Why I love February
February is a subtle and secret month. It possesses none of the newness of January with its ambitious goals and big plans, nor does it have the potential of March which promises spring flowers and sunshine. But this deeply private month has cherished gifts for those who are willing to get to know it. Today the world moves fast and speed is valued over depth, information over knowledge. February teaches us patience, faith and the importance of waiting. One must slow down in winter in order to appreciate the subtleties; the pale winter sun in the watery blue sky, the gentle sounds of animals rustling through the snowy meadow, the scent of cedar burning in the hearth. Winter is a listening time, a learning time.
Winter is the oldest season; it has some quality of the absolute. Yet beneath the surface of winter, the miracle of spring is already in preparation; the cold is relenting; seeds are waking up. -John O’Donohue
The theme for February is purification, renewal, and rebirth. The month itself is named for Februa, an ancient festival of purification. It is the time of the year when the glaciers begin to melt, rivers swell, and the rains wash away with the earth’s debris. We can begin our own cleansing process, clearing away both the physical and emotional clutter to prepare ourselves for the new life that is beginning to stir deep within us.
February is the season of Bridget
It’s no wonder that the Celts dedicated this month to Brigid the ancient Celtic goddess of water and fire, the holy well and the scared flame. She presided over smithcraft, poetry, pets, and healing. Imbolc (February 2) is the ancient festival that celebrates the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox. The Christian Church turned the pagan goddess Bridget into St. Bridget and Imbolc became Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin in which candles are lit at midnight to honor the Virgin Mary. Light white candles to invoke the spirit of Brigid and invite her to bless and enhance your creative projects.
“Each year we create a holy well, a bowl of sacred waters gathered from many places and rituals. We place a cauldron of fire within, and make a pledge for the year. As the light grows stronger, may our commitment to life, to justice, to healing ourselves, our communities, and the earth, also grow.” -We Moon 2008
“Brigid of the forge / forge for me / new creativity / light and growth aids us both.” –Llewellyn’s 2005 Almanac
Leo Full Moon – February 8-9, 2020
This Full Moon is the culmination of the Chinese New Year (which took place two weeks ago at the Aquarius New Moon) and is called the Festival of Lanterns. Lanterns painted with birds, flowers, and signs of the zodiac are hung in the temples and carried in a parade under the light of the Full Moon. This Moon is called the Quickening Moon. To the Blackfoot tribe it is the Rest and Cleansing Moon.
The Sun is in freedom-loving Aquarius, the sign of the rebel, the crusader, and the maverick. The Moon, in creative and colorful Leo, represents the artist and performer. Intellectual Aquarius is cool and detached; it is associated with group consciousness, community and the future. Loving Leo is personal and passionate; its focus is in the here and now. Both signs have to do with courage. The dispassionate Aquarius Sun asks us to defend our beliefs and principals. The dramatic Leo Moon invites us to listen to our feelings and follow our fire. Together, this Full Moon can bring original ideas and inspiration to whatever projects and causes we are devoted to.
Warrior Mars in visionary Sagittarius makes a supportive trine to the Leo Moon adding passion and promise to both our personal life and our projects. Uranus (the modern ruler of Aquarius) makes a helpful sextile to messenger Mercury and the Nodes of the Moon. An event or person may appear to help move us along on our path or open a new door.
Mind planet Mercury enters elusive and watery Pisces February 3 and goes retrograde February 16 (through March 10). This is an odd pairing; Mercury is practical and Pisces is fluid. Wonderful for imagination, music, and meditation but not always great for details and to-do lists. More reason to move gently and carefully. And yet the combination of Mercury slowing down in dreamy Pisces and these cold winter days and long nights can give birth to new and inspiring visions.
Trust your instincts, stay flexible and teachable; this lush Full Moon initiates a cycle of creative self-expression. All is well, you are loved, Virginia
The beauty of nature insists on taking its time. Everything is prepared. Nothing is rushed. The rhythm of emergence is a gradual slow beat always inching its way forward; change remains faithful to itself until the new unfolds in the full confidence of true arrival. –John O’Donohue (To Bless the Space Between Us)
