Hello 2008

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,
A frost-mailed warrior
striding a shadowy steed of snow.

Christmas has gone and a new year has begun, thank god. Hopefully this year will be a bit less disastrous than last year. One can hope I suppose. Anyway a new year means a fresh start. Time to assess what a balls up you have been making of your life for the past twelve months and do something about it. Usual stuff - improve diet, take more exercise, give up the demon drink and try and use time more effectively.

The name, given to the month of 'January', is derived from the ancient Roman name 'Janus' who presided over the gate to the new year. He was revered as the 'God of Gateways', 'of Doorways' and 'of the Journey', later known as 'St. Januarius'. Janus protected the 'Gate of Heaven', known as the 'Lord of Beginnings', is associated with the 'Goddess Juno-Janus', and often symbolised by an image of a face that looks forwards and backwards at the same time. (Excerpt from Mystical World Wide Web)

Herbs: Marjoram

Colours: Brilliant white, blue-violet, black

Flowers: Snowdrop, crocus

Scents: Musk, mimosa

Crystals: Garnet and jet

Birds: Pheasant

Animals: Fox

Deities: Freya

Time to: Conserve energy. Work protection and reversing spells.

Wolf Moon

This is an old Anglo Saxon name that came about due to this being an extremely lean time of year. Wolves that roamed the British countryside at this time would have been so hungry as to overcome their instinctive fear of man and would enter the outskirts of settlements looking for food.

January Folklore

If a blackbird and thrush sing before February they will cry before May.

It is said that if you look through a silk handkerchief at the new moon, which has never been washed, the number of moons you see will be the number of years which will pass until you're married. But it is unlucky to see the new moon through a window.

Mistletoe was attached to the first cow to give birth in the New Year, so that all cows shared the same luck.

The first Monday of the year is known as Handsel Monday. On this day it is lucky to receive something: especially money, a new baby or new lamb, calf, foal etc. It is extra lucky to keep for a year any money received.

Fog in January makes a wet Spring

Rain in January - full graveyards.

Jack Frost in Janiveer
Nips the nose of the nascent year.

If Janiveer's calends be summerly gay,

Twill be winterly weather to the calends of May.

The grass that grows in Janiveer

Grows no more all the year.

As the days lengthen,

So does the cold strengthen.