Knots Beneath the Wolf Moon
Weaving intentions, untying fears, and embracing the light ahead.
Hello witchy souls,
A warm welcome to a cool start to the New Year. So happy to see that now over 200 of you have subscribed 🫶 You make my frosty little norse-witch heart happy.
Here is the newsletter for the week, and as always, my DMs are open for questions, suggestions or just saying hi
🌔 Lunar Look Ahead
We are currently in the stage of the Waxing Gibbous moon, which is quickly building momentum for the Full Moon in Cancer on January 13th, known traditionally as the Wolf Moon. It’s said that this name comes from the ancient connection between wolves and the depths of winter. In Norse mythology, this moon phase was particularly connected to Máni, the moon god, who was believed to be strongest during the winter months when darkness stretched across most of the day and night. The wolves Hati and Sköll, who chase the sun and moon across the sky, were thought to be especially active during this time, which adds another layer of connection to the "Wolf Moon" name.
Astrology-wise this cancer moon may bring forth memories that cause you to reflect on the past, especially in areas of home and family. Prepare yourself for emotions to arise, as this moon may call you to examine what you’ve been holding beneath the surface and to shine light on the shadows. Now is an excellent time for Shadow work for those who practice.
💧 Moonwater reminder
Since this is a Cancer full moon, and cancer is ruled by the moon itself, moonwater made during this time will be perfect for enhancing intuitive abilities, working with seidr magic, using for ancestor communication, or for healing.
Make sure to label your moonwater so you remember its imbued properties!
Weekly Rune Reading:
Walking Together Into the Light
Right now, we’re standing at a crossroads - a moment where the choices we make will shape not only our future but the legacy we leave behind. This reading speaks to the connections we’ve built, the paths we’re trying to walk, and the hard truths waiting just ahead. It doesn’t sugarcoat our challenges, but it does offer the chance for transformation, if we’re willing to face what’s in front of us.
What We Carry from the Past – Ehwaz ᛖ
Ehwaz is a rune of partnership, trust, and movement. However here, it feels heavy. It’s reminding us of all the times we should have come together but didn’t. Think about something as monumental as climate change - a challenge so vast it needs all of us to move as one. Instead, it became divisive. Some ran ahead, others refused to move at all, and trust frayed where it should have grown stronger.
Now, we’re carrying the weight of those missed chances. The storms, the fires, the rising seas - they’re echoes of the disconnection we couldn’t resolve. Ehwaz reminds us that progress only happens when we walk in step, and that partnership isn’t just about moving forward, it’s about making sure no one is left behind.
Our Current State – Raidho ᚱ
Raidho, the rune of the journey, lands squarely in the present, and it’s clear: we’re in motion, but not all moving the same way. Some of us are sprinting toward solutions; others are standing still, unsure which path to take. Raidho is asking us to find rhythm, to bring our steps into alignment, because the road ahead is one we can only walk together.
But this isn’t just about the steps we take - it’s about why we’re taking them. Are we moving with purpose, or are we just trying to keep up? Raidho challenges us to look at the map we’re following and ask: is this the path that serves everyone? If it isn’t, how do we change direction before it’s too late?
The Path Forward – Sowilo ᛋ
Sowilo bursts into the future like sunlight breaking through clouds. This is the rune of illumination and truth - but it doesn’t promise comfort. It will shine light on everything: the progress we’ve made, the damage we’ve done, and the places where we’ve refused to look too closely.
Sowilo is a promise that clarity will come, but it’s also a warning. The light it brings might be blinding at first, forcing us to face truths we’ve long avoided. But it’s only by seeing those truths—by standing in that light—that we’ll have any chance of truly moving forward.
The Story They Weave
These runes are telling a story of movement, friction, and reckoning. Ehwaz speaks to the connections we’ve let slip, the moments where disunity has left us vulnerable. Raidho reminds us that the journey we’re on can’t succeed unless we find a way to walk together. And Sowilo promises that, whether we’re ready or not, the light will come—and it will reveal everything.
This isn’t a reading of easy answers. It’s one of challenge and responsibility. We’re being asked to confront the ways we’ve failed to show up for each other, to find a rhythm that works for everyone, and to brace ourselves for the truths that are waiting just ahead. But there’s power here, too. The runes are saying: if we can stand together, if we can face the light, there’s hope for the road ahead. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
Witchy Tip:
Knots Under the Moon
“The Wolf Moon is a time to hunt what strengthens you and leave the rest for the wild.” That’s what my grandmother used to say when the moon grew full in the first part of the new year. One cold night, under that same moon, she handed me two lengths of twine and taught me the knot ritual, a way to work with both intention and release.
We sat together under the old pine tree near a cabin she build herself, the moonlight spilling through its branches. She handed me the first string and said, “This one is for what you need to let go of in the new year. Tie a knot for every burden you’ve been carrying.”
I took the string and hesitated. “How do I know what to let go of?” I asked. She smiled softly, the kind of smile that carried more wisdom than words. “You already know,” she said. “You just need to listen.”
So I began. The first knot was for fear, the second for anger, and the third for doubt. With each knot, the string grew heavier in my hands, as if all those feelings I’d been holding onto were finally becoming real. When the string was full, my grandmother nodded. “Now,” she said, “we untie them. One by one.”
She showed me how to take each knot gently in my fingers, loosening it as I spoke its name. “I let go of fear,” I whispered, untying the first knot. “I let go of anger.” The twine grew smoother as the knots disappeared, and with each one, I felt lighter, like the wind might carry me away if I let it.
When the string was empty, she took it from me and tied it to one of the pine’s low branches. “The tree will hold it for you,” she said. “The wind will take it, and the earth will do the rest.”
Then she handed me the second string. “This one is for what you want to keep,” she explained. “Tie knots for the things that will guide you forward this year.” I tied knots for courage, for hope, and for love. Each knot felt like a promise, and when I finished, she helped me tie the string into a circle and hang it on another branch.
As we walked back to the house, she paused to look up at the moon. “The tree will hold what you’ve chosen to carry forward,” she said, “rooting it deep and steady, so it can grow with you.”
Knot magic is a powerful way to both set intentions and release what no longer serves you. Try it out this full moon to see how you feel!
🌱 Wellness Practice: Shadow Work Meditation
Here is a short and simple shadow work meditation you can do. If you are unfamiliar with shadow-work, then this is a good introductory meditation that can provide some insight without going deeper than you may be ready for.
Instructions
Find a quiet space and light a white candle
Sit comfortably and close your eyes
Take three deep breaths
Visualize yourself in a moonlit garden
Notice a shadowy figure - this is your shadow self
Without judgment, observe what emotions arise
Breathe into any discomfort
Thank your shadow self for its lessons
Slowly return to normal awareness
Crystal of the Week: Black Moonstone
Why I Selected This Stone:
As the full moon approaches, I feel like the energy of Black Moonstone aligns with the deep emotional work and shadow exploration this lunar phase calls for. Its connection to both lunar and shadow energies makes it ideal for the emotional times ahead.
Properties:
Balances light and shadow aspects of self
Enhances intuitive abilities and psychic vision
Provides emotional protection during transformation
Supports deep inner work and spiritual growth
Connects strongly with lunar cycles and feminine energy
Incorporation:
Place under your pillow for prophetic dreams
Hold during shadow work meditation
Use on your altar during Full Moon rituals
Carry when emotional support is needed
Meditate with it during the Full Moon to enhance intuitive messages