The scene which always comes into my mind when the time of this first moon rolls around is a snowbound field in the Lanark Highlands some years ago when I stood happily among the fathomless drifts after nightfall and howled along with the wolves and the coyotes by turns.It was very cold, but that evening was pure magic, and I lingered a while longer to listen to the hounds of the highlands giving voice to a dark and rapturous chorus of moon pleasure. Their horn-throated joy resonated all through the deep snow - up and down the winding roads and shadow-dappled valleys it went, through the old rocks and the trees and all the way up to the dancing stars. From her place in the velvet darkness, Lady Moon looked down and listened to their music, and She was well pleased.
We also know this first luminous and perfect moon of the turning year variously as the:
After Yule Moon, Big Cold Moon, Buckeyes Ripe Moon, Carnation Moon, Center Moon, Ceremonial Initiate Moon, Cold and Ice Moon, Cooking Moon, Turning Moon, Earth Renewal Moon, First Moon, Frost in the Tepee Moon, Frozen Ground Moon, Great Moon, Great Spirit Moon, Greetings Maker Moon, Her Cold Moon, Holiday Moon, Ice Moon, Lakes Frozen Moon, Little Winter Moon, Long Moon, Midwinter Moon, Moon After Yule, Moon of Dancing Stars, Moon of Darkness, Moon of Life at It's Height, Moon of the Bear, Moon of the Child, Moon of Whirling Snow, Moon When Animals Lose Their Fat, Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Snow, Moon When Snow Drifts into Tipis, Moon When the Snow Blows like Spirits in the Wind, Moon When the Sun Has Traveled South, Moon When the Old Fellow Spreads the Brush , Moon When Wolves Run Together, Ninene Moon, No Snow in Trails Moon, Old Moon, Pine Moon, Plum Blossom Moon, Quiet Moon, Rivros Moon, Rowan Moon, Severe Moon, Snow Moon, Snowdrop Moon, Snowy Path Moon, Strong Cold Moon, Sun Has Not Strength to Thaw Moon, Thumb Moon, Trail Squint Moon, Two Trails Moon, Weight Loss Moon, Whirling Wind Moon, White Waking Moon, Winter Moon, Winter's Younger Brother Moon
4 comments:
Cate, thank you for the monthly list of moon names. I always look forward to it. I would love to know the story behind "Thumb Moon"! Here in western Washington, just over the British Columbia border, I like to call this moon "Swan Return Moon."
The cloud beneath the moon looks almost like a leaping hare to me....I feel a painting coming on!
I always love seeing your photographs, so beautiful.
Happy New Year.
oh wow .. you have captured the full wonder so beautifully ... thank you for sharing this wonderful image ...
I just found your blog through Joanna's and wow, my jaw dropped when I do this. I had a rushing feeling of cool calmness and peace.
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