“So that he may live”

FEBRUUS

February comes from the latin februare "to purify," and a proto-italic word meaning “the burning”. Ancient Romans believed fire to be a vital part of life’s natural cycle —so much so, they held the purification festival Februalia honoring Februus; “the underground one”.

Our ancient predecessors understood that during this time of year, though superficially the cold and barren winter was still underway, there was also a movement at play beneath the surface preparing life for its spring rebirth. They mirrored this in their own lives by washing, cleansing, sacrificing— literally and figuratively burning away the things that no longer served, to clean the slate for a new chapter’s potential.

This concept resounds throughout much of human history and culture. The story of the phoenix explains that one only obtains new life by dying in a fire and rising from the ashes. This is not unlike the first step in most seven-step programs we know of, commencing with some iteration of “calcination” (burning the prima materia into ash). As removed as one may feel from ancient Rome, any practice of “Spring cleaning” is essentially our present day Februalia.

Throughout this month, and the movements of each day, I scan my external environment for what can be “burnt away”. What clutter or possessions in or around my home, in my wardrobe, workspaces, and especially digital spaces (apps, subscriptions, streaming services, social media, devices, etc.) are weighing me down, taking up space, or tying me to an outdated iteration of myself? Similarly, I internally scrutinize for tendencies and patterns that no longer serve, these too, become my sacrifices to the fires of true transformation.

SFL - Superficial Front Line

Our second myofascial line of the calendar year is the Superficial Front Line (SFL).

This is our “AWE” and our “self - defense” line.

This line quite literally uplifts us when we stand in awe, or do the morning “yawn” stretch. It hoists the front of our hips and ribcage from the '“lasso” it forms around the back of our head.

Conversely, this line pulls our head and crotch toward one another when we are in states of self defense or preservation. The SFL can be contracted to protect the vital areas of the throat and bowels, or to retain more body heat when we are cold. (Cats have the same tool that we see used when they arch their backs, but point their face/eyes forward.)

Interestingly though, this line is triggered, and can become dysfunctionally short when we are being too self-centered, or spend too much time in self-centric shapes (like the most stereotypical smartphone postures, the “desk shrimp”, or Gollumn caressing his “precious” - “mine.”

This weave of tissues connects the entire front surface of the body from the top of the feet to the side of the skull in two pieces;

  • the lower portion (left and right ) running from the toes to the pelvis,

  • and the upper portion running pelvis to head.

When the hip is extended (as in standing) this line works like one continuous rubber band of integrated myofascia. A useful “short vs long” mental image pairing for this line is the “fetal” position vs the “cobra” from yoga.

Awe & self

January commences the calendar year by broadening my awareness of poise, and that how I carry myself is a choice.

February introduces our oppositional line; the SFL, and with it, the second layer of awareness; AWE vs. self.

The SFL embodies this duality quite literally. When I shorten my SFL I increasingly orient towards my “self”.

However, I extend my SFL when I take on a position of outward and upward focused awe (think open-chested stargazing, staring up at an immense mountain, or the shape of the yawn stretch; a word literally meaning “to be wide open, to request” ).

Both of these shapes/ movements can be useful in different situations, but via an over indulgence of “self” (the “evil I” as I have come to call it), society has visibly curled in on itself. It is for this reason that the daily awareness mantra I use during February is

“AWE uplifts, self restricts”.

I let this echo and bounce around my subconscious through the month to remind myself that my poise or lack thereof is in my own hands.

If “self” has bent me out of a balanced alignment, I know the truest correction is to counterbalance with more time spent in genuine, humble

AWE.