I call January’s full moon, which this year falls on Monday, January 13th, the Wolf Moon. January’s Full Moon is known by a variety of names & when people choose a name it's because it resonates with that individual. In a coven, a name for a particular full moon may already be in place.
The howling of wolves was often heard at this time of year. It was traditionally thought that wolves howled due to hunger, but we now know that wolves use howls to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, warn other packs and to gather together for hunting.
Other names are: Cold Moon, Birch, Frost, Old Moon, Ice Moon, Moon after Yule, Quiet, Chaste, Spirit, Hard, Greetings, Severe, Canada Goose, Center, Frost Exploding, Great, Freeze Moon, Moon of Beginning, Moon of Inception, Great Spirit Moon, Start of Winter, New Winter, Windy Month, Moon After Yule, Cracking Tree, Spirit, Someone's Ears are Freezing, Freeze Up, Stay Home, Sun Has Not Strength To Thaw, Bear Hunting Moon & Waning Moon.
The month of January's night skies are at their darkest & clearest, so it's conducive for moon/star gazing.
The Wolf is representative of the time of year when wolves sometimes howl, calling for the pack to chase prey in this lean time of winter. Humans are focused on warmth, protection from the harsh elements and keeping loved ones close.
The Wolf Moon speaks of protection, reviewing goals & how to achieve them, familial love, setting boundaries for peace of mind, setting limits so that we can move forward, adjusting that which does not serve us or no longer is relevant in our lives. It's a time to take the opportunity to look at our habits and abandon the ones that are detrimental.
This month is perfect for restructuring your life on a mundane level. Look around your house & donate or trash what you no longer need. Refresh your altar/sacred spaces. It's a great time to cleanse crystals.
This month is also a time to rest...stop running around, slow down, calm down...the energy of January is not conducive to high energy. If you notice that you have more difficulties in January when it comes to completing projects, etc., it's because you're going against the natural order of things.
January is the time to clear your mind of mental clutter, so meditate, journal or read.
Wolves symbolize freedom, so now is the perfect time to free yourself from unhealthy bondage... whether it's from a toxic relationship with a person or a workplace. It's also a time to celebrate your freedom from such things & moving forward in a positive direction.
January is the month for family & strengthening those bonds...radiating love to counterbalance the cold of winter. It's the time to focus on children, for they are the future of the pack. Teamwork is at the center of January, so get the family together for projects!
Don't put off today because tomorrow may not come. Visit with loved ones, make time for them and not just on a "special" occasion.
