Goddess Speak Sanctuary of Solace Newsletter - January 2025

JANUARY, the first month of the year. A perfect time to start all over again. Changing energies and deserting old moods, new beginnings, new attitudes. ~ Charmaine J Forde

January Dates of Interest:

• Jan. 1 - New Year's Day - Welcome 2025!
• Jan. 3 – J.R.R. Tolkien Day
• Jan. 4 - New Year Blood Drive @ UUCLV
• Jan. 5 – Twelfth Night
• Jan. 6 - Epiphany
• Jan. 12 - PPDLV 1st planning meeting for 2025!
• Jan. 13 - Full Wolf Moon @ 2:26 pm
• Jan. 16 - Appreciate a Dragon Day
• Jan. 18 - Day of Danu (Celtic Mother Goddess) and World Snowman Day
• Jan. 18 - Corn Dolly Crafting w/ ICS
• Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Jan. 22 - Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
• Jan. 23 - WitchCRAFTING: Mini Travel Altar Class Led By Allison Lovecraft
• Jan. 24 - Thorrablot (Norse Heathen celebration honoring Thor. A mid-winter feast)
• Jan. 25 - UUCLV Food Pantry
• Jan. 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Jan. 29 – Lunar New Year - 'Year of the Snake'
• Jan. 29 @ 4:35 am - New Moon in Aquarius
• Jan. 29 - Curmudgeons Day and Seeing Eye Dog Day
• Jan. 31 - Inspire Your Heart with Art Day
• Jan. 31 - Imbolc - She Comes! Sanctuary of Solace Imbolc Ritual on Zoom.

Janus am I; oldest of potentates; Forward I look, and backward, and below I count, as god of avenues and gates, The years that through my portals come and go. –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet

S.A.D.

The science behind seasonal depression

By: Sarah Gibbens - Nat. Geo. January 27, 2023

Seasonal affective disorder can occur in both winter and summer. Here's why it happens, and how you might treat it.

When he moved from South Africa to New York City, Norman Rosenthal noticed he felt more depressed during the cold, short days of the city’s winters than he had in his home country.

“It was an illness hiding in plain sight because people said ‘well that’s how everyone feels in winter.’ They didn’t see it as treatable,” says Rosenthal, a psychiatrist at Georgetown Medical School.

In 1984, he published the first paper to scientifically name the winter blues: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also called seasonal depression, was a type of depression brought on by the dark days of winter.

Subsequent studies have found that this form of depression varies by geography. As much as three percent of the general population is thought to experience SAD, but one study Rosenthal published in 1990 found that the condition became more prevalent in the U.S. in northern latitudes, with as many as 10 percent of New Hampshire residents reporting the condition.

And, surprisingly, about 10% of patients suffering from SAD have symptoms in the summertime instead.

Whether in winter or summer, mental health experts say there are solutions to treat SAD.

A bad mood versus a SAD mood:

It’s normal for moods to fluctuate with seasons and even for people to feel a little more down in the winter, experts say, but those suffering from SAD experience the symptoms of clinical depression.

“They’re exactly the same,” says Kelly Rohan, a psychologist at the University of Vermont who specializes in the disorder.

“We would look for things like a persistently sad mood. Losing interest in things. Sleep changes. Significant eating or appetite change. Losing energy. Fatigue. Difficulty concentrating,” she says.

At Yale’s Winter Depression Research Clinic, the most commonly reported symptoms of winter depression are hypersomnia—the desire to sleep more than usual—and an increased appetite, says Paul Desan, a psychiatrist and the clinic’s director.

“It’s like human beings are trying to hibernate,” says Desan.

Most people begin experiencing symptoms in young adulthood, but SAD can begin at any stage of life. The condition also varies by sex.

“About three times as many women as men get SAD for reasons we don’t understand,” says Desan.

While SAD is typically diagnosed when patients meet the criteria for clinical depression, some patients fall just short of this official diagnosis. They’re instead diagnosed with “subsyndromal SAD,” a milder but still burdensome condition.

Why does SAD happen?

“It’s fairly accepted that the trigger is a short photoperiod—the number of hours from dawn to dusk,” says Rohan. “It’s the strongest predictor of when the symptoms begin.”

But why, exactly, does less daylight seem to make some people clinically depressed?

“That's the million-dollar question,” says Rohan.

One leading theory is that the change in daylight disrupts our bodies’ release of melatonin, a hormone the brain releases every night to promote sleep. The process is part of our circadian rhythm, our innate biological clock dictating when we sleep and wake.

Our clocks are cued up by morning light, but as the supply of daylight dwindles in winter, melatonin may be released later and wear off later, the theory suggests.

That means, “that alarm clock might be going off in the morning, but the body is still in a state of biological night,” says Rohan.

Those diagnosed with SAD may be particularly sensitive to schedules that disrupt their circadian rhythm by beginning and ending at odd hours, like shift work, she adds.

Even given that theory, she says it’s still unclear why disrupted circadian rhythm can lead to depression, instead of just feeling fatigued.

What about summertime depression?

Rohan says a minority of people who experience SAD in the winter can become manic in the summer when the number of stimulating daylight hours increases.

But still others experience a phenomenon called summer SAD, or when seasonal depression symptoms occur only in the summer—perhaps triggered by the heat and humidity.

Instead of feeling lethargic, summer SAD patients more often feel irritable and agitated.

Scientists are studying whether temperatures rising as a result of climate change may harm mental health. A 2018 study of mood expressed on social media found depressive language increased with temperature.

Is SAD a real condition?

SAD is not without its skeptics. One study published in 2008 looked at rates of depression among populations in northern Norway, where there’s no sunlight at all for two months of every winter, and found no seasonal increase.

Another study published in 2016 looked at a U.S. survey of just over 30,000 people. When asked to answer questions related to depression, there was no discernible spike related to season or latitude.

Steven Lobello, a psychologist at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama, isn’t convinced SAD qualifies as a diagnosable mental disorder. He thinks previous studies done to measure rates of SAD have been too suggestive. Rather than calling people during the winter and asking them if they feel depressed, studies have asked people if they have ever felt depressed during winter—which many people believe they do.

“If you ask questions of people in a way that allows them to know the nature of what you’re getting at, then I don't think you’re doing anything more than measuring that belief,” Lobello says.

However, Rohan says these studies may not detect SAD because it’s relatively rare, representing about 10 percent of those diagnosed with clinical depression.

“It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack and not finding needles and determining they don’t exist,” she says.

Using light as therapy

For those who think they may be experiencing SAD, experts say a professional diagnosis is a crucial first step toward treatment.

“People should really avoid self-diagnosis,” says Rohan. “Depression is a serious mental health problem, so it’s best to leave it to trained professionals.”

Sitting in front of a bright box of light is one of the most common treatments for SAD. Experts say the key is to look for light boxes that provide light equalling 10,000 lux, a measure of brightness.

“10,000 lux is like being outside on a summer day in July. It’s a lot of light,” says Desan.

Be wary of the box’s size, he notes. A light box that’s too small can fail to deliver the adequate amount of light treatment.

Experts recommend sitting in front of light boxes for about 30 minutes and usually first thing in the morning, to help signal to the body that it’s time to wake up. This treatment can improve mood the day it’s used. The only drawback to light boxes, notes Rohan, is that they only work on the day that you use them, so they need to be used daily.

Talk therapy and lifestyle changes

One treatment that may have longer lasting benefits is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a form of talk therapy Rohan endorses for treating SAD.

“Negative thinking tends to breed negative emotions, and we want to change those into slightly less negative, more neutral thoughts,” she says of the CBT approach. For example, “I hate winter,” might be reframed as, “winter isn’t my favorite season, but I still find things to enjoy.”

Finding wintertime hobbies may also help.

“People with SAD often have hobbies and interests that are summer specific—growing gardens, beach going,” she says. Instead of hibernating under a blanket, she suggests those people find indoor hobbies to enjoy—knitting, joining a book club, or going to the gym, she suggests.

Lifestyle changes can also be useful mental health tools, says Rosenthal. Exercising, learning ways to manage stress, or planning a sunny vacation during the winter can all help to boost your mood, he says.

Whether using light or talk therapy, Rosenthal stresses that there’s no reason to not seek mental health treatment, even if symptoms are only present for a few months out of the year: “There are many, many strategies people can use that will help them thrive year-round.”

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow— A frost-mailed warrior striding A shadowy steed of snow. –Edgar Fawcett, American poet

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. – Edith Sitwell

She Comes!

This beautiful piece is from the talented Abigail Spinner McBride. Abigail shares her voice and music with us each Sabbat, so be sure and join us for Imbolc!

To find more music from Abigail, click the button to find her on Spotify!

Bare branches of each tree on this chilly January morn look so cold so forlorn. Gray skies dip ever so low left from yesterday’s dusting of snow. Yet in the heart of each tree waiting for each who wait to see new life as warm sun and breeze will blow, like magic, unlock springs sap to flow, buds, new leaves, then blooms will grow. – Nelda Hartmann (January Morn)

January's Lunar Spotlight

Full Moon in Cancer

January 13th, 2025

The Full Moon in Cancer puts the Full Moon in the sign that is naturally ruled by the Moon, Cancer. So, this means the Full Moon is strong when it comes to emotional energy, and we're extra sensitive, and need to work on taking care of our emotional needs. If our emotional needs aren't being met, we can be quick to snap, though we might be more passive-aggressive with Cancer.

Cancer rules the home and family, so we can spend time during the Cancer Full Moon finishing up projects at home or clearing junk out, or we can finalize plans for family gatherings, or work to settle family disputes. We can spend more time with those we think of as family and have a healthy connection to, and we may get more distance from those we don't.

This is an important time for emotional support, and we need to make sure we have a solid emotional support system. Without that, and we can feel insecure, uncertain, and get caught up in everything a little too much.

This Full Moon is widely conjunct (aligned with) Mars retrograde (appearing to move backward) in Cancer, and sextile (beneficial aspect, 2 signs away) transit (moving) Uranus in Taurus. The conjunction to Mars retrograde is huge as this highlights the challenging retrograde energy, and makes us extra prone to snapping. Mars retrograde can make us more frustrated and aggressive because of it, but we bottle it up until we blow. The Full Moon might be when we blow!

We need to watch ourselves and make sure we have healthy outlets for frustrations, and work on getting to the root of the problem. It's likely not anything that we think it is on the surface, and the retrograde is digging up stuff we thought was long buried in the past.

The sextile the Uranus does help a bit, and we can be more comfortable with finishing up changes, finalizing plans for our dreams, and being more involved in a group or cause. We can grow closer with some friends that we have a good connection with, and we can be more comfortable showcasing our individuality. This is all helpful since Cancer likes to stick to the comfort zone and doesn't want to challenge too much, but the sextile to Uranus helps with managing anything that does require change, independence, and a focus on the future. If we can just make sure we don't let the conjunction to the Mars retrograde blow it all up!

January's Full Wolf Moon

Adapted From The Farmer's Almanac

January’s full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9:54 A.M. PST. At a full Moon, the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun, so the face of the Moon facing towards the Earth will be entirely illuminated by the Sun’s rays. Look for the Moon to rise from the northeastern horizon around sunset that evening.

It’s thought that January’s full Moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time. It was traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, but we know today that wolves howl for different reasons. Howling and other wolf vocalizations are generally used to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, and coordinate hunting.

Another fitting name for this full Moon is the Center Moon. Used by the Assiniboine people of the Northern Great Plains, it refers to the idea that this Moon roughly marks the middle of the cold season.

ALTERNATIVE JANUARY MOON NAMES:

• Cold Moon (Cree)
• Frost Exploding Moon (Cree)
• Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin)
• Severe Moon (Dakota)
• Hard Moon (Dakota) highlights the phenomenon of the fallen snow developing a hard crust.
• Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit)
• Great Moon (Cree)
• Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki)
• Spirit Moon (Ojibwe)

MOON FOLKLORE:

• A bright first Moon promises rain and a bountiful harvest; a red-tinted Moon means a dry year.
• A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry.
• A halo around the Moon predicts wet or stormy weather.

MOON FACTS:

• The bright star appearing near the Full Moon on Sunday and Monday will be Pollux, the brighter of the twins in the constellation Gemini.
• The full moon names used in the southern hemisphere are the same as the northern hemisphere, just the seasonal difference. This is because most of the people living in the southern hemisphere (let’s say Australia or New Zealand) are none other than the European settlers. In other words, one can say that European settlers, at first, integrated the native American full moon names into their modern Georgian calendar. And, later, many of these full moon names went with them to new places around the world.
• Recent studies showed that more babies are born during a Full Moon. It's not known for sure why, but the numbers don't lie.

The sunset embers smolder low, The Moon climbs o’er the hill, The peaks have caught the alpenglow, The robin’s song is still. –John L. Stoddard

January Full Moon Magic:

By: Patti Wigington; "Cold Moon" Learn Religions, Jan. 19, 2019

In January, the nights are long and dark, and many of us are trying to stay warm under a blanket of snow as the Cold Moon approaches (in some cultures, the Cold Moon is the name given to December's moon, instead). Some of the native tribes of North America called this time the Wolf Moon, because this was when the wolves were howling, hungry, outside lodges where people stayed warm within. Other groups referred to it as the Snow Moon, for obvious reasons.

This time of year, we're all feeling a bit slow and "off" as our bodies adjust to chillier temperatures. It's easy to just lie on the couch watching Netflix and eating comfort food when it's cold and gloomy outside and making any kind of magical effort can seem like a real challenge right now.

Correspondences:

• Colors: Black and white, silver
• Gemstones: Hematite
• Trees: Birch, Hazel
• Gods: Inanna, Freyja
• Herbs: Thistle, nuts and seeds, marjoram
• Element: Air

Cold Moon Magic:

This is a good time to work on magic related to protection, both physical and spiritual. Use this time to develop your inner self, and advance spiritually, becoming closer to the higher aspects of your deities. Take the time in your busy schedule to meditate and think about what it is you really want out of life, and whether you're showing people your true self.

January is also a great time to work on full moon magic - after all, the nights are long and dark, and in some areas the moon itself is the only source of light. Put aside your lethargy, and focus some energy on developing your intuition and wisdom.

Finally, for many people, winter is a season of simplification. Set aside everything you don't need and try a minimalist approach instead. On a mundane level, try doing a thorough cleaning of your physical space - get rid of the clutter. On a spiritual and emotional level, try to do the same thing - teach your mind to let go of the things that are creating excess baggage for your spirit and soul.

As the calendar year draws to a close, this is also a good time to start planning ahead. Think about what changes you're going to want to make in the coming months. You know all those New Year's resolutions you always make? Put some planning and forethought into them this time around, and you'll be far more likely to keep them. Get ready to break your bad habits, and start forming some good ones, to become a new and improved version of yourself in the new year.

I came across a wonderful Full Wolf Moon ritual while researching online and thought it might be of interest to some of our readers. Follow the link below:

The sunset embers smolder low, The Moon climbs o’er the hill, The peaks have caught the alpenglow, The robin’s song is still. –John L. Stoddard (1850–1931)

New Moon in Aquarius

January 29th 2025

The Aquarius New Moon makes us more innovative, inventive, and open to the future. We can think about our dreams for the future, what we hope for, and what we ultimately want to achieve down the line. We can be hopeful, feel inspired, and push for more.

Aquarius is the unconventional sign, so we can push for things to be different, to venture outside of our comfort zones, and to experiment. The status quo isn't working, so doing things differently is something we're open to doing.

As we focus on the future and we're open to doing things differently, this helps us also work on change. Change is the way to make the future happen, and we can understand that change can be a good thing. We can be willing to pursue change, and we can take control of it.

This New Moon comes with Pluto now in Aquarius, and Mercury enters Aquarius 2 days before the New Moon, and Ceres is still in Aquarius. This highlights the Pluto in Aquarius energy, and we're willing to pursue opportunities to take control and empower ourselves with change and our dreams for the future. With Ceres, we can get support for our dreams as we pursue them and use our resources with the changes we want to make. With Mercury, we can think outside of the box, and utilize our intellect and knowledge.

The only problem? Mars is still retrograde for this New Moon, so we do have to keep in mind the Mars retrograde energy that we're still dealing with. The Aquarius New Moon might offer ways to help us navigate better, and the changes we work on might not only help us for the future, but also to get out of some of the frustrations the Mars retrograde is triggering.

The New Moon is trine (beneficial aspect, 4 signs away) transit Jupiter in Gemini, and this is super helpful for the New Moon, and there can be opportunities that get us closer to the dreams we want, and we can pursue experiences that are outside of our comfort zone but help us in ways we couldn't even think of. We can benefit from some optimism and keeping an eye on the big picture.

Because the birdsong might be pretty, But it's not for you they sing, And if you think my winter is too cold, You don't deserve my spring. ― Erin Hanson

Crafty Corner...

A 2025 Memories Jar

Submitted by Doc Alexander

Creating a memory jar is a wonderful way to capture and cherish special moments throughout the year! Here's a simple guide to get you started:

Materials Needed:

• A jar (any size you like)
• Paper (colorful or plain)
• Pens or markers
• Optional: stickers, ribbons, or other decorations

Steps:

• Choose Your Jar: Pick a jar that you like. It can be a mason jar, an old cookie jar, or any container that you find appealing.
• Decorate the Jar: Personalize your jar with stickers, ribbons, or any decorations that make it special to you.
• Prepare Your Paper: Cut your paper into small pieces. You can use different colors to represent different types of memories (e.g., blue for happy moments, green for achievements).
• Write Your Memories: Throughout the year, write down special moments, achievements, funny incidents, or anything that made you smile. Fold the paper and place it in the jar.
• Review Your Memories: At the end of the year, or whenever you need a pick-me-up, open the jar and read through your memories. It's a great way to reflect on the positive moments in your life.

Why a Memory Jar is Worth Trying:

• Strengthens Family Bonds: This activity brings everyone together by focusing on positive moments throughout the year.
• Encourages Gratitude: Writing down happy memories fosters a sense of gratitude and mindfulness in your home.
• Creates a New Tradition: A memory jar is a simple, budget-friendly tradition that everyone can look forward to each year.
• Celebrates Everyday Magic: It reminds us that even the smallest moments—like a spontaneous family dance party or a funny joke—are worth cherishing.

Enjoy creating your memory jar! It's a beautiful way to preserve the little joys and milestones of life. 😊

I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ― Lewis Carroll

The Kitchen Witch's Cauldron

From Gather Victoria: In honor of the beautiful Celtic Spring “feis” (feast or festival) known as Imbolc, Imbolg, or Brigid’s Feast of Fire. For the Celts, this onset of spring fell on the cross-quarter day (the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox) and was personified in the form of the goddess Brigid (Brigit, Brighid, Bride, Bridget, Bridgit, Bríde) who descends to earth in her maiden form as the sun. This moving feast shifts each year according to celestial alignments and is marked on earth by a shaft of light that illuminates the megalithic chambers of the Irish Hill of Tara (and many others) on the days just before, during, and after, the cross-quarter day. Spreading her green cloak across the land, Brigid revives the earth from her winter slumber. And in a time when food stores began to run thin, the first appearance of her swelling buds and green shoots was a time to celebrate the return of the season of plenty....

Brigid’s Magical Blackberry Scones w/ Bay Laurel Infused Custard Sauce

From Danielle Prohom Olson: For me reclaiming the original timing Imbolc offers an opportunity to connect with the natural magic of our ancestors. As above, So Below. Whether we light candles in honor of Brigit or bake special cakes, I believe we are reenacting rituals, prayers, and feasts which once brought us into conscious harmony with the great energetic cycles of birth, growth, rest, and regeneration that govern life itself. And isn’t that the only way to truly thrive?

I love the scents of winter! For me, it’s all about the feeling you get when you smell pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread and spruce.” – Taylor Swift

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. – Melody Beattie

January Book Review

Planner for a Magical 2025:

Full Color

By: Amy Cesari

Make Your Year Magical! ♥

*FULL COLOR* Harness the power of the seasons, the moon, the sun, and yourself as you expand your horizons and create an extraordinary year.

The Planner for a Magical 2025 in full-color shows you ways to explore your inner power and ideas to inspire your spirit every day. You'll discover new insights about yourself and your magic through each month and season.

The Planner for a Magical 2025 in full-color includes:

•Over 160 pages of full-color illustrated spells, rituals, and simple “everyday” practical magic

• Monthly calendars and weekly planner pages with astrological and moon phase information

• A concise "Beginner's Guide" to witchcraft, animal symbolism, and spellcasting

• Transform your life and find yourself on the empowering journey of your own magical path.

About the author:

Amy Cesari is an author and illustrator who loves animated musicals. She enjoys watercolor painting, witchcraft, and walking on the beach in a really big sun hat. Not only does she own every Nintendo game console ever made, she's earned several fancy diplomas and enjoys continued studies in various magical practices.

Happy Reading!

January Laughs:

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