* 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: Navajo Sing--Festival in preparation for the coming agricultural season; celebrated with prayer, chanting, dancing, and healing.* 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;* 2/2: Death day of Marija Gimbutas (1994), archeologist who studied Old European Goddess-God spirituality.
* 2/3: Setsubun--Shinto rite in which good fortune is invoked and evil exorcised.* 2/3: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you, and all that is, are in the process of transformation.* 2/7 to 2/13 (OC 2/5 to 2/11): Carnival/Meat Fare--Christian time of feasting, dancing, and revelry.* 2/11: First appearance of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lady of healing waters (France 1858)..
* 2/13 to 2/14: 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.* 2/13 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: Sojong Day--Tibetan Buddhist day of fasting, confession, and reparation for harm done.* 2/14: Tell your true love how much you love him/her!
* 2/14 eve to 2/17 eve: Old European Lunar New Year--Celebration of the Triple Goddess (Goddess of the Moon and the Seasons) being transformed from the Crone into the Virgin; celebrated with ritual bathing of divine images.* 2/14 to 3/31 (OC 2/19 to 3/30): Ash Wednesday (Pure Monday) and Lent--Christian time of purification by self-reflection, peace-making, reparation for harm done, and helping those in need. Lenten Truce (through Easter).* 2/15 (4:05 p.m. EST): New Moon.* 2/16 to 2/19: Hsih Nien/Suhl/Tet--Chinese and East Asian Lunar New Year (Year 4716: the Dog).
* 2/16 to 3/2: Losar/Tibetan Buddhist New Year (Year 2145: the Earth Dog) & 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.* 2/17: 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.* 2/19: Beginning of Pisces (the Fishes).* 2/19 to 2/27: 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..* 2/21 eve to 2/22 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis - as creatrix, midwife of birthing creatures, protector of the young, and punisher of child abusers.* 2/22: Caristia--Old Roman festival for renewing family ties and patching up quarrels.* 2/26 eve to 3/1 eve: Anthesteria--Old Greek festival honoring Dionysos as Plouton, God of the Dead, and welcoming the visiting dead from Elysium.[caption id="attachment_15124" align="alignright" width="300"]
Image by © Floris Leeuwenberg/Corbis[/caption]* 2/26 to 3/2: Holi--Hindu festival celebrating the courting of God Shiva by Goddess Parvati, and the efforts on Her behalf by Kama (God of Love) and Rati (Goddess of Passion).* 2/27 eve to 3/1 eve: Jewish fast of Esther and fest of Purim--Recalls a planned massacre of Persian Jews and their deliverance by Queen Esther; time for helping those in need.* 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 2018A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality© 2017 Marija Miovskiwww.WheeloftheYear.com
