Use moisturizer and serums as a barrier between you and unwanted energies.
Brush your hair as if you were brushing away the negative energy.
Say beauty affirmations while braiding your hair.
Set intention for your mascara to help you see through lies and people’s masks.
Put corresponding sigils onto your makeup, maybe carving them onto the lid of your lipgloss or into your blush.
Extras
Make more intricate beauty spells that last for longer periods.
Give offerings to Aphrodite.
Use pink, white and red candles as wards against jealousy.
Carry rose quartz.
Make love salt to use in your space and spells.
Visualize your aura exuding a bright light, me personally I visualize pink sparkle too, that both attracts and gives love to and from the world around you.
Shake off the cold and sing to the sky, witches - it’s time for the Wolf Moon!
Wolf Moon
The Wolf Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs in the month of January. The name is said to be derived from the sound of wolves howling with hunger while prey is scarce in the midst of winter. Given that we now know that wolves howl mostly for communication, my personal opinion is that people huddled in their homes during a very dark and dangerous time of year probably noticed these sounds a lot more readily with little else to occupy their time as they waited out the winter, and thus were set to worrying about ravenous beasts invading their villages and farmsteads. (It’s worth noting that wolves preying on livestock was a very real concern for most people outside major cities for many centuries, so this isn’t entirely unfounded.)
The name also calls to mind the howling of the wind during winter storms, or whistling around the eaves during the long cold nights. And for those of us who might not have been careful with our spending over the holidays, I might cite a tongue-in-cheek reference to the wolves being at the door when those credit card bills come due.
[For those not familiar with the English phrase, to have “a wolf at the door” is a saying that refers to some imminent hardship or disaster. In modern parlance, this is usually applied to poor finances or looming bankruptcy.]
This month, the moon peaks at 5:27pm EST on Monday January 13th, so the moon may appear to be full on the nights of the 12th or 13th, depending on where you are in the world.
Some North American indigenous names for the month of January and its’ moon are Cold Moon (Cree), Center Moon (Assiniboine), Severe Moon (Dakota), Ice Moon (Catawba), and Spirit Moon (Ojibwe). Other names include Mantis Moon (South African origins), Quiet Moon (Celtic), and Moon After Yule (Anglo-Saxon).
What Does It Mean For Witches?
As a new year dawns, it’s time for rest and reflection before we set out on the next phase of our journey. While the cold weather lingers, take some time to sit by the fire, literally or metaphorically, and take stock of where you stand, what resources are available, and what you plan to do with them.
Check in with your near-and-dear following the mad rush of the holiday season as well. Make sure that friends, family, and community members around you are doing all right. Offer support and kindness where you can, but don’t overextend yourself. It’s your time to recuperate too, and it is good and healthy to set boundaries which allow time and space for yourself.
While it's a bit early to expect progress on our goals and resolutions, the beginning of a new calendar year is a good time to lay the foundation for what we intend to do with the year to come and to reflect on the year that has just ended. It's also the perfect time for self-assessment in your craft. Take a moment to acknowledge where you are, how you've grown, and what you might like to do next. Perhaps do some journaling on the subject, if you're so inclined. You can outline your craft knowledge and beliefs, mark the lessons you've learned, or record your progress. (This is a great way to measure future milestones and personal growth!)
What Witchy Things Can We Do?
Winter is a prime time for storytelling. Back in the days before internet or television or radio, people would often read to each other or tell tales to pass the time. Consider re-reading a favorite book that inspires you or exploring some region of folklore or mythology you’ve been meaning to look into. If you have children who are of an age to enjoy stories, read them some of your favorites or introduce them to something new. Share stories and discussions with your witchy circle too!
While you’re at it, take a moment to examine the role that folklore and stories play in your practice. If you subscribe to a particular mythos, be it through deities or just general belief, consider which parts of it resonate the most with you and why.
Consider also the lessons of the winter season - the necessity of rest between periods of growth and activity, and the role of death, cold, and darkness in the natural cycles of life. What do these things mean to you and your practice? Are they a source of fear or fascination? Do you come alive in the winter or bundle up and wait for spring? How can you best remind yourself to pause for breath as the year goes on?
And of course, the beginning of a new year is an excellent time for goal-setting and divination. You’re making resolutions for your mundane life, so make a few for your craft while you’re at it, and pull out your cards or runes or pendulum for a New Year forecast on how things might go. If you need some ideas or inspiration, you can check out this article on Casting The Bones or try this craft-building exercise to Create Your Own Personal Runes.
Happy Wolf Moon, witches! 🐺🌕
SOURCES & FURTHER READING:
Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series
Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series
Wolf Moon: Full Moon in January, The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Why The 2025 January Wolf Moon Is So Insanely Powerful, The Peculiar Brunette.
Casting The Bones: How to Read and Throw Bones, The Peculiar Brunette.
Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Your Own Runes, Bree NicGarran. (Masterlist here)
Image Source: What Is A Wolf Moon?, The Fact Site.
(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, check out my monthly show Hex Positive, and find my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)
January 13 ● Full Moon in Cancer (Wolf Moon)
January 29 ● New Moon in Aquarius
February 2 ● Imbolc
February 12 ● Full Moon in Leo (Snow Moon)
February 27 ● New Moon in Pisces
March 14 ● Full Moon in Virgo (Worm Moon)
March 15-April 7 ● Mercury Retrograde
March 20 ● Ostara
March 29 ● New Moon in Aries
April 12 ● Full Moon in Libra (Pink Moon)
April 27 ● New Moon in Taurus
May 1 ● Beltane
May 12 ● Full Moon in Scorpio (Flower Moon)
May 26 ● New Moon in Gemini
June 11 ● Full Moon in Sagittarius (Strawberry Moon)
June 20 ● Litha
June 25 ● New Moon in Cancer
July 10 ● Full Moon in Capricorn (Buck Moon)
July 18-August 11 ● Mercury Retrograde
July 24 ● New Moon in Leo
August 1 ● Lammas
August 9 ● Full Moon in Aquarius (Corn Moon)
August 23 ● New Moon in Leo
September 7 ● Full Moon in Pisces (Harvest Moon)
September 21 ● New Moon in Virgo
September 22 ● Mabon
October 6 ● Full Moon in Aries (Hunter's Moon)
October 21 ● New Moon in Libra
October 31 ● Samhain
November 5 ● Full Moon in Taurus (Beaver Moon)
November 9-November 29 ● Mercury in Retrograde
November 20 ● New Moon in Scorpio
December 4 ● Full Moon in Gemini (Cold Moon)
December 19 ● New Moon in Sagittarius
December 21 ● Yule
Her main festival is called Aphrodisia, which was an annual festival which happened during the month of Hekatombaion, which was sometime in July to August[1]. This festival would be started with the sacrifice of a dove, which is Lady Aphrodite’s sacred bird.
After the sacrifice, worshipers would carry in sacred images of the goddess and of Peitho (Persuasion), in a procession to be washed, due to Lady Aphrodite’s connection to the sea. After the first dove is sacrificed to signal the start of the festival, no sacrifice blood was allowed to be spilled, as they didn’t want the blood to pollute the altar. The reason the dove was allowed was because it was sacrificed to purify the temple. The offerings would include live male goats (as those were usually seen as a symbol of Aphrodite and were used a lot in worship of her), wildflowers and incense.
[1] In 2024, it’d be on the 10th of July according to the Hellenion Calendar
In celebration of Aphrodite Pandemos (Aphrodite common to all people) not much is known about Aphrodisia. The festival itself was celebrated largely in Delos, Cythera, Thebes, Elis, Sparta, Corinth, Athens and most towns in Cyprus. It is important with the coming of this day that the modern Hellenic Polytheist examine which festivals they reside with most. Celebrate the gods in the way that suits you best, even if the festival is absent of the calendar you most closely draw from.
The festival was said to be instituted by Theseus, as a way to represent the unified people of Athens under her epithet. Many modern Polytheist prefer the idea of celebration of every person drawn to the Goddess. Aphrodite carefully crafted each and every body, therefore we are all inherently beautiful. Common to all people, our Lady is. Many rather celebrate her as a divine mother, caretaker, friend and most importantly Goddess, on this day.
Aphrodisia begun with a sacrifice of a dove to her altar. The blood from the dove cleansed the temple. No other blood sacrifices were to be made the rest of the festival, as it would dirty the blood of the dove. Afterwards, people would carry imagery of Aphrodite and Peitho to be washed in the sea, a common epithet and image of Aphrodite. The festival itself celebrated both goddess.
Many people would offer an array of different symbols, the most popular being that of a live white he-goat.
Aphrodisia is a wildly popular festival today. Many other worshippers have their own posts! Go check them out and give love! Worshipper to worshipper <3
🌹Roses, roses, roses. Rose soap, rose lip balm, rose hand cream, rose lotion, rose perfume, rose oil on my pillow before falling asleep, rose candles, rose incense, roses in my garden, rosewater toner, rose face mist, rose shower gel, dried roses in the bath... Just roses everywhere you can fit them.
🌹Reading romantic books and poetry, watching romance films
🌹 Reading books and poetry about Aphrodite
🌹Making myself feel beautiful with pretty jewellery and makeup. Even just a swipe of tinted lip balm boosts my confidence (I use French Girl Rose Noir). I try to wear at least a little bit of makeup or jewellery daily, even if it's just a pair of studs or a subtle lipstick
🌹 Even if I'm just staying at home all day I'll spray perfume and put on jewellery and do lipstick just to feel sensual while I'm lounging around playing Animal Crossing (currently wearing a comfy embroidered nightie, small gold hoops, a pretty bracelet and a little bit of YSL Orange Perfecto lipstick as I write this)
🌹 Embracing my sensuality. Swaying my hips, feeling the softness of my body, dancing freely, engaging in self-pleasure, taking nudes, trying to unlearn the shame associated with sexuality from my upbringing. I don't watch porn often as I find most of it unhealthy and misogynistic (I only like this one random Japanese couple's channel and some vintage and Korean softcore), but I enjoy toys (my favourite is the rose), erotic literature, erotic film, audio porn (usually in other languages because I find a lot of dirty talk just makes me cringe but I still get enjoyment out of hearing little moans and silky low voices so I get that and avoid secondhand embarrassment from bad dirty talk by listening to it in languages I don't understand), and erotic fine art.
🌹 I try to get really comfortable when I'm engaged in self love. Lipstick and perfume on, hair styled, lingerie or nightie that makes me feel sexy, a candle lit or rose, ylang ylang and jasmine oil in my diffuser, soft music playing. Then I'll position myself comfortably, and stroke my thighs, tease my nipples, squeeze my breasts, lick my juices off my fingers and use it like a lipstick, painting my lips and nipples or using it to lightly lubricate my clitoris. Running my hands all over my belly, thighs and breasts, experimenting with different types of pressure and stimulation. Just luxuriating in the sensual feelings I can bring to my beautiful female body.
🌹 Wearing jewellery with seashells, pearls, emerald, ruby, bronze, copper, gold, jade, garnet and iridescent beads
🌹 Enjoying apples, honey, figs, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, olives, lettuce, rosewater and chocolate. I like buying Guylian chocolates as they're seashell shaped, but any chocolate will do (my favourite chocolate bar to buy is white chocolate with strawberries). I also like foods that you can taste the rosewater in like rose macarons and Turkish delight.
🌹 Making foods with ingredients she likes, like honey cakes, Persian rose love spell cookies, rosewater nougat, Persian love cake, baklava, cornes de gazelle, mhencha, etc... I mostly stick to Mediterranean, North African, Arab and Persian recipes, as they commonly use ingredients like rosewater, honey, pomegranates, and figs.
🌹 Carrying rose quartz in my pocket and keeping rose quartz under my pillow
🌹 I use a rose quartz roller to massage oil into my face
🌹 I keep a mini Venus de Milo statue and a swan trinket box on my bedside table
🌹 Drinking a drink made up of honey, cinnamon, milk and hot water at night to relax
🌹 Wearing pretty lingerie under my clothes, even if it's a basic outfit
🌹 I often fall asleep to the sound of ocean waves
🌹 Gold highlighter swept on my cheeks and body shimmer on my collarbones, reflecting light like sun rays on the ocean
🌹 Doing little offerings, like spritzing her statue with perfume, or offering up a portion of food I'm eating that I think she'd like
🌹 Lighting incense in scents like myrrh, frankincense, rose, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and jasmine
🌹 Drawing myself relaxing baths with fragrant oils and salts
🌹 Reading hymns, Sappho's poetry, and listening to Athanati Afroditi
🌹 Listening to music that's romantic or sensual (this is my playlist)
🌹 Carrying a hand mirror and admiring myself as I check my makeup
🌹 Adding honey to tea
🌹 Writing letters and poetry about love and beauty
🌹Admiring women I find beautiful without jealousy or resentment, just appreciation
🌹Using these emojis: 🌹🦢🌊🪞🍎❤️💘💗💕💋🕊️🫒💄
🌹 Wearing pink, red, aqua, and seafoam green
🌹 Being consistent in self care. No matter how low my spoons are, unless I'm so dog-tired I end up falling asleep on the couch at 8pm, I force myself to do my evening skincare routine - cleansing, toning, eye cream, moisturiser, oil. And I always feel better for it even if I was exhausted before. Much smaller but I'm also consistent in oiling the ends of my hair daily and spraying perfume before bed. And I keep up with getting my hair done and brows waxed every three months without fail.
🌹 Doing exercises that make me feel sensual. I'm really lazy tbh but I push myself because I know Aphrodite would want me to take care of my body. I pick exercises that make me feel good and desirable, like yoga flow, belly dance, and exercises that target my womanly attributes.
🌹 Giving compliments!
🌹 Doing a big self care day every Friday (the day associated with her). Hot oil hair treatment, foot soak and exfoliation, removing old nail polish and buffing and filing nails, face mask, teeth whitening....
🌹 Going to the pond in winter and admiring the swans
🌹 Going to an art gallery in my city just to look at the painting Venus and Cupid (Day) by Fragonard
🌹 Sleeping on silk sheets as they feel sensual (they're also good for your hair and skin)
🌹 Making my own diffusers and cosmetics from natural, aphrodisiac products. Homemade bath salt with rose petals and pink salt, homemade lip mask with olive oil and rose oil, and adding oil of rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and cinnamon to a diffuser as I find these scents stimulating and sensual.
🌹 And of course, thanking Lady Aphrodite every day.
Incense/Candles: A pretty simple offering. Use ones with scents that she’s associated with or that remind you of her. Rose and ocean scents, as well as myrrh, apple, and myrtle, are all candle or incense scents you could offer. I personally, though not typically associated with Her, offer strawberry incense that smells really sweet and reminds me of Her.
Roses: Anything rose related. A whole rose, the petals, or even rose water! Roses are one of Aphrodite’s sacred plants and I’m sure she’ll appreciate it greatly.
Chocolate: I’ve never actually tried this offering myself, but I hear She loves chocolate!
Orgasms: Another one I’ve yet to try but, seeing as She’s the Goddess of love and pleasure, it’s a very popular thing to offer.
Apples: Especially ones yellow/golden in color.
Jewelry: Offer her a piece of jewelry and keep it on your altar when not wearing it.
Makeup, lotion, perfume, etc.: You could offer your beauty products to Her! Bonus points if they’re colors or scents that remind you of Her.
Art: Any form of art that you made for Her. A story, poetry, sculptures, drawings, anything! And don’t fuss over it beings absolutely perfect for our lovely Goddess, She will love it and think it’s perfect no matter what because you made it and you made it for Her.
Seashells: Especially scallop and abalone shells. Decorate your altar to Her with them! You could even use a scallop shell as the offering bowl on your altar for Her.
Olive oil: The olive tree was very important in Greek culture and it’s branches, as well as olive oil, were given as offerings often! So it’s a pretty safe bet.
Honey: Call me out if I’m wrong but I believe honey was also important in Greek culture. Bees are also associated with Aphrodite so honey would make a good offering.
A letter: Pretty simple! Just write a letter to Her! You can tell her anything you want!
Greek goddess of love, sex, war, beauty, passion, procreation, pleasure, desire, fertility, and the Morning Star
Before the Greeks called her Aphrodite, she was known to them as Astarte, who was their renaming of the goddess Astoreth from Egypt and Canaan (in turn, a renaming of the goddess Ishtar/Inanna). Though not to be confused with the Roman goddess Venus, as she existed independently as a goddess of gardens and vegetation before having some of Aphrodite’s attributes added.
Although she was primarily a goddess of love, sex, and beauty to the Greeks, Aphrodite was still honoured as a goddess of war and was known to bring victory and strength in battle. While she is indeed loving, she is also terrifying and has the ability to sway humans to her will- encouraging chaos wherever she pleases. Due to this, she was the bringer of frenzy and even the Fates would bend to her will. Should you cross her on the battlefield, you would not win. Though she is also a goddess of passion. She is indeed of great and powerful love, though also anger and hatred, thus connecting her with crimes of passion and even death (especially on the battlefield). This all made her one of the most feared deities of Ancient Greece.
In my personal experiences with this goddess, she is extremely powerful, cunning, ambitious, vain, and courageous, while also being empathetic, motherly, and tender all at once. She is not quite a “soft” goddess but can be gentle when she wants to be, otherwise, her presence to me feels like fire. Though when gentle, her energy feels like pure ecstasy and beauty, so much so that it brings tears to one’s eyes. Aphrodite is not shallow in the slightest and is a deeply compassionate and wise goddess who will stand tall and proud alongside her followers; she will never allow any of them to feel weak or ugly. She is also very fond of nature and adores all things that grow.
For myself, Aphrodite appears as a tall slender woman with long, wavy black hair, piercing blue eyes, and wears a deep red dress adorned with gold and diamonds. Her voice is gentle but it radiates power. She is also a withdrawn goddess who may not speak much, but when she talks about something she loves, she lights up. She is welcoming of all people, not just women, and supports those who transition as well.
| Symbolism of Aphrodite |
Doves
Swans
Sparrows
Dolphins
Weapons
Scallop shells
Pomegranates
Pearls
Mirrors
Girdles
Roses
| Personal Associations |
Lions
Panthers
Conch shells
Apples
Diamonds and rubies
Rose quartz
| Some of her epithets |
Aligena (Sea Born)
Ambologera (She Who Postpones Old Age)
Antheia (Friend of Flowers)
Androphonos (Killer of Men)
Anosia (Unholy)
Areia (Warlike; of Ares)
Basilis (Queen)
Enoplios (Bearing Weapons)
Epitumbidia (She Upon the Graves)
Nikêphoros (Bringer of Victory)
Ourania (Heavenly)
Pasiphaessa (The Far-Shining)
Peitho (The Persuasive)
Sy′ria Dea (The Syrian Goddess)
Skotia (Of the Darkness)
Philopannyx (The Night-Loving)
Pandemos (of All People)
Philomeides (Laughter-Loving)
Tymborychos (The Gravedigger)
Summakhia (Ally in War)
Symmakhia (Ally in Love)
| Offerings |
Sea shells, roses, myrtle, poppies, imagery of her animals, daggers, lingerie, sex toys, make-up products, jewelry, perfume, strong tobacco, wine, champagne, lemonade, pomegranate juice, black or rose tea, cream and sugar, honey, aphrodisiacs, fruits, chili peppers, chocolate, pastries, desserts in general, lotions, myrrh, rose quartz, garnet, rubies, diamonds, red or pink candles, masquerade masques, sea water, shark teeth, fish scales, pearls, mirrors, poetry, prose, artwork, music, and all other things beautiful.
She is the Goddess of love, passion, sex, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. She is also my matron
Here are some of the things I did researched that she likes but also personal offerings that she enjoyed it; those will be represented with (PO). Credits to all those to inspired me to write this!
Roses (red, pink, Gold, and white)
Chocolates
Cinnamon buns
Cinnamon
Kombucha (There is a love one, PO)
Flowers
Honey
Pearls
Sea Water
Seashells
White, Pink, and Red candles
Things that are associated with love, like heart shaped things
areudirty
yousharknotpass
janainaart
baratheonpilled
annaxmalina
