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August
"August, the eighth month of the
current Gregorian calendar and the third month of Summer’s rule, derives its
name from Augustus (Augustus Caesar). The traditional birthstone amulets of
August are the peridot and the sardonyx; and the gladiolus and the poppy are the
month’s traditional flowers. August is shared by the astrological signs of Leo
the Lion and Virgo the Virgin, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities:
Ceres, the Corn Mother, Demeter, John Barleycorn, Lugh, and all goddesses who
preside over agriculture. During the month of August, the Great Solar Wheel of
the Year is turned to Lammas, one of the four Grand Sabbats celebrated each year
by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world."
- Secrets
of a Witch
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"Once upon a Lammas Night When corn rigs are bonny, Beneath the Moon's unclouded light, I held awhile to Annie... The time went by with careless heed Between the late and early, With small persuasion she agreed To see me through the barley... Corn rigs and barley rigs, Corn rigs are bonny! I'll not forget that happy night Among the rigs with Annie!" - Robert Burns |
"Let your children be as so many flowers, borrowed from God.
If the flowers die or wither, |
"The English winter, ending in July To recommence in August." - Lord Byron |
"Last summer I
was staying at a house in Hampshire which was famous for the brilliance and the
originality of its gardens.
There were many of them, but the most beautiful of all was a walled garden in
which every flower was blue.
There were all the obvious things like delphiniums and acronitums and larkspurs,
but the most beautiful blue of all came from the groups of cabbages - the
ordinary blue pickling cabbage.
Set against the blazing blue of the other flowers, it had a bloom and elegance
which made it a thing of the greatest delight."
- Beverly Nichols
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"Give me the joys of summer, Of Summer Queen so fair, With wealth of lovely flowers And fruits and sun-kissed air! Talk not to me of winter No, I will take the joys |
"The Queen of
Hearts, she made some tarts, All on a summer day: The Knave of Hearts, |
"If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?" - Steven Wright |
"The Chinese also
have a day devoted to love. Qi Qiao Jie, or the seventh eve, is often referred to
as Chinese Valentine's Day. While the annual gift giving commonly
associated with St. Valentine's Day doesn't take place, there are several
charming customs associated with this romantic day for lovers. There
are two legends surrounding the origins of Chinese Valentine's Day. Both involve the
position of the stars on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese
lunar calendar (August 11th in the year 2005). According to the first
version (my favorite), the seven daughters of the Goddess of Heaven caught
the eye of a Cowherd during one of their visits to earth. The daughters
were bathing in a river and the Cowherd, Niu Lang, decided to have a bit of fun
by running off with their clothing. It fell upon the prettiest daughter
(who happened to be the seventh born), to ask him to return their clothes.
Of course, since Niu Lang had seen the daughter, Zhi Nu, naked, they had to
be married. The couple lived happily for several years. Eventually however, the
Goddess of Heaven became fed up with her daughter's absence, and ordered her to
return to heaven. However, the mother took pity on the couple and
allowed them to be reunited once a year. Legend has it that on the
seventh night of the seventh moon, magpies form a bridge with their wings
for Zhi Nu to cross to meet her husband."
- Rhonda Parkinson and Night
of Sevens (Qi Xi, Qi Qian Jie)
| "Birds fly in
formation; Tree leaves sway from side to side; Clouds gather in small huddles, discussing the weather; Grass shoots shoot up once more, their roots replenished; A Phoenix nearby hums his Ode; Tranquility is in place, after the long bitter wait; Alive, now, is the world." - J. I. Stuart, August |
"This bud of love, by summer's
ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet." - William Shakespeare |
"Summer's lease hath
all too short a date." - William Shakespeare |
"What dreadful hot weather we have!
It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."
- Jane Austen
| "Whenever two Englishmen meet, ... | their first talk is of the weather !" | |||
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Samuel Johnson |
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| "Folk Lore ~ Oooo, Ahhhh !" | ||||
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Village Idiot |