–pretty sure of where it’s going, but not too sure where it’s at!  Yes, we are all heading into spring and growth, but where are we now?

By some reckoning, February 1st is the first day of spring, but we know it is still winter and this month may well be the coldest of the year. The celtic festival of Imbolc (February 1st) is not a celebration of spring but a recognition of the first tentative signs of the new life and growth to come. (Each celtic feast is anticipatory, celebrating the dynamic of ‘movement towards’ rather than a point of arrival.)  Yes, there are snowdrops and tiny fresh green leaf-buds open on

honeysuckle and elder, and these raise our spirits and give us hope but they are more promise than presence.

All across the Northern hemisphere – Canada, U.S.A., N. Europe into Russia – there is amazing similarity and unanimity in weather-lore and folklore about February  - good February, bad year; bad February, good year – with February 2nd  being critical in all cases.  On that day

I

(‘groundhog day’ in the U.S.) little hibernating creatures peep out.  If it is warm and sunny, they go back to sleep because there is winter yet to come.  f it is cold and wet, they come out and get back to life because there is a good time coming. Maybe we can learn – maybe our bad times are good times in terms of future growth and development.

Liturgically too, February marks transition. It begins with celebration of light – the candles of

Candlemas being the very last echo and reflection of the Christmas season, with its lights and candles and carols.  By month’s end we have had Ash Wednesday and are into Lent, the Church’s ‘spring’ season of new life and growth.  (Lent is not about ‘giving up’; it is about growing up.)

February is a kind of ‘Advent’ month – full of hope but not yet fulfilment. Celebration held in check and waiting.

A time for hoping and being still,  
 For gentle turning from darkness to light.
A time for cherishing small things, small changes,  
 Small signs of growth, within and without.