In Pure Spirit

For open minds

What is a leap year?

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Most people know that a leap year happens every 4 years and adds an extra day to February. That’s wrong. The leap year is a little more complex than that. It’s not a leap year if it’s also a century year. That is, well, there’s a complication to that as well…

This video explains what a leap year is and why we have them. Years are based on the Earth travelling around the Sun. However, the calculations don’t evenly fit into exact days – despite our best efforts. The leap year is part of the adjustment.

It’s all connected to the sun destroying the planet. Kinda.

In Pure Spirit

Are you doing anything special to mark this leap year?

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Poster: Mondays – The Universal Constant

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The baboon featured in this picture was surfaced by a Russian LiveJournal blog without a photo credit. Despite that, here at In Pure Spirit we felt Mr Grumpalot deserved to live on in the form of a poster.

Since today is a Monday and since Mr Grumpalot, the baboon, was clearly photographed on a Monday, today’s poster is all about Monday. It doesn’t matter whether you’re human, monkey, ape, baboon, ant or elephant – Monday’s are the Universal Constant.

In Pure Spirit

How do you cope with Monday?

Alignment: Valentine’s Day is also the Chinese New Year

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GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: Bengal t...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

When is the Chinese New Year this year? It’s February the 14th. That’s right; the Chinese New Year will happen on the same date as Valentine’s Day.

This alignment is pretty rare; it will happen again in 38 years time.

This year is the year of the Tiger.

Here’s wishing you all a happy tiger style Valentine’s Day

In Pure Spirit

Do you think this alignment has any special meaning at all? Or is it just two different calendars overlapping as they’re bound to do now and then.

The meaning of October

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October means the eighth month. October was the eighth month in the year according to the old Roman calendar until January and February were added to the start of the year.

The Old English name for October is Winterfylleth which is said to refer to the Winter full moon.

Events in October

  • Samhain (or Halloween)

Born in October?

Birthstone: Opal

Flower: Calendula

Tropical Zodiac: Libra (September 23 to October 22) and Scorpio (October 23 to November 21)

Sidereal Zodiac: Virgo (September 17 to October 17) and Libra (October 18 to November 16)

In Pure Spirit

What does the month of October mean to you?

The meaning of September

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sapphireSeptember means the seventh month.

September is the month where many Christian denominations celebrate the Feasts of the Cross. The feast commemorates the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus.

The Anglo-Saxons called the month Haligmonað (holy month).

Events in September

  • Zhongqiu Jie (Moon Festival)

Born in September?

Birthstone: Sapphire

Flower: Morning Glory (or Aster)

Tropical Zodiac: Virgo (August 23 to September 22) and Libra (September 23 to October 22)

Sidereal Zodiac: Leo (August 17 to September 16) and Virgo (September 17 to October 17)

In Pure Spirit

What does the month of September mean to you?

Image credit: Bryant Olsen

The meaning of August

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August means Augustus Caesar’s month. Augustus Caesar completed the calendar reform started by Julius Caesar and also named a month after himself.

Augustus became the first emperor of Rome after Julius was assassinated in 44 BC.

Events in August

  • The Feast of the Assumption

Born in August?

Birthstone: Peridot

Flower: Gladiolus

Tropical Zodiac: Leo (July 23 to August 22 and Virgo (August 23 to September 22)

Sidereal Zodiac: Cancer (July 17 to August 16) and Leo (August 17 to September 16)

In Pure Spirit

What does the month of August mean to you?

The meaning of July

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July means Julius Caesar’s month. July was added to the year in 46 BC when he altered the Roman calendar and named a month after himself.

Gaius Julius Caesar was the Roman emperor who invaded Britain in 55BC. He was instrumental in changing Rome from a Republic to the militaristic Empire. It was Julius who was assassinated on the Ides of March by Brutus.

Events in July

  • Tanabata
  • Bon festival

Born in July?

Birthstone: Ruby

Flower: Larkspur

Tropical Zodiac: Cancer (June 21 to July 22) and Leo (July 23 to August 22

Sidereal Zodiac: Gemini (June 15 to July 16) and Cancer (July 17 to August 16)

In Pure Spirit

What does the month of July mean to you?

The meaning of June

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June means Juno’s month.

Image via Wikipedia

Juno’s equivalent in Greek mythology is Hera. She was Jupiter’s wife and the mother to Mars, the God who gives his name to the month of March. Juno is the goddess of marriage and it is therefore considered good luck to be married in June.

Events in June

  • Litha
  • Meitheamh

Born in June?

Birthstone: Pearl

Flower: Rose

Tropical Zodiac: Gemini (May 21 to June 20) and Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

Sidereal Zodiac: Taurus (May 15 to June 14) and Gemini (June 15 to July 16)

In Pure Spirit

What does the month of June mean to you?

The meaning of May

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May means Maia’s month.  Maia was an Italic goddess of spring and known as Maia Maiestas or Fauna by the Romans. She was seen as a good goddess and the 15th of May was dedicated to her.

Events in May

  • Beltane
  • May Day

Born in May?

Birthstone: Emerald

Flower: Lily of the Valley

Tropical Zodiac: Taurus (April 20 to May 20) and Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Sidereal Zodiac: Aries (April 14 to May 14) and Taurus (May 15 to June 14)

In Pure Spirit

What does the month of May mean to you?

The meaning of April

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April means Aphrodite’s month. Aphrodite is a Greek goddess of love and beauty. Her Roman equivalent is Venus.

The Saxons called the  month Eostur-monath after the goddess Eostur. It is the Goddess Eostur from who we derive the the the name Easter.

Events in April

  • Buddha’s birthday
  • Chaul Chnam Thmey – the Cambodian New Year
  • Earth Day

Born in April?

Birthstone: Diamond

Flower: Daisy

Tropical Zodiac: Aries (March 21 to April 19) and Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

Sidereal Zodiac: Pisces (March 15 to April 13) and Aries (April 14 to May 14)

In Pure Spirit

What does the month of April mean to you?

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