Mama Renew

It’s February.  Almost March, actually, but we just find out some nice history behind the word February and thought we’d share it before it’s too late.

February, the month that always seems a bit lost, or at least many people we know feel that way.  It’s not spring, but we can feel how close it is.  It’s still winter, but we’re over the novelty of snow.  If we made a new year’s resolution, by February we’ve often slipped considerably.

Apparently the root of February is the Roman word Forfebrua, meaning month of purification and offerings.  It seems appropriate to consider this as a way to shape our approach to this wonderful month of February, in gratitude for all we have received the winter, and cleansing ourselves for the new growth of Spring.   Here are a few ideas that probably are quite different from the origins of Forfebrua, but they work for us:

Purification

Our modern world doesn’t offer many opportunities for a ceremonial act of cleansing… We might consider a few diverse alternatives:

Nourish your body by drinking more water  – no juice or caffeine!

Is there a food you habitually crave that isn’t so good for you?  Give your body a break and perhaps set it aside for a few days or more – at least until March!

Take a really fabulous bubble bath every single night.

Offerings

An offering may be seen as either a symbolic or a practical gesture.  Consider the following as possibilities:

Call up a beloved friend let her know you’ll be bringing her family dinner one night this week, just because.

Offer childcare support or a play date to a friend who could really use a break, or so a couple can go on a date.

Sift through the piles of clothing and offer those your family has outgrown to a shelter or a friend.

Create a clear space on a corner table where you can light a candle offering gratitude.

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How do you feel in February?

What do you need to purify?  What would you like to offer?

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