* 1/31 eve to 2/2 eve: Imbolc/St. Brigid’s Day--Old Celtic/Irish feast of Goddess Brigid; merged with the Christian feast of St. Brigid. Fires were lit to welcome Her as She traveled about blessing fields, animals, and people.* 1/31 eve to 2/3 eve: Mid-Winter/Groundhog’s Day/Candlemas--Festival marking the transformation from death to life - the beginning of the agricultural year, awakening of hibernating animals, and return of migrating birds and fish. Observed with a candlelight procession to bless fields and seeds, recognition of newborns, and contemplation of life.* 1/31 to 2/8: Iroquois Mid-Winter Ceremony--for continuation of all life-sustaining things. Iroquois believe Awenhai/Sky Woman created the Sun, Moon, and Stars from Her body.[caption id="attachment_13479" align="alignright" width="228"]
Image by SleepingxSun[/caption]* 2/1: Sarasvati Puja--Hindu festival honoring Goddess Sarasvati who represents wisdom, intellect, and knowledge, as well as inspiration, arts, and music. Hindus believe all Gods and Goddesses are aspects of the one Great God-Goddess Maha Deva-Maha Devi.* 2/1 to 2/14: Old Greek festival of God Dionysos, in which vines were pruned and sprinkled with wine, accompanied by ritual singing and dancing.* 2/1 to 2/28: February dedicated to Old Roman God-Goddess Februus-Februa - purifier and protector of the home. Homes were cleaned and blessed, offerings of reparation were given, and peace was made.* 2/1 to 2/28: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American.* 2/3: Setsubun--Shinto rite in which good fortune is invoked and evil exorcised.
* 2/4: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you, and all that is, are in the process of transformation.* 2/10 (5:32 p.m. to 9:55 p.m. EST): Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (visible in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia).
* 2/10 (7:33 p.m. EST): Full Moon (Cold/Seed Moon).* 2/10: Day the Supreme Court concluded that the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from favoring one religion over another and from favoring or disfavoring religion (1947).* 2/10 eve to 2/11 eve: Tu B’Shevat--Jewish Festival of Trees, celebrated with tree plantings and orchard blessings.* 2/10 to 2/18: Navajo Sing--Festival in which fields are blessed in preparation for planting. Navajos believe Estsanatlehi/Changing Woman wields the power to constantly create and change the world.* 2/11: First appearance of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lady of healing waters (France 1858).* 2/12: Birthday of Charles Darwin (1809), biologist and evolutionary; day to meditate on the unity of science and spirituality.* 2/13 to 2/15: Lupercalia/St. Valentine’s Day--Old Roman festival of God-Goddess Faunus-Fauna; merged with the Christian feast of St. Valentine - celebrating love of all kinds.
* 2/14: Tell your true love how much you love him/her!* 2/15: Birthday of Susan B. Anthony (1820), non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans.* 2/17: Toshigoi--Shinto rite honoring the Kami and offering prayers for a bountiful rice harvest. Shinto try to live in harmony with the cosmic forces of the Kami.* 2/17 to 2/18: Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Bastet, Cat Goddess who protects the home and fosters domestic harmony.
* 2/18: Birthday of Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836), Hindu mystic who fervently loved Great Goddess Maha Devi - Mother of God, Mother of Nature, Elemental Matter, and Cosmic Power. He recognized Her immanence in all, and knew Her to be a manifestation of the one universal Deity.* 2/18: Nazi Resistance Day--Day to honor those who resisted Adolph Hitler’s Nazi government during World War II.* 2/19: Beginning of Pisces (the Fishes).* 2/22: Caristia--Old Roman festival for renewing family ties and patching up quarrels. * 2/22 (Obs. 2/20): Birthday of President George Washington (1732), who ensured that the military was subordinate to the civilian government.* 2/24 to 2/25: Mahashivaratri--Hindu fast, night vigil, and feast for God-Goddess Shiva-Shakti (union of Will and Power), who dances to create, destroy, and re-create the Universe. Tantric Hindus believe Shiva is within all men and Shakti within all women.* 2/25: Sojong Day--Tibetan Buddhist day of fasting, confession, and reparation for harm done.
* 2/26 (9:58 a.m. EST): New Moon.* 2/27 to 3/12: Losar/Tibetan Buddhist New Year (Year 2144: the Fire Bird) & Monlam Chenmo/Great Prayer Festival--Commemorates miracles performed by the Buddha. Rituals, dances, and sculptures are offered to drive out evil spirits and to protect and benefit all sentient beings.* 2/28: Old Slavic Velja Noc--Spirits of the dead visit their living relatives, overseen by Veles, Lord of the Dead. Morana and Jarilo are born. Veles steals Jarilo and raises him in Virey, realm of the dead.Excerpted fromTHE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2017A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality© 2016 Marija Miovskiwww.WheeloftheYear.com
