What is January?

What is January? Most people are of course familiar with the months as they are termed and placed within the calendar, but really what is behind the name “January” and more importantly what is the frequency of January?

That is what I will explain here, the energy meaning of January. This comes directly out of my Native American childhood teachings. They of course did not term this time of the year “January”, but rather named each moon of the year. Thirteen moons come around in each full year, unlike the 12 months of today’s common calendar. This is why we end up having what is called the “Blue Moon”. A “Blue Moon” is nothing more than the 12 month calendar playing catch up with the thirteen moon annual cycle.

It is a well known fact the each native tribe of the North American continent named each moon something different than the others. This had to do with their specific environmental placement upon the land and what was naturally occurring during that particular time of year. January may have been named the Snow Moon by one tribe and Frost Moon by another.

Back to the energy meaning of January… Let us first look at the month prior, December. What happens in December in the environment? Well for one the days shorten and the nights grow longer with darkness. The days and nights also get colder and colder. Snow falls in many areas and ice forms on the waters. The shortest day of the year occurs near the 21^st of the month. The energy of the human body sinks downward and takes its place within the core of the system where it remains until spring. The kidneys hold the energy of winter. December is the time when we must pay particular attention to our kidney energy.

Of course what do the kidneys represent? They control water in the body and so are associated with the element water. Water is also connected directly to emotions. Fear is the main emotion of the kidneys and so many lessons of the kidneys revolve around our deepest emotional fears.

That being said, December is the month when the energy of the body goes deep within, like the bear that goes into the den to sleep for the long winter. There within we are faced with our darkness and the coldness in order to allow us to take our seat within the depths of our self for winter. It is the moon and month where we retreat from the external and move into the core of our self.

What happens in the month of January? The light begins to return, but ironically it gets colder and colder as it gets lighter and lighter. It is much like dawn which many times holds the coldest part of the night just as the sun is rising. It is getting lighter, but the temperature drops. What does this mean about the energy of January? It means that after the long dark of December that forced us to go within, we now begin to see the light inside us rising. This is the inner light of self, hope and higher connections that guide us from within. The cold keeps our energy deep but with the growing light we can see more clearly who and what we are; what we need to do and how to go about doing it.

What else happens in January? In many areas, like here in the mountains of Vermont, snow falls heavily and blankets the earth. Snow is a symbol of purification. It reminds us of the purity given to us from the highest aspects of our self falling upon our physical being. January is a time of self purification, deep level insights, guidance and clarity of pathways before us. It is a time to look patiently with the light of you, at yourself, for yourself and nurture yourself for the events of the coming year.

This is January and it is now. Work with its energy for your benefit for the year unfolding before us. This is also a great time to work with animal energy within and your Totems. Our real animal claw necklaces can help you get in touch with such energies as well as our Totems cd set of three learning cds.

3 Responses to “ What is January? ”

Ciaran Rooney Says:
January 13th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Catching up on all your blogs White Wolf! A couple points made sense to me about what I told you in the emails. If only I had read this post the day after. ”There within we are faced with our darkness and the coldness in order to allow us to take our seat within the depths of our self for winter.” & ”Fear is the main emotion of the kidneys and so many lessons of the kidneys revolve around our deepest emotional fears.” Makes alot of sense. Wulamallessin White Wolf
Hobert Solle Says:
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Really good post mate. Post’s with huge info like this are really what seperates the informed bloggers from average Joes.
Karon Louria Says:
January 25th, 2012 at 6:17 am
I can roll with that