JANUARY, the first month of the year. A perfect time to start all over again. Changing energies and deserting old moods, new beginnings, new attitudes. ~ Charmaine J Forde
January Dates of Interest:
- Jan. 1 - New Year's Day - Welcome 2024!
- Jan. 3 – J.R.R. Tolkien Day
- Jan. 3 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower
- Jan. 5 – Pagan Twelfth Night - Poetry, Pomp & Potluck!
- Jan. 11 @ 3:57 am - New Moon in Capricorn
- Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day(observed) / Appreciate a Dragon Day
- Jan. 18 - Day of Danu (Celtic Mother Goddess)
- Jan. 20 – Corn Dolly Crafting w/ The ICS
- Jan. 22 – Lunar New Year
- Jan. 25 – Full Wolf Moon @ 9:54 am
- Jan. 27 - Pagan/Occult Movie Night presents "Lion in Winter'!
- Jan. 30 – National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
- Jan. 31 - Inspire Your Heart with Art Day
January Fact:
January is named after Janus, the ancient Roman god of gates and doors symbolizing endings, beginnings, and transitions. He's depicted with two heads: one head looking at the past and the other at the future.
Janus am I; oldest of potentates; Forward I look, and backward, and below I count, as god of avenues and gates, The years that through my portals come and go. –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet
Molybdomancy
The art of divination through molten metal
From: Wikipedia
Molybdomancy is a technique of divination using molten metal. Typically, molten lead or tin is dropped into water. It can be found as a tradition in various cultures, including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Turkey.
Method: Lead (or more recently tin) shapes are melted in a ladle over a flame, and the molten liquid is then poured into the water. The resulting shape is either directly interpreted as an omen for the future, or is rotated in a candlelight to create shadows, whose shapes are then interpreted. The shapes are interpreted symbolically, for example a bubbly surface signifying money, a fragile or broken shape misfortune. The shape of the lead before melting can refer to a specific area of one's life. For example, ships for traveling, keys for career advancement, etc.
In Finland: the tradition is to tell the fortunes on New Year's Eve by melting "tin" in a ladle on the stove and throwing it quickly in a bucket of cold water. The practice is known as uudenvuodentina. Shops sell ladles and small bullions in the shape of a horseshoe for this express purpose. The shapes are often interpreted not only literally, but also symbolically: a bubbly surface refers to money, a fragile or broken shape misfortune. Ships refer to travelling, keys to career advancement, a basket to a good mushroom year, and a horse to a new car.
Originally made from lead and tin, since 2018 the bullion have been mostly made from lead free tin, after Tukes (Safety and chemicals agency) banned the use of lead in "uudenvuodentina".
My good friend, Philip Lufolk, is a professional Artisan Blacksmith from Finland. He recently shared his blog post about his families New Year tradition of : "Unveiling the Future with Melting Tin" - follow this link to learn more!
The world's largest uudenvuodentina, 41 kilograms (90 lb), was cast by members of the Valko volunteer fire department in Loviisa, Finland, in New Year 2010.
As we carry forward this cherished tradition, it's more than the shapes of tin or the metal poured—it's the enduring bond it fosters among family. The anticipation, the interpretations, and the unity it brings remain invaluable. ~ Philip Lufolk
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: Bleigießen (literally "lead pouring") is a traditional activity held at the New Year to predict the fortune of the coming year. The different resulting shapes are identified based on their resemblance to any of various objects, animals, and structures, each with its own interpretation. EU regulations passed in 2018 limit the sale of toxic lead-containing products, including molybdomancy kits. Alternatives involve dripping molten wax or tin rather than lead into water. In the Czech Republic molybdomancy is one of the traditional Christmas traditions.
Turkey: The tradition of molybdomancy is called kurşun dökme in Turkish (literally, "lead casting", "lead pouring") which is supposed to help with various spiritual problems, predict future, etc. The rituals vary, but they involve pouring molten lead into water.
Jewish folk medicine: In Yiddish folk medicine, the segula of Bley-gisn (Yiddish: בּליי־גיסן) involves a medicine-woman reciting a psalm or an incantation, and then throwing molten lead into a vessel full of water. It is used for divination or the removal of the evil eye. Traditionally, it was resorted to in cases in which illness of pregnant women or that of children is due to fright, to find out what object was the cause of the alarm; from the resemblance of the form assumed by the metal to a particular animal, a medicine-woman divines that the cause of fright was a cat, a dog, a horse, and so on.
January is here, with eyes that keenly glow— A frost-mailed warrior striding A shadowy steed of snow. –Edgar Fawcett, American poet
The Cold Earth Slept Below
By: Percy Bysshe Shelley
The cold earth slept below;
Above the cold sky shone;
And all around,
With a chilling sound,
From caves of ice and fields of snow
The breath of night like death did flow
Beneath the sinking moon.
The wintry hedge was black;
The green grass was not seen;
The birds did rest
On the bare thorn’s breast,
Whose roots, beside the pathway track,
Had bound their folds o’er many a crack
Which the frost had made between.
Thine eyes glow’d in the glare
Of the moon’s dying light;
As a fen-fire’s beam
On a sluggish stream
Gleams dimly—so the moon shone there,
And it yellow’d the strings of thy tangled hair,
That shook in the wind of night.
The moon made thy lips pale, beloved;
The wind made thy bosom chill;
The night did shed
On thy dear head
Its frozen dew, and thou didst lie
Where the bitter breath of the naked sky
Might visit thee at will.
Photo by:
Vihartances Photography
Weather Magic & Folklore
Article by: Patti Wigington
In many magical traditions, weather magic is a popular focus of workings. The term “weather magic” can be used to mean anything from divination and forecasting to actual control of the weather itself. When you consider that many of today’s folk magic customs are rooted in our agricultural past, it makes sense that an ability to foretell or change weather patterns might be considered a valuable skill. After all, if your family’s livelihood and life depended on the success of your crops, weather magic would be a handy thing to know.
Dowsing is the ability to find a water source in a previously unknown area via divination. In many parts of Europe professional dowsers were hired to locate new places to dig wells. This was typically done with the use of a forked stick, or sometimes a copper rod. The stick was held out in front of the dowser, who walked around until the stick or rod began to vibrate. The vibrations signaled the presence of water beneath the ground, and this was where villagers would dig their new well.
During the Middle Ages this was a popular technique for locating new springs to use as wells, but it later became associated with negative sorcery. By the seventeenth century, most dowsing had been outlawed because of its connection to the devil.
Harvest Predictions: In many rural and agricultural societies, fertility rituals were conducted to ensure a strong and healthy harvest. For instance, the use of the Maypole during the Beltane season often tied in to the fertility of the fields. In other cases, farmers used divination to determine whether the grain season would be successful – a few kernels of corn placed on a hot iron would pop and jump around. The behavior of the hot kernels indicated whether or not the price of grain would go up or down in the fall.
Weather Divination: How often have you heard the phrase, “Red sky at night, sailors’ delight, red sky in the morning, sailors take warning?” This saying actually originates in the Bible, in the book of Matthew: "He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, they say there will be fair weather for the sky is red. And in the morning, there will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and lowring."
While there is a scientific explanation for the accuracy of this expression – relating to weather patterns, dust particles in the atmosphere, and how they move across the sky – our ancestors simply knew that if the sky looked angry in the early hours of the day, they were probably in for inclement weather.
In the northern hemisphere, the celebration of Imbolc, or Candlemas, coincides with Groundhog Day. While the notion of holding a fat rodent up to see if he projects a shadow seems quirky and campy, it’s actually something similar to weather predictions done centuries ago in Europe. In England, there's an old folk tradition that if the weather is fine and clear on Candlemas, then cold and stormy weather will reign for the remaining weeks of winter. Scotland's Highlanders had a tradition of pounding the ground with a stick until the serpent emerged. The snake's behavior gave them a good idea of how much frost was left in the season.
Some weather prediction folklore related to animals. In Appalachia, there’s a legend that if the cows are laying down in their fields, it means rain is on the way, although this may well be something that mountain folks tell outsiders – most cows seek shelter under trees or in a barn when bad weather comes. However, there are also stories that if a rooster crows in the middle of the night, it is foretelling rain the next day, and that if dogs begin running in circles, poor weather is coming. It is also said that if birds build their nests closer to the ground than usual, a hard winter is on its way.
Be sure to read the full article here:
A Midwinter Gift!
This beautiful piece was part of our Winter Solstice celebration from the talented Abigail Spinner-McBride. Abigail shares her voice and music with us each Sabbat, so be sure and join us for Imbolc!
To find more music from Abigail, click the button to find her on Spotify!
Bare branches of each tree on this chilly January morn look so cold so forlorn. Gray skies dip ever so low left from yesterday’s dusting of snow. Yet in the heart of each tree waiting for each who wait to see new life as warm sun and breeze will blow, like magic, unlock springs sap to flow, buds, new leaves, then blooms will grow. – Nelda Hartmann (January Morn)
January's Lunar Spotlight
New Moon in Capricorn
January 11th 2024
The first lunar event for the year is a New Moon in Capricorn, and since Capricorn is the sign ruling our goals, ambitions, and direction, this is a great way to start off the new year. This is especially true since Mercury retrograde ended on New Year's Day, and we likely went into the new year with less-than-stellar focus on what we wanted to achieve.
This New Moon allows us to get clear about what we want, and we can drill down and get working. We can put together long-term plans for the rest of the year or beyond, and can make the most of opportunities to get started. Once we start, we can be disciplined, ethical, hard-working, and focused.
We can feel ambitious, and want to make sure that we're building a solid external foundation for our lives. We can be responsible, and can take the work we're doing seriously.
The sunset embers smolder low, The Moon climbs o’er the hill, The peaks have caught the alpenglow, The robin’s song is still. –John L. Stoddard (1850–1931)
Full Moon in Leo
January 25th 2024
The Leo Full Moon is a fantastic time for inspiration, and we can feel connected to our hearts. This helps us be more creative, so we can make progress with creative pursuits, and can see results from creative projects and ventures.
This also helps us connect with our loved ones, and we may want more time with the people we love. We can focus on strengthening our spiritual connections with them, and work on being more generous with our hearts.
Leo isn't very good with work, so we may lack a work ethic with this Full Moon. We'd rather have fun, get time away from the mundane, and enjoy ourselves. This can especially be the case if you've been stressed out and working too hard, and are in need of a break.
The full moon is square (challenging aspect, 3 signs away) transit Jupiter in Taurus, and this adds to the idea that we may need a break and aren't super focused on work and tasks and chores. We can be lazy and indulgent and prone to excess, and we'd rather get time off. Make sure to get any work done you need to with the Capricorn New Moon, and then plan for some time off with the Leo Full Moon.
January's Full Wolf Moon
Adapted From The Farmer's Almanac
January’s full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9:54 A.M. PST. At a full Moon, the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun, so the face of the Moon facing towards the Earth will be entirely illuminated by the Sun’s rays. Look for the Moon to rise from the northeastern horizon around sunset that evening.
It’s thought that January’s full Moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time. It was traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, but we know today that wolves howl for different reasons. Howling and other wolf vocalizations are generally used to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, and coordinate hunting.
Another fitting name for this full Moon is the Center Moon. Used by the Assiniboine people of the Northern Great Plains, it refers to the idea that this Moon roughly marks the middle of the cold season.
ALTERNATIVE JANUARY MOON NAMES:
- Cold Moon (Cree)
- Frost Exploding Moon (Cree)
- Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin)
- Severe Moon (Dakota)
- Hard Moon (Dakota) highlights the phenomenon of the fallen snow developing a hard crust.
- Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit)
- Great Moon (Cree)
- Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki)
- Spirit Moon (Ojibwe)
MOON FOLKLORE
- A bright first Moon promises rain and a bountiful harvest; a red-tinted Moon means a dry year.
- A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry.
- A halo around the Moon predicts wet or stormy weather.
MOON FACTS:
- The bright star appearing near the Full Moon on Sunday and Monday will be Pollux, the brighter of the twins in the constellation Gemini.
- The full moon names used in the southern hemisphere are the same as the northern hemisphere, just the seasonal difference. This is because most of the people living in the southern hemisphere (let’s say Australia or New Zealand) are none other than the European settlers. In other words, one can say that European settlers, at first, integrated the native American full moon names into their modern Georgian calendar. And, later, many of these full moon names went with them to new places around the world.
- Recent studies showed that more babies are born during a Full Moon. It's not known for sure why, but the numbers don't lie.
The sunset embers smolder low, The Moon climbs o’er the hill, The peaks have caught the alpenglow, The robin’s song is still. –John L. Stoddard
January Full Moon Magic:
Wigington, Patti. "Cold Moon" Learn Religions, Jan. 19, 2019
In January, the nights are long and dark, and many of us are trying to stay warm under a blanket of snow as the Cold Moon approaches (in some cultures, the Cold Moon is the name given to December's moon, instead). Some of the native tribes of North America called this time the Wolf Moon, because this was when the wolves were howling, hungry, outside lodges where people stayed warm within. Other groups referred to it as the Snow Moon, for obvious reasons.
This time of year, we're all feeling a bit slow and "off" as our bodies adjust to chillier temperatures. It's easy to just lie on the couch watching Netflix and eating comfort food when it's cold and gloomy outside and making any kind of magical effort can seem like a real challenge right now.
Correspondences:
- Colors: Black and white, silver
- Gemstones: Hematite
- Trees: Birch, Hazel
- Gods: Inanna, Freyja
- Herbs: Thistle, nuts and seeds, marjoram
- Element: Air
Cold Moon Magic:
This is a good time to work on magic related to protection, both physical and spiritual. Use this time to develop your inner self, and advance spiritually, becoming closer to the higher aspects of your deities. Take the time in your busy schedule to meditate and think about what it is you really want out of life, and whether you're showing people your true self.
January is also a great time to work on full moon magic - after all, the nights are long and dark, and in some areas the moon itself is the only source of light. Put aside your lethargy, and focus some energy on developing your intuition and wisdom.
Finally, for many people, winter is a season of simplification. Set aside everything you don't need and try a minimalist approach instead. On a mundane level, try doing a thorough cleaning of your physical space - get rid of the clutter. On a spiritual and emotional level, try to do the same thing - teach your mind to let go of the things that are creating excess baggage for your spirit and soul.
As the calendar year draws to a close, this is also a good time to start planning ahead. Think about what changes you're going to want to make in the coming months. You know all those New Year's resolutions you always make? Put some planning and forethought into them this time around, and you'll be far more likely to keep them. Get ready to break your bad habits, and start forming some good ones, to become a new and improved version of yourself in the new year.
I came across a wonderful Full Wolf Moon ritual while researching online and thought it might be of interest to some of our readers. Follow the link below:
Because the birdsong might be pretty, But it's not for you they sing, And if you think my winter is too cold, You don't deserve my spring. ― Erin Hanson
Craft Corner...
Imbolc Herbal Ice Lantern
From the Moody Moons website
For a fun, 100% natural Imbolc craft, trying making this ice lantern with materials already in your kitchen.
These gorgeous diy ice lanterns use simple, natural materials to make a lovely altar piece for your Imbolc or winter moon rituals. Easy, practically free and stunningly beautiful, this craft warms up any snow day.
Step one? Bundle up, grab a thermos of hot cocoa and head out on a winter nature walk. (This is my favorite step!)
Choosing Herbs for Your Ice Lantern
- Believe it or not, even in the coldest climates, greenery continues to grow throughout the winter.
- If you keep an herb garden, grab some rosemary and/or sage.
- Take a walk around your neighborhood or nearby park. Gather evergreens like pine needles or juniper.
- If you want more color, try including leftover cranberries from the freezer or dried flowers.
You Will Need:
- herbs and flowers of your choice
- a bowl
- a glass jar large with a smaller diameter than your bowl
- spring water or melted snow water
- a tea candle
- a gemstone suited to your purpose
Assembling the Lantern:
- Layer the bowl with your herbs and flowers. Fill the bowl about 2/3s of the way up.
- Place your gemstone inside the glass jar. In addition to charging your lantern with appropriate energy, it serves the practical purpose of weighing down the jar so it sinks to the bottom of the bowl.
- Put the jar with the gemstone in the center of the bowl. It should sink to the bottom.
- If it’s below freezing outside, simply place the bowl outdoors overnight. (Bonus points if it’s a full moon). If not, put it in the freezer overnight.
- Once it’s fully hardened, let the bowl stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before trying to un-mold your ice lantern. If you want to speed up the process, you can fill the jar on the inside of the bowl with some lukewarm water.
- Gently twist the jar until it loosens from the ice. Once you remove it, slowly wiggle the ice lantern out of the bowl.
- Use immediately.
Helpful Tips:
- If you want your lantern to have a bottom, layer the herbs or flowers higher at the bottom of the bowl underneath the the jar.
- Make absolutely sure the jar is centered in the middle of the bowl before you freeze it.
- Dried flowers float to the top of the water, so if you want that “encased in ice look,” fresh works better. If you really want to use dried, use whole pieces and weight the stems down with the jar so they don’t float.
Using Your Lantern in Ritual:
The clever play of fire and ice in this lantern lends itself well to elemental magic.
For Imbolc, these two Elements play a special role in the turning of the seasons. As we move through the coldest months of the year, fire encased in ice reminds us of the return of the light and the hopeful promise of spring.
On a practical level, if you plan an outdoor ritual this time of year, enclosing your candles in ice lanterns keeps them from blowing out in the wind.
Visit Moody Moons website!
I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ― Lewis Carroll
The Kitchen Witch's Cauldron
~ Blackberry Spiral Bake ~
Blackberries are a sacred fruit to Brigid and used as a traditional offering. These little fruits grow on bramble bush with thick, nasty thorns that serve as protection for the plant itself. And when used in magic or in meals, lend their protective properties to the individual or family partaking. Make any dish with blackberries as an Imbolc food. Don’t forget to leave a portion for the Fae - they love fruit and cream.
I love the scents of winter! For me, it’s all about the feeling you get when you smell pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread and spruce.” – Taylor Swift
For Dionysos
Written by: Jezabell Anat
Inspired by the frescoes in the Villa of the Mysteries at Pompeii
Lord of the dance, lord of the trance.
Goats and satyrs leap and prance.
Loose the cloak, swirl it around, Sweep the sky and touch the ground.
Mystery unfolds tonight, Wine and ivy mark the rite.
Sacred chamber with walls of red, Like a snake, the skin is shed.
Offering and sacrifice, Ecstasy of verve and vice, The syrinx plays, the voices sing, Dancers writhe and cymbals ring.
Image of: Fresco in the Villa of the Mysteries at Pompeii
The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. – Melody Beattie
January Book Review
Salt & Broom
By: Sharon Lynn Fisher
A gifted healer unravels the mysteries of a cursed estate―and its enigmatic owner―in a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre.
Salt and broom, make this room; Safe and tight, against the night.
Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest challenge of her sheltered girls’-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward Rochester. And he’s hired her only as a last resort.
Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester―who’s becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day. Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she’s growing to love from a threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined.
About the author:
Sharon Lynn Fisher writes smart, twisty, passionate tales—mash-ups of fantasy (or sci-fi) and slow-burn romance set in lush and atmospheric worlds. Her books have been published by Tor, Random House, and Blackstone, and have been praised and recommended by Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, the Historical Novel Society, and RT Book Reviews, among others. Book Riot included the first book in her recent Faery Rehistory series, The Absinthe Earl, in its 20 Must-Read Fantasy Romance Books. Her new book is a witchy Jane Eyre retelling called Salt & Broom, scheduled for release by 47North in November.
A city mouse who was dragged by her country-mouse-aspiring family to an acreage just outside Seattle, she is mom to two brilliant teens, two ridiculous goats, an orange cat, and a fluctuating number of poultry. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wandering the woods looking for mushrooms and fairies.
Find newsletter and book information here: www.sharonlynnfisher.com
"...Fisher's writing shines." - Kirkus
Happy Reading!
January Laughs:
Write for Goddess Speak!
Goddess Speak accepts submissions for articles, stories, poetry, recipes, guided meditations, creative fiction, chants, artwork, photography and more. Please send submissions to Laurelinn, in care of goddessspeakeditor@gmail.com. If your submission is selected you will be notified by email.