JANUARY, 2010

January 9 - 22:

1/9 (Sat):

In the ancient Roman calendar, 1/9 is the festival day of Janus, the god whose two faces gaze backward into the past and forward into the future. It was customary to keep the doors of Janus' temple closed in peacetime, to open them as soon as war began and to close them again when war was concluded -- thus invoking the blessing and protection of Janus, and his gifts of historic memory and foresight, when the continuity of the nation was in danger.

 1/14 (Thu):

Makara Sankranti, one of South India's great harvest festivals. As this day marks the annual date on which wind direction shifts from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn -- "makara" means Capricorn -- various gods of the wind are honored now, and there are many sailing competitions and festivals. Ritual offerings of water and food are offered to the resurging Sun, with prayers for an abundant harvest.

1/15 (Fri):

In the ancient Khemitian calendar, this is the first day of the month of Pamenot, sacred to Amun, the primordial water neter who embodies the potential of all living things. As this month is opposite on the zodiac wheel to what we call July -- when the annual inundation of the Nile always used to begin on July 26 -- Pamenot has always represented the seminal ingathering of energy and its concentration toward release in the surge of summer. For more on Amun, see 1/24.

The Japanese celebrate this day as Seijin Shiki, or coming-of-age day. Those who have attained the age of 20 in the preceding year dress in exquisite new kimono and visit Shinto shrines to give thanks to the kami, and pray for their favor in the years to come.

On this day Mercury "goes direct," reversing his period of backward ("retrograde") motion since Dec. 26, and bringing an end to the last three weeks of relative confusion in all Mercury-ruled areas related to commerce, communications and transportation.

1/17 (Sun):

Among the Yoruba people of Africa and the Santeria communities of the Americas, this day is sacred to Ogun, the masculine orisha of strength, stamina and determination.

1/20 (Mon):

The Sun enters Aquarius. This is a major annual transition point at which the year enters the Great Cold, and, before the Sun leaves Aquarius in February, begins the lengthening of the light and the transition to Spring. The importance of this annual passage point has been evident since ancient times in many cultures, for example the Chinese, who celebrate the lunar New Year at the first New Moon while the Sun is in what the West calls Aquarius. The Sun's entry into Aquarius gains increasing power now as Earth's people enter the Aquarian Age, which favors wide networks and lateral teams of friendship over Piscean hierarchies, emphasizing the identity of Aquarius as the ruler of the 11th House of friendship, activism for social progress, and community.

In old Christian calendars, this is St. Agnes' Eve, which replaces an earlier British Celtic feast as the day on which prophecy and divination are favored. It is said that a young woman who correctly bakes a "dumb cake" - so called because it is prepared in strict silence - will be able to see the dream image of her future husband. This custom is the subject of a famous poem by Keats, "The Eve of St. Agnes". As this midwinter season is a time for introspection, it naturally abounds in rites of prophecy, including feasts of Thoth (1/24 - 27) and the Iroquois Mid-Winter ceremonies (1/28 - 2/5).

In the Roman Catholic calendar, this is the feast of St. Sebastian, one of the many notable martyrs from the last major wave of anti- Christian persecutions under Diocletian, at the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th, a few years before the reign of Constantine the Great, who was to designate Christianity the state religion of the Roman empire.

St. Sebastian is famous as a "double martyr", so called because when the emperor's attempt to have his fellow soldiers execute him with arrows failed to finish him off -- a scene depicted in countless works of art, including this one by Mantegna -- Sebastian had the temerity to affirm his faith before Caesar a second time, and was then clubbed to death. The symbolism of the arrows is ancient and archetypal, linking with countless stories in which the wound of divine love brings both excruciating pain and ineffable joy. Sebastian remains to this day the patron saint of soldiers, archers and athletes.

In Mayan calendar systems, this day begins the Uinal of Warriors, the fourth of the 20-day uinals in the cycle (9 Imix, Tzolkin 61). This uinal, symbolized by the Quail, represents the limiting principle of reaction after the three uinals of growth that begin the Tzolkin cycle.

1/22 (Fri):

In the ancient Greek and Roman calendars, this is the feast day of Apollo, god of the Sun, and also of light, intellect, classical beauty, prophecy and the lyre. Thousands of years ago, before the day of the Sun's entry into Aquarius moved to where it is now, on Jan. 19, this day marked the Sun's transition from the darkness and heaviness of Capricorn to the light and activity of Aquarius, the month in which the annual mid-winter festival of early February celebrated the passing of the Great Cold and the approach of the new Spring.

Apollo's day was later Christianized as the feast of St. Vincent, a shadowy figure who may not have lived, but who was likely invented, as his name means Wine in the Romance languages. St. Vincent is the patron of vintners and of those who just like to drink wine. The placement of his day is perfect, as it falls right at the top of the month when the Sun is in Aquarius, the sign which rules the 11th house of Friendship, and thus favors all happy activities that bring friends together. St. Vincent's Day is also a major weather marker in Europe, for it was -- and still is -- said that fair weather on this day heralds an abundant grape harvest and a good vintage:  "Take care on St. Vincent's Day, / For if on this day you see / That the sun is bright and clear, / We'll have more wine than water."