I was sat having coffee with friends today and the conversation began with ‘Well January is nearly over’ which was perhaps a bit of wishful thinking and then moved around to which months of the year we liked least which for me is without doubt February. I don’t know what it is about February but I Have always felt this way. I’m always strangely glad that it is shorter than other months so seems to pass quickly. I should explain here that nothing has ever happened to me in February, it has never harmed me in any way that I am aware of, but it is the month, the only month in fact, that I actively dislike. Now if that seems a bit unfair, on what is after all only a period of time created by mankind, then let me explain. I am not a winter person in any way. I am at my happiest when the sun is shining, it is warm enough to be barefoot and spend all my time out in nature. In fact I have no idea why I live in a country where even summer can feel like winter. However no other month makes me feel the way that February does, or rather the way I choose to feel about February, for after all, the fault lies with me and not with the month itself in any way.Being quite honest though I think I quiet like disliking February, after all nothing much happens in it. December has Winter Solstice and then Yule or Christmas, January has New Year and sometimes, even in the recession, good sales and then when we get to March, why it is almost summer, but February……yes, yes I know it has Valentine’s Day but still…. As my dislike of February has been very much on my mind after the earlier chat I decided it might be interesting to look at what I have been missing. The first thing I found was that February was originally named after the Latin februum, which means Purification. Purification rituals called Februa were always held on February 15th which in the old lunar calendar was full moon. This is interesting as in Ireland where I live, February 1st is St Brigid’s Day, named after Brigid who in ancient Irish mythology was a fire goddess. It known also as Imbolc, one of the four major fire festivals and marks the start of the Celtic Spring. The element of fire is actually a wonderful energy to use for purification. I actually like the idea of February being a month of purification, a time where we can cleanse ourselves, purify our body, mind and spirit before moving into the new energy and new beginnings that come with Spring. Using February as a time to purify in some way would give it a real purpose for me. I often use fire ceremony at other times of the year to cleanse and transform, to let go of the old and to make way for the new. I have many different ways of doing this, but as this is a new way of thinking about February for me, I decided to carry out a shamanic journey to ask my guides for a fire ritual that could be used at this time of year for the purpose of purification. I was given a lovely ritual but to my surprise it was one that used all four elements and not just fire. As I stepped into my journey I noticed I was dressed in white and wearing a headdress of willow. Within a shamanic journey everything is symbolic and the only relevant interpretation belongs to the person who has journeyed, so I have interpreted the white dress as representing the holding of the intention to be purified and the willow headdress as needing to be flexible with the ritual. In my journey I made use of a stream, river stones, fallen leaves and soil and as I know I wont always have these to hand, I have been flexible and have adapted the ritual so it may be used more easily. February Purification Ritual Holding the intention to be purified, shower or bathe until you feel that your physical body has been completely cleansed. Allow the water to away anything that you are able to release. Continue to hold the intention to be purified Take river stones, smooth pebbles from the beach or smooth stones from the garden and build a base for your fire. On top of the stones build a small fire using wood you have gathered if possible. Light the fire. If indoors, a base could be made of small stones or crystals and a candle or night light set on top of them to represent fire. Collect leaves that have fallen from the trees and which have been lying underneath them. Drop handfuls of leaves onto the fire so that they create smoke. Indoors bundles of dried herbs such as sage, sweetgrass, lavender or rosemary, which are good for cleansing could be used to create smoke. These could also be added to the fire outdoors too of course. When there is enough smoke step into it so that it can cleanse the energy body. As air moves the smoke follow its movements, turning, twisting, dancing until the smoke has permeated every part of the energy body. If indoors then hands or a feather can be used to brush the smoke through the whole of the energy body. When the energy body feels completely purified pick up a handful of earth and sprinkle it over the fire to douse the smoke. Make sure the fire is completely out. If indoors earth or sand can be used in the same way. Finish by thanking everything that has been used in the ritual for helping with the purification. This ritual could be used at any time of the month but perhaps the full moon, which is always a good time for letting go, would add extra energy to the ritual.
