Full Wolf Moon blessings

Between the haunting howls and deep-rooted mythology, the wolf is undoubtedly an iconic creature deserving of its association with the full Moon. The name for the January full Moon is believed to have originated from Celtic and Old English roots, which European settlers then brought to the New World.No matter where the settlers landed in North America, they surely encountered the familiar call of the wolf. At one point, gray wolves were among the most widespread land mammals on our planet. According to the Wolf Conservation Center, gray wolves “inhabited most of the available land in the Northern Hemisphere.”

Habitat destruction and persecution by humans have reduced their range by about a third worldwide and 90 percent in the lower 48 states.

The wolf’s adaptable nature to survive in a wide range of habitats and ability to prey on the largest mammals living in those regions made it widespread. Basically, if there are enough deer, moose, elk, caribou, bison, and musk ox, wolves can survive. Predation of domestic animals caused friction with European settlers and early Americans who aggressively hunted the wolves.

Werewolf myths can be found in ancient Greek and Roman societies, throughout European history and among some Native American tribes. In modern storytelling the transformation from man to wolf has been closely tied to the full Moon in films like “The Wolf Man” and “American Werewolf In London.”

Howl at the Moon means to waste energy pursuing something unattainable. It’s shorthand for doing something crazy. However, howling is hardly a waste of energy among wolf packs. And they aren’t howling at the Moon. The Moon just happens to be shining during times when wolves most often howl.

A wolf’s howl can be heard miles away. The vocalization helps wolves locate separated members and even communicate between packs marking their territories. One study recorded spontaneous howls and responses happen most often between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The cry of wolves doesn’t play into the Sioux name for the January full Moon, which is known as “The Time When Wolves Run Together.” Wolves do plenty of running to defend territory that can stretch hundreds of square miles to find enough prey to support the pack.

Alternative Names For January’s Full Moon

In other regions of the United States, different native peoples have various names for the January Moon. The Potawatomi in The Great Lakes refer to it as the “Bear Moon,” while the Haida in Alaska call it the “Bear Hunting Moon.” In The Pacific Northwest, the Tlingit know it as the “Goose Moon.”

Most other names for the Moon in January indicate the cold nature of the month. For example, the Celtic name is “Stay Home Moon,” the Algonquin name is “Sun Has Not Strength To Thaw Moon,” the Arapaho name is “When Snow Blows Like Spirits In The Wind Moon,” the Cherokee name is “Cold Moon,” the Cheyenne name is “Moon Of The Strong Cold,” and the Omaha name is “Moon When Snow Drifts Into Tipis.”