I’ve returned to Miami for the first time in four years. There were many moments when I thought this trip wouldn’t happen. I feared I wouldn’t be able to travel because of COVID-19, either because I’d get it or it would otherwise affect travel. Travelling from Melbourne to Miami during the COVID-19 pandemic was surprisingly smooth, and now I’m here for three weeks of summer, community, and magick.
From Melbourne to Miami
I’ve flown between Melbourne and Miami several times, and the journey is always a little different. This time, COVID-19 added different sets of guidelines and requirements that could change at any moment. The trip was long, about 27 hours, from Melbourne to L.A. to Houston and Miami, but it went without a hitch. I got through all the points (checking in, security, customs, etc.) quickly and without a single hiccup. Qantas and United Airlines staff were friendly, kind, and helpful, and, as far as I could tell, there weren’t any passenger issues.
Summer in Miami
I’m happy to escape the Melbourne winter and be in hot, sunny Miami. I’d forgotten how bright it is here. I did not forget that it rains almost daily in the summer and, as I write this from my mother’s kitchen table, it’s raining heavily and a tropical storm warning is in effect.
I’m excited to be in Miami once again. It is both familiar and foreign and a city of sharp contrasts—crumbling Art Deco buildings against new high-rise condos, gentrification and luxury shopping in historic Black and Latino neighbourhoods, working-class immigrants and Old Money, and people that drive like they’re extras in Grand Theft Auto. It’s also a city of music, delicious food, family, ancestors, friends, and magick.
As an aside, I also got excited when I saw a new kind of lizard. The curly tail lizard, or Leiocephalus carinatus, is endemic to the Bahamas, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and other nearby islands. So, it feels right at home here in hot and humid South Florida.
Next weekend, I’ll be attending Summer Magick Fest in Orlando, where I’ll be taking a role in the opening and main rituals. I’ll also be reading tarot. If you’re attending, be sure to say hello. I’ve extended my Orlando visit by two days to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal with friends. Back in Miami, there will be full moon rituals, Midsummer, and catching up with family and friends. I also hope to visit family graves and do a new ancestry DNA test.
The Great Ocean Mother
I dedicate a month to a different goddess, and June is devoted to Yemaya, the orisha of the ocean and motherhood. It’s serendipitous because I associate Yemaya with home, family, and the seaside life here.
