Valentines Day

Valentine's Day is also known as the 'Eve of Roman Lupercalia'. This was a time of great celebration, a celebration of youthful love. Chance seemed to play a large part in this festival as sweethearts were chosen by a system similar to a lottery. Since Ancient Greek and Roman times this day has held a central focus in the folkloric calendar.

More recent traditions involve men and women exchanging cards which contained love dedications or even marriage proposals, each highly decorative, hand-made and personally designed. This tradition commenced in the Middle Ages. The sender then as now should never sign the card as it was considered to bring bad luck. Of course it also stifles any idea of guessing who might be in love with you. The idea of the secret admirer has long charmed both men and women alike.

Love divination games were very popular during the Victorian period for young lovers. There are many divination rituals and games. One of the most often used involved the potential lover writing the name of their favourite persons on a piece of paper and sealing it in clay which was then dropped into a bowl of water. The first clay to rise to the surface when opened would reveal the name of their future sweetheart or 'Valentine'. Sending a gift to the person was the next step towards revelation and happiness in love.

Many different flowers are also associated with this day, given as tokens of love. A European belief in the power of the saffron coloured crocus to attract attention of a lover is best done if worn in the buttonhole. Armed with this she is more likely to meet her future intended. In order to dream of a future husband on this night one European custom often followed was the placing of fresh Bay Leaves under the pillow the night before.

The type of flowers sent or decorating a card adds further meaning to a Valentine card and has come to be known as 'The Language of Flowers'. Some of the most well known Valentine flowers to be used to decorate the cards are highlighted below with an idea of the specific symbolism behind their inclusion, not all of which indicate love blossoming but also love on the wain.

Almond Blossom; As a symbol of hope, sweetness, delicacy.

Anenome; As a symbol of withered hopes, a dying love.

Forget-me-not; As a symbol of true love Lily; As a symbol of purity (white), gaiety or falsehood (yellow).

Periwinkle; As a symbol of early friendship (blue), happy memories (white).

Poppy; As a symbol of fantastic extravagance (scarlet), consolation (red). If the love is faithful placing a petal in the palm of the hand and hitting it with a fist should produce a popping sound.

Rose; As a symbol of love, pure and lovely (red rose buds), jealousy (yellow). This flower is dedicated to love.

Snowdrop; As a symbol of hope, consolation. The flower is thought mythologically to have been a snowflake which was transformed to comfort Adam and Eve after they had been expelled from the Garden of Eden.

Sunflower; As a symbol of the sun, and also haughtiness. Tulip; As a symbol of powerful love being declared (red), hopeless love (yellow). The heart burning symbolically like a flame.

Aquarius

This month I am going to focus on birthdays and the astrology signs for February which of course starts off with aquarius, If your birthday was from 21st Jan up to 19th Feb, this is for you.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21st to Feb 19th)

February 2007

The Sun's in your sign, aquarius. Happy birthday! The first event on the is the Full Moon in leo, on Feb 2nd, focusing on the needs and concerns of partners or close associates. Expect some excitement, interest, or an impulse for change with those close to you.

An old problem needs to be sorted out, or a new matter come to grips with. Listen! Work and do things together to establish new levels of cooperation. Those in a relationship may be excited, or perhaps testy. If you're not in a close relationship, there may be a prospect on the horizon. There will also just be people you need to work closely with or cooperate with.

If there are things to resolve, work on them. If people are upset, emotional or excited, soothe or support them.

Finance will increasingly be the issue in the second week. With Mercury and Venus in the sign of the Fishes, get the budget and personal spending in order by putting them both under review. You may sever connections. You may flag old areas of endeavour or pick new ones. Contacts involved in general financial dealings may change unexpectedly.

The tempo of all this will increase as Mercury turns retrograde on Feb 14th. Unexpected expenses may change or challenge your budget. There may be developments that will alter your financial situation. A surprise packet or a surprising individual may change the picture. There will be changes with projects, schemes or ventures, children and romantic attachments as your life goes through a mini revolution.

Reframe yourself, your image and your approach with the New Moon in your sign on Feb 17th. Get down to work on the business of fiscal revision as the Sun enters pisces, on Feb 19th. There may be a bit of drama or a clash at this time. Something may not be able to go ahead or someone won't get what they want. Do things another way.

Mercury retrograde

Mercury enters pisces, on Feb 2nd then turns retrograde on Feb 14th, charged by a near encounter with Uranus and the Lunar Nodes. There will be a revision of basic finance by dint of unexpected change with income or expenditure. There may be fiscal surprises. There may be changes with the people you're used to dealing with.

You may make or lose a financial contact unexpectedly. Ride out the waves and put off major decisions until March. Keep a sense of proportion about any changes. Things may not be what they seem. What's changed may change again before too long. Mercury returns to your sign on Feb 27th.

Birthstones for Febuary

AQUARIUS 21st January to 19th February

PISCES 22th February to 20th March


Amethyst


The ancient Greeks believed that amethyst held many powers, among them protection against intoxication. In fact, the word Amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning sober. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent over indulgence. Even today, Amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviours.

Amethyst is also symbolic of spirituality, and has been used to ornament churches and crosses used in religious ceremony. Amethyst has also been worn in rings and on rosaries by bishops and priests.

It is one of the most effective stones to use for meditation, because its calming attributes relax the mind so that it can release its attachment to the daily concerns of life and slip into a more expansive reality. If you'd like to meditate with this stone, place it on your forehead between your eyes.

Whatever else you may believe about amethyst, there is no doubt that the purple stone is one of the most beautiful gemstones in existence. If the amethyst is your birthstone, you are indeed lucky and blessed.

http://www.britishcrystalhealers.org/

AMETHYST Relates To:

Planet - Saturn

Zodiac - AQUARIUS, PISCES and SAGITTARIUS

Birthstone - February, also November and December

Other stones for February are TURQUOISE For more on stones and Gems see Crystals or Astrology