August vibes

Leo season has arrived, and what may feel like the longest July ever is finally winding down. Here's the outlook for August, 2020:

Reap what you sow this August

Lammas, otherwise known as the Gaelic Lughnasadh or Christian Lammas or Loaf Day, marks the earliest harvests and the hottest days of late summer. Followers of a natural path consider it a time to "reap what you sow," which is what many farmers do this time of year. The Gaelic festival Lughnasadh, named for the god Lugh, was celebrated as time of harvesting, matchmaking, and general merriment throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man up until the 20th century. Today, it has been revived as a cultural festival throughout many communities, and has been taken on as a spiritual holiday or sabbat by Wiccans and neoPagans.

Seeking the triple god

The god Lugh has often been presented as a god of three faces, which has been favored by Pagans and Wiccans who seek out the triple goddess, as well as Catholics, who invest a great deal of importance in the holy trinity (Early Christians often took on Pagan symbols, figures and festivals to encourage an easy transition for converts) When it comes to neoPaganism or other Goddess-centered spiritual paths, the faithful often seek out a triple goddess, such as Hecate or something more abstract such as the symbols of the maiden, mother and crone. In Hinduism, the Trimurti is a triple concept connecting Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, representing the cycle of life. Brahma is creation, Vishnu preservation, and Shiva is destruction. Not quite a triple god or goddess, Roman god Janus bears two faces, each representing past and present.

The common denominator among multi-faced gods is the representation of the cycle of life for both humanity and nature. We see this lifecycle in the seasons, and August marks the beginning of the transition to the end of the year. It's no wonder that a holiday like Lughnasadh would be inspired by the god Lugh with his transitional, triple being. With such an emphasis on the "triple" or "past, present, future" the number three comes up as a power number. This August, seeking out the number three may promote foresight and harmony in dealings and preparation for the latter half of the year.

Power of three

The number three is of high significance in many occult and religious practices. In tarot, the three-card spread is used to seek guidance and context for a situation that involves the past, present and future. In numerology, the number "3" represents communication, connection and even creativity. Likewise, it is often said that "bad things" or deaths often come in threes, but I'd actually like to suggest that "big things" come in threes. Death and "bad things" (miscellaneous unfortunate events) are generally "big things." Some cultural traditions will assert that three knocks (heard with no known source) may be announcing death's arrival, but at the same time, death is neither good nor bad. It is a transition.

August is a transitional time. In the Northern Hemisphere, we are looking forward to trading sweltering heat for cozy sweaters and snuggly blankets. Our days will get shorter and the veil between the living and the dead (or present and future) becomes thinner. As the year "ages", we look to the harvest to prepare for the cold winter nights head.

The world is a frightening place, for some. It depends on how you look at it. Pestilence, disease, and unrest are natural parts of human life. Perserverance and community are human instincts. Of course, its only natural to seek out community, especially during times of widespread quarantines and uncertainty. In the summer months, that craving for community can be almost too strong to ignore.

August can represent a true test this year for extroverts, but it also presents the perfect time to reflect on actions, and take stock for the year ahead. Introverts may grow weary of this first harvest, as they may feel as if all they've been doing is tending the soil. Seek guidance from this first harvest, do not thresh wheat too early, for you won't have enough to last the winter.

We reap what we sow in August. Efforts are rewarded, seek not the bad things, but the big things. And say "thank you" three times.