Under the Wolf Full Moon
“Darling, the moon is still the moon in all of its phases.” — Isra Al-Thibeh
How can we embrace the New Year, when it’s the darkest time of the year? Through darkness, we can follow the rhytm of our own inner strength, listeneing to what in darkness offers. We can choose to be inspired by the symbolism of this Full Moon, which is the Wolf Full Moon.
Across ancient Europe, January’s Full Moon earned the name Wolf Moon. In the stillness of winter, when the nights stretched long and the cold sank deep into the land, the sound of wolves howling carried through forests and valleys. Many early stories claimed this howling came from hunger during harsh winters, but modern understanding offers a more nuanced view. Wolves howl for many reasons—connection, communication, and belonging. In the darkest time of the year, when visibility was low and landscapes were blanketed in snow, wolves used their voices to find one another. Their howls strengthened the pack, kept community bonds alive, and guided lost members back home. This name—Wolf Moon—is less about hunger and more about the longing for connection during the deep quiet of winter. The Wolf Moon reminds us that even in moments of darkness, there is a powerful instinct within us that calls out for clarity, companionship, and grounding. Just like wolves rely on their voices to navigate the night, we too can use breath, awareness, and intentional practice to find our way through uncertainty.
The Wolf, as an archetype, embodies intelligence, intuition, leadership, and fierce loyalty. Wolves endure winter’s challenges with resilience. They move through grief, loss, and hardship while still staying connected to their pack and their purpose. Their presence during the first Moon phase invites us to tap into our own inner strength, especially during times of transition or emotional heaviness.
What does this have to do with my Yoga Practice?
Living a life attuned to my own inner wisdom—and in harmony with the natural rhythm of the world—feels more meaningful to me than ever right now. The Earth and the animals have existed far longer than I have; they carry an ancient intelligence, a quiet knowing of how life moves, rests, grows, and renews itself. Why wouldn’t we look to the natural ways of the planet we call home? We can choose not to, of course—but there is a reason everything has been created the way it has.
After winter, spring always arrives, followed by summer and fall. After the longest night, the sun rises again. There is the sun and the moon, day and night, darkness and light. Without one, we would never truly understand the other. Contrast is what allows us to feel, to recognize, and to appreciate. Sometimes we need to experience the extremes to understand the softness of the middle ground, the tenderness of balance. We are constantly learning what equilibrium feels like by moving through different spectrums of experience—this, too, is part of what it means to be alive.
When we step into a yoga class, we are invited into this same cyclical journey. A teacher guides us with intention through waves of movement and stillness, effort and ease. Along the way, we may encounter discomfort or joy, heat or coolness, lightness or heaviness, emotions that rise and emotions that soften. All of it gently carries us toward savasana—that sacred pause of darkness and stillness—before we return once more to the outer world. Even the poses themselves whisper of nature: named after animals, inspired by the sun and the moon, rooted in the elements. Yoga, at its core, is deeply woven with the rhythms of the natural world.
Because of this, I dare to say that yoga is intimately connected to the seasons we move through—both around us and within us. Right now, we are in a darker, quieter phase. A time that calls us inward. A time for reflection, for resting a little longer, for shedding what no longer serves. It is a season for deepening, for softening, for allowing ourselves to simply be. And yet, within this stillness, there is also a gentle opening—an awareness that something new is quietly forming. Spring and summer will come again, just as they always do.
If this rhythm speaks to you, I invite you to dive deeper with me in my Yin classes. You can find me at Hippie Soul Yoga Studio (Interquest) on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 pm for Yin, and Sundays at 9 am for Flow to Yin. Let’s rest, listen, and move together—guided by the wisdom of the seasons and the quiet knowing within.
Enjoy the Full Moon,
Penelope
Photo By Anja
