Loving on yourself + your biz with the pagan roots of Valentines
TW: mention of animal sacrifice, sexual acts in Ancient Rome
Did you know in Ancient Rome, pre-catholic church, February 15th was the annual festival of Lupercalia, a debaucherous and bloody festival where folks would get naked in the streets and whip each other with leather to promote fertility?
Ok hear me out. I think there’s a sweet takeaway here when it comes to finding ways to love yourself + your biz on a deeper level (aka, finding more ease in your life+biz) during what can be a super emotionally charged hallmark holiday for many.
Lupercalia honored the Roman god Lupercus, protector of farmers and livestock. From what I’ve gathered, Lupercus helped promote fertility in flocks, while also protecting them from wolves and other predators. Simultaneously, I’ve seen him referred to as the Wolf God, possibly because of the latin root of his name (lupus = wolf).
Interestingly, Lupercalia was traditionally celebrated in Palatine Hill, which in Roman mythology is the place where the wolf cared for abandoned twins Romulus and Remus (the babies were carried to the safety of the wolf by the river god), who went on to found Rome. The cave where the wolf nurtured them in Palatine Hill would come to be called Lupercal, and some speculate that Lupercalia also honors the wolf mother as well.
Some traditions of this festival are intense, ngl. Like some of the other Roman rituals, this one involved an animal sacrifice to appease Lupercus and ask for his continued support of the farms, but to also promote fertility for the Romans. After the sacrifice (and ritual of smearing blood on the foreheads of the Luperci priests) participants feasted, and then strips would be cut from the animal hide.
Men would then run naked with the hide strips, whipping the women with the intention of promoting fertility from Lupercus. From what I’ve gathered, this seems like it was consensually done, and in the energy of good intention/debaucherous fun as opposed to violence towards women. BUT I’m not a historian (just a witch interested in mythology, legend, and tradition) and I was not there, so I’m obviously not 100% sure. If you’ve found differently, please let me know and I’m happy to correct this. Men would also draw women’s names from a jar to be coupled with for the festivities. Which, again, can’t be 100% sure but seems like it was a consensual act.
Some point to the emphasis on fertility, as well as the pairing of individuals (the original valentines cards?) as the root of the modern Valentine’s Day, later promoted by the Catholic Church as the day of St. Valentine to convert pagan folks by assimilating and shifting their own holidays and traditions into Catholicism.
I find all of this interesting and helpful to think about, specifically when it comes to a holiday like Valentine’s Day, that has become so super commercialized and overly focused on big extravagant shows of romantic love between partners, as opposed to everyday and equally important acts of care and affection between not only romantic partners, but friends, communities, and (most importantly) ourselves. Lupercalia reminds me of my magical roots and connection to the divine, of the healing power of debauchery and fun in community, the power of sensuality and sex magic, and how creativity is truly another form of fertility to be nurtured and excited about.
And like, don’t get me wrong. I love Valentine’s Day, partnered and solo. I love Love, and big shows of affection (my love language is words of affirmation lol). But I think sometimes we get caught up in the hype of expectation that has been fed to us, instead of what’s more important: loving on ourselves just a little harder in a world that constantly encourages us to do the opposite.
So, let’s take a moment to be intentional this week. What does loving on yourself and your business look like to you? How can you bring in the energy of not only Valentine’s Day, but also Lupercalia to your life and work? What comes to mind first?
For me, it looks like:
Taking time for meditation breaks to help me reconnect with my higher self, spiritual support team, and divine universal energy
Remembering that sexuality and sensuality are magical as fuck, and help me tap into my inner fire (which, subsequently, helps me show up better for my clients and community, and be more creative)
Allowing myself to be drawn to the things that are lighting me up, and actually giving myself the space to explore them (did I expect to be researching Lupercalia all day when I woke up? Absolutely not. I literally work up with the idea and followed it, and now here we are lol)
Being intentional about nurturing and fostering my own creativity, which for me often means I just need open S P A C E (and a lot of it) to allow ideas to flow on through.
Getting outside, playing in the woods, building fires (or lighting candles), getting my hands in the dirt, hugging some trees, anything that reconnects me with nature and the cycles of the planet (my favorite parts of witchcraft)
Resting when I’m tired. Even if it isn’t built into my schedule.
Celebrating when I do something I’m excited about. Even if it isn’t built into my schedule.
Setting my altars (including my desk altar) pulling an oracle card to start my work day, cleansing my work space with my rosemary bundle, and generally, remembering that I fucking channel magic and creativity on the daily, whether I’m feeling it or not.
Your turn. How will you love on yourself and your business this week of Valentines Day and Lupercalia? Let me know in the comments below!
Sending you all sexy, debaucherous love on this Lupercalia 😘
XOXO
Cait
P.S. Wanna learn more about how to use the cycles of the planet and lunar cycle to really tap into your inner magic and know the BEST time to plan your business tasks and self-care? Download my free Moon Magic for Creatives Guidebook here!
