Solmonath februAry
February is the second month of the year and it
is the year's shortest month with only 28 days in common years and 29 days in
leap years. It was named after the Latin word februum, which means purification because the month was a time for
purification. February's birth flower is the violet and the common primrose.
The birthstone for February is the amethyst which symbolizes piety, humility,
spiritual wisdom and sincerity. Its Zodiac signs are Aquarius (until February
18) and Pisces (February 19 onwards).
It
is the month of sol, or hearth-baked cakes. This is the month many Asatruar
celebrate the wooing by Freyr of the Maiden Gerd; a symbolic marriage of the
God of Fertility with the Mother Earth. In much of Northern Europe, grain cakes
were offered for the soil's fertility and Father Sky and Mother Earth were
invoked to that end.
Berkanan
is the name of the b rune b, meaning birch, growth and renewal. Birca is the patron of mothers, children and
women’s mysteries. Ehwaz is the name of
the e rune e, meaning horse, movement, loyalty,
adaptability. The Ehwaz rune symbolizes
inner strength and fortitude. Gebo or Gyfu rune g means gift or to give, for the letter g
or gh. Gifts, both in the sense of
sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance.
The
Second Hall is about your own resources. It describes what you value ranging
from physical possessions and money, to personal self esteem and talents. This
time also rules your personal earnings, bankers, budgets, money that 'you'
make, material resources, value system, monetary gains and losses, security.
Other keywords include resources, both personal and financial, values and
attitudes, possessions, acquisitions and prana.
1 Freedom Day
National
Freedom Day is an observance in the United States that honors the signing of a
resolution that proposed the 13th amendment of the nation's constitution on
February 1, 1865. Abraham Lincoln, who was the president at the time, signed
the resolution to outlaw slavery.
National
Freedom Day’s theme is about freedom for all Americans. Wreath-laying at
Liberty Bell, which symbolizes freedom or liberty, has also occurred on this
day over the years.
It
is a part of popular culture among many Americans and it centers on the idea of
the groundhog coming out of its home to “predict” the weather. Although some
states have in some cases adopted their own groundhogs, the official groundhog,
Punxsutawney Phil, lives at Gobbler’s Knob near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Tradition has it that if the groundhog will sees its shadow on February 2 it
will be frightened by it and will return to its burrow, indicating that there
will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, then spring is
on the way.
Thousands
of years ago when animalism and nature worship were prevalent, people in the
area of Europe now known as Germany believed that the badger had the power to
predict the coming of spring. They watched the badger to know when to plant
their crops. By the time the first German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania
they probably understood that this was not true but the tradition continued.
Unfortunately there were not many badgers in Pennsylvania so the groundhog
substituted the badger.
2 Imbolc
A
day of love. In Norse, the Charming of
the Plow is a festival of fertility and beginnings of the planted seed. Blessing
the plough ensured a good harvest, and honored the magical beings—smiths (and
in Norse mythology these were dwarves)—who made the ploughs. Metal craft was,
for all of Wicca’s ancestral cultures, a great gift from the Gods; iron ploughs
worked more land more effectively than wooden ones. Plowing the ground brought
the earth back to life again, and a charmed plough brings it back to even more
abundant life.
The
plow is decorated and then whiskey or ewe's milk is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the
plough and in newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants
during this time. Make sure your plough
is in working order—its fastenings tight, its blade un-rusted and sharp. Some
more modern traditions may use other garden tools such as the rake, shovel or hoe.
Another
way to make the day is to meditate upon you dependence on the soil. You live on
soil, gleba, Earth, land, erz - whatever you call it,
it is common dirt that everyone shares.
Soil supplies over 90 percent of the world's food - rice, corn and
wheat. The early people thought of the
Earth as sacred. Earth was home and the
provider of life. But now the world's
supply of soil is shrinking - lost to cities, floods and paved roads.
Imbolc is the time of swearing of
oaths. It also marks the return of the
light and the transformation within us from an inner contemplative focus toward
outer manifestation. The holiday also
generally honors all Goddesses and female ancestor spirits who bring blessings
of fertility as well as important lessons. This is a good time to recall
outstanding women in one’s family line.
With the wisdom and strength of spirit,
I open my heart and mind to accept the
transformations I have
asked for. With the compassion and courage of spirit
I support the people, known and
unknown, I have prayed for and
with.
Lady and Lord
Thank you for embracing those who need
you.
Thank you for guiding me along my
Divine Path with grace and
ease.
Blessed be.
Invisible,
unpredictable, unreliable, playful, soothing, destructive, inspiring and life
giving: the element of air or wind is all these things and much more. Our
spoken words are still carried on the winds. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the
Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting
very difficult. Forced to gnaw on bones
and sip bone marrow soup for sustenance, the Cherokee named it the Full Bony
Moon. The Full Moon is when the Moon’s energy is at its peak. The Full Moon is
the best time for consecrating tools, charging jewelry, working magic to bring
something to you, and for raising energy for the
Earth or other healing. Plan a ritual to
ask the old ones for help in planning your future.
Remember, remember the sacredness of things,
running streams and dwellings,
the young within the nest,
the hearth of sacred fire
and life covering the Earth.
4 Rosa Parks
Day
Rosa
Parks Day is an American observance to honor civil rights activist Rosa Parks,
who was known for refusing to give up her seat on a bus. It is a legal
observance in California on February 4 and Ohio on December 1.
Rosa
Parks Day promotes equal opportunities, civil rights, and fairness across
communities in the U.S. Church leaders, politicians, and organizational
leaders. Over the years, the Rosa Parks bus has become a symbol of the fight
for equal rights. It has been fully restored and is now displayed in the Henry
Ford Museum. Rosa Parks' Day, on February 4, is also known as the Day of
Courage.
7 Sully Erna
Birthday
Salvatore
Paul "Sully" Erna (Musician) is an American vocalist and primary
songwriter for the American rock band Godsmack.
He is also a guitarist, drummer and pianist, performing these both on
albums and during live shows. Sully Erna
has been ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists. He has been open about practicing Wicca: "I just want them to understand that
Wicca has nothing to do with black magic.
It's not about turning people into frogs or practicing black
magic."
11 Wane Moon T
Waning Moon means the Moon is
decreasing in size, moving from full Moon to new Moon. Use the waning Moon to develop flexibility
and stamina.
Thank you Divine Friends
For supplying me with a peaceful home
and for making my house a sanctuary for
all who enter.
Negative feelings are left outside my
doorstep for
the love you have for us radiates
through the walls
transforming ill will into compassion
and peace.
Allow my family to start each day with
a optimistic outlook and
joy in their hearts, And may they carry
that energy with them
throughout their day. Blessed be.
13 Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is believed to
be a day of bad luck. The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia
- Frigg is the Norse Goddess whom Friday is named after and "triskaidekaphobia"
means the fear of "13". It's also known as paraskevidekatriaphobia,
partly from the Greek word Friday. It is a real fear - some people who have
this disorder are even too afraid to say the words “Friday the 13th”. Others
avoid flying on a plane, going to work, or even getting out of bed. According
to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North
Carolina, millions of Americans are afraid of Friday the 13th. Symptoms of this
fear range from mild anxiety and a nagging sense of doom to full-blown panic
attacks.
15
Heimdall's Day
In Norse mythology, Heimdall is a God who
possesses the resounding horn Gjallarhorn, owns the golden-maned horse
Gulltoppr, has gold teeth and is the son of Nine Mothers and Odin. He is
attested as possessing foreknowledge, keen eyesight and hearing, is described
as 'the whitest of the Gods' (white as a bright light), and keeps watch for the
onset of Ragnarok while drinking fine mead in his dwelling Himinbjorg, located
where the burning rainbow bridge Bifrost meets Asgard to Midgard.
Heimdall is often associated with the
ram. His senses are so
acute that he can hear the grass grow miles away and he can see to the end of
the world. He required less sleep
than a bird, could see 100 leagues, and could hear wool growing on sheep. He watches and listens, holding at the ready
Gjallarhorn, which he sounds when intruders are approaching.
Heimdall
catch me when I fall,
You're
my Wind-Shelter broad and tall,
Teacher
of magics, true, and might,
Heimdall
lead me in what's right.
Celebrated on February 15, Susan B
Anthony Day marks the birthday of one of the United States' most prominent
female civil rights leaders. It is a legal observance in some states. In 1920,
the "Anthony Amendment" was made to the U.S. constitution, which gave
women the right to vote. She was the first American woman to have her likeness
on a coin in the U.S.
Anthony described herself as a Quaker.
She joined the Congregational Friends, an organization that was created by
Quakers in western New York after the 1848 split among Quakers there. This
group soon ceased to operate as a religious body, however, and changed its name
to the Friends of Human Progress, organizing annual meetings in support of
social reform that welcomed everyone, including "Christians, Jews,
Mahammedans, and Pagans". Anthony served as secretary of this group.
16 Presidents
Day
Washington's Birthday, also known as
Presidents' Day, is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of
February. The day honors presidents of
the United States, including George Washington, the USA's first president. In
the weeks or days leading up to the holiday, schools often organize events and
lessons for students about the presidents of the United States and
George Washington in particular. It is a popular day for stores to start their
sales.
George Washington (1732 – 1799) was
the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America. Washington was an outspoken leader in calling for religious
liberty and tolerance, and used his prestige as general and president to
promote good will among Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Washington rarely discussed or wrote about
his personal religious and philosophical opinions in any great detail, yet he
frequently displayed a humble and gracious respect towards God in his personal
letters and public speeches.
18 New Moon m
In early societies, the reappearance
of the moon was often a cause for celebration - after all, it meant that the
dark had passed, and the full moon was on its way back.
We're
glad to see you again.
Another
cycle has passed
another
month gone by
and
our lives have moved forward.
19 Chinese New
Year
Many people in countries such as the
United States celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or
the Lunar New Year. It marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese
calendar. Many people in countries such as the United States celebrate Chinese
New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It marks the
first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar.
Chinese New Year has various symbols and traditions. For example,
flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. Writings that refer to
good luck are often seen in homes and business environments. They are usually
written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Tangerines and oranges
are also displayed in many homes and stores as a sign of luck and wealth.
Chinese
New Year 2015 will begin the Year of the Goat. Decorations will reflect this and Goat sign
people will take special care about what they do. People born in the year of
the goat are mild mannered, pessimistic, shy, and sympathetic. Though they love
to be in groups, they do not want to be the center of attention. They are
reserved and quiet, most likely because they like spending much time in their
thoughts.
25 Wax Moon G
The Moon affects the tides of the
oceans, but because we are mostly liquid ourselves, these phases also affect
us. Use the waxing Moon for building
endurance and strength.
Take all that has to end, all that
must disappear and die with you,
into the darkness. I welcome your
peace, I welcome the stillness.
As you disappear into the dawn, so
I choose to go within.
Blessed be.
The word Crone, Sage, Old Person, Elder or Senior should be a word of power but aging
isn't always easy; especially when the media constantly shouts in our ears that
youth equals beauty. 'Old' is something
we should avoid at all costs - marketers, the media, and society seem to tell
us - and if we don't ... well, maybe it's time to just step aside. To be called a crone was an insult. The very word implied a wrinkled, hunchbacked
old woman, unwanted and unloved. Women
who had reached an advanced age were dismissed as useless hags, and there was
nothing to celebrate about it at all.
Fortunately, times are changing, and more and more people are welcoming
this aspect of their life.
Embrace your age, engage with life, take control of your future, and
live. Care for your body, exercise your
mind, be a part of the world, stay connected with people who are supportive,
and you'll discover a secret that many people over 50 who are doing these
things already know: "If you feel good, you look good. And if you feel and look good, age will be
the furthest thing from your mind."
Hail,
Old One,
Crone
and Wise Man,
Silver
of hair
And
adamant of spirit,
Aged
like fine wine
Through
years of experience;
You
who watch the young ones grow
And
remember their path
And
tell them the pitfalls ahead,
You
who have made a friend
Of
changing Time,
You
whom Saturn has blessed
With
a double circle,
You
who keep the mysteries
And
the secret knowledge,
You
who mentor and teach,
Show
us how to walk gracefully
Into
the sunset of life.
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