Wolf Moon/Cold Moon - January

Full Moon January 27, 2021

 Wolf Moon/Cold Moon

The name for the full moon in January seems pretty aptly named if you're in the Northern Hemisphere. In Minnesota, January is typically when winter reminds us that, "oh no, dear, winter has actually just started." According to the Farmer's Almanac it's also known as a wolf moon, apparently because wolves could be active in January howling, they aren't real specific?

In December, my husband and I made a trip to a nearby nature preserve to go take in an astrological event. To call us amature astronomers is too generous, but out we went into the cold none the less; it's been a pandemic so what else have we got going on? We wanted to get out of town and away from the light pollution to have the best chance possible of seeing everything. We pulled over into a trailhead parking lot, flipped off our car lights and coo-ed over the amount of stars visible. It happened to be a full moon that night too. While we stood there huffing our cold breath as clouds into the darkness we were just trying to decide if we needed to stand here and stare at more stars or if it was worth it get back in the comfort of our heated car, we heard the faint and stereotypical lone wolf howl. 

Instant goosebumps! I'd never heard a for-real wolf howl in my life. We both stopped and looked at each other like, you heard that too right, and were rewarded with a secondary long mournful howl.

At first it didn't even register as a wolf. I assumed coyotes as they are very common to the area, but I've never heard them howl. They yip and bark, and almost scream. This was very different. A quick review of the website at the nature preserve confirmed they do indeed have wolves in the area. 

I can only imagine for settlers, or even older ancestors, facing the cold of January hearing a wolf howl in the cold dark night would be pretty unsettling. To be honest, knowing how endangered they are now, the wolf howl meant something entirely different to my modern ears. Survival and renewal. 

If we think about this time of year we know the darkest part of winter is over, but just because the days are getting incrementally longer doesn't mean the danger has passed. We still have many cold weeks ahead and survival is never guaranteed. 

What makes up your reflections of this cold bright January moon? Do you have reflections/meditations or symbolism that you incorporate into specifically the energy around the full moon of January?

At the very least it seems you should head out into the cold and have a good howl.