitions. A time to reflect on what’s real and ready for our commitment. ACTION: Reflect: As Saturn/Neptune retrograde in Aries, what structures do you need to rethink? What patterns are ready to release?
Mercury retrogrades in Leo from July 17–Aug 11, calling for deep re‑vision of creative projects, leadership style, and how we express our truth. ACTION: Prepare: Mercury retro in Leo invites you to revise your creative and communicative expressions. This is editing time — refine that story, that email, that webpage.
The Full “Buck” Moon in Capricorn on July 10 highlights career and legacy. Its alignment with Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto pushes us toward transformation with purpose.

Together with 7 Kawok, this powerful mix of endings and initiations encourages us to release old narratives and midwife new visions, personally and collectively.

Gabe in the Big Apple

Missing my son, I took an impromptu trip to NYC for the weekend to visit Gabe to celebrate his 20th birthday. He showed me all the places that he talks about on our video calls, including the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Mary O's, and shopping at Trader Joe's & Whole Foods. The subway stop is only a block away from his apartment in Park Slope, and it's a short ride (or a few chapters in the book he brings) to Goldman Sachs in the fidi. He's loving his summer job so far, working in the marketing executive offices team with the CMO of GS doing strategy & design.

The most emotional part of our visit was returning to Hoboken, where he was born and spent his toddlerhood. Two decades goes by really fast in son years.

Time with Tad Hargrave

I spent a productively gorgeous week with Tad developing Q3 strategy + planning for Marketing for Hippies. It's Tad's third time in Austin, and in addition to fully scheduled days, it was fun experiencing the city like a tourist again. The Materialists at Moviehouse & Eatery, Waitress at Zach Theater, cuisine at True Food, Picnik, The Leaning Tree, Sundancer Grill, Morning Glory, and Fareground, co-working at 111 Congress, Mazama Coffee, and the W, shopping at The Turquoise Trading Company and Buck Mason, hosting our storytelling & potluck New Moon in Gemini lunation, and meeting with friends along the way. He'll be back in November, and I'll head to Alberta in August.

You can see some of our shenanigans here.

The next semester within the Marketing for Hippies membership is the Business Model and starts next week. For the first time, I'll be teaching a bit about strategy and leading some lean canvas and business model feedback sessions with Tad. There's a webinar on July 8th if you'd like to understand ethical marketing through Tad's philosophy and framework.

I'm also developing a Panel Picker submission for SXSW 2026 around MfH's Mission and Vision: "Restoring the Beauty of the Marketplace: Ethical Marketing Through the Lens of Culture Work and Activism." Thanks to Wendy Colonna for recommending Chaka of DAWA, and Tim McDiarmid for introducing me to Simone Seol, which could be a powerful trifecta of wisdom around this topic. If you have a suggestion for a thought leader who could provide fascinating discussions with Tad around this topic, please let me know. I'd like to submit our idea by July 25th.

For May 2026, I'm exploring hosting an Ethical Marketing Conference in Toronto. If you have any suggestions around that, I'd love to hear about location, venues, and activities you'd like to see.

Events & Offerings This Month

Erotica Writing Playshop

When: Wednesday, July 16, 6-9 PM
Where: Online via Zoom and in-person at The Hudson
What: This isn’t your typical writing class. It’s a playshop where body, heart, and imagination lead. We combine a goddess archetype with Tarot and learn a writing technique that you can use in any genre.
- Connect with the myth of Aphrodite and The Empress.
- Learn writing techniques that awaken the senses
- Explore erotica as a healing, empowering art form
- Share your voice in a safe, supportive circle

Register Here

Gentle Yoga & Sound Bath Class

When: Sundays, 6-7 PM
Where: The Yoga Common
What: Gentle flow, deep release — a perfect container under the Full Moon in Capricorn. We’ll finish with crystal bowls and chimes to align with Neptune & Saturn’s retrograde depth.

Sign Up