Modern Lupercalia

The word February is derived from the Latin word Februum, which means purification. In Roman times (possibly before), the festival of Lupercalia was observed in Rome to avert evil spirits and purify the city, causing health and fertility to be released. Another term for this festival was dies Februatus, named after the instruments of purification called februa.

The following is a short list of ways you can purify your everyday life, no februa needed!

1) Forgive someone that has hurt you.

According to the Mayo Clinic, forgiving others will allow you to have healthier relationships, improved mental health (less anxiety, stress, and depression), lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and improved heart health.

2) Meditate or simply sit in quiet and reflect on the positive things in your life.

To meditate, get into a comfortable position for you (sitting, lying down, or even walking), find a quiet location, so you can focus your attention, relax your breathing, and keep an open attitude. Part of meditation is letting thoughts pass through your mind without judgement, which will allow you to gain a new perspective on situations in your life, increase self-awareness, increase your patience, and increase your imagination and creativity.

3) Clean up your relationships.

Think about the people in your life. Are they toxic? Do they zap your energy? Is everything about them? Are your needs being met? If not, you might need to set boundaries! Psychology Today suggests the following for setting boundaries: value yourself, know you are important and deserve to be treated well; give yourself permission to do what is best for you, in toxic relationships, you are your biggest advocate; know your triggers, being prepared for a stressful situation can make it less stressful; be clear about your needs and communicate them, know your limits; say no, setting limits makes you feel stronger and communicates your needs to others; and make a list of coping strategies that work for you such as, going for a walk, having alone time, writing in a journal, deep breathing, or getting guidance from a therapist.

4) Get rid of physical clutter.

HGTV suggests tossing out physical items from your home that are expired or broken. If items are still in good condition, give them away, sell them, or donate them to a good cause. If you have items that need to be returned to the store, do it! If you feel overwhelmed, start small, one shelf or pile at a time. The clutter took months or years to build up, so it won’t be uncluttered in a day!

5) Clear your schedule.

Are you overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted at the end of the day? You probably have too much on your schedule. Take time to think about how and where you are spending your time, and if it is being spent on what (or who) is truly important. Tech.co suggests the following for clearing up your schedule: get rid of distractions to use your time effectively; manage the tools you use during the day, don’t get pulled into every email or social media notification, let phone calls go to voicemail; say no, not every problem is yours to fix; set timers to balance work periods and mental breaks to avoid burnout; delegate, if you have too much on your plate, get help from others; and regularly asses your schedule, don’t let tasks, people, and distractions creep back in!

6) Have an unsubscribing session.

If you have subscriptions that bring distractions into your life that no longer serve you, unsubscribe from them. Consider the magazines you receive in the mail, the email that arrives in your inbox daily, memberships, and the TV services you pay for monthly. If they aren’t serving you, then move on from them.

A Few Other Suggestions to Consider:

• Straighten out your finances.

• Overhaul your diet.

• Take an inventory of your spiritual practices.

• Reflect on your attitude and mindset.

• Spend time with people who make you feel good.

• Spend time outside daily.

• Stop comparing yourself to others.