The names of months come from a variety of sources and often are derived from traits of the month in question. For example, the first month of the year happens to also be one of the coldest. Let’s examine the Spiritual meaning of months, meaning of months from January to December and the biblical meaning of months of the year.
Other months share similar temperatures with major events in history, thereby defining them. That’s why knowing the spiritual meaning of months is important. By knowing their meanings, we learn more about ourselves and the world around us. So, let’s discover what each month has to offer and how it affects us.
The astrology of months is a significant part of Vedic Astrology. There are 12 months in a year, which are represented by the 12 signs of the zodiac. Each month has its own meaning which is defined by these 12 signs and planets ruling these 12 signs. The following article explains each month’s spiritual meaning.
Meaning of months from January to December
There is a great deal more to this, but understanding the significance of the months would be a significant step.
- January
January finds its bearing with the Roman god, Janus. Janus is the deity of doorways and doors. Usually, he portrays two faces that are facing different directions. January, also known as Januarius or Januarie, is a unique month when his devotees honour him. - February
Februarius or Februa are the Latin terms from which February is derived. Furthermore, it is closely related to the Roman celebration known as dies februatus, which denotes the day of purification. February 15th is the day of the Roman Day of Purification. - The March
First of all, Mars, the Roman god of war, is the source of the name Martius or March. On the other hand, the start of the year used to be the appropriate time to resume any conflict. - The ancient Roman word for April was Aprilis. However, April was originally known as Aphro, short for Aphrodite, among the Greeks. And the Greek goddess of beauty and love is Aphrodite. She is comparable to the Roman Venus.
- May
The Romans called it Maius, while the ancient French called it Mai. In any case, May is readily associated with blossoms and spring. And given that the month is associated with Maia, the Italic goddess of spring, this is not far from the truth.
June 6th
So, are you familiar with Juno? She is the woman of all women and the goddess of marriage. She is on par with Zeus’s wife, Hera. June is a month of respect to this deity. It makes sense why couples choose June as the month for their weddings.
July Symbolism and Significance
July, what does 1200×630 mean?
July marks the start of the Wheel of the Year’s third quarter. The name of the month was a tribute to and homage to Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was a master military tactician who turned Rome from a republic to an empire. His writings continue to provide us with insights into the daily lives of Roman inhabitants, and his leadership was essential to Rome’s growth. “I came, I saw, I conquered” is his most well-known quote. In light of this, his birthday month may encourage winning and broadening one’s horizons.
August as a Month Symbols and Significance
August: What Does It Mean?
Just like July, August was also named after another Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar. Augustus established the Roman Empire in Egypt, Spain, and the Balkans despite not particularly being the “fighting type.” Apparently, parts of Rome’s upper class did not approve of his lineage, as some of his heirs vanished under dubious circumstances. Even yet, there was a good deal of tranquilly under his rule. Therefore, “make peace not war” may be this month’s motto (though we’re not sure the Romans would like).
September Symbolism and Significance
What’s In Store for September?
By September, there was less originality in the titles of the months. Since September was once the seventh month on the calendar, the word “seven” derives from it. For underlying energetic patterns this month, you can look into the Numerology of the numbers 7 (searching and pondering vibes) or 9 (knowledge and beginnings). September is the month of Virgos and Libras’ birthdays, and it’s also National All-American Breakfast Month in the US (bacon and eggs anyone?).
October as a Month Symbols and Significance
What’s In Store for October?
October turns out to be no more intriguing than September. It simply refers to the eighth month. In Numerology, you may want to look at number 8 (business & profession) instead of number 10 (Karma and the Law of Return) while examining the energies of this month. This month celebrates birthdays for Libras and Scorpios. While people in the North begin stockpiling thick clothing, individuals in the Southern Hemisphere are relishing warmth reminiscent of April. This is National Cookie Month and National Seafood Month in the United States.
November as a Month Symbols and Significance
What’s In Store for November?
Not to sound totally repetitious, November was named as the ninth month of the Julian calendar. According to numerology, the modern number eleven, a Master Number, represents faith and instinct, whereas the holy number nine concentrates on perception and new beginnings. November is National Good Nutrition Month in the US, but the Anglo-Saxons referred to it as the wind month.
The December Month Symbols and Significance
December: What Does It Mean?
December, sometimes known as “deco,” the tenth month in the Julian calendar, marks the end of the year. We are reminded that we reap what we sow in Numerology 10. In contrast, number 12 in our current calendar system denotes accomplishments and fresh starts. This month marks the birthdays of Sagittarius and Capricorn, and December is a season when many festivals and celebrations take place all around the world.
Meaning of Months From January To December
The spiritual meaning of months
January: New beginnings, cleansing, and purification.
February: Love, growth, and potential.
March: Passion, life force, and renewal.
April: Awakening from hibernation and awakening from the winter slumber.
May: The month of May is a time for celebration and new beginnings. It is also a time for gratitude for the abundance we have received in our lives. It is also a time to reflect on the gifts that we have been given by Mother Earth and Father Sky so that we may better care for them while they continue to provide us with all we need.
June: The month of June marks the commencement of summer, which brings us closer to the sun’s heat and energy as well as its warmth on our hearts through love and laughter. This is an ideal time to focus on self-care in order to recharge so that we can be ready for whatever comes our way during this busy season!
July: July marks the height of summer when it feels like everything—the temperatures outside as well as inside where we live—is just too much! We want nothing more than to cool down by taking a swim or going camping somewhere where there
January: January is the first month of the year, and it’s named after Janus, the Roman god of gates and beginnings. It’s also a time of new beginnings, which is why we associate it with resolutions and fresh starts.
February: February comes from Februa (from februum), which means “purification.” We associate purification with self-improvement, which is why this month is often associated with dieting or other attempts at improvement.
March: March was named after Mars, the Roman god of war. It’s also associated with springtime, which is associated with renewal—and life!
April: April comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. We associate this month with love and beauty because it’s when most people start thinking about romance.
May: May was named after Maia, one of the goddesses of springtime festivals in ancient Rome. It’s also associated with growth and rebirth—which are perfect themes for a month that often includes celebrations like Mother’s Day!
June: June was named after Juno Moneta (Juno the Warned), who was a goddess who warned Romans about bad news
Spiritual Meaning of Months
Nearly every Witch or Wiccan knows about the 8 major holidays of the year. Knowledge of the way in which moon cycles influence our magic is also widely available. In fact, the world of magic is filled to overflowing with symbolism that we use in supporting our spells and rituals, especially in timing them. This is where the importance of Monthly meanings comes into play.
The ancients gave months specific names, many of which reflected various Divine entities or important observances during that month on the Roman calendar. Since the calendar structure changed in 450 BCE to what we now utilize, some of those naming protocols aren’t quite accurate. Nonetheless we can look at the historical context and get some ideas for devising our Wheel of the Year around the meaning and symbolism of the progression of months.
You will be able to find detailed information on each month in the pages that follow in this series. This, however, gives you an inspirational starting point. Sometimes its fun to begin your research with your birth month, or that of someone you know. Just as with the Zodiac Signs, some of the characteristics of our birth month often flow into our personality traits and behaviors.
The Month of January Symbolism & Meanings
January derives its name from a Deity, Janus. This attention-grabbing figure from mythology has two faces, and not in the negative connotation of that description we think of today. Rather, Janus looked to the past for perspective and to the future for hope. The duality of this God meshes perfectly with the end of one year and the beginning of the next.
Consider Janus’ attributes during this month as a starting point for magic. His domain includes beginnings and endings, change, war and peace, birth and death and generally all the human dualities and transitions. Interestingly enough Janus also presided over travel, trade exchanges and shipping. The Romans often invoked him at the beginning of every ritual, no matter the time of year.
The Month of February Symbolism & Meanings
Moving into February, we have a month dedicated to purification. The Roman festival of Februa, also called Lupercalia, began as a means of insuring health and fertility, banishing and protecting the region from malevolent entities and cleansing the city. The observance itself was held on the 15th. From a Roman perspective, February was the last month of the year and they wanted to literally take out the bad, and bring in the good.
Two key Deities come into play as part of this annual event: Lupercus and Juno Febrata (Februtis). Romans portrayed Lupercus as the protector of shepherds and flocks with a Dog as his sacred animal. The festival of Lupercus was held in a cave sanctuary displaying a figure of the God in goatskin. For modern magic we might interpret flocks as our personal circles. Juno Febrata was an aspect of Juno connected with fertility and purification.
An interesting note about this festival comes to us from Plutarch. He observed that they Day of Purification had some unusual rituals. One involved a person being massaged with puppies (we could live with that!). More than likely this developed in conjunction with the idea of energy transference. Once the ritual was done, the puppies neatly ran off with any negativity gathered from the activity.
Read all about February Symbolism & Meanings!
The Month of March Symbolism & Meanings
March was named after a God of war, Mars (also known in Greece as Ares). Among the regional Gods, Mars was second only to Jupiter. As a military Deity he reigned supreme.
Mars’ power wasn’t seen as destructive. Rather, Romans honored conflict as a means of gaining lasting peace. In terms of the cultural characteristics of Rome, the importance of Mars is unrivaled. There were at least five holidays honoring Mars during March, most of which included some type of chariot races and ritual workings that protected the armies. With all this in mind, March is a good month for tackling a battle in your life by spiritual means.
The Month of April Symbolism & Meanings
Starting off on a lovely note, April is Aphrodite’s month. She was the goddess of all things beautiful in Greece as well as a governess of love and romance. Her Roman counterpart is Venus.
In Greek Mythology Aphrodite has a reputation for wanton behavior. She had many lovers besides her husband, Hephaestus. One of her more notable consorts was non-other than Aries. In some writings Aphrodite became the protector of prostitutes giving rise to the idea of sacred prostitution versus the infamous vestal virgin.
Magically April holds great potential for devising women’s empowerment spells and rituals, particularly when it comes to sex and pleasure. It is also a month for magic focused on love and romance.
The Month of May Symbolism & Meanings
May’s name comes from the Italian Goddess of spring, Maia, who was the wife of Vulcan. Maia is the eldest of the 7 sisters that comprise the Pleiades. She is a nymph and the daughter of Atlas. Both Greeks and Romans saw Maia as a nurturing force, filled with warmth and plenty. Her name means “Great one” This might be a good month to focus on self-care or warming up a cool relationship.
The Month of June Symbolism & Meanings
From Maia we move toward the Goddess Juno, the wife (and sister) of Jupiter for whom June was named.
She was the most important Goddess in Rome. Juno is an energetic goddess with eternal youth. Her Greek name is Hera. She is said to protect the sovereignty of Rome and aid with fertility. This description is very limited at best.
Juno was a very complex character throughout Roman myths. She had numerous names, each of which gives us greater insight into her powers.
Juno Sospita watched over pregnant women and children. Juno Lucina seemed connected to Sospita in that she insured safe births. Juno Moneta protects money, and there are at least another dozen epithets
From this description, June seems to be a month focused on children and planning a family. You might also consider magic aimed at symbolic fruitfulness such as abundant productiveness.
Read all about June Symbolism & Meanings!
The Month of July Symbolism & Meanings
The 3rd quarter of the Wheel of the Year begins with July. The month’s name was a nod toward, and in honor of, Julius Caesar. A brilliant military strategist, Julius Caesar brought Rome from a republic to being an Empire. His leadership was vital to Rome’s expansion, and his writings continue to give us insights into the life and times of Roman citizens. His most famous quote: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” With this in mind, the month named after him could support energy for victory and expanding personal horizons.
Read all about July Symbolism & Meanings!
The Month of August Symbolism & Meanings
Similar to July, August also had another Roman leader for whom its named, Augustus Caesar. While not really being the “fighting type” Augustus managed to expand the Roman Empire into Egypt, Spain and the Balkans. It seems that some elite in Rome were not pleased with his line, as many of his heirs went missing under very suspicious circumstances. Nonetheless his reign was one of relative peace. So perhaps this month’s motto might be “make peace not war” (but we are not sure Romans would approve).
Read all about August Symbolism & Meanings!
The Month of September Symbolism & Meanings
By September, creativity surrounding the months’ names waned. September comes from a word meaning seven, because it was originally the 7th month on the calendar. You can consider the Numerology of the number 7 (seeking and thinking vibes) or the number 9 (wisdom and beginnings) for underlying energetic patterns this month. Virgos and Libras celebrate birthdays in September and in the United States it is designated as the National All-American Breakfast Month (bacon and eggs anyone?).
Read all about September Symbolism & Meanings!
The Month of October Symbolism & Meanings
The name October proves no more exciting than September. It means simply the 8th month. You might consider this number 8 (business & career) as an alternative to 10 (Karma and the Law of Return) in Numerology when investigating this month’s energies. Libra and Scorpio enjoy birthdays this month. The Southern Hemisphere is enjoying April-like weather while those in the North start gathering warm sweaters. The United States designates this as National Cookie Month and National Seafood month.
Read all about October Symbolism & Meanings!
The Month of November Symbolism & Meanings
Not to sound totally repetitive, November was named as the ninth month of the Julian calendar. Numerology tells us the sacred Number nine focuses on perception and fresh starts, while it’s modern number eleven, a Master Number, symbolizes faith and instinct. The Anglo Saxons called November the wind month, while in the US it is National Good Nutrition Month.
Read all about November Symbolism & Meanings!
The Month of December Symbolism & Meanings
Finally we wrap up the year with December, “deco” the tenth month on the Julian calendar. In Numerology 10 reminds us that what we sew, we reap. Meanwhile number 12 for our current calendar system represents completions and new beginnings. Sagittarius and Capricorn have birthdays this month, and December is also a time when numerous holidays and festivals occur around the world.
biblical meaning of months of the year
The following is a list of spiritual meanings for each month.
January: New Beginnings
February: Love and Relationships
March: Passion and Creativity
April: Happiness and Joy
May: Abundance and Prosperity
June: Health, Wealth, and Success
July: Independence and Freedom
August: Friendship and Laughter
September: Family and Community