February is dedicated to purification.
In this month, festivities, rituals and
festivals are focused on the memory of defuncts, magical animals, peaceful
activities, otium and sleeping. Any tool used for purification is named februum.
It is important to remind that the traditional year
will begin on March 1st: thus purification during February is necessary to
prepare the beginning of the new year.
This month is dedicated to Februus and Februa
(male and female numen of "The Purifying") who, being positive
energies, are opposed to Febris (The Fever), the negative energy.
The festivities during February are thus linked to
purification activities (for the body, spirit, sites, objects, etc.)
February the 1st - Amburbium: festivity for
the purification of villages and cities and their public sites through a
circular procession holding a februum (a purification tool). The same
ceremony can be applied for home purification.
This kind of public purification rite is not
(unfortunately) at present viable, but a private version of Amburbium can be
made to purify our private space at home. The Amburbium can be made walking
outside around the house (or, when not possible, inside the house) holding in
the left hand a lituus (or a baculum) and offering to
Februus/Februa milk, wine and water. During these days of purification, it's
better to refrain from eating meat and drinking alcohols and liquors. When
possible it's good to devote time to reflections and meditation. This
purification process should be considered of sort of therapy of purification
essentially based on the following principles:
- spiritual research
- deep personal introspection
- reading
- silence
- listening
- deep attention
- self control
- indifference towards not important things and issues
I want to cite these words by G. Friedmann: "Do
your own flight every day! At least just one moment which can be brief but
intense. Everyday a spiritual exercise, alone or with another person desiring
personal improving. Escaping the idea of duration and time. Trying to eliminate
passions, vanity, fame. Avoiding gossip, pity and hate. Loving the entire
community of free men/women. Becoming eternal, overcoming personal limits".
I have prepared the following brief invocation to
Februus/Februa re-adapting the invocation for the land purification from Cato (De
Agricoltura)
First invoking Janus, then Jupiter/Juno, then
Februus/Februa with a libatio with wine. At the end, invoke Vesta
"Februus/Februa I invoke you and I ask you to be
propitious to me, to my family, to my house. I offer to you this wine so that
you will keep diseases, desolation and all visible/invisible harms out of our
bodies, spirits and souls. Give well-being to me, to my family and to this
house. purify me, my family and my house".
Other festivities:
- february 13th - 21st - Parentalia
- february 15th - Lupercalia
- february 17th - Quirinalia
- february 21st - Feralia
- february 23rd - Terminalia
- february 24th - Regifugium
- february 27th - Equiria
- february 28th - Februalia
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