Happy Ground Hog Day!  a.k.a. Candlemas and Imbolc

This is one of the key turning points of the year, a time when animals of many kinds bring us signs for what's to come in the weeks and months ahead.

The astrologer and theosophist Dane Rudhyar explained it well:

The mid-points of the fixed signs "fix" what will be in the following season when the same element rules. The element of the season is the element of the mutable sign that quarter:

Spring and Gemini are Air, Summer and Virgo are Earth etc.

Ground Hog's Day / Imbolc is the Mid-Aquarius "power gate"

of the air element when energy is fixed for Spring. So whatever happens mid-Aquarius portends what will be.

When is mid-Aquarius? Ground Hog Day is the vestige of an ancient celebration marking the "cross-quarter day" of the season. This day half way between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox varies between Feb 3rd and Feb 4th according to how leap year falls. This year the Sun is exactly midAquarius at 12:45 am EST, 5:45 am GMT, on Sunday February 4th.

Animal signs and dreams are the usual way to get a message about the time ahead. Last Feb 2nd I saw an albino possum!

To me the possum represented going within and that's what I've been doing. I'm hoping to get out more this go round.

Astrologically, things are looker better and better over the next few months. Look for your own signs.

Following is an email I just received from Donna Henes

(c) Donna Henes, Urban Shaman*

Each year on February 2, the attention of the nation is directed to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Ground Hog's Day is big business. Weather forecasters and news reporters converge to stake out the burrows of these furry hibernating creatures. Like gazing into Bridgid's holy well, or the tunnel leading to the oracle crypt, or Cere's explorations of the cave, in order to ascertain the true prognosis of the coming spring.

Though decidedly silly, Ground Hog's Day is a direct and thriving descendant of age-old mid winter divinatory practices. Will Phil, the ground hog, see his shadow?

Will spring come on time this year?  Tune in tonight for the eyewitness report.

OK. Now pay attention. This is how it works: if the ground hog sees her shadow, it means that there are still six more weeks of winter. If she doesn't see her shadow, it means that spring is only six weeks away. So what is the difference? There are always six more weeks of winter.

Spring is always six weeks away. That is why we mark the day in the first place. To remind us that winter is half over.

To assess our situation. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, by Ground Hog's Day you should still have half of your food store and half of your fuel if you are going to make it through the remainder of winter. And for us, I guess that means we have to have half of our inner resources, patience and humor intact to make it the rest of the way through the dark days of winter.

Enjoy the rest of the dark period. Take advantage of the slowness and introspection that it offers us.

With all best blessings for happy hibernation,

xxMama Donna

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Donna Henes, Urban Shaman, is a contemporary ceremonialist specializing in multicultural ritual celebration of the cycles of the seasons and the seasons of our lives.

Mama Donna, as she is affectionately known, has offered lectures, workshops, circles, and celebrations worldwide for 30+ years.  She is the director of Mama Donna's Tea Garden & Healing Haven, a ceremonial center, ritual consultancy and spirit shop in Exotic Brooklyn, New York.

For further information, a list of services and publications, a calendar of upcoming events and a complimentary issue of
Always in Season: Living in Sync with the Cycles contact:

MAMA DONNA'S TEA GARDEN AND HEALING HAVEN
PO Box 380403
Exotic Brooklyn, NY 11238-0403

Phone/Fax 718-857-1343
Email: CityShaman@aol.com

*******************

Steve Nelson
Astrologer
Mythologist
Cycles Consultant

Astrology in Jungian tradition
for understanding personal myths
and realizing spiritual purpose.

SteveNelson@carolina.rr.com
704-375-3759

Many BLESSINGS
Keth Luke,  editor,
The Divine Tune-Up Team: Jan Carter, Dr Light, our Angels, Cosmic, ET, and  Earthly Crew