July 12th to August 20th are the official “Dog Days of Summer,” the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius, which in astrology is connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck.Here on the East coast of North America the heat is stifling and the humidity oppressive. This emblem from the enigmatic Atalanta Fugiens,  (Michael Maier, Johann-Theodor de Bry Publisher, Germany, 1620) titled  “Lupus ab Oriente & Canis ab Occidente se invicem momorderunt.” certainly captures the mood.