The real story behind Friday the 13th

Before you go avoiding black cats, breaking mirrors and walking under ladders, there’s something liberating you should know about this so-called doomed day.


Thousands of years ago, especially in the times pre-patriarchy, Friday the 13th was always seen as a LUCKY day to honor the goddess within — that part of ourselves that’s intimately grounded in nature, that gives life to ideas and new ventures, and that feels awestruck at the beauty all around us.


Friday is the day of Venus — in Sanskrit, Shukra. The word “Friday” comes from the old English root frigg, in reference to the goddess, Frigg (also Freya) from ancient Norse Mythology.


All these archetypes — Venus, Shukra, Frigg and Freya, represent love, fertility and beauty. We can see this as purely superficial, material love and beauty… but I like a storyline that goes deeper. 😉


The “13th” is what makes this day magical. There are 13 moon cycles a year, and for those who bleed, that’s typically 13 menstrual cycles too. The Moon 🌙 — and our cycle — is uniquely tied to our mind and emotions; it waxes and wanes.


Effectively, the moon “dies” each month at the New Moon 🌑 (which serendipitously starts tonight, btw!). So, because of its association with the moon energy, #13 is “doomed” with a correlation to death.


BUT, (and that’s a big BUT…) as yogis we know that the word “death” has depth. Death must also be symbolic within us as an opportunity for growth and rebirth. Like nature, we must shed parts of ourselves that we no longer need in the journey of life.


If we can reframe death WITHIN ourselves as a critical component in the cycle of life (birth/life/death), we can keep focused, contented and more connected to the waxing and waning of our spiritual path. We can let go of our old self, and make space for a brighter version to flourish - over and over and over again.


📸: ft. the goddess herself, @paigecourtney_5 💃