The names corresponding to the 13 Lunar Year Full Moons are what I have come to call them. I give credit to all those before me for figuring out what seems to work and for passing it on to me. They can be called by many other names in respect to your particular path or tradition. (more moon information)

The beginning of my lunar year (in December). It reflects the spiral path known to all spiritual journeyers. This moon cycle will contain the Winter Solstice, and the Full Moon itself will fall on Christmas for the first time in 38 years. Some Native American cultures who tracked the calendar by the Moons, called December’s Full Moon the Full Cold Moon or the Long Nights Moon. It is the month when the winter cold grips much of North America and the nights become long and dark.

The Spiral Full Moon (the name I was taught) will convey the energy of slow change, contemplative meditation and preparation for the re-birth of light as the days begin to lengthen after the Solstice. Life cycles and the cycles in our natural world create change. The old dies away, new things are born. We each cycle from child to adult to old age. These changes, symbolized by the spiral, are not a sign of stagnation, but rather of change, progression, and development.

The spiral embraces life changes as good and healthy and helps us to accept change, even when we are most often more comfortable retreating into our traditional and old, standard ways. Spirals are also sometimes used to represent water. Water, ever changing, and not having permanence, also ripples in circles, and is a feminine element along with earth. (In comparison, fire and air which are masculine elements.)

When planning my Full Moon celebration, I keep in mind a favorite quote which reminds me of how I journey through life:

"The human mind always makes progress, but it is a progress made in spirals." ~Madame de Stael

ASSOCIATED GEMS:

Tree Agate, Moonstone, or Aventurine