Ready? Set? Let’s fly into February! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)
I often feel like January is a recovery month – it takes 31 days to catch up on the sleep I lose on New Year’s Eve, and I’m often busy trying new resolutions to improve my diet, exercise, career, housekeeping and writing practices, which in turn, leads to recovering from too much fiber, muscle strain, brain strain, dust allergies and . . . and luckily, no adverse effects from the writing.
February is full of fun little days that have produced big stories. February 2 is Groundhog Day, the day a small mammal predicts the weather and future happiness. I’ve discussed the movie Groundhog Day a couple of times on the blog, as a metaphor for re-writing, and a meditation about how a wretched character (Phil, the weatherman) re-invents himself as a being worthy of loving and capable of love.
February 3 is Setsubun, the Japanese holiday about driving out demons called oni and generally getting rid of what doesn’t serve you. The tradition is that you throw beans while yelling, “Demons out! Good luck in!” Then you pick up all the beans, and eat as many beans as your years on earth. Side bonus: the wise demon-exorcist will vacuum all the corners of the house so the beans don’t get dusty. The wily Hokkaido pioneer will use peanuts in the shell to avoid health and sanitation problems. What demons would you drive out of your writing practice? What luck would you invite in?
February 14 is a perfect time to hatch a love story. Or a Galentine’s Day story of friendship! (See Parks and Recreations for the lovely tales of friendship and overachievement and acceptance.) (Officially, this is the day before Valentine’s Day, but treat yo’ self! Make it two days this year! We’ve got a spare day, after all.) Tradition has room for all sorts of stories on this day – lovely romance, second chances, and even vinegar Valentines and tales of revenge.
And this year, we get to enjoy the once-in-four-years event of February 29th. This was a day when women could propose to men in Europe, or receive a gown, some money or 12 pairs of gloves for their trouble. It’s a day about bringing things back into balance, about bonus time and extra duties.
Then the next day is March – the month when the northern hemisphere starts to green and grow, and the southern hemisphere enjoys the days of harvest and gradual cooling days.
Even at 29 days, February is still the shortest month, so let’s make it count!
Eight Ladies Writing 
The 13th is also my birthday. I don’t think I want to eat 66 beans, though. Not even if they’re peanuts.
One of my favorite TV shows came to an end this week–The Good Place shared its last episode. The four characters, (five if you include Ted Danson, the fire demon who was trying to architect a new version of Hell) all reached their final destination. Thematically, it was like Groundhog Day, in that each character dealt with the issues that initially sent them to the Bad Place until eventually they figured things out and got it right.
The idea that, given enough opportunity, each of us could finally work through our issues and become great people is one that really resonates with me. I’ve been playing around with Lilith’s book, though, and she’s been around since God made humans (she was Adam’s first wife, before Eve) and she seems to have done just the opposite.
Of course, so did Bill Murray and all the characters on The Good Place until they didn’t any more.
(-: Exciting! Sixty-six dry roasted soybeans, so it’s really just a TV snack, LOL. But I can see what you mean.
I have heard so much good stuff about The Good Place, and I really want to see it.
Say, speaking of Lilith, I finally ran across something that explains her. Apparently, the bible has two different versions of the creation of the first woman. One was made of clay with Adam, and the other was made from a rib. LOL, I know you know this, but I was surprised I hadn’t run across that earlier.
Me, face alight: Do you know what tomorrow is?
Husband, equally happy: Of course!
Me: Groundhog day!!
Husband, simultaneously: The Super Bowl!!
Both of us in unison: Wait, what?
Tomorrow morning I’m driving out to Woodstock, IL where Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day was filmed. They recreate the Prognostication ceremony every year. Love me some kitsch!
Thanks for the Setsubun tutorial. I’m definitely doing this. Farewell, demons!
That is a hilarious story about Groundhog Day/Super Bowl. It doesn’t happen every day that people can celebrate a favorite holiday on the same day. Happy Groundhog Day, Daisy!
Thank you, Kay!
LOL, I have this vision of Bill Murray’s character from Caddyshack, hunting groundhogs on a football field. I guess nobody wants that! I would love to hear more about the Illinois ceremony. I have a fondness for Groundhog’s Day. It was sunny, at my house; don’t really want any more winter.
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