Ides of February/Parentalia/St. MatthiasOld Leap Year’s Day
The Parentalia was the chief Roman festival of the dead which lasted until the Feralia on 21 February. St. Matthias took the place of Judas as the twelfth apostle. This is his traditional East Angian feast day.
Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick
Tuesday is dedicated to the powers of the planet Mars, personified in Ares, Tiwaz, Tiw, Tuisco and Tyr. Tuesday rules controlled power, energy and endurance.
Deity: Tiwaz
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Planet: Mars
Tree: Holly
Herb: Plantain
Stone: Agate
Animal: Crab
Element: Fire
Color: White
Number: 2
Rune: Tyr (T)
The Celtic Tree Month of Luis(Rowan) January 21 – February 17)
Runic Half Month of Sigel (sun) (February 12 – February 26)
Goddess of the Month of Bridhe (January 23 – February 19)
Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick
Lenaia Day II
Colors: Purple and green
Element: Water
Altar: A large post is set up behind the altar, draped in robes of purple and green, with a mask of Dionysus upon it, and arms raised upwards made of grapevine and fruit tree branches. The altar is draped in purple and green, and upon it set two purple candles, a wreath of grapevines, two jugs of wine (one white and one red), and a chalice.
Offerings: Dancing. Drumming. Music. Transforming dreams into reality.
Daily Meal: Wine. Goat or lamb. Lentils. Grape leaves. Greek food if possible.
Lenaia Invocation II
Son of Semele! Iakkhos, Giver of Wealth!
Not only wealth of the land,
But wealth of thought,
Creativity of the mind,
Spun out of enchantment
Woven of fascination
Cut through with ecstasy
And the fine threads of madness.
The earth sleeps outside,
But our spirits never sleep,
And always they thirst for your
Inspiration and growth,
Sprouting new thoughts
From the fertile field of nonsense
That we did not expect
And will greet with amazement.
We dance for fertility of mind!
From your body into the Earth,
From the Earth into our feet,
From our feet up through our heads,
You give us your intoxication
And we return it three times over.
(Instead of a particular chant, a drum circle is formed and all dance for at least an hour. Any appropriate chant may be used. After the drum circle is closed, the red wine is passed around and shared, with the worker saying, “Behold the blood of Iakkhos.” The remainder is poured out as a libation. Then the white wine is passed around and shared, with the worker saying, “Behold the dreams of Iakkhos.” The remainder is poured out as a libation.)
Parentalia
Color: Blood-red
Element: Fire
Altar: Set with a red cloth, and unlit red candles, and symbols of Mother and Father.
Offerings: Written words of thanks for one’s childhood. Be a parental mentor to someone young.
Daily Meal: Soups or stews, and bread.
Parentalia Invocation
Perhaps you gave us life,
Sowed our seed, gifted us with
Your chromosomes and genes.
Perhaps you birthed us
Or were there to greet us
As we entered the world.
Perhaps you fed us, cleaned us,
Held us when we cried,
Sang us to sleep, taught us
Many skills, or perhaps
You merely led by example.
Perhaps you were tied to us by blood
Or by marriage, or simply came
Into our lives when it was needed.
Perhaps you were a parent to our bodies,
Or to our minds, or to our hearts,
Or to our souls.
However it was, you were there,
And we are grateful,
For the flame you kindled
Has warmed us ever since,
And we will pass it on.
(Each steps forward, lights a candle, and speaks the name of a parent, or one who has parented them, and everyone else calls it back to them, as in “I honor Maria, my stepmother who taught me to read!” “We honor Maria!” The next person lights their candle from the last one, until the ritual is over. At the end, all chant in two-part harmony the names they have spoken.)
Head outside before dawn and you can’t miss Jupiter. The giant planet rises shortly before 1 a.m. local time and climbs 30° high in the south by the time twilight commences. Jupiter shines at magnitude –2.1, which makes it the brightest point of light in the night sky, and resides among the much dimmer stars of the constellation Libra. A telescope reveals the planet’s 37″-diameter disk.
Wednesday, February 14
The dwarf planet Ceres reached opposition and peak visibility in late January, and it remains a fine sight this month. It currently shines at magnitude 7.0 and is an easy object to spot through binoculars. The largest member of the asteroid belt resides in the northern part of the constellation Cancer the Crab, which appears in the east once darkness falls and climbs highest in the south around 11 p.m. local time. This evening, Ceres lies 0.9° south-southwest of the 5th-magnitude star Sigma3 (σ3) Cancri.
Thursday, February 15
New Moon occurs at 4:05 p.m. EST. At its New phase, the Moon crosses the sky with the Sun and so remains hidden in our star’s glare. At least, it typically does. But if you live in the right area, today you can watch the Moon pass in front of the Sun and cause a partial solar eclipse. Observers in most of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay will have front-row seats. The best sites are at the southern tip of South America, where the Moon covers 35 percent of the Sun’s diameter at maximum. Remember that when viewing the Sun during a partial eclipse, protect your eyes by using a safe solar filter
This is a good week to look for Sirius in the evening sky. The night sky’s brightest star (at magnitude –1.5) appears due south and at its highest position around 9 p.m. local time. It then lies about one-third of the way from the horizon to the zenith from mid-northern latitudes. (The farther south you live, the higher it appears.) If you point binoculars at Sirius, look for the pretty star cluster M41 in the same field of view, just 4° below the star.
Saturday, February 17
Although the Moon reached its New phase just two days ago, its rapid orbital motion carries it into view after the Sun goes down this evening. Look low in the west-southwest about an hour after sunset and you’ll see its 4-percent-lit crescent hanging in the twilight like the smile of the Cheshire Cat.
Mercury reaches superior conjunction at 7 a.m. EST. This means the innermost planet lies on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth and remains hidden in our star’s glare. It will return to view in the evening sky in late February.
Sunday, February 18
Two of the finest deep-sky objects shine prominently on February evenings. The Pleiades and Hyades star clusters appear highest in the south as darkness falls but remain conspicuous until well past midnight. The Pleiades, also known at the Seven Sisters and M45, looks like a small dipper to naked eyes. The larger Hyades forms the V-shaped head of Taurus the Bull. Although both look nice with naked eyes, binoculars show them best.
The Moon is traveling through Capricorn today. Make a list of goals. Work overtime. Climb higher. Don’t sulk.
We become aware of the need for structure and planning ahead with a Capricorn Moon. We are instinctively aware of the limitations of time and motivated by a desire for success. Achievement and manifestation are more important to us now. We are resourceful and don’t want to waste time, energy, or resources. This can be a somewhat sober influence, but it can also be a productive time when we look reality in the eye.
The Moon in Capricorn generally favors the following activities: Long-term activities that yield slow but steady results, practical undertakings, career issues, making a business plan, practical investments.
The Sun
Sun Direction:↑ 153.52° SSE
Sun Altitude:35.68°
Sun Distance:91.790 million mi
Next Equinox:Mar 20, 2018 11:15 am (Vernal)
Sunrise Today:6:45 am↑ 106° East
Sunset Today:5:32 pm↑ 254° West
Length of Daylight: 10 hours, 47 minutes
The Moon
Moon Direction:↑ 183.61° S
Moon Altitude:33.40°
Moon Distance:250845 mi
Next New Moon:Feb 15, 20183:05 pm
Next Full Moon:Mar 1, 20186:51 pm
Next Moonset:Today3:41 pm
Current Moon Phase: Waning Crescent
Illumination: 4.4%
The Lunar Calendar
Moon Direction:↑ 184.11° S
Moon Altitude:33.37°
Moon Distance:250843 mi
Next New Moon:Feb 15, 20183:05 pm
Next Full Moon:Mar 1, 20186:51 pm
Next Moonset: Today 3:41 pm
Source:
Witches Of The Craft® 
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