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Happy Double Freya's Day! Double Freya's Day is not a traditional holiday name but I think it conveys how special today is. Every Friday is Freya's Day, but this year we also have February 14th on a Friday.

I don't usually make a huge deal about Valentine's Day. Its origins are non-heathen, and many Asatruers and other Heathens celebrate a completely made up holiday today instead, Vali's Day. It was created based on the similarity of the names Vali and Valentine. Vali of course is one of our gods, but he's not a romantic figure. His personal story is about Odin setting up all the proper conditions, tools, and people to make Ragnarok happen correctly someday. The end of the world has to be done right so the next world can be better.

 Who do you love? What do you love? What are you passionate about? In these current crazy times of unrest, sometimes getting back to simplicity and what is truly important can be the most effective way to deal. This is still the contemplative season, and if you are able to go on a quiet winter retreat–even an overnight, I would highly recommend it. Journaling, self-care, walking in nature while the silent snow falls gently all around you–the spiritual revelations that can come can be deep and poignant at this time. Above all right now, tapping into the spiritual strength of nature–and our own inner reserves–can be the most powerful thing we can do. That and being there for others close to us that might be struggling or having a difficult time processing everything.

Phyllis in February

These are just a few of the many topics that our cherished return guest, author/teacher/activist Phyllis Curott brings to the table on the latest podcast episode of, “Women Who Howl at the Moon.” I enjoy having Phyllis back every year, as I tell her at the beginning of the show. She has such powerful insight and worthy advise to weather various storms, of all kinds. Speaking of which, we had quite a doozy, in the Midwest all day yesterday, well into the evening! So although we couldn’t fully appreciate the light of Grandmother Moon here last night, we can still feel the power of the February Quickening Moon tonight, Friday, and Saturday. Phyllis shares a wonderful ritual you can perform under the full moon’s light–especially if you have some privacy and warmer temperatures. However it could also be adapted to a back bedroom, where you can see and feel the full moonlight shining in on you through a window.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Well wherever you may presently be, I suggest mimicking the pre-Romans with a Lupercalia Valentine's Party. Who couldn't use a little extra debauchery to get through this dreariest of winter doldrums. First off, everybody has to wear something sexy to gain entry (see what I did there). Since everyone has a different definition of that, anything goes. Lady Gaga to S&M bondage gear, cute Furry to 80's neon spandex – it should all be good fun.

There must be lot of wine flowing and succulent finger foods to eat. Feed each other bunches of grapes. Citrus fruits, chocolates, smoked salmon, pizza, venison summer sausage, and olives should all be present and accounted for. Heck, if you're feeling ambitious, grill up a few turkey legs. To me anyway, there's nothing more hedonistic-looking than people chowing down on a big old turkey leg in hand. Encourage your guests to bring additional bottles of vino and several decadent desserts.

The music needs to be lively and loud. This will cause people to talk louder to converse, and ultimately lead to laughter and automatically up the ante of your party. If you can bring in some extra lounging chairs to recline in while you dine, all the better for authenticity. Break out the Twister, if you have some game guests – it's the safe version of an orgy. Form relay teams and pass the orange from neck to neck. If that doesn't break the ice, you're on your own peeps.

Wrap things up with some cappuccino, aspirin, and apple cider vinegar diluted water as needed. Ideally, hold your party when you can have a a super lazy day off to follow. Salute!

GRILLED TURKEY DRUMSTICKS
(recipe from http://www.primalpalate.com)
If you've never tried grilling turkey drumsticks, you're missing out! These big, juicy cuts are perfect for grilling. Keep the flame low, and these babies will come out perfectly tender with a nice crisp skin.
Serves: 2
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
2-pound turkey leg, 2 drumsticks
3 tablespoons red palm oil
    Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
    Mix together cumin, garlic powder, cayenne, sea salt and pepper in a small bowl.
    Rub drumsticks with seasonings.
    Sear drumsticks on the grill for approximately 3 minutes per quarter turn.
    After searing all sides, move drumsticks to a part of the grill where they can cook by indirect heat.
    Cook drumsticks via indirect heat for an additional 50–60 minutes.
    The grill temperature during this time should read around 300°F.
    Turn drumsticks 1/4 turn every 10 minutes until they have reached an internal temperature of 180°F.
    Baste drumsticks with red palm oil toward the end of their cook time, about the last 20 minutes or so.
    Reapply as necessary.

Notes:
This recipe uses an indirect cooking technique on the grill. If you have a gas grill, turn one burner off and leave the remaining burners lit at medium heat. Place the drumsticks over the burner that has been shut off. If you have a charcoal grill, move the drumsticks to the coolest spot on the grill or raise the rack. The objective is to slowly cook the turkey so that it does not burn or dry out.

Photo by radnatt at freedigitalphotos.net

Like many holidays, Valentine's Day holds a secret.

In earlier times, this day was a celebration of women's pro-creative power — our body-centered power to renew life, and the pleasure of doing so!

This poem, unearthing Celtic, Roman, and heretical Christian strands weaving through Valentine's Day, begins...

This Valentine came in the mail today —
the fe-male, that is:
Greetings from history in women's terms.

Valentine's Day is a fraud, of course, you know that,
Hall-marked and carded as it is for commerce.
But more than that:

The boy himself's a fraud.
St. Valentine's a fiction, the convenient invention
of some grim Christian churchmen.

...and comes to you complete with historical notes, such as

and where the fever starts:
Words such as fever, febrile, and February have their origin in Februata as an epithet of the Great Goddess.

(Blog image by Tom LaBaff)

This is my first Valentine’s as a self-married woman.

Love is in the air... because it's brighid time? Why do we all yearn so much for love? Whether we are in a relationship or not, love calls us...

We all know what Rumi tells us: our task is not to find love, but to let crumble the walls we put up between her and us.