February festivals
Out with the old and in with the new
The theme of February festivals in the ancient world was all about cleansing. Coming to terms with the old through the festival of Parentalia, and preparing for Spring with a clean sweep through the festival of Lupercalia. The word February comes from a Latin word meaning cleansing.
In the Celtic world, Imbolc was about the reawakening of the world in Spring.
Imbolc is the time of year when I like to start new projects and endeavours. Imbolc would be an excellent time to celebrate a transition from one gender to another. It’s the time when the first signs of spring appear (at least in my neck of the woods – your local climate may vary). The goddess most closely associated with Imbolc is Brighid, goddess of smithcraft, poetry, and healing.
Read more about Imbolc at Dowsing for Divinity
Now, it is Lupercalia, the ancient Roman festival with multivalent meanings which include cleansing, fertility, wildness, motherhood, and more.
The wildness aspect of Lupercalia reminds us that each of us is an unfathomable mystery, that we have the right to sovereignty over our own bodies, and above all, the right to consent, or to refuse consent.
Read more about Lupercalia at Dowsing for Divinity.
Book news
In other news, I have finished another round of editing on my new book, Changing Paths, and we have a tentative release date. Check out the Changing Paths resources website and the Spotify playlist.