Valentine’s Day is celebrated my millions of people across the United States every February 14th as a love and romance celebration. People buy candy, flowers, jewelry, balloons etc. for those they love to signify their affection. Although it isn’t a “bank” holiday, it is still highly commercialized and brings in a lot of money to stores and restaurants across America. This isn’t a pagan sabbat. However, there is some indication that Romans may have had some sort of fertility or right of passage festival for women on this day. Romans may have had a hand in the building of the Christianized celebrations but I know all pagans celebrated love and fertility during this time of year as well. I believe that it is so close to Imbolc that across time stories and dates have gotten jumbled and disassociations have happened confusing some of these celebrations with some of the Imbolc traditions of early pagans. For example, Cupid we see mentioned in the American Valentine’s day celebration and is said to bring love to whomever he shoots with his arrow but he is actually the pagan god of love known also as Eos, Amor, Eros, etc. I am actually surprised that Cupid was kept a God rather than changed into a saint or something else when the holiday became recognized and celebrated by Christians. For me, I group Valentine’s Day in with Imbolc. I see it as a watered down version of the sabbat. I feel like Ground Hogs day and Valentine’s Day are a split meaning modern festivals that was once Imbolc. If you read our blog post on Imbolc this month you see how the associations are so similar. It is a celebration of season changing like Ground Hogs day but in the look at deity it is also a love story told of love and romance and union between masculine and feminine creating life out of their affection. Pagans celebrated Cupid, Eos, Eros, Aphrodite, Persephone, etc. during this celebration because of these associations. The way that you choose to view and celebrate these festivals in entirely up to you. I like to celebrate Imbolc as it was by ancient pagans where I don’t only focus on the love and fertility but also of the seasonal change and the rebirth of self. However, specific love spell work, in celebration of Valentine’s Day (if you choose to call it that), could be done during the Feb. moon rituals. This year there isn’t a full moon in Feb., instead there is one at the end of Jan. and one the beginning of March. If you chose to do love spell work during moon esbats there is a few guidelines you can follow for the best success. Full moons are always great for doing most any magic, a new moon would be great for starting a relationship or bringing new love your way. A waxing moon ritual would be great for growing an existing relationship. A waning moon may be what you looking for if you are seeking courage to end a relationship that is no longer working. I do feel obligated to make a couple points about any love spell magic performed any time of the year. While, Cynnamon Charmed does offer a Love Herbal Blend, Love Potion Blend, and even a Love Ball, all of these things are meant to draw love, protection, fertility, etc. So I feel that we need to be open and receptive to receiving these things. In addition, many of them are also symbolic of the season of Imbolc and draw on the same energy that we look for that time of year. So, what I am saying here is that none of these items are created to put a spell on someone to MAKE them love you. Every practitioner is different and that is fine for them; however, for me and Cynnamon Charmed I will work within my ethical code and offer products that are intended to be used the way we designed them. I can’t control what people do with them once they are purchased but our intentions are to never enforce our will onto others. For example, you could do work that brings your true love to you without specifically naming a certain person. This is asking the Gods to bring the person who is meant to be into your life. However, to ask the Gods to make Johnny your lover is to enforce your will upon Johnny. In my practice, that is not fair to him. Another instance, if you are already in a relationship, I would advise against manifestations asking that “so and so” love you forever or that you never break up. This may be your will, at the moment, but does take away the other persons free will. In my practice, it is more ethical to ask for the Gods to strengthen the love already present in your lives and/or to strengthen your ability to look past your desires and see the truth. You could also ask the Gods to protect you from a broken heart or to help you find peace and resolve in being single. If you are a widow/widower and are looking for love again, maybe ask the Gods to preserve the love you had for your spouse in a special place in your heart while allowing you to open yourself up to be loved again. So, with all these late winter celebrations upon us, I hope that I have helped you to clear up what some of the differences are and also given you some specific ideas on how you may want to celebrate them. Remember that only YOUR way is the right way. It is only right if it is what feels good and has deep meaning in your heart and soul. My hope for all my followers is that your lives are full of so much light and love this season that it allows you spirit to shine brightly. Blessed Be )0( Photo Credit: https://www.amusingfun.com/love-flowers-and-romantic-flowers-wallpapers/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Keri Nichol
Founder, Artist, Herbalist, and Writer Archives
August 2018
Categories |