January is the first month of the year in our modern day Gregorian calendar. It consists of 31 days and the first day of the month is known as New Year’s Day. It is named after the Roman God, Janus. January is considered the coldest month of the year in most of the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest month of the year in most of the Southern Hemisphere. Janus is the God of doors because this month is the door to the year. The Roman God Janus represents all beginnings and possesses the ability to see all things past and future.
The month of wolf-cold, the cold wintertime when wolves were plentiful. This is the month to keep in mind gifts to the soil, the earth and to the dead, as well as reminding ourselves of our debt to our ancestors and our decedents. January's birth flower is the carnation or the snowdrop. The birthstone is the garnet which symbolizes constancy, help with self-esteem and spiritual power. The zodiac signs for the month of January are Capricorn (until January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 onwards).
Some runes to remember this month would be k-rune k called Kenaz (light, opportunities, creativity). As in modern day, c, k and similar sounds vary in use depending on word use. Ingwaz for ng (masculine, expectations) q. This is a rune of peace and prosperity, also fertility especially male potency. Or Stan for st 
(stone). Stan is a rune to use when you have achieved much and wish to make your mark more permanent.
(stone). Stan is a rune to use when you have achieved much and wish to make your mark more permanent.
Instead of Twelve Houses of astrology, there is the Twelve Halls in northern culture. The First Hall is about identity and how other's see you. This time also rules the personality, attitude, how you see the world, how you look, appearances, your worldly outlook, and self-awareness and how you respond. It describes how you see yourself and how others see you. It can also describe your physical appearance. Other keywords include: the self, ego, anima, projected image, expression of inner motivation, soul purpose, initial approach to life, the aura.
1 New Year
A common symbol of New Year's Day is Baby New Year. This is often a white male baby dressed in a diaper, a hat and a sash. The year he represents is printed on his sash. He rarely a newborn baby, as many pictures show him sitting up or even standing alone. According to mythology, Baby New Year grows up and ages in a single year. At the end of the year he is an old man and hands his role over to the next Baby New Year.
In the United States, it is traditional to spend this occasion together with loved ones. A toast is made to the New Year, with kisses, fireworks and parties among the customs. It is popular to make a New Year's resolution. In the country's most famous New Year celebration in New York City, the Times Square Ball located high above Times Square is lowered starting at 11:59 p.m. The arrival of the New Year is announced at the stroke of midnight with fireworks, music and a live celebration that is broadcast worldwide.
Gracious Goddess, Wondrous God
You who are the Sun and Moon,
I stand before you, open and willing for my heart to be
transformed by your light and your love.
May my eyes be opened so that I may witness
the parts of myself that I have kept hidden.
I surrender my self-doubt, and accept your gift of assurance.
Thank you Lady and Lord,
for making my transformation one of grace and ease.
So mote it be.
4 Full Wolf Moon M
Wolves are legendary because of their spine-tingling howl, which they use to communicate. The wolf is a common motif in the foundational mythologies and cosmologies of peoples throughout Eurasia and North America. The obvious attribute of the wolf is its nature of a predator, and correspondingly it is strongly associated with danger, destruction, making it the symbol of the warrior on one hand, and that of evil on the other.
The Wolf Moon is a time to remember the hungry and homeless of the Earth. Part of the reason the Native Americans chose this name was due to the howling wolves outside their villages this time of year. The Wolf Moon is the time to perform rituals dealing with independence, good fortune, natural instincts, wisdom, protection and happiness. Use the full Moon to do something new. Old wives tales and folklore accounts suggest that full moons affect human mental health and bring on natural disasters.
Infinite Spirit, when I pray each day,
let the words of my mouth,
the meditations of my heart
and the actions of my life be as one,
that I may live each day in harmony
with Mother Earth. Blessed Be.
4 Doreen Valiente Birthday
Doreen Edith Dominy Valiente (1922 – 1999), who also went under the craft name Ameth, was an influential English Wiccan who was involved in a number of different early traditions. Responsible for writing much of the early Gardnerian religious liturgy, in later years she also helped to play a big part in bringing the Neopagan religion of Wicca to wider public attention through the publication of a string of books on the subject. Having had a significant influence in the history of Wicca, she has been referred to as "the mother of modern Witchcraft" and is today is widely revered in the Wiccan and wider Neopagan community.
Raud the Strong was a Norse Seidr priest and seafaring warrior in the late 10th century AD. Raud was known for his beautiful long ship, a boat larger than any of Olaf’s, with a dragon’s head carved into the bow. King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway executed Raud by making him swallow a snake. His crime was refusing to give up his Pagan Asatru religion. Olaf then confiscated Raud's land and all his other wealth. He seized Raud's gold and silver, weapons and many valuable artifacts. Praise Raud by lifting a horn (or cup, or glass) in his honor. Do something deliberate to spread the Pagan religion King Olaf tried so hard to stamp out.
Far north in the Salten Fiord
By rapine, fire and sword
Lives the Viking, Raud the Strong;
All the Godoe Isles belong
To him and his heathen horde…
With rites that we both abhor
He worships Odin and Thor
So it cannot yet be said
That all the old Gods are dead
And the warlocks are no more…
~Tales of a Wayside Inn Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
10 Buri's Day
Buri is the God formed by the cow Audumla licking the ice which collected within Ginnungagap, the first of the Aesir tribe of Gods. He is the father of Bor, and thus the Grandfather of Odin, Ve and Vili. He is the progenitor of all the Race of Gods. Buri was formed out of the solidification of primal matter, potential and energy.
There are some uncertainties if Buri was a God or a Giant. And there is no further information on him after the creation of the world.
Grandfather teach me stillness as the grasses are stilled with
light. Grandfather teach me suffering as old stones suffer with
memory. Grandfather teach me humility as blossoms are humble
with beginning. Grandfather teach me caring as the mother who
secures her young. Grandfather teach me courage as the tree
which stands alone. Grandfather teach me limitation as the ant
which crawls on the ground. Grandfather teach me freedom as
the eagle which soars in the sky. Grandfather teach me
resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Grandfather teach
me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring.
Grandfather teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its
life. Grandfather teach me to remember kindness as dry fields
weep with rain.
12 Distaff Day
Today is known as St. Distaff`s day but it was actually a Pagan holiday honoring Frigg - a Goddess of the household. Frigg or Frigga is a Norse Goddess but many sources intermingle her with another sect of English early religions. It is another holiday which the church took and adulterated into one of their own to move the Pagans away from their religion and towards the church. Typically, this was the day when the women would return to the household work, primarily of weaving the spun yarn, once the cleaning of the house after Yule was complete. A distaff is a spinning tool used to make yarn which is then used to weave into cloth on a loom.
13 Wane Moon T
In many traditions of Wicca and Paganism, this time of the month is used to do baneful magic - that which sends away, gets rid of or destroys things you no longer wish to be burdened by.
Forever pursued but never caught,
You turn through the night,
and ward us as we sleep,
Hail Manni God of the Moon!
15 Wiccan Coming Out of the Broom Closet Day
You may have decided that you're comfortable enough in your spiritual path that you're ready to "come out of the broom closet." This essentially means coming out as a Pagan or Wiccan - making it known to family, friends, neighbors, etc. Chances are it's not a decision you've made lightly, because it's a pretty big step. Don't be rude or force the issue. Be open, let them join or watch a ritual or just give them time to think about it. Be the best person you can be and perhaps you will be able to pave a path for the next Pagan in their life who is considering coming out of the broom closet.
Accept what you can't change.
Change what you can't accept.
So may it be.
16 Religious Freedom Day
A day for worldwide meditation and prayer for the Earth's community. National Religious Freedom Day commemorates the Virginia General Assembly's adoption of Thomas Jefferson's landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. This vital document became the basis for the establishment clause, and led to freedom of religion for all Americans as protected in the religion clause in the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Wicca is entitled to the same rights and protections as other groups under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Wicca is recognized in the United States as a legitimate religion.
Every person is different. Their needs are unique.
Each spiritual pathway meets a need of a soul.
Each one travels alone to seek for their God.
Merging with One is the ultimate goal.
Send spiritual freedom for all.
Great Ones, answer my call.
18 Sanctity of Human Life Day
Human dignity is the fundamental principle of the German constitution. Article 1, paragraph 1 reads: "Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority."
National Sanctity of Human Life Day is an observance declared by several U.S. Presidents who opposed abortion. Ronald Reagan issued the proclamation designating Sanctity of Human Life Day to be the third Sunday in January. The date was chosen to coincide with the 11th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case that first recognized the constitutionally-protected status of abortion in the United States. Since 1983, Americans have observed Sanctity of Human Life Sunday as a day to celebrate the intrinsic value of all human life.
19 Martin Luther King Jr Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. King has become a national icon in the history of modern American liberalism. "At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love."
20 New Moon m
The new Moon is sometimes tricky to work with because you can't always see it during this phase - it will appear as a very faint crescent of silver low on the horizon, if you can see it at all.
White of snow, stars are dancing
Tree of clouds, like thread of silver
Time runs through our hands.
In many magical traditions, people use this time of the Moon to perform positive magic - in other words, magic that draws things to you, or increases things.
Lord and Lady,
I place the wellbeing of my body into your hands.
Thank you for freeing my body of aches, pains and discomfort.
By your blessing and power, any illness I carry in my physical
body, known or unknown, is now healed and I am free from
harm. Thank you for restoring my health,
and for giving me the strength and wisdom I need to maintain
my healing. May I be supplied with healthy foods and clean
water, May I discover the joy in movement and a respect for my
body, and may my will be supported by your love for me.
Blessed be.
30 Zsuzsanna Budapest Birthday
Zsuzsanna Emese Mokcsay (Author) is an American author, activist, journalist, playwright and song-writer of Hungarian origin who writes about feminist spirituality and Dianic Wicca under the pen name Zsuzsanna Budapest or Z. Budapest. She is the founder of the Susan B Anthony Coven, the first feminist, women-only, Witches' coven. In 1975, she was arrested for fortune telling at her candle and book store. Budapest and her defense team described the event as 'the first Witch prosecuted since Salem'. Budapest was found guilty. Duly, Budapest and her legal counsel set out to establish Wicca, and more specifically Dianic Wicca, as a religion. The state's Supreme Court repealed the guilty verdict as unconstitutional and in violation of the Freedom of Religion Act.
31 Disfest
The Disfest or Disablot is a day of sacrifice, honoring the Disir ancestors. The Disir are all the female relatives from the eons of time that have passed over and over see as well as protect their living family members. In some homes every candle and light is lit in the house to honor them. A sacrifice of the very best food and drink in the house is given to the Landvaettir (Land Wights) as well. Landvaettir protect and promote the flourishing of the specific places where they live, which can be as small as a rock or a corner of a field, or as large as a section of a country. It is a day of remembrance and honoring the females that passed over and to thank them for their loving protection.
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