The month of February has several birth flower associations. The violet, primrose, snowdrop and iris are all flower associations with the second month of the year. Each flower has unique attributes that can bring luck to the individual born in February. The flowers have magickal properties that make them particularly useful in spells and charms and many of February’s birth flowers are useful in natural healing endeavors.
The primrose
In “Dame Curtsey’s ‘Book of Novel Entertainments for Every Day in the Year,” Ellye Howell Glover identifies the primrose as the birth flower for February and explains that ancient traditions once held that a person could wear the dried petals of their birth flower in a small silk bag around the neck as an amulet serving as protection against evil. Richard Folkard writes in “Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics,” that the primrose is associated with the goddess Bertha who would lure children into her enchanted halls by offering them primroses. The flower is associated with Venus, the goddess of love, and the primrose is the Schlüsselblume in Germany, meaning, “cowslip” or “key-flower,” for its perceived abilities to open the locks where treasures are hidden.
In Norse traditions, the primrose is a symbol of Freya, the goddess of love, fertility and beauty. The primrose is a symbol of hope, youth, vitality, eternal love and promise. The flower also symbolizes confidence, young love, and affection. Practitioners can use the flower in magickal applications related to healing, protection and purification. In healing applications, the primrose is ideal for dealing with hyperactivity, cuts, bruises and the flower is useful for its effects as a natural sedative.
The violet
Marie Miczak writes in “How Flowers Heal: The Mind, Body & Soul,” that the violet is the birth flower for the month of February. The violet or Viola is a symbol of constancy, faithfulness, young love, modesty, nobility, royalty and daydreams. When the violet is purple it correlates to the crown chakra and its uses include intuitive and psychic workings. Practitioners can use violets in an array of healing applications, including the use of a violet infusion for the treatment of cradle cap, dandruff, chronic cough and bronchitis.
Folkard writes that the ancient Greeks associated the violet with Venus, and the flower has the astrological association of Venus as a planetary influence. In addition, violets correspond to the goddess Persephone who was gathering narcissuses and violets when Hades abducted her. The Athenians would were crowns made of violets and the ancient Romans would drink violet wine. Pliny suggests that a ring of violets worn around one’s head serve to remedy dizziness or headaches.
The snowdrop
The snowdrop or Galanthus nivalis is another symbol of hope, solace, comfort and consolation. This bell-shaped, small bloom is a promise of the coming spring season, lending to its connection of hope and consolation. As a flower that blooms toward the end of the winter, snowdrops represent new beginnings, resurrection, renewal and fresh starts. Thus, the flower is perfect for working any magick with the intent to purify, renew, refresh or cleanse.
In “Flower Lore and Legend,” Katharine McMillan Beals explains that the snowdrop has many names including snow piercer, winter-bell, bell-of-the-snow, naked maiden, snow violet, winter gilliflower, summor gorrk (meaning “summer fool”) and calanthus: A Latin name meaning, “milk-flower.” The Germans called the flower “snowdrop,” with the reference to “drop” originating from the English women of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries who wore long drop pendants. Beliefs once held that when a person wore the snowdrop, the individual would have nothing but “pure and lofty thoughts." Folkard explains that the snowdrop or “Fair Maid of February” is sacred to virgins.
The iris
Lexa Olick writes in “Witchy Crafts: 60 Enchanted Projects for the Creative Witch,” that the iris is the birth flower for February and suggests that that flower represents “faith, wisdom, hope, peace of mind, grace, purification, beauty and friendship.” The iris symbolizes wisdom and valor. This bloom also symbolizes eloquence, passion and hope. If the iris is white, it represents chastity and purity. Folkard writes that the iris links to the Oceanides, particularly to the goddess Iris, as well as Juno, the sister-wife of Jupiter and the Queen of the Heavens; Iris is a messenger deity who Juno favored. Ancient Egyptians placed the flower on monarchs’ scepter as well as on the brow of the Sphinx.
In magickal applications, uses of the iris include intentions aligned with peace, calming the mind, improving one’s mood or promoting bliss and happiness. Purple irises link to the crown chakra so they correspond with intuitive and psychic abilities. In healing applications, the iris versicolor serves as a treatment for visually distorting migraine headaches occurring on one side of the head. The plant’s association with the messenger goddess Iris makes it an ideal flower for magickal intentions associated with communications of all kinds.
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