February 2 Candlemas — Divination with Animals

HAPPY CANDLEMAS 2013!

February 2 is Candlemas, also known as Imbolc or Michaelmas. Today marks the point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Candlemas is an auspicious day for divination with all types of animals — not just groundhogs! Contemplate a question that has a yes/no solution, then start observing the movement of animals. So take some time today to observe nature, and get a second opinion from the creatures that surround us.

My favorite form of animal divination is ornithomancy, divination from the flight of birds. A bird flying to the right means yes, to the left means no. Before the invention of modern mapping, ornithomancy was developed by sailors who would follow the flight of birds to reach land.

MAJOR SOLAR HOLIDAYS:
The 4 major Solar holidays in Western astrology are the cardinal points of:

SPRING EQUINOX time of equal day and equal night. The Sun enters Aries on March 20 4:02 am PDT in 2013.

SUMMER SOLSTICE the longest day. The Sun enters Cancer on June 20 10:04 pm PDT in 2013.

AUTUMN EQUINOX again equal day and equal night. The Sun enters Libra on September 22 1:44 pm PDT in 2013.

WINTER SOLSTICE the longest night. The Sun enters Capricorn on December 21 9:11 am PST in 2013.

MINOR SOLAR HOLIDAYS:
There are 4 minor Solar holidays that mark the points between the Equinoxes and Solstices:

CANDLEMAS on February 2 is a fire festival of the Goddess Bridget and the first stirrings of spring. Animals awaken after winter hibernation, hence augery from the movement of animals.

MAY DAY on May 1, also called Beltane, marks the point between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.This spring festival represents the Maiden aspect of the Maiden-Mother-Crone Goddess.

LAMMAS on August 2, also called Lughnasad, marks the point between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox. Lammas is a Mother Goddess (and grain God) harvest festival.

HALLOWEEN on October 31, also called Hallomas, marks the point between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Halloween is the most popular of the 4 minor Solar holidays, and falls close to November 2 the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). Halloween and the Day of the Dead celebrate the Crone aspect of the Goddess.

Happy holidays!