What does Harry Potter have in common with Shakespeare’s Juliet? According to their authors, they were both born on July 31st, which just so happens to be the eve of the Summer Cross Quarter Day, which is traditionally observed on August 1st.
In old British tradition, the Cross Quarter Day was known as Lammas, for “loaf mass,” a celebration of the first wheat harvest that was brought in from the fields at the halfway point in the Summer. But because of the Earth’s wobble, which causes a precession, the halfway point in this Summer isn’t August 1st, it’s actually August 6th.
And here’s the fascinating thing, August 6th marks the Feast of Transfiguration in the Christian Calendar, when three of the Apostles witness the transfigured Christ, attended to by Moses and Elias. In chapter nine of the Luke Gospel, this event happens about eight days after the miracle of Feeding the Multitude with five loaves and two fishes. Eight days before August 6 is around July 30, which indicates that it’s probably this miracle of abundance that informed the early harvest celebrations of this season.
Also this week, Mercury has just made its superior meeting with the Sun, and will now speed around to join Venus in the evening sky. And Saturn just made its annual opposition with the Sun, which means it’s now rising in the East as the Sun sets in the West.
Mercury brings messages, Saturn takes time, so this week, we can use these elements to plan to make ceremony around the August 6 Cross Quarter Day meal, to be grateful to the farmers, and to imagine the sunlight and moonbeams and star shine that commingles with life streaming from Earth’s limitless rich depths.
