MUSICAL DOLL; Music for the Wolf Moon

 

January marks the time of the Wolf Moon, which falls on the 17th of this month.  After the hectic festive season, I always like to think of January as holding a quieter kind of magic.  It is a time to bunker down from the cold weather, eating hearty foods which keep out the chill and toasting your toes by the fire. It is a time to keep the wolf at bay. 

The Wolf Moon reminds us that scarcity can snap at your heels if you do not make provisions for the lean times. There is an old saying 'the wolf is at the door', which means that want, hunger and poverty are being keenly felt.  It has been a time of great hardship for many during the pandemic, so the message of the wolf moon is even more poignant.  Fill the cupboards, light the fire and wait out the winter months, which have only just begun. Better times will come. 

In the past, wolves would venture closer to villages at this time of year in search of food. If hunting was not providing enough sustenance for the pack, they would resort to scavenging from humans.  This gave rise to the belief that they would snatch children and babies - which might not be far from the truth.  Any infant or small animal would have been an easy target for a hungry wolf! But they are not evil creatures.  Quite the contrary, for wolves are loving, loyal pack members, who maintain family groups and work together for the survival of the pack as a whole.  They are extremely intelligent and courageous animals.  

Having no natural predator, wolves are at the very top of the food chain. Humans require traps and weapons to kill a wolf, so even we are no match for this magnificent creature. I have heard that wolves are being reintroduced to certain parts of the Scottish Highlands, in a re-wilding program and I hope that this is true.  I would love to meet a lone wolf on my rambles there but I don't think I'd want to meet a whole pack at once!  It is lovely to think that the Highlands might soon be even more vibrant with the sound of howling wolves! I would dearly love to hear that.  I'll have to keep my ears open when I'm up in the Highlands this autumn. You never know your luck!

In the meantime, I have discovered a couple of beautiful albums from New World Music that perfectly capture the spirit of the wolf and the energies of the wolf moon. The first is called The Wolfstone by Medwyn Goodall.  This is an enchanting album! It has strong Celtic vibes. In some ways it reminds me of the soundtrack for season one of Outlander, which I love!  It has that same quality of sound, with Uillean pipes and drums, so if you like the Outlander music then you will probably enjoy The Wolfstone too.  

It is the kind of album that gets you up and moving, so it's good for cleaning and organizing the house, or for rearranging your altar and sorting through your magical supplies.  There are some stunning tracks on this album, but my favourite ones are Shield Maiden, Northbound and The River Folk, which I must say, is the perfect track for dancing with a Highlander! 

The second album is called White Wolf Spirit by Wychazel and this one is more of a shamanic journeying type of album.  It makes me think of Native American Indians, with the male chanting and the rattles.  It is a lovely album, very good for more meditative work, spell casting, dream work, journaling, yoga etc.  I would say that this album is one that you can play in the background while you are busy crafting art, or Witch-Crafting. If you have a thing for American Indians, this one will be right up your street. 

Both these albums are ideal soundtracks for the Wolf Moon Esbat, so if you are planning a gathering or a special ritual then, either one would provide the right sort of atmosphere. Personally, I prefer The Wolfstone and that is the album I will be playing on the night of the wolf moon later this month as I cast out my intention spells for the year ahead.

Until next time, enjoy the Wolf Moon and all that the cold season has to offer!

Blessed Be

Marie x