Wolf Moon Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Owl Shagging Moon

The full moon making its appearance this Monday evening (6:48 p.m. EST on January 17^th) is often referred to as the Wolf Moon. Given the paucity of wolves in our local environs, at least, and also based upon my personal observations (at least audibly), I propose it is more appropriately named the Owl Shagging Moon.

Most of our walks this week took place at dusk. Despite of our best intentions, inevitably the sun is making its last hurrah just as we get going. On the plus side, I’ve captured some stunning sunsets on my iPhone. And while I hope I’ll never tire of appreciating the magnificence of these works of art, I’ve become acutely aware of something else happening recently, just after the sun dips below the horizon.

All of a sudden, literally moments after the sun’s brilliant, usually carnelian visage slips beyond our view, a chorus of Great Horned Owl hoots starts bouncing off the massive walls of rock carved by Tohickon Creek through the millennia.

Hoot; counter-hoot. Sometimes hoots overlapping each other. One thing I can tell you: I’ve heard more hoots in the past week than I usually hear the rest of the year combined. It’s mating time, baby!

In the glow of a July night – Photo: L. Weikel

Some Action Happening

I can only surmise there’s some action happening in the treetops, and sometime in March we can expect some owlets to be hatching. Not that I’d be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them. But a girl can dream.

This has been the most active January (hooting-wise) I can remember in quite a while. It could just be a function of the time of day we’re walking, or the relative mildness of the weather we’ve had recently compared to other years. But hearing them calling to each other yet again this evening reminded me that I do think this full moon needs to be re-named. I can’t say I’ve heard a single wolf howl. (Thank goodness, given where we live!)

The calls of the Great Horned Owls are kind of a lovely reminder of how fertile our nesting can be during the cold moons of January and February.

It makes me ponder what I can do right now that’s playful, satisfying, and inherently creative, that just might lead to something new hatching in 6-8 weeks.

(T+39)

Full Wolf Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

Wolf Moon

Tonight’s full moon is known as the Wolf Moon. It’s also known as the Cold Moon, which for obvious reasons is teeth-chatteringly appropriate this evening. At least that’s true for here in eastern Pennsylvania.

It’s been a while since I wrote about the stars, moon, or planets. I’m not sure why; the past several nights we’ve marveled at how the stars look almost telescopically closer due to the heightened clarity of the winter atmosphere. My Sky Guide app has been getting a workout.

And the moon – as it’s grown from the tiniest sliver over the past two weeks to the blockbuster beacon it is tonight, we knew she’d practically be blinding in her brilliance as long as the clouds held off. Even the smallest crescent this month threw moon shadows. It’s frustrating when the best nights to stargaze (even with the floodlight of a full moon drowning out the paler of the pantheon) are so bitterly cold.

Funny Coincidence

As I may have mentioned the other night, tonight’s full moon is occurring in the sign of Leo. Aside from bringing a bit of drama into our lives and emotions, I discovered a literal connection to tonight’s Leo moon.

Tonight we had another Wagon in the Shamanic Caravan. As I’ve mentioned before, I conduct these Wagons on Zoom. Most people when they’re journeying lay down or get comfortable in a chair, so during the time that they’re actually journeying, they’re usually out of my line of sight.

It took all I could not to burst into laughter, then, when I looked at the video feeds from all the participants on my laptop and all but one had a cat looking right at me. Seeing them all looking at me – looking right into the camera, so to speak – was just a little bit spooky! And then I glanced to my left and there was Cletus, at first just sitting there (like the rest of them!) looking at me. Then he mrrrowed and threw himself on the floor, squirming on his back in playful half-moons, assuming a submissive position that I know full well would result in bloodshed if I actually reached out to pet him.

Yes…I know his tricks. Luckily for me, though, I was rattling, so I wasn’t tempted.

Guardians

The fact that all the cats were especially attentive to the journeying this evening was interesting. They definitely appeared to be in serene guardian poses as their humans ventured off on adventures of consciousness.

One thing I will say: the moon had some fascinating messages for all of us this evening.

(T-302)