Intro 0:00 [musical interlude] This recording is an offering of Networks for Training and Development's Online University. Rosa McAllister 0:24 Hi, everyone, this is Rosa McAllister with Networks for Training and Development, Incorporated. And we're here for our monthly Healing Circle Call. Thanks so much for joining with us, whether you're here in person with us live today, or whether you're listening to this recording later of the podcast. We are listed... Our podcasts are listed in a variety of places, we have recordings going back from the last three or four years, I think we're in our fourth season now. And we've been doing this for quite some time and and it's just our time to come together with whoever wants to be with us, kind of anonymously, breathe together, relax, enjoy and know that we're not alone. So interestingly enough, today is Monday, February 1 2021, 2021. Rosa McAllister 1:22 February is a special month for me, because I'm a February baby. But February has some fun things about it. It's our only month that has 28 days, it's the shortest of our month. And it's the only month in our calendar that has an extra day, every four years, known as Leap Year, or the year of being a leap year and the day, Leap Year Day, the 29th of February. February has many different things about it. For many in the Northern Hemisphere, it's a wintry time, and oftentimes could be 20 degrees or it could be 50 or 60 degrees, depending upon what's going on. And today what's going on for many in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly on the mainland of the United States on the eastern side, it's a snowy day. In fact, there's 18 inches to two feet going in New York City, New England getting quite a lot and in various areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, etc. They're getting lots of snow. And it's a play day or a snow day for many. Things kind of quiet and shut down and get insulated. Beautiful snow can do that for everyone. I saw videos and pictures of New York City: instead of hustling and bustling and noisy, no cars except those that are all snowed under. No buses going by. No beeping, no horns, just quiet. I saw pictures of Central Park and the other parks on the eastern coast today, all snowed in. Kids and adults alike playing, making snow angels or maybe making soup and staying indoors after shoveling. It's one of those days. In at least that part of the world, this February 1st. Rosa McAllister 3:22 So I thought I'd tell you a little bit more about February and February 1st in particular. February 1st is also known as "Imbolc" (I-M-B-O-L-C) or "Imbolg" (I-M-B-O-L-G), also called Saint Brigid's Day. It's an Irish tradition, an Irish/Scottish/Gaelic tradition. It's a festival marking the beginning of spring. And it actually lands directly halfway between the winter and the spring equinox, the winter solstice and the spring equinox. So it's kind of a time to remind ourselves that we're halfway through the winter and on our way to spring. Spring is coming. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man as one of the four main Gaelic seasonal festivals. Saint Bridgid's Day, or Imbolc, has a particular significance. It's mentioned in early Irish literature, and there's evidence suggesting it was also an important date in ancient times. It's believed that it was originally a pagan festival, as many were, and it was associated with the goddess Brigid, and that it was "christianized" as they say, as Festival of Saint Brigid, who was supposed to be a christianization of the goddess. Now it's a time when many are remembering that it's the coming into light, if you will. Again, it's the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, this February 1, or Imbolc, the day, Saint Bridgid's Day. So it was a time when boys and girls - girls in particular, would have a special doll that they dressed in a special garb. And they would make Brigid's crosses which were a certain Celtic Gaelic cross. And they would go and visit one another in their houses and oftentimes would bring a gift of light. Again, remembering and trying to hold sacred the idea coming out of darkness. Coming out of darkness into the springtime soon to come. There were plans that would be made, and thoughts. The plans would be about what to plant, what crops to plant in the spring. And people would start readying their, at least their seeds, and their other things, maybe not the land itself, for the eventual planting that would come. But more than anything, they would remember the light and give gifts of light to one another. Rosa McAllister 6:11 February 1 is also known as National Freedom Day. It's always observed on February 1, and it celebrates freedom from slavery in the United States. It's recognized that America is a symbol of liberty to the rest of the world, even though we still have much far to go. The day honors the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a Joint House and Senate Resolution that later became the 13th amendment to the US Constitution. President Lincoln signed the amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865. It was not ratified by the states, however, until later on December 18, 1865. But regardless, today is known as National Freedom Day. Many people, on this day in America, look to this day to ring bells, bells of freedom, let freedom ring. People oftentimes lay wreaths in various ceremonies at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and elsewhere. They sometimes watch documentaries about the 13th amendment. They talk more and more about the areas and the issues that we still have issue with. And where freedom really has not fully occurred. For many people, even in America, especially in America, as has been illuminated for more and more of us in the past year. Rosa McAllister 7:55 February 1, and National Freedom Day is a day that I think we all could get behind and maybe should get behind. And like Saint Bridgid's day, or Imbolc, is a day of remembering that there is light out of darkness. And even though we still have far to go, whether it's thinking about the weather and where we have to go from now until actual springtime; or whether it's about everyone's freedoms, regardless of culture, regardless of color of skin, regardless of heritage or belief. We still have very far to go, but the light is shining. And the light is shining brighter in many ways. As difficult as it may be. The light is shining brighter now. And so here we are on February 1, shining our light and remembering we need to do so. Rosa McAllister 8:54 February 1 is also, as I mentioned, my birth month. And interestingly enough for a very short month of only 28 days typically, it's a very popular month for babies to be born. They say February babies are free spirits. We're the free spirits of the calendar more than any of the others. We frequently have a changing personality that can be temperamental one minute, and quiet and shy the next. I think some people who know me would say that's true. Many are deep thinkers who love to explore new goals and dreams and take daring risks to reach their ambition. It's said many February babies are attractive and easily make friends although they are not prone to showing romantic love very openly. I don't know about that. They say we're also witty and intelligent, outgoing, smart, altruistic, peace lovers, faithful towards near and dear, very sensitive, honest to the core, we love to spend money... We sometimes are very modest and humble and and other times, quite the trendsetters. Creative minds, dominating personalities, ambitious towards life, and a "never give up, never say die" spirit. We're also superstitious so I'm not sure if there are any other February babies out there. But I know for me, it's always been fun meeting other people. I've only ever met one other person who was born on my actual birthday. And meeting this other person, it was fun to see the similarities within us. So whether you're a follower of astrology, and the various personalities that are deemed equivalent to the astrological chart, and the various twelve Sun signs, or whether you're not, it's sometimes fun to look up about this. Rosa McAllister 11:03 In February, even a short a month as it is, it's interesting that we have a few national holidays or big holiday. We have Saint Bridgid's day today. We have February 2, the very famous Groundhog Day - made very famous by a wonderful movie, very silly, wonderful movie called Groundhog Day - when Punxsutawney Phil may or may not see his shadow and helps to decide whether or not winter will continue, or whether it will be an early spring. Did you ever realize why it was on February 2, that Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day occurred? It's because of Saint Bridgid's Day and Imbolc. That happens the day before - the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It's a time where people again are starting to think and look forward to spring occurring, hoping, and wondering that it will be. And of course at the time, when we would use something like a groundhog to help foretell whether or not spring was coming early or whether winter was continuing on. Rosa McAllister 12:14 We also have Presidents' Day. Oh, before Presidents' Day, actually, we have a very important day I'm forgetting. We have Valentine's Day on February 14, which is for many, seen as kind of a day of Hallmark-inspired cards and candies and flowers and things like that. But it's also a time that has quite a ritual, and quite a background about love and admiration. And showing those that we love, not just romantic love, but showing those we love how special they are to us and gifting them something of love. And the history behind Valentine's Day is fun as well. I'm not going to go into all of it, you might want to research it yourself. But St. Valentine was real. And St. Valentine was believed to be a very, very good, pious and loving person who often gave gifts to those that he cared about that he loved. And hence, on his day, February 14, we do this many different ways. Whether they're silly little Valentine's that we give out as kids, or whether they're text messages these days we send to others, or memes or hearts or candy, or kisses. Rosa McAllister 13:40 And then we have Presidents' Day, which is revolving. It's I think it's the third Monday in February nowadays. And it is a national holiday for those of us in the United States. And it's recognized pretty broadly. It was originally February 12 and February 22 were the birthdays of President Lincoln and President Washington. And I think it was sometime in the 1970s, if I'm not mistaken, it was combined into one holiday: Presidents' Day, that we celebrate. And many of us use it as an excuse to have a long weekend. in other times before the pandemic, COVID-19, which we're in the midst of now and staying at home... Many times, many of us would go off someplace. We would take a break, we would we would take a little mini vacation, something like that. Presidents' weekend, Presidents' Day, actually and all of Presidents' weekend is a time to remember and to thank those who have served us in a capacity as leader of our country, and not just Lincoln or Washington, but all presidents. Rosa McAllister 14:54 So here we are at the beginning of this little month, our smallest of months. And yet a month, that not just because it's my birthday month, but it's a month of great importance in many ways. And it's a time for all of us to think, and to release, and to breathe and to remember that there are things to celebrate, even in the midst of a cold and wintry time. So, I want you to think about whether you're live here with me today, whether you're listening in to this podcast at a later date, and whether it is February 1 2021, or any other day, and you're listening in to this. What is your light? What is your light that you could bring to others, to their houses? To the people themselves that you care about? It could be an actual light, flashlight, a candle, but I'm talking about your light, your gift. What is it that shines within you, that you bring to others? Sometimes without us even noticing or knowing. Sometimes, even in our darkest of times, what is it that you bring, and that you gift to others? What is your light? And something that I found that the more I realize the gifts that I have, and that I give to others and share with others, the more I'm aware of my light, the more conscious I am of shining it, of beaming it out consciously, purposefully, with intent and with love. So I ask you, I don't just ask you, I challenge you. I beg of you. What is your light? How do you beam it out and gift it to others? And how could you do it even more? Because we need it. Rosa McAllister 17:12 I also asked you to think about what are your freedoms? What are your freedoms on this day of freedom? What are the freedoms that you enjoy? And maybe not others, all others have? What are the freedoms that you take for granted? What are the freedoms that you celebrate? And how can you in your own way help others acknowledge the freedoms that they have and or maybe fight for more? Rosa McAllister 17:51 And last but not least, how can you show those that you love, the love that you have for them? Don't wait for Valentine's Day. Don't wait for Hallmark or someone else to declare it a holiday. Do it today. Do it tomorrow. I dare you right now. Send somebody a text. Send somebody a message. Sneak up on somebody that's nearby you that you're in close quarters with and give them a little kiss or a squeeze. Send your love to someone. In fact, what if we all chose three people? Five people, I don't know. Seven people. Or maybe just one. To do something right now in this moment. Tell somebody that you love them. Tell somebody that they're your Valentine. And it doesn't have to be romantic love. It's love. So on this February 1, 2021 8pm Eastern Time, 8:20pm Eastern time. I'm saying to you, happy February. Happy Imbolc. Happy St Bridgid's Day. Happy Freedoms Day and happy February. Enjoy, shine that light, celebrate those freedoms and show that love. We need it. Thanks for joining us. And we'll be back with you on the first Monday of every month at 8pm Eastern time. Thanks so much. Bye bye. Outro 19:48 [musical interlude] Thank you for listening. We hope the information provided was helpful. Don't forget to stop by our website and take advantage All we have to offer Transcribed by https://otter.ai