Majik be with you on this lovely day! The Dance of the Season is winding down. This is the Season for adventure. Step out of the every-day pattern of life, do something different.

The desert Sun powers down upon the Earth. The heat is overpowering with many days well over 112 degrees, yet you can feel the Wheel turning, turning, slowly turning. You know a change is coming.

The Sun has grown tired of filling Mother Earth with heat and strength. The Sun is beginning to wonder if perhaps he has over-done his act a bit. The beautiful Earth looks Sun-burned and exhausted from the Sun's energy.

The Firey Orb begins to retire slightly earlier each evening, perhaps he is seeking the magic wisdom of the Moon to guide him. Often the glorious beauty of the Sunset goes to waste because it's just been too hot for too long and everyone is inside some shelter for protection. No one is interested in feeling the heat even for the joy of witnessing the Sunset. This bothers the Sun for Sunsets are some of his grandest masterpieces. The Sun's ego becomes deflated.

As I walk around my home at this time of year I can feel the heat radiating from the Earth as well as powering down from the Sun. The grass is a lighter green as though trying to reflect some of the heat away. The grape leaves are thick and growing vigorously to protect the vine from further sunburn. If you search beneath the large leaves, you can still find small grapes hiding in the foliage. The grapes are small because the vine needs most of the moisture to just stay alive through the terrible heat. The Peacocks have found most of the remaining grapes as they hide in the shade of the grape vine to ward off the Sun.

The Mulberry and Cottonwood trees provide cooling shade for most of the animals. Pomegranates are forming on the limbs of the Pomegranate bush, they are still green and growing larger each day. By Halloween, they will be ready to enjoy. Chickens gather under the shade and search for bugs and perhaps an old pomegranate from last year's crop that is still hidden beneath the leaves.

Feathers blow in the slight breeze adding color and life to the yard. Chickens, geese, ducks, peacocks and wild birds all lend a feather to the crop.White, Black, Blue, Brown, Red, Green, Golden and wonderful mixes of all colors can be found in the Airy gifts from the birds. I gather these feathers as my friends drop them. I use them in decoration, magic, fortune telling and for costumes and jewelry. None are taken by harming an animal, but are gathered as the birds release them as gifts to us.

Large black carpenter bees buzz lazily around, busy digging holes in logs to lay eggs for the coming spring. Tiny tunnels appear as if by magic as these gentle giants bore holes deep into the wood. Other bees are beginning to swarm, the heat and the summer activity have made many hives over grown and now some must find new homes. Nervous, crabby and displaced, some swarms are a danger to surroundings as they hunt for a satisfactory place to live.

In the garden, tomatoes and peppers tried to survive, but with heat and emus dancing on their little vines - The tomatoes have quit! A few peppers have survived butlost their leaves to save water, they are producing small, very hot peppers, some fiery red. The chamomile has died out and lays brown and dry at the feet of the stomped tomatoes. Even in death these plants are useful as their dry bodies protect the earth and help hold moisture for the seeds they have dropped. Skeletons of the plants move in a ghostly dance in the searing heat. White Witch Plant "Sacred Datura" still blossoms in the garden, the large white flowers enjoy the heat. Seed pods have formed, large and stickery under the leaves. Multitudes of Sunflowers dance and nod a welcome.

As soon as the weather breaks just a bit, the garden needs to be tilled, fed and fall planting begun. Snap Beans, melons, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, celery, green onions, radishes, greens, spinach and corn can be planted the last of August.

Little elves hop happily into the Senecio, Purslane & Portulaca growing around the dry pond. Tiny flowers of yellow and a variety of other colors wink from the shadows. The Bougainvillea adds a splash of magenta to the summer day.

In the front yard I am greeted by the raucous brilliance of the Mexican Bird of Paradise Bush, filling the air with Power and Joy. The bright Orange, Yellow & Red hues of it's blossoms scream for attention as they wave merrily in the Sunlight. Hummingbirds gather to taste their nectar and celebrate the Summer. The Mexican Bird of Paradise explodes with brilliant colors all summer. This heat loving bush brings Good Luck, Creativity, Prosperity and Love to all who touch it. I planted this hardy plant by the driveway so its magic could be shared by all who came to our home.

Our friendly, eager Ivy reaches across the path to touch Visitors in greeting. As I walk past I small mint as it releases a fragrant scent into the hot afternoon. I reach down and take a few lush green mint leaves, they welcome my touch with more minty perfume. These will add the perfect touch to the delicious Sun Tea brewing in the magic circle.

Under the shade of the gentle PaloVerde tree a beautiful cat snuggles up close to the coolness of the Desert Sage and Iris. Something is strange about the Iris, I wanted to keep the spring color all summer so after the blossoms dried, I went out and painted the dead flowers with sparkling metallic paints. They reflect the Sun and tease the Bird of Paradise with their painted faces.

Across the road, alfalfa grows and blue blossoms move gently and lazily in the heat, cows grazing happily. Huge homes have been built where Cotton grew in past years further down the road. The plants filled the fields with a promise of white snowy cotton in September. Now we have new neighbors with high fences and the heat is much more oppressive without the open fields. In a few remaining fields, Corn is beginning to peak tiny heads to greet the Sun. Huge puffy clouds gather over the mountains, promising rain sometime soon.

I walk into the house, pausing by the Juniper Bush to pick a few branches and powder-blue berries. This magic bush protects against negative energy of all kinds including accidents, thieves, ghosts (the negative variety), sickness, and curses. If you burn Juniper, it develops and hones your psychic powers. Hung over the doorway or on your wreath, it protects and discourages negativity from your home.

My wreath on the door reflects the Season, bright flowers and plants gather happily in the Circle. A Peacock feather sways gently as I open the door to the cool recesses of my home. Cold tile flooring greets my bare feet and welcomes me in. The doves and cockatiels sing a greeting. The refrigeration unit whirs, wafting cool air across my warm face.

Lammas is celebrated August 1st. In the East, this is the time for the 1st harvest celebration of the year. In the Southwest, harvest has happened until cooler weather hits again. We celebrate Lammas by sprouting grain and baking a home-made loaf of bread on August 1^st. We share part of this loaf with Mother Earth. We have put up tomatoes, peppers, etc. in July and are now in a staying inside, cooling off, resting mode waiting for the heat to break.

This is a great time to escape to California and the seashore or up into the mountains for some mountain magic. Find treasures in either of these places and bring them home to use in magic all year round. Find a holey stone or nut, gather sea water or take magic photos.

Take a Majick Balloon Ride to the following Spots for more of my August Majickal Things to do!