Get A Jump On Tomorrow, Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, February 3rd

Get A Jump On Tomorrow…..

Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, February 3rd

 

Aries

Aries Horoscope

It’s important to keep in mind the tendency to gloss over practical details today, dear Aries, unless you’re simply daydreaming and enjoying yourself. Speaking too soon about a matter should also be avoided, as your understanding of a situation can be incomplete. You’re particularly excited about new ideas and possible plans, particularly related to partnering and your career, and this should be encouraged. You’ll need to make refinements later so that they fit into your schedule, but for now, it’s about the bigger picture. Avoid promising too much or nitpicking with a significant other. If something appears a little too good to be true, it may very well be, so wait out big decisions. You may not be agreeing with someone on your long-term plans, and while this should be addressed, try not to put too much weight into it at the moment.

Taurus

Taurus Horoscope

In the first half of the day, there is a strong tendency to blow things out of proportion or to overstate, dear Taurus. Communications ruler, Mercury, forms a challenging square with extravagant Jupiter, pointing to possible misjudgments. Even so, their conflict can stir up some wonderful enthusiasm and good ideas, even if these require some adjustments to come down to earth. If you’re simply daydreaming and exploring possibilities, and it’s a feel-good thing, then you’ll be fine. You may be defending your ideas, which can be energizing but could also lead to moodiness if nobody’s truly listening to one another, which is very likely with today’s energies. Be moderate in your expectations. The Moon moves into your sign this evening, bringing emotional needs to the front burner.

Gemini

Gemini

The first half of the day is likely to find you optimistic and enthusiastic, dear Gemini. However, there can be some moodiness as you may be working with incomplete information. Exaggeration may stem from a desire for more meaning to our lives or possibly some attention, and this may be an issue today. You may want to make big promises to make someone happy, but it’s best to keep things real today. Even so, do stretch your imagination and consider new possibilities. You can come up with exciting ideas now. Creative activities fare nicely now. When it comes to relationships, you don’t need to go overboard to please someone who is worth the effort. Tonight, the Moon moves into your sector of rest and privacy, pointing to the need to relax and de-stress.

Cancer

Cancer

There can be some restlessness stirred today, dear Cancer, which might lead you to interesting places but may only serve to lead you astray if you’re not mindful. New discoveries and interests or great ideas may emerge, although they will likely need to be refined or edited later. There can also be drama with a partner or with family, particularly due to disagreements or debates. With Mercury in your partnership sector, you might often want to share decisions with someone else, but today, avoid letting someone else make the decisions for you. As well, avoid making or relying on promises. Later today, you’re in a wonderful position to enjoy good company.

Leo

Leo Glyph Symbol Horoscope

Mental restlessness can lead to exciting discoveries today, dear Leo, but you might also misjudge a situation. It’s best to allow your mind some exercise as it’s wont to do today but wait to make final decisions. A project may need a second look, and you may need to make adjustments to the time and energy allotted to it. There may be a sense that you have so many things to do that you don’t know where to begin. Try not to waste time on feeling overwhelmed – pick something small and work from there. When it comes to news or others’ overtures to you, double-check facts. It’s especially important that you avoid taking on too much or promising too much now.

Virgo

Virgo Symbol Horoscope

With Mercury’s square to Jupiter today, dear Virgo, there is a tendency for people to exaggerate, jump to conclusions, or to buy into big ideas. Stay positive, but try not to take promises to heart. You may be seeing things too optimistically or impractically now, which can lead to poor decisions, so wait things out if you can. A situation with a child or lover can have much more to it than meets the eye. Judgment about money may be off, and the tendency today is towards excess. Creatively speaking, your ideas are quite brilliant, but you may not have all the resources, particularly time, to implement them just yet. Be patient about putting exciting new plans into action.

Libra

Libra

An idea can take hold of you today, dear Libra, and you can be quite enthusiastic. However, it’s important that you consider the practical side of a situation before investing too much of yourself or your resources into a new idea or project. The potential for going over the top runs high right now. Remind yourself of your usual limits, and while pushing them a little can be fine, try not to push too far. You may be feeling very capable, but your energy and enthusiasm levels may not always run so high, so significant commitments should be avoided just for now. Do, however, think up big ideas and plans that you may not even consider on a regular day.

Scorpio

Scorpio Horoscope

There is a tendency to exaggerate something today, dear Scorpio, or to put too much into a particular line of thought or plan. Mental restlessness may be at the root of this as Jupiter forms a tense aspect with Mercury and challenges you to stretch your mind. Be sure you have all the facts before you move forward with something important to you. There can be a real tendency to say something prematurely or to talk ahead of yourself. Your trust that others understand you can lead to miscommunications. Avoid making and investing in promises. It’s not the time to divulge sensitive information. Even though judgment can be off in the first half of the day, take this opportunity to dream up new possibilities.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius Horoscope

Your ruler, Jupiter, is in a difficult aspect with Mercury today, dear Sagittarius, and this can lead to misjudgments and miscommunications. These are unlikely to be too challenging, although it makes send to be aware of the tendency to exaggerate, promise too much, and neglect practical details. Optimism can lead you to take on more than you can reasonably handle. Many of you are expanding your connections these days, and this is a trend that will continue until October. You’re also full of ideas and plans, but today, you should watch for overdoing these things. Generosity is good, but extravagance is costly. Your plans or ideas can clash with those of a partner. Tune into optimistic energy, but avoid taking it to impractical levels unless it’s all in good fun.

Capricorn

Capricorn HoroscopeThere is a distinct tendency to overdo and overstate with us today, dear Capricorn. However, self-awareness can help you avoid going too far, and common sense – something you’re known for – can help you make better choices. Watch particularly for a tendency to say too much or to take on too many projects or commitments on personal and professional levels. You are ambitious these days, but you need to remind yourself of the limits of time and energy – even of enthusiasm. Jupiter’s influence today can really stir up excitement and motivation that’s useful now but transient. It’s meant to stretch your mind to consider new possibilities – to think in bigger terms than usual – after which you can shape and refine these ideas to fit your life.

Aquarius

Aquarius

There can be gossip to deal with today, dear Aquarius, or people may be blowing things out of proportion. Disagreements can get very big, very fast! Try not to invest too much into information coming in now. Take on a wait-and-see approach to discover what sticks. You could be imagining something that is unlikely to transpire, and while this can be an interesting exercise, it may cut into real life in challenging ways. The real problem may be inner restlessness or dissatisfaction. You’re looking closely at hidden meanings, but this may be taken a little too far. As long as you keep things fun and light without heavy expectations, then this is a good day to daydream and consider new possibilities.

Pisces

PiscesWatch for a tendency to go overboard with your projects, relationships, and money today, dear Pisces. A Mercury-Jupiter square challenges you to think in bigger terms than usual so that you can consider new ideas and plans. This influence can be useful as a mental exercise, but some self-control and common sense are necessary to keep things real. The tendency may be to live beyond your means on all sorts of levels, and judgment may be impaired. What you hear may be an exaggeration. Avoid too much people-pleasing, as this can take a lot out of you and leave you feeling dissatisfied. Dream but don’t invest your heart into something just yet.

 

 

 

If You Were Born Today, February 2

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If You Were Born Today, February 2

Career and family are equally important to you–both of these things drive you. You are a real achiever who has determination and willpower, as well as intuition that serves you well. Spirit and beauty reflect from within, and others cannot help but take notice of you. Very diplomatic, you are a peace lover through and through, and bringing harmony to your environment and family satisfies like nothing else. Famous people born today: Farrah Fawcett, Shakira, Christie Brinkley, James Dickey, James Joyce.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

The Sun in a waxing sextile to the Moon in your Solar Return chart has a fortunate influence on your year ahead. You can be especially productive this year, as in many ways you are starting fresh, but you have a rather clear vision of what you want to accomplish. Your inner needs tend to be mirrored by external events, and vice versa, which helps to boost your confidence and happiness levels. You more readily accept that challenges are part of the natural cycle in life, which in turn helps you to meet them with confidence and to worry less. You are likely to be on top of your game this year for the most part, and positive connections with others can be made fairly easily. A comfortable level of personal popularity helps keep conflict to a minimum. With the ability to handle your emotions successfully, there will be less stress on both your mind and body.

Your senses are stimulated this year, and you could have sudden flashes of insight or fresh new ideas. You may very well find it challenging to deal with routine matters or monotonous tasks. Learning new things is your passion this year–not recycling old ideas or performing repetitive processes. You are also especially open to new ways of looking at problems, thus it’s considerably easier to find solutions.

You are especially creative and expressive this year, and you might often act on impulse. Your love life may be especially animated. You succeed best in fields or areas that allow you to make something beautiful, attractive, and/or entertaining. You are particularly dynamic at this point in your life, sometimes impatient, and you often experience bursts of energy. You are courageous, but be careful to not go to such extremes that you are foolhardy, as this inclines you to mishaps.

Personal magnetism is tremendous this year. You are playfully competitive and might win a major competition, if applicable. This is a good period for creative projects and joining with others in pursuing a common goal.

You are more willing than usual to make sacrifices if it seems the best way to make improvements in relationships and with money matters. You can be quite particular in your tastes, and good with money and savings this year.

Even so, Venus in challenging aspect to Saturn suggests some ups and downs in the year ahead. Getting serious about love or money (or both) will be a theme this year. You are more aware than usual of your limits and this can lead to a more structured approach to spending and saving. The responsibilities of partnership or financial responsibilities may be magnified this year. This gives you the chance to bring more order or structure into your life as you recognize needs for security.

Watch for a tendency to become involved in power struggles and one-upmanship, and watch for asserting yourself defensively or explosively. You should make extra effort to respect and validate others when expressing what you need and want.

Benefits come from cooperation this year. A more organized approach to money and business can work well for you now. You enjoy making long-term plans and learning about a variety of subjects. Always receptive to new ideas, you are absorbing a lot of information this year. There may be a break with a friend, but a new connection as well. Increased popularity, in general, is likely and personal magnetism is high.

 

2017 is a Number Five year for you. Ruled by Mercury. This is a year of exploration and freedom. It’s a time when exploration and reaching out to others brings opportunities. It’s a good time to advertise and sell. Surprises are in store, and the routine is broken. This is a year when exciting relationships can be formed or, if you are already in a partnership, new life is breathed into the relationship. Advice – explore, look for adventure, keep your eyes open for opportunities, mingle.

2018 will be a Number Six year for you. Ruled by Venus. This is a year of relative contentment. It is a time when love is the easiest to attract, and partnerships formed under this vibration have a better chance for longevity. You are able to attract others, and material things as well, this year. This is a good year for establishing harmony in the family and in the home. Advice – develop existing relationships, be positive and receptive because these kinds of energies help you to attract what you desire. 

Source

Cafe Astrology

Your Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, February 2nd

Your Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, February 2nd

 

Aries

Aries Horoscope

It’s important to keep in mind the tendency to gloss over practical details today, dear Aries, unless you’re simply daydreaming and enjoying yourself. Speaking too soon about a matter should also be avoided, as your understanding of a situation can be incomplete. You’re particularly excited about new ideas and possible plans, particularly related to partnering and your career, and this should be encouraged. You’ll need to make refinements later so that they fit into your schedule, but for now, it’s about the bigger picture. Avoid promising too much or nitpicking with a significant other. If something appears a little too good to be true, it may very well be, so wait out big decisions. You may not be agreeing with someone on your long-term plans, and while this should be addressed, try not to put too much weight into it at the moment.

Taurus

Taurus Horoscope

In the first half of the day, there is a strong tendency to blow things out of proportion or to overstate, dear Taurus. Communications ruler, Mercury, forms a challenging square with extravagant Jupiter, pointing to possible misjudgments. Even so, their conflict can stir up some wonderful enthusiasm and good ideas, even if these require some adjustments to come down to earth. If you’re simply daydreaming and exploring possibilities, and it’s a feel-good thing, then you’ll be fine. You may be defending your ideas, which can be energizing but could also lead to moodiness if nobody’s truly listening to one another, which is very likely with today’s energies. Be moderate in your expectations. The Moon moves into your sign this evening, bringing emotional needs to the front burner.

Gemini

Gemini

The first half of the day is likely to find you optimistic and enthusiastic, dear Gemini. However, there can be some moodiness as you may be working with incomplete information. Exaggeration may stem from a desire for more meaning to our lives or possibly some attention, and this may be an issue today. You may want to make big promises to make someone happy, but it’s best to keep things real today. Even so, do stretch your imagination and consider new possibilities. You can come up with exciting ideas now. Creative activities fare nicely now. When it comes to relationships, you don’t need to go overboard to please someone who is worth the effort. Tonight, the Moon moves into your sector of rest and privacy, pointing to the need to relax and de-stress.

Cancer

Cancer

There can be some restlessness stirred today, dear Cancer, which might lead you to interesting places but may only serve to lead you astray if you’re not mindful. New discoveries and interests or great ideas may emerge, although they will likely need to be refined or edited later. There can also be drama with a partner or with family, particularly due to disagreements or debates. With Mercury in your partnership sector, you might often want to share decisions with someone else, but today, avoid letting someone else make the decisions for you. As well, avoid making or relying on promises. Later today, you’re in a wonderful position to enjoy good company.

Leo

Leo Glyph Symbol Horoscope

Mental restlessness can lead to exciting discoveries today, dear Leo, but you might also misjudge a situation. It’s best to allow your mind some exercise as it’s wont to do today but wait to make final decisions. A project may need a second look, and you may need to make adjustments to the time and energy allotted to it. There may be a sense that you have so many things to do that you don’t know where to begin. Try not to waste time on feeling overwhelmed – pick something small and work from there. When it comes to news or others’ overtures to you, double-check facts. It’s especially important that you avoid taking on too much or promising too much now.

Virgo

Virgo Symbol Horoscope

With Mercury’s square to Jupiter today, dear Virgo, there is a tendency for people to exaggerate, jump to conclusions, or to buy into big ideas. Stay positive, but try not to take promises to heart. You may be seeing things too optimistically or impractically now, which can lead to poor decisions, so wait things out if you can. A situation with a child or lover can have much more to it than meets the eye. Judgment about money may be off, and the tendency today is towards excess. Creatively speaking, your ideas are quite brilliant, but you may not have all the resources, particularly time, to implement them just yet. Be patient about putting exciting new plans into action.

Libra

Libra

An idea can take hold of you today, dear Libra, and you can be quite enthusiastic. However, it’s important that you consider the practical side of a situation before investing too much of yourself or your resources into a new idea or project. The potential for going over the top runs high right now. Remind yourself of your usual limits, and while pushing them a little can be fine, try not to push too far. You may be feeling very capable, but your energy and enthusiasm levels may not always run so high, so significant commitments should be avoided just for now. Do, however, think up big ideas and plans that you may not even consider on a regular day.

Scorpio

Scorpio Horoscope

There is a tendency to exaggerate something today, dear Scorpio, or to put too much into a particular line of thought or plan. Mental restlessness may be at the root of this as Jupiter forms a tense aspect with Mercury and challenges you to stretch your mind. Be sure you have all the facts before you move forward with something important to you. There can be a real tendency to say something prematurely or to talk ahead of yourself. Your trust that others understand you can lead to miscommunications. Avoid making and investing in promises. It’s not the time to divulge sensitive information. Even though judgment can be off in the first half of the day, take this opportunity to dream up new possibilities.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius Horoscope

Your ruler, Jupiter, is in a difficult aspect with Mercury today, dear Sagittarius, and this can lead to misjudgments and miscommunications. These are unlikely to be too challenging, although it makes send to be aware of the tendency to exaggerate, promise too much, and neglect practical details. Optimism can lead you to take on more than you can reasonably handle. Many of you are expanding your connections these days, and this is a trend that will continue until October. You’re also full of ideas and plans, but today, you should watch for overdoing these things. Generosity is good, but extravagance is costly. Your plans or ideas can clash with those of a partner. Tune into optimistic energy, but avoid taking it to impractical levels unless it’s all in good fun.

Capricorn

Capricorn HoroscopeThere is a distinct tendency to overdo and overstate with us today, dear Capricorn. However, self-awareness can help you avoid going too far, and common sense – something you’re known for – can help you make better choices. Watch particularly for a tendency to say too much or to take on too many projects or commitments on personal and professional levels. You are ambitious these days, but you need to remind yourself of the limits of time and energy – even of enthusiasm. Jupiter’s influence today can really stir up excitement and motivation that’s useful now but transient. It’s meant to stretch your mind to consider new possibilities – to think in bigger terms than usual – after which you can shape and refine these ideas to fit your life.

Aquarius

Aquarius

There can be gossip to deal with today, dear Aquarius, or people may be blowing things out of proportion. Disagreements can get very big, very fast! Try not to invest too much into information coming in now. Take on a wait-and-see approach to discover what sticks. You could be imagining something that is unlikely to transpire, and while this can be an interesting exercise, it may cut into real life in challenging ways. The real problem may be inner restlessness or dissatisfaction. You’re looking closely at hidden meanings, but this may be taken a little too far. As long as you keep things fun and light without heavy expectations, then this is a good day to daydream and consider new possibilities.

Pisces

PiscesWatch for a tendency to go overboard with your projects, relationships, and money today, dear Pisces. A Mercury-Jupiter square challenges you to think in bigger terms than usual so that you can consider new ideas and plans. This influence can be useful as a mental exercise, but some self-control and common sense are necessary to keep things real. The tendency may be to live beyond your means on all sorts of levels, and judgment may be impaired. What you hear may be an exaggeration. Avoid too much people-pleasing, as this can take a lot out of you and leave you feeling dissatisfied. Dream but don’t invest your heart into something just yet.

 

 

Source

 

Cafe Astrology

February 2017 Energy Report

February 2017 Energy Report

Unlike January, February begins with no retrograde planets, a rather unusual but very welcome occurrence as we move into a new energy space after a very long month. February’s energy feels fresh, new, and clear and that’s partly because we began 2017 while still closing out 2016 and we can officially begin this year’s energy now, free of the last year’s lessons and burdens. February brings lots of opportunities for love, in ways we may not expect and we’re going to be processing more energy as we continue down the 3D/5D integration path. One of the big issues in February is the release of the Atlantean Paradigm, which we will experience with the divine masculine/feminine awakening energies, and the release of our Atlantean guilt, which is what has limited our ability to fully accept love and to love ourselves.  Our movement to Divine Congruence is in full acceleration now, our intuition is our navigator, our intention is our roadmap, and the destination is whatever brings us greater fulfillment and joy.

February’s major lessons revolve around love and the divine masculine and divine feminine awakening. This month is about love and I’m not talking about Valentine’s Day on the 14th.  I am talking about the self love that is free of guilt, judgment, and criticism, the unconditional acceptance that we need to give ourselves first in order to have all of the love, validation, approval, and acceptance that we want from others.  Our desire for love is supported by a Mars/Venus conjunction, in Aries, all month which is the first zodiac sign, Mars’ rulership, and Venus 12th house and how we manage it is challenged all month by the ongoing Saturn/Chiron square, Uranus/Eris conjunction, Jupiter in Libra for balance, and Pluto overseeing all of those aspects with its reminder that transformation is the name of this game.

Mars rules Aries, so it is feeling right at home here and the desire for action is strong. But Venus is not at home in Aries so its energy is more subdued here although it will take on a more spiritual energy which will give it a more understanding outlook. This is going to help the feminine in us be less demanding of the masculine and less powerless in the feminine, to meet our needs and give this awakening the time it needs. Venus will be in shadow or direct retrograde from January 28 through May 19, holding the energetic space for this month’s transformation, which includes an Atlantean component. I have found that Venus retrograde brings relationship issues to the forefront, including issues around self love and how we relate to others.

The Atlantean energy undercurrents are strong now, and they are one of the dominant energies of the month. In my book ‘The Atlantis Legacy’, which you can find here, I write about this paradigm which was created after Atlantis’ fall. One of its first agreements was that the male energy would dominate (after eons of female energy rule) and that would lead to healing and harmony. Well, that didn’t really pan out and it led to a total disenfranchisement of the female energy and total male domination, a replay of what happened in Atlantis’, in reverse. But we’re tired of that, we see that it is not working, and it is time to bring these two energies back into balance, in this year of Congruent Harmony.

The Atlantean Guilt is the one big obstacle to this and it is what has also created the Martyred Healer paradigm, in which we attempt to atone for the wrongs we believe we have created for others.  This represents our guilt over how we contributed to Atlantis’ fall, whether directly or indirectly, through misplaced trust or belief, and destroyed the earth and a vast majority of its people.

We have atoned for our actions by being healers and taking on ‘the sins of the world’, believing ourselves to be unworthy of the peace, love, and joy that we try so hard to create for others but deny for ourselves. And we have denied ourselves access to the positive contributions that the feminine energy can make to the world by allowing this energy to be repressed, suppressed, ignored, and trivialized. But in order to achieve this year’s theme of Congruent Harmony, we need both energies, masculine and feminine, in their divine form, to be equally balanced in us and in the world. And we can start that now.

True congruence and harmony between the male and female energies requires equal partnership, shared respect, and a congruent vision for balance and harmony, a fresh start that begins with empowered awareness of and appreciation for each others’ strengths. When we lead, in any relationship, from our self-aware power, we are whole and congruent and seek greater creative expansion instead of healing so we can feel fulfilled. February’s energy sets the stage for that and encourages us to seek our own wholeness first and then create relationships from that point.

We have two eclipses in February, which are always harbingers of greater energy flows. On February 10th it’s a full moon on the Leo/Aquarius axis at 22 degrees and with the Sun (Leo’s ruler) in Aquarius, Uranus (Aquarius’ ruler) in Aries, Mars in Aries and Saturn, Aquarius’ traditional ruler, in Sagittarius, we have a lot of supportive energy to create endings so new beginnings can occur. Every beginning requires an ending as its starting point, as endings free up energy space for what we want to create next. This full moon eclipse also activates the Uranus/Eris conjunction, Chiron (the Wounded Healer), and the Saturn/Chiron square, three of the year’s major themes.

Coming just before Valentine’s Day, it gives us an extra power boost to either fall in love or know when it’s time to move on. Receiving love will be a major theme for Valentine’s Day, as opposed to the love we give. Is our giving and receiving balanced? Do we have people in our lives who take our love and give nothing in return? Does everyone in our life ‘love, honor, and respect’ us?  If that’s the case, expect to know when it’s time to make changes in our relationships and have the desire and motivation to make them, whatever they are.

Jupiter starts its annual retrograde in February’s first week and goes direct in May. All of the relationship lessons we have learned since it entered Libra in September 2016 are now coming around again so we can make choices around them. While we tend to think of Libra as the relationship area and then we think of love and romance, this sign is really about balance (its glyph is the scales). Where are we balanced in our giving and receiving in all of our relationships, not just the romantic ones? Are we open to receiving love now in a balanced, congruent, and harmonious way? Do we feel worthy of having loving relationships with everyone in our life? We can think about that during Jupiter’s retrograde. It’s also going to square Pluto in Capricorn two more times this year, so we’ll have some more opportunities to consider our relationship balance and make appropriate changes and choices.

On the 26th we have a new moon eclipse in Pisces, which is exactly conjunct Neptune, the planet that represents illusion, deception, and spirituality. This will be a predominant theme all year, separating reality from illusion and finding the truth in the deception. In our individual lives, this will show us where we have created false congruence, where we make things work and hope everything turns out for the best, rather than true congruence, which is the harmonious flow of creation and expansion. With false congruence we do what we believe is necessary, including ignoring our unhappiness, to make us feel good. With true congruence we have a life that feels good and we are truly happy and fulfilled.

We can’t push this integration to move any more quickly than it is although we believe that if it went faster we would not have so many problems, but that isn’t true. What has happened so far, and will continue to happen, is the uncovering of deeper layers of energetic truth, so we are now at our core levels of trauma, guilt, shame, and victim consciousness. And we have a choice to stay in those energies or find new empowering, fulfilling pathways to step into. If we can remember, all month, that we have choices in how we use our energy, our levels of energetic vibration, and use that choice to seek empowerment, fulfillment, wholeness, and congruence, we’ll have a great month.

Monthly Astro-Forecasts February 2017

Monthly Astro-Forecasts February 2017

Message for February 2017

In many ways, life is a blank canvas waiting to be brought to life by strokes of the brush, splashes of colour and a willingness to breathe energy into possibility. Although the canvas is blank, and we have the freedom to create something unique, many of us choose to paint by numbers as it gives us boundaries and a safety net. Maybe it’s an inherent part of being human to want to fit in and follow the ‘guidelines’ even though we intuitively know there are no guidelines? Maybe the freedom of a blank canvas is simply too frightening for many of us to contemplate as it takes us out of our comfort zones and into unchartered terrain? Even when our comfort zones are full of pain or struggle, we still cling to them as it’s what we know as the fear in uncertainty can feel too much.

Being human is a complex, complicated and confusing existence. We are not like washing machines or flat-packed furniture as we don’t come with an instruction booklet. Even if that instruction booklet is written in a different language or full of nonsensical clap trap, we try to find one and follow it all the same as it’s what we do, isn’t it?  As ridiculous as it sounds, so many of us do this as we need something to help us to make sense of the lives we live and we want reasons to understand why things are the way they are. Yet, can an instruction book really do this for us? Are we clutching at straws? Maybe our tendency to cling to instruction manuals is less about living consciously and more about living unconsciously, being a part of the treadmill of life and never really having to think beyond the four walls of everyday life?

It’s important for each of us to realise that the pathway to bringing that blank canvas to life is in letting go of the caveats and conditions we place upon our own existence. We need to stop hovering over the edge of life waiting for a better moment to live and we need to stop feeling we need to be more, do more or achieve more in order to be happy. We each need to find our own ways of working out how to live with life and we need to start having the confidence to pick up the paintbrush and let our intuitions lead the way.

It’s so easy to define ourselves by everything we are not. We see the faults and imperfections far more easily than we see the brilliance. Yet, what we are is not the same as what we are not. We are not the sum of what we haven’t achieved nor are we the sum of our failures; our parts are so much more. We often define ourselves by what we are not as we feel we need to do more in order to attain peace, joy and happiness. We rarely, if ever, entertain the possibility that we are the way we are because that’s the way we are. Perfection is found in imperfection, wisdom is found in struggle and happiness can be found in the here and now. If we spend our lives looking for happiness and seeking out joy, we can lose sight of the present moment. Surely we need to stop chasing happiness as some state of being sat high up on a pedestal on the horizon and instead learn how to live vibrantly in the here and now?

Life may not be as we want it to be; we may have pain, struggle, unhappiness and challenges, but these are always a part of life. We can no more eradicate these than we can stop the day turning into night. Equally, if we believe happiness will come once we have eradicated or fixed all of our problems, then we are denying ourselves the opportunity to be happy as happiness is not a default setting nor is it a result of being ‘fixed’, it’s a force to be cultivated and nurtured. We also have to believe that happiness is possible if we are ever going to experience it! Life’s tough and sometimes it’s downright mean, but we can find strength and wisdom from our struggles, and it’s often during such times that we find insight into our true selves as the light shines brightly within and illuminates the soul. Often, as a result of this, we find the courage to pick up the paintbrush and let our hearts and souls find joy in the freedom of expression.

It’s understandable to want to live life in the relative safety of painting by numbers and to seek out the light, yet light casts shadows. Are the shadows and the darkness any less important than the light? Surely we need dark and light to be whole? So many push away the darkness in order to find peace without realising true peace can only come from accepting the bigger picture. In this fleeting moment we call life, we need to learn how to breathe into it, how to live consciously and to stop frantically trying to make sense of it all. Living wholeheartedly is an art, and living authentically and with passion are the brushstrokes of living intuitively…

With love,

Sarah-Jane

Aries

As you continue to work towards capturing the essence and the energy of the bigger picture of your life, there is a sense you are beginning to feel more in touch with your inner glow and creative spark. Although you can feel this inner warmth, there is a sense of some confusion as to what exactly you are supposed to do with it! You thrive on clarity and purpose, and using your inner glow as a guidance system feels rather too woolly and vague for your liking. However, you are overthinking things as there is no instruction manual to follow, this is simply allowing your own formidable intuition to lead the way. At the same time, your inner glow has always been your guidance system, it’s just that you have found ways to ignore it! Listen to your heart and soul, and when you feel the warmth rising up from within, you intuitively know you are heading in the right direction. It really is as simple as that! Okay, well maybe not that simple, as life has a habit of throwing in the odd curve ball, but it doesn’t have to be complicated unless you make it so.

February looks set to be a month of re-igniting the passion within as you let go of your frustration and impatience, and begin to allow your free-spirited self to thrive and flourish. Whilst you will always want to do more, be more and achieve more, particularly when it comes to those close to you, you are reaching a stage of your personal evolution where acknowledging your own needs no longer feels selfish or greedy. You are ready to reach more deeply into your heart and soul in order to reach more deeply into life whilst, at the same time, allowing life to reach more deeply into you. Your mantra for February: don’t overthink, keep it simple…

Taurus

Living wholeheartedly continues to shape and define your path in life as you begin to walk, talk and breathe more consciously than ever before. In a way, you have awoken from a long slumber of being stuck on the hamster wheel of life, but, at the same time, you haven’t really changed much, you have simply become more aware of how you live and how you want to live as this has inspired you to create ripples of change. Of course, part of you is not keen to rock the boat, particularly if it means disturbing the equilibrium of those you hold dear, but there is also a part of you longing to up-anchor and do something completely different. Living with two ends of the extreme can create some disharmony and disequilibrium so it’s important for you to find your middle ground: that place where you feel centred and able to walk ahead with confidence and a strong sense of self.

This is easier said than done, particularly when you spend so much of your time giving to others, but you are a strong, courageous and intuitive soul, so if anyone can find a way through then it’s you. Don’t underestimate yourself and don’t give up when confusion sometimes sweeps in as this is not meant to deter you, it is designed to re-shape and re-hone your path so you can define a truer and richer way of living and being you. You can’t eradicate confusion, so try to embrace it and see it as a tool to help you thrive. Living wholeheartedly takes courage, self-belief and passion, and you have all three by the bucket load. It’s time to stop doubting yourself and it’s time to start honouring yourself as you are ready now to embark on a new adventure towards living the life you were born to live…

Gemini

The concept of inner balance looks set to take centre stage throughout February as you begin to realise the correlation between inner balance and outer harmony. It’s similar to having a clean and tidy desk to help facilitate clarity and clear thought, as maintaining inner balance can help you to see yourself and your life far more clearly. Of course, achieving inner balance takes patience and determination, but it’s important not to push yourself too hard as frustration can be counter-productive and leave you feeling less balanced than ever. Inner balance is more a way of being than something to ‘do’; it’s a state of existence, an allowing. It’s hard to describe or articulate as there are few words that could truly facilitate an understanding of ‘inner balance’ as there are no words to describe the indescribable.

Inner balance is a feeling, and you know it when you feel it, not before. This is likely to irk you somewhat as you thrive on understanding and feel you need clarity to fully understand a concept but there are times when this holds you back as you cannot always have the answers before you begin the process of asking questions! Sometimes you have to stop digging and analysing in order to live more consciously in the present moment instead. Asking questions can keep you locked in a cycle of waiting for a better moment before you act as you tend to want the answers before you move forward, this is understandable but rarely possible! Intuitively you already know this, but knowing it and accepting it are quite different things. The stubborn side of you may want to dig his/her heels in but it’s time to let go a little as inner balance comes from surrender, open-heartedness and a willingness to trust in the process…

Cancer

February looks set to be a month of inspired thought and creative vision as you begin to look at the bigger picture of your life and see new ways of living and being which can enhance and enrich your life greatly. You are quite a visionary at heart and even though you are also practical and a bit of a realist, you never give up on dreams as you know they feed your heart and soul, and give you hope even when life feels uphill and overwhelming. Dreams motivate and inspire you, and they encourage you to keep on keeping on even when you are moving against the flow. Yet, what is your dream? In a few words, explain it: give it shape and form. In a clear and succinct way, declare your dream to the universe. Well? What are you waiting for?

Whilst you are full of ideas and encouraged by the concept of having a dream, when it comes to the finer detail, and perhaps even the bigger picture, there is a sense that you haven’t really given your dream a great deal of thought recently. It’s there because it’s always been there, but it’s a little bit dusty sitting on the shelf. Perhaps it’s time to lift it down, dust it off and reconnect with it? Maybe it’s no longer your dream? Maybe you have evolved and moved on? Maybe it still warms your soul? Yet, until you look how can you know? This is a pivotal time for you to re-connect to your dream as the fires in your belly are re-igniting and sparking into life; capture the essence of this and channel it towards creating a clearer and more defined vision of your path ahead. Let the passion and energy of your dreams expand your consciousness and inspire you to soar…

Leo

‘Be more lion’ continues to be your mantra throughout February as you re-connect to your inner roar and feel your creative courage rising up from deep within. You have spent a long time trying to be everything to everyone else but forgetting to be everything to yourself. You have given so much of yourself to others, trying to do the right thing and trying to do more, be more and achieve more, and whilst you have achieved a great deal, you can’t help but feel a bit empty and shallow as you are lacking an inner sense of fulfilment. So, what does ‘be more lion’ actually mean? Well, there aren’t really the words to describe it as it’s a state of being that only a true Leo soul can comprehend. Breathe in the words and feel them reaching deeply into your heart and soul; let the energy become one with you as you feel your true nature rising up and embracing you like an old friend.

You may feel as though you’ve lost your way over recent months (even years) as you’ve edged away from your true path and gradually eroded your creative spark, but you intuitively know nothing is lost, it’s just been tucked away, out of sight. In a way, being more lion has, until recently, simply got in the way of life as you haven’t had the time or the inclination to even consider the concept, let alone embrace it. However, the tides are turning and you are now beginning to reach more deeply into that inner longing to live a more enriching and fulfilling life. This has triggered off a chain reaction within you and your fiery, creative, passionate lion is slowly re-energising and inspiring you to thrive. So, embrace this energy and ‘be more lion’…

Virgo

The wheels on the big bus of your life have been going round and round for quite some time. You have successfully managed to keep the bus going (carrying a wide array of family, friends and passengers) uphill, off-road and in unchartered terrain. Your tenacity and determination has kept the bus moving, and you have learned more about vehicle mechanics than you ever thought possible (or indeed ever really wanted to know). Your life has become ‘project bus’ as your focus has remained fixed on keeping the bus going and you have lost sight of the reasons why you’re on the bus in the first place. ‘Project bus’ has, on the whole, been a successful project as you have pushed on even when you have felt overwhelmed and your gritty resolve has seen you do so much for so many.

Your generosity extends far and wide so there are many random passengers who get on and off the bus as you love to help others and this has seen you meeting a wide range of different people and opened up unexpected doorways and opportunities. Yet, there is a sense that with your focus on keeping the bus going, you have lost sight of the destination and spent a great deal of time meandering and zigzagging. In short, you have misplaced your sense of personal purpose and it’s time to grab hold of the great big map of your life in order to re-connect to your destiny and dreams. This doesn’t mean you’ll stop taking on passengers, but it does suggest a need for you to be far more aware of your own needs and wishes. February looks set to be a month for re-inventing the wheel, or at least pumping up the tyres, changing the oil, grabbing hold of the steering wheel and setting off of your own personal road trip…

Libra

Being you continues to take centre stage throughout February as you begin to seek out new ways to express yourself and to share your wisdom, creativity and sparkle. It may be hard for you to acknowledge you even have a sparkle as life has been tough for you over recent months as you have spent a long time trying to ‘fire fight’ in order to keep on keeping on, leaving you little time for much needed contemplation, creative thought and breathing space. Although your head is always very busy, you are often misunderstood as others fail to see your layers and your complexity. This can sometimes make it hard for you to find that all important ‘quiet’ space as others assume you can’t possibly need it as your head is whirring all of the time. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth but you do a good job of hiding your inner depths so you should try to forgive others if they struggle to ‘get’ you.

February is time for you to open up the doorway to your inner world a little more in order to allow others to see the real you. Whilst you like to keep the real you private, sometimes you need to let it breathe in the fresh air in order to re-centre once again. It’s hard trying to hold it all together on the surface when underneath the veneer the cracks are showing. The main reason for this is an incongruence between your head and your heart as well as the one between your inner and outer self. The time has come for you to bring all of this back together again into a more harmonious whole in order to find a truer sense of peace and balance. Do it your way, trust your intuition and don’t forget to breathe…

Scorpio

February looks set to be a month of inspired vision and innovative thought as you begin to feel a growing sense of momentum gathering pace within your heart and soul. This momentum is connected to a shift in perspective as you’ve found the wisdom in focusing on the things you can change and having more trust in the process of tender, wholehearted surrender with the things you can’t. This isn’t giving up; it’s facing life with courage and acceptance, and allowing your wisdom and intuition to guide you forward. In many ways, this is about the concept of ‘letting go’ as there’s a need for you to realise the futility in trying to push against dead ends and brick walls. Whilst there’s a chance you could break through, often the best option is to find another way. Once again, this isn’t ‘giving up’ it’s simply being wise.

This can be hard for you to see though as your stubborn nature can obscure your view and leave you feeling ‘less than’ if you don’t manage to make the progress you believe you need to achieve in order to ‘succeed’. You are your own harshest judge and this needs to stop if you are going to break this cycle and move forward in life with more confidence and a stronger sense of self. Whilst your dogged determination has seen you make progress in life, it has also tripped you up and left you feeling frustrated and downhearted as you have, at times, felt so powerless and out of control when life hasn’t panned out as you hoped. You may have fought hard to change the outcome in such situations, but there’s great strength to be found in finding another way and it’s time to shift your perspective in order to find a more life affirming, enriching and positive path ahead…

Sagittarius

As you continue to gather together your dreams, goals and opportunities from across time and space, there is a sense you are beginning to see the need to trim down the plethora of things to do, people to see and places to go, as well as re-focusing on your true priorities and goals. Although you are acutely aware of the need to do this, knowing it and doing it are very different things as it’s so hard for you to trim away anything much as you can see the potential and possibility in almost everything. You have a ‘just in case’ kind of attitude and like to keep hold of ideas or projects ‘just in case’ they will bear fruit or serve you well. This is an understandable approach to life, after all, it’s never easy to know exactly where the next opportunity will take you, however, there is a sense that having too much ‘just in case’ can undermine you as it weighs you down and becomes more of a burden than anything else as you end up buried beneath a huge great pile of ‘just in case’ ideas and then you cannot see the wood for the trees.

Of course, knowing exactly what to trim down and what to keep isn’t always straightforward, but when you go within and listen to your intuition, you know what you need to do. Sadly, too much ‘just in case’ can also thwart your intuition as it creates a heavy mist in your soul, clouding your view and preventing you from connecting effortlessly to your intuitive side. So, it seems clear you need to take a little step back from your everyday in order to see the beginnings of your true priorities so you can grab hold of them like the end of a ball of string in order to get to the core of what really matters in your life…

Capricorn

Trying to find a key word for you for February is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack as there are so many words which would be appropriate for you as your life is like a kaleidoscope of thoughts, pathways and opportunities. However, one word seems apt, so one word it is. Happiness. There’s a word for you! That took you by surprise. Some call you a realist, others think you see the glass half empty a little too easily but you have had your fair share of challenges in life to not expect an easy ride. However, this can mean you expect life to be harder than it has to be. Happiness may not be top of your mind as you manage your everyday but it’s no less important. You may be busy keeping on keeping on and trying to deal with the humdrum pedestrian-ness of daily life, but there is still room for happiness. Perhaps you have stopped allowing for the possibility?

So, what does happiness mean? What makes you happy? Is happiness a result of what you do or how you feel? Is happiness the lack of unhappiness or is it something more? Is happiness a default setting that emerges when all the challenges and unhappiness has been eradicated? Is happiness possible? So many questions but frustratingly for you a distinct lack of answers. You hate fluffy, vagueness and this forecast really isn’t giving you much meat on the bone to grab hold of. Yet, maybe that’s the point? Perhaps giving you food for thought is better than serving it up on a plate so it gives you the freedom to shape and define what happens next? Happiness is a flavour, it’s a taste of a state of being, an energy which is both within and around you. The time has come for you to embrace the concept and see where it takes you…

Aquarius

There can be no denying that life has been something of a challenge for you over recent weeks and months. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges has been in trying to hold together the many different facets and components of your everyday world even though they have veered off in many different directions, often at the same time. You do your best to keep on keeping on, trying to do the right thing and often to your own detriment as you push yourself hard and expect to maintain those very high standards you set for yourself. Of course, high standards are a good thing, but when the expectation to continually achieve these comes at the cost of your creativity, ingenuity and intuition, then you know things are out of kilter. Yet, with you being you, even though you can sense this, you still push on as your drive towards getting life right is so strong. It’s not easy being you!

You are a complex soul with a complex perspective on the world, your beliefs are deeply engrained and even though you are a fluid, free-thinking soul, you can find it so hard to break free from the beliefs you know are holding you back. February looks set to be a month for you to turn to face these beliefs in order to find a new way of living and being. You are a vibrant, passionate and compassionate soul and it’s time for you to turn towards these gifts and focus them inwards in order to find a more enriching way to live your life. This isn’t selfish, it’s vital if you are to re-establish equilibrium and balance. You may feel you have to keep pushing hard and keeping on keeping on, but intuitively you know there are better ways to live and this is your time to fly high and soar…

Pisces

As you continue to contemplate your true destination in life, there is a sense you are beginning to acknowledge the idea that you have been more like driftwood than a mighty tall ship over recent weeks and months. You have lost the self-belief that you have mastery of the waves and you cannot see your own majesty and beauty. Of course, even in a ship, the tide can still carry you off course, but driftwood just drifts and that really isn’t your true and natural state of being; you are mighty, passionate and wholehearted! You often feel awash with the watery depths of Pisces, feeling overwhelmed, lost or confused with the enormity of life, however, you can struggle to see the power hidden within these depths and instead of channelling your formidable energy to thrive, you end up trying to survive instead. There is a big difference between surviving and thriving, and using your time, energy and focus on keeping your head above water really isn’t doing you any justice.

It’s time now for you to explore why you feel more akin to driftwood as it’s important to understand your motivations and beliefs. It’s possible you have bought into the driftwood belief as others see you as slightly vague and nebulous so you have started to think it’s true, or it’s possible you have embraced the driftwood concept as it means never really having to take hold of the helm and make some big decisions. Acknowledging the driftwood state of mind is a big first step but it’s important for you to move beyond the passive and back towards feeling your own majesty, strength and power. Drifting never has, and never will, be natural for you as you know the waves, ebbs and flows so well as your intuition is formidable; see this of yourself now, own it and allow your power to rise up as it’s your time to thrive once again…

The Current Moon Phase for Thursday, February 2nd is Waxing Crescent

February 2
Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 32%

The Moon today is in a Waxing Crescent Phase. A Waxing Crescent is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon’s surface. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the wester sky after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. The moon is close to the sun in the sky and mostly dark except for the right edge of the moon which becomes brighter as the days get closer to the next phase which is a First Quarter with a 50% illumination.

Phase Details for – Thursday, February 2, 2017

Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 32%
Moon Age: 5.60 days
Moon Angle: 0.54
Moon Distance: 367,151.66 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,449,582.88 km

Source

The Witches Correspondences for Imbolc


Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

The Witches Correspondences for Imbolc

 

Tools, Symbols & Decorations
White flowers, marigolds, plum blossoms, daffodils, Brigid wheel, Brigid’s cross, candles, grain/seed for blessing, red candle in a cauldron full of earth, doll, Bride’s Bed; the Bride, broom, milk, birchwood, snowflakes, snow in a crystal container,evergreens, homemade besom of dried broom, orange candle annointed in oil can be used to sybolize the renewing energy of the Sun’s rebirth.

Colors
Brown, pink, red, orange, white, lavender, pale yellow, silver, green, blue

Customs
Lighting candles, seeking omens of Spring, storytelling, cleaning house, bonfires, indoor planting, stone collecting, candle kept burning dusk till dawn; hearth re-lighting

Animals/Mythical beings
Firebird, dragon, groundhog, deer, burrowing animals, ewes, robin, sheep, lamb, other creatures waking from hibernation

Gemstones
Amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise

Herbs
Angelica, basil, bay, benzoin, celandine, clover, heather, myrrh, all yellow flowers, willow

Incense/Oil
Jasmine, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, olive, sweet pea, basil, myrrh, wisteria, apricot, carnation

Rituals/Magick
Cleansing; purification, renewal, creative inspiration, purification, initiation, candle work, house & temple blessings, welcoming Brigid, feast of milk & bread

Foods
Dairy, spicy foods, raisins, pumpkin, sesame & sunflower seeds, poppyseed bread/cake, honey cake, pancakes, waffles, herbal tea


Brighid – Hearth Goddess of Ireland


Imbolc/Candlemas Comments
Brighid – Hearth Goddess of Ireland

Origins of Brighid

In Irish mythological cycles, Brighid (or Brighit), whose name is derived from the Celtic brig or “exalted one”, is the daughter of the Dagda, and therefore one of the Tuatha de Dannan. Her two sisters were also called Brighid, and were associated with healing and crafts. The three Brighids were typically treated as three aspects of a single deity, making her a classic Celtic triple goddess.
Patron and Protector

Brighid was the patron of poets and bards, as well as healers and magicians. She was especially honored when it came to matters of prophecy and divination. She was honored with a sacred flame maintained by a group of priestesses, and her sanctuary at Kildare, Ireland, later became the home of the Christian variant of Brighid, St. Brigid of Kildare. Kildare is also the location of one of several sacred wells in the Celtic regions, many of which are connected to Brighid. Even today, it’s not uncommon to see ribbons and other offerings tied to trees near a well as a petition to this healing goddess.

Celebrating Brighid

There are a variety of ways to celebrate the many aspects of Brighid at Imbolc. If you’re part of a group practice or a coven, why not try Honoring Brighid With a Group Ceremony? You can also incorporate prayers to Brighid into your rites and rituals for the season. Having trouble figuring out what direction you’re headed? Ask Brighid for assistance and guidance with a Brighid’s Crossroads Divination Ritual.
Brighid’s Many Forms

In northern Britain, Brighid’s counterpart was Brigantia, a warlike figure of the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. She is similar to the Greek goddess Athena and the Roman Minerva. Later, as Christianity moved into the Celtic lands, St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare.

In addition to her position as a goddess of magic, Brighid was known to watch over women in childbirth, and thus evolved into a goddess of hearth and home. Today, many Pagans honor her on February 2, which has become known as Imbolc or Candlemas.

Winter Cymres at the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, calls her a “complex and contradictory” sort of deity. Specifically, “She possesses an unusual status as a Sun Goddess Who hangs Her Cloak upon the rays of the Sun and whose dwelling-place radiates light as if on fire. Brigid took over the Cult of the Ewes formerly held by the Goddess Lassar, who also is a Sun Goddess and who made the transition, in the Isles, from Goddess to saint. In this way Brigid’s connection to Imbolc is completed, as the worship of Lassar diminished, only to be revived later in Christian sainthood.”

Crafts to Honor Brighid

In many Pagan traditions today, Brighid is celebrated with crafts that honor her role as the protector of the hearth. You can make a Brighid corn doll, as well as a Bride’s Bed for her to sleep in. Perhaps the best known decoration is the Brighid’s Cross, whose arms represent the place where a crossroads comes together, the space between light and dark.
Brighid and Imbolc

Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid. In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed as a sister of Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. In modern Wicca and Paganism, Brighid is sometimes viewed as the maiden aspect of the maiden/mother/crone cycle, although it might be more accurate for her to be the mother, given her connection with home and childbirth.

 

 

 
By Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Originally published on & owned by About.com


The Witches Guide to Imbolc

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

The Witches Guide to Imbolc

Spring is Coming!

Imbolc is a holiday with a variety of names, depending on which culture and location you’re looking at. In the Irish Gaelic, it’s called Oimelc, which translates to “ewe’s milk.” It’s a precursor to the end of winter when the ewes are nursing their newly born lambs. Spring and the planting season are right around the corner.
The Romans Celebrate

To the Romans, this time of year halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox was the season of the Lupercalia. For them, it was a purification ritual held on February 15, in which a goat was sacrificed and a scourge made of its hide. Thong-clad men ran through the city, whacking people with bits of goat hide. Those who were struck considered themselves fortunate indeed. This is one of the few Roman celebrations that is not associated with a particular temple or deity. Instead, it focuses on the founding of the city of Rome, by twins Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf — in a cave known as the “Lupercale”.

The Feast of Nut

The ancient Egyptians celebrated this time of year as the Feast of Nut, whose birthday falls on February 2 (Gregorian calendar). According to the Book of the Dead, Nut was seen as a mother-figure to the sun god Ra, who at sunrise was known as Khepera and took the form of a scarab beetle.
Christian Conversion of a Pagan Celebration

When Ireland converted to Christianity, it was hard to convince people to get rid of their old gods, so the church allowed them to worship the goddess Brighid as a saint — thus the creation of St. Brigid’s Day. Today, there are many churches around the world which bear her name.
Purification and Light

For many Christians, February 2nd continues to be celebrated as Candelmas, the feast of purification of the Virgin. By Jewish law, it took forty days after a birth for a woman to be cleansed following the birth of a son. Forty days after Christmas – the birth of Jesus – is February 2nd. Candles were blessed, there was much feasting to be had, and the drab days of February suddenly seemed a little brighter. In Catholic churches, the focus of this celebration is St. Brighid.
Love & Courtship

February is known as a month when love begins anew, in part to to the widespread celebration of Valentine’s Day. In some parts of Europe, there was a belief that February 14th was the day that birds and animals began their annual hunt for a mate. Valentine’s Day is named for the Christian priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s edict banning young soldiers from marrying. In secret, Valentine “tied the knot” for many young couples. Eventually, he was captured and executed on Feb. 14, 269 C.E. Before his death, he smuggled a message to a girl he had befriended while imprisoned — the first Valentine’s Day card.
Serpents in the Spring

Although Imbolc isn’t even mentioned in non-Gaelic Celtic traditions, it’s still a time rich in folklore and history. According to the Carmina Gadelica, the Celts celebrated an early version of Groundhog Day on Imbolc too – only with a serpent, singing this poem:

Thig an nathair as an toll
(The serpent will come from the hole)
la donn Bride
(on the brown day of Bride (Brighid)
Ged robh tri traighean dh’an
(though there may be three feet of snow)
Air leachd an lair
(On the surface of the ground.)

Among agricultural societies, this time of year was marked by the preparation for the spring lambing, after which the ewes would lactate (hence the term “ewe’s milk” as “Oimelc”). At Neolithic sites in Ireland, underground chambers align perfectly with the rising sun on Imbolc.

The Goddess Brighid

Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection as well, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The Irish goddess Brighid is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. To honor her, purification and cleaning are a wonderful way to get ready for the coming of Spring. In addition to fire, she is a goddess connected to inspiration and creativity.

Brighid is known as one of the Celtic “triune” goddesses — meaning that she is one and three simultaneously. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid, or Brid, whose name meant “bright one.” In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed in her aspect as crone as Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. Brighid was also a warlike figure, Brigantia, in the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. The Christian St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare, Ireland.

In modern Paganism, Brighid is viewed as part of the maiden/mother/crone cycle. She walks the earth on the eve of her day, and before going to bed each member of the household should leave a piece of clothing outside for Brighid to bless. Smoor your fire as the last thing you do that night, and rake the ashes smooth. When you get up in the morning, look for a mark on the ashes, a sign that Brighid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes are brought inside, and now have powers of healing and protection thanks to Brighid.

 

 
By Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Orginally published & owned by About.com

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Imbolc/Candlemas Comments The Wicca Book of Days for February 1 & 2 – Imbolc and Maiden’s Milk

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments
February 1 & 2

Imbolc and Maiden’s Milk

Between February 1 and 2, Wiccans celebrate the Sabbat of Imbolc(also known as Oimelc or Candlemas), and the return of the Goddess from the underworld in her maiden or virginal form, as exemplified by the Celtic Goddess Brigit (“High One”), Bride or Brigid the name under which the Christians sanctified her. In Ireland, Brigit was venerated as a protector of livestock, a bestower of fertility upon the natural world, a promoter of healing and a patron of poetry and the blacksmith’s art. Oimelc means “ewe’s milk,” for this was the day on which ewes usually began to lactate, and the Goddess’s association with milk was preserved in the notion of Saint Brigid of Kildare’s cows producing milk thrice daily.

“Flowery Words”

In northern climes, the emergence of early spring flowers is evidence that nature is awakening and that Brigit is among us again, so pick a posy and pour a glass of cow’s milk on the ground as a libation to the Goddess.

 

Pagan Book of Days for February 2nd

Imbolc/Candlemas CommentsPagan Book of Days for February 2nd

Juno Februa/Candlemas/Wives’ Feast Days/Groundhog Day

Festival of Juno Februa, the presiding goddess of the month and Candlemas, the purification of the Virgin. The weather on this day is said to make the progress of winter:
If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight,
If on Candlemas Day be shower and rain,
Winter is gone and will not come again.
Also,
If the sun shines bright on Candlemas Day,
The half of the winter’s not yet away.

 
These sayings agree with those about Groundhog Day that link the length of winter to whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow on this day. An old northern English name of Candlemas is the Wives’ Feast Day.

 

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

On February 2nd, We Celebrate……

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments
On February 2nd, We Celebrate……

Candlemas (Europe)
PROSERPINA

Themes: Divination; Protection; Purification

Symbols: Candles; Corn; Pomegranate

About Proserpina: In ancient Roman mythology, Ceres (an earth and vegetation goddess) sought out her daughter, Proserpina, in the underworld where Hades held her captive. During this time nothing grew on the earth. As she searched, Ceres illuminated the darkness of Hades’ realm with candles (see also January 6 and January 27). Symbolically, this indicates a time of soul-searching, of finding any dark corners in our spiritual lives and filling them with purity and light. In works of art, Proserpina is depicted as a young, lovely corn goddess. In Greek stories she’s known as Persephone.

To Do Today: In magical traditions, people light candles in the Yule log today, giving strength to the sun and chasing away some of the figurative dark clouds that winter left behind. If candles aren’t prudent, turn on every light in the house for a few minutes for a similar effect. Do not burn the Yule log, however; keeping it intact protects your home from mischief.

Another traditional activity for Candlemas is weather divination, which we commonly recognize on this day as Groundhog Day. So, get up and look out the window! Poor weather portends a beautiful spring and a mild, enjoyable summer. Snow today foretells twelve more snowfalls before April 22 (Saint George’s Eve).

365 Goddess: A Daily Guide To the Magic and Inspiration of the goddess
Patricia Telesco

Today Is February 2, Imbolc/Candlemas

Imbolc/Candlemas CommentsToday Is February 2, Imbolc/Candlemas

Thursday is the day of the planet Jupiter, dedicated to Thunor(Thor), God of thunder and agricultural work. His parallels in various European traditions are Zeus, Taranis, Perun, Perkunas and St. Olaf. The faith of the Northern Tradition holds Thursday sacred, just as Islam reveres Friday, Judaism the Sabbath(calculated from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday), and Christianity, Sunday. This is why almost all adages about Thursday are positive, such as “Thursday’s child has far to go,” “Sneeze on Thursday, something better,” or “Cut nails on Thursday for wealth.” Thursday rules controlled optimism, energetic growth, physical well-being and material success.

Deity: Thor

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn/Pisces/Sagittarius

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Oak

Herb: Henbane

Stone: Turquoise/Bloodstone/Topaz

Animal: Fish/Goat/Aurochs

Element: Fire

Color: Brown/White/Orange

Number: 3

Rune: Thorn

 

Celtic Tree Month of Luis (Rowan) – January 21 – February 17

The Runic Half Month of Elhaz (elk) January 28 – February 11

Goddess of the Month of Bridhe – January 22 – February 19th

 

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick