Moon Magic: February, new beginnings and not always a full moon

This is a bit of an unpredictable month.  The weather never knows what it is doing.  The first signs of spring are making an effort (depending where you are in the world of course) and then the snow dumps on top of them.  But the signs of the earth beginning to awaken are there…somewhere.  The year spreads open before us full of potential even if we have to wrap up warm in seventeen layers of clothing still.

February contains St Valentine’s Day and Lupercalia so there is definitely an air of love and fertility whizzing about.

February always feels like the start of the turning point, although it is not spring yet February sees the beginnings of new growth and even (hopefully) a few sunnier days.

The beginning of February brings the festival of Imbolc which is traditionally sacred to the goddess Brighid.  This is the month where we celebrate the maiden awaiting the return of her sun god.

Open up pathways to allow the positive energy in.  It is a time for renewal, new beginnings and a good ‘ole clear out, spring clean, sort clutter (physically, mentally and spiritually) and smudge, smudge, smudge…

It is also the time of year for all the baby sheepses to be bouncing around the fields and to celebrate that spring is on its way, prepare for growth and renewal of all kinds and keep an eye out for the first spring flowers.

February moon magic correspondences

Herbs:

Cypress, cinnamon, lavender, patchouli, lemon, orange, sandalwood, rose, jasmine, ginger, clove, frankincense, ylang ylang, palma rosa, bay, mint, nettles, rosemary, thyme, oregano, balm of Gilead, hyssop, myrrh, sage and basil.

Colours:

Light blue, violet, pale greens and pinks

Stones:

Amethyst, ammolite, angelite, garnet, jasper, imperial topaz, onyx, aquamarine, fluorite, turquoise, ruby, bloodstone and quartz

Trees:

Rowan, laurel, cedar, cypress

Animals:

Otter, unicorn, eagle, chickadee, dragon, groundhog, deer, sheep, robin, animals awakening from their hibernation, hares and rabbits

Sign:

Aquarius

Deities:

Brigit/Brighid, Juno, Kuan Yin, Diana, Demeter, Persephone, Aphrodite, Boann, Chang-O, Parvati, Venus, Shakti, Bast, Selene, Hebe, The Muses Pan, Eros, Branwen and young sun gods.

February Moon Magical energies:

Love, passion and fertility. Energy working toward the surface; purification, growth, healing.  Loving the self.  Accepting responsibility for past errors, forgiving yourself and making future plans.  Dedications, initiations, astral travel work, personal power, problem solving and friendship issues.  Success, personal protection, divination, aspirations and balance of emotions.  Clarity, truth and spiritual connections.

February Moon names:

Ice Moon, Storm Moon, Horning Moon, Hunger Moon, Wild Moon, Red and Cleansing Moon, Quickening Moon, Solmonath, Budding Moon, Snow Moon, Trapper’s Moon, Moon of Ice, Long Day Moon, Little Famine Moon and Big Winter Moon.

Snow or Hunger Moon – because snow was on the ground and food was in very short supply.  Hunting was difficult because of the weather.

Full moon in February:

Once every nineteen years February does not have a full moon.  So, in 2018 there was no full moon, the time before that was 1999 and afterwards in 2037 and so on.  This is true for most parts of the planet although in some places such as eastern Australia and eastern Asia the full moon often just sneaks into February 1^st.

The Greek astronomer Meton discovered this phenomenon.  February is the only month in which this can happen.  The lunar cycle being roughly 29.5 days on average, but with February only having 28 or 29 (on a leap year) days it creates this weird occurrence.