February 2026 - Outdoor Gathering

Written By Ancient Hearts Collective .

February Message: The Light Returns: Nurturing Hope and Resilience

GATHERING MESSAGE

✧ As we gathered in circle at Gibbs Lake Park, the morning air was crisp, and the warmth of the sunlight kissed our skin. It was a beautiful reminder that the seasons are shifting and Spring will be here soon. Each time we meet in nature, we deepen into our message for the month and allow the natural world to be our teacher, letting the earth speak to us in ways we have forgotten. Being back in nature was exactly the medicine we needed after an exceptionally cold December and January.

The Glow Beneath the Surface

We began by reflecting on the journey of the firefly, a story from All Creation Waits that shifted our perspective on the darkness. We learned that the firefly larva lives underground for over 300 days, still emitting its light in the deep dark. When it finally senses the time is right, it remakes its entire form into the beautiful light-bearer we see for those few months of summer. It was a powerful reminder that beneath the frozen ground where we stood, thousands of fireflies were glowing in the dark, waiting to be remade and born into the world.

Movement and Presence

Bundled up in our heavy winter coats and thick boots, we began with gentle movement to engage the body. We practiced a slow, grounded Standing Sun Salutation. We rooted into the "hidden wholeness" of the earth and reached our arms up to greet the returning sun. With each breath, we brought our awareness to what was stirring within, honoring the active hope that lives in the heart of winter.

Composting the Heavy and Naming the New

As we moved, we reflected on the "heaviness" of the past season, identifying the old habits and fears we were ready to let go of—offering them back to the earth to be composted into something fertile. We turned our attention inward, listening for what is currently stirring in the depths. We asked ourselves: What is growing within that is ready to be born this Spring?

Shared Warmth and Wisdom

We took turns pulling cards from the Woodland Wardens Oracle deck and then broke into small groups, huddling together with cups of hot tea to warm us from within. In these intimate circles, we shared what was specifically stirring as the Equinox approaches, and how the cards we pulled aligned with our personal intentions. Many of us shared how the card we pulled was aligned with our intention and mirrored our internal landscapes.

Closing with Gratitude

Watching the light sparkle off the water, we gathered once again in our large circle as a few people shared their insights with the whole group. It was a simple hour of remembering that winter isn’t just a time to wait, it is a time to allow rest and reflection to resource us and give us the capacity to sprout and grow.

✧ SPIRITUAL INVITATION FOR FEBRUARY

As this Wheel of the Year enters its final stretch, it is a wonderful time to reflect on what old habits or limiting beliefs you are ready to release, and what is beneath the soil waiting to be born into the light of the new year.

✧ QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

In our gathering, we spoke about the "season of gripping, "the times when we feel like we are hanging on by a shred of hope.

  • The Reflection: Look back at a "winter" period in your life. What was the "grit" or life force that kept you going even when you couldn't see the exit?

  • The Release: What "old habit" of survival (like hyper-independence or constant worry) served you then, but is now a "block" you are ready to tear down?

The darkness of Imbolc is a paradox: it is both a place where things fall away and a place where new life, creation, and inspiration is born.

  • The Reflection: What is currently falling away in your life? Instead of rushing to "fix" it, can you sit with the "tomb" of this ending?

  • The Creation: If your soul is currently in a "gestation period," what is the one thing—a dream, a boundary, or a feeling—that is quietly forming in that velvet darkness?

Resilience isn't about being hard like a rock; it's about being soft and permeable like a flame or a hollow reed.

  • The Reflection: Where have you become "hardened by the cold" lately? How can you "unblock your awareness" to feel the support of Source, Spirit, or the Earth today?

  • The Guidance: Reflect on a "divinely guided door" that opened for you recently. Who was the person, or what was the connection that arrived just when you needed it?

Hope is a spiritual virtue based on our "hidden wholeness." As the sun returns, we choose to bloom.

  • The Reflection: If you were to act with "rhythmic defiance" today, what joy would you claim even in the midst of your current struggles?

  • The Intention: What is one small, golden ray of light you are ready to welcome into your "heart-cave" this week? How will you nurture that seed as the light grows?

 

✧ NEXT GATHERING:

✧ ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Our Community Support Request form is LIVE on the website, under the Giving Back tab here. This is a gentle way to let the Ancient Hearts community know that you’re navigating a difficult time or could use some extra support right now.

  • Ancient Hearts Wellness Fair: Save the date for Saturday, March 14th, 9:00 am–12:30 pm at Basics Cooperative. This free event is a gift to the Ancient Hearts community, and wellness providers are invited to donate time and services. Send an email to contact@ancienthearts.org to donate your services.

  • StoryStewards Committee: A new team is forming to help share the story of Ancient Hearts beyond the gathering space. Roles include photography/video, editing, social media design, and posting. Send an email to contact@ancienthearts.org if you are interested in volunteering.

  • Founding Members: If this is the community you’ve been seeking and you want to help sustain us, we invite you to consider becoming a Founding Member in 2026. We hope to welcome 30 Founding Members into our Founding Circle this year. Learn more and reach out to contact@ancienthearts.org with any questions you have.

✧ MONTHLY COMMUNITY EVENT: One Heart: Sacred Listening Circles

Each of us has a unique story to tell, and we each long to tell our stories - to bring them out into the light to be seen and heard.

Yet, too often, we keep our stories inside, and we miss our chance to speak our truth and share our authentic selves. Not just because life moves quickly, but also because it's not easy to find others we feel comfortable sharing our story with.

💗 That's why One Heart: Sacred Listening Circles were created.

One Heart circles are a form of group spiritual companionship where we get to practice "walking each other home," as Ram Dass once shared. These monthly circles are an opportunity for deeper, authentic connection with others in the community and companionship on your spiritual path.

🪶 Facilitator: Jen Carew, Certified Interspiritual Mentor

🪶 Frequency: One Heart Circles will be offered once a month. Attend every month or when you can.

🪶 Open Seats: Minimum registration is 6 people. Maximum registration is 18 people.

🪶 Pre-Registration Required: Please donate between $5 - 20 (sliding scale- pay what you can) to reserve your spot here: https://givebutter.com/1heart. Registration closes at 9 am on the day of the event.

Thanks to Karla at Atria Hall, 100% of your donation will support Ancient Hearts Collective.

Ancient Hearts Collective . https://ancienthearts.org
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February 2026 - Indoor Gathering