Australian Lammas (Lammas, First Harvest, Lughnasadh, Biderap: Dry Season. (Traditional Date 2nd February, Actual Date 4th February 2015)

Yellow Paper Daisy 

 Traditional (Northern) qualities - Masculine, fields are being emptied, abundance, feasting, celebration, corn doilies, apple cider, and berry pies.

Australian qualities - dry heat, bushfires, grass fires, monsoonal rains, flooding, regeneration from the bushfires, Southern Cross is high in the sky, school holidays have finished and work commences after the festivities of Christmas and new year’s, new plans are made for the year, new year’s resolutions begin to be implemented, letting go of the old and bringing in the new, summer bbqs, hot summer evenings, splashing in the ocean or our pools

Food - apricots, plums, berries, banana, grains, rice, oranges, grapes nectarines, pears or pineapple, capsicums, lettuce, beans, cucumber, tomato, zucchini, peas.
Ritual ideas – Fire meditation. Focus on the balance of the destructive, devastating nature of the bushfires and the blackness. We can see into the distance as great areas are levelled. The balance of death and life.
Colours – Orange, black, bright green, blue, brown, red, gold, brown, yellow
Fauna –

• Echidna - The magickal qualities of the echidna include protection, simplicity, pure balance with the harsh spines balanced with the soft underbelly which rests on the earth and connects to the Great Mother land. The long summer break from school and work protects us from the challenges of work. As we look forward to the New Year, we need support and guidance as we expose our fears to new experiences and journeys.
•  Snake - Symbol of fertility and growth. The Great Rainbow Serpent. As it sheds its skin, it transforms anew. Shows us the dry skin of the past is to be shed for the new beginnings.
• Turtle. Slow and steady. Conserve energy for renewal and surviving the harsh summers of Australia, accept the cycle of life and death, trust in the energy of the earth to show us that once we have faced the harshness of Summer, new cool growth can be achieved. The laying of the turtle’s eggs is a time honoured trusting in the Great Mother to nurture her eggs and hatch them when the conditions are ideal. The great journey has begun to the coolness and safety of the water. The water also contains the greatest amount of enemies and challenges. The great balance

Flora

Kangaroo Apple
(Image courtesy of Judith Sanderson)

• Bottle brush. The magnificence of the flame red flowers can be used to adorn our altars and represent the fires that surround us in a time of fire restrictions and bans. Red is the colour of blood as well as passion and fire. Death and rebirth. 
• Kangaroo Apple. The fruit ripens in late summer and shows us that there is life after the harshness of summer. The fruit is poisonous if eaten too early and is known to cause miscarriages. Patience is needed for new ideas to come to fruition. 
• Native Willow. The swaying slender leaves of the Native Willow can withstand the heat. They are drought tolerant and slow growing, once again showing us to stand strong and patient. A beautiful peppermint smell is released when the leaves are crushed. The heartwood (the older central wood part of the tree) is blonde with a characteristic patterned grain resembling snakeskin and can be used on the altars to represent the snake mentioned earlier. 
• Flannel flower. Delicate in appearance, it can survive even in the harshest of environments. A native to the Coastal region of Sydney. 
• Wollomi pine. 150 million years old. Was once extinct but recent efforts have resulted in an increasing interest and renewed love of this wonderful specimen. Ancient and known as the oldest living tree in the world, resilience and survival. As it is in the early stages ‘being reborn’, please respect it’s scarcity and honour its image.

Whatever name you understand this time of the year to be, to us here at Australian Magick we interpret it as the hot, dry bushfire times. It is summer! The school holidays have now finished, summer holidays are all over and we get back to “work”. We notice the Sun Lord growing old, becoming the Elder; as the crops are cut and gathered, so are the days of his life. He is weathered and beginning to weaken as we approach autumn. The plants of spring drop their fruits and seeds for us. The growing time has lessened and harvesting has begun and we give thanks for this bountiful harvest. Let’s make some bread from the crops that have just been harvested. We could also use this time of year to harvest ideas and contemplate the wishes and intentions we have set for the traditional “new year” we experienced a few weeks back.

Fire Ravaged Grampians, Victoria
             Image courtesy of Judith Sanderson                 

   
Aborigines would also light fires this time of year to regenerate the land and help prevent blazing bushfire by carefully controlled burning. This then created ash that would fertilize the ground and also enable small animals to be hunted and eaten. Allot of fruits and berries were on the menu for indigenous Australians during dry season as the storing of meat was very difficult with the heat and humidity. After the burning of the land there would be a burst of fertility, rain and the arrival of life…of energy. The new growth be strong and lush and the earth is clear of debris that could fuel a bushfire.

Perhaps the echidna can become our summer / dry season fauna. We have seen many an echidna roaming the country roads of Victoria during the summer. She is a representation of protection and self-preservation and reminds us to return to everyday life following the long summer break. She is there to support us in new or challenging situations. A loner, one of a kind, she protects herself and allows only those who she trusts to enter her space. She feels Mother Earth upon her belly as she walks and reminds us to let yourself move outside the boundaries supported by those who love and nurture you.

Gurley or Native Willow is a drought tolerant plant that is great for healing. Gurley symbolises the spirit of compassion, protection, empathy and tranquillity. They are a reminder of how important water is during this time of year for our harsh environment. With its edible seeds and peppermint aroma this tree is wonderful for the soul as we experience the humidity and heat of summer.

There are a few goddess that are associated with Lammas and summertime: Yemaya the African goddess of oceans, Demeter goddess of the harvest, Kali the destroyer and creator, Corn Mother representing maturity. Perhaps have a goddess picture on your altar to represent your goddess of choice.