The Goddess Jana and the Wolf Moon
In the spirit of creating a goddess e-book that I hope to birth by spring, I have decided to blog about a different goddess each month. Sometimes the goddess will be related to the month or season of the year, other times she will be intuitively selected to be the goddess for that particular time.
January is the month presided over by the goddess Jana, wife of the two-faced god, Janus. She, too, is often depicted as having two faces, one facing the past, and one facing the future. Jana is a moon goddess who presides over the great Wheel of the Year, doorways, childbirth, new beginnings and initiations. January comes from the Latin word, janua, meaning doorway, gate or path.
Thus, we walk across the threshold January presents to us, initiating us into the New Year. We are like newborn babes as we leave the dark, comfort of the womb we have known and emerge into the unknown year that stretches before us. Jana helps guide us into the light of dawning awareness and the potential for each of us to reflect the many facets of our True Self in the year ahead.
Jana’s totem is the peacock, and it is said that the eyes on the peacock’s tail are Jana’s, which are like mirrors, reflecting back to us our own divinity. Peacock feathers bring us good luck and a way for Jana to watch over us. If you are closely aligned with this goddess of divination, you, too, can see through her eyes, and intuit the right path to take in the year ahead.
The New Moon cycle began on January 4 and the full Wolf Moon will occur on January 19, two days before my birthday. It is called the Wolf Moon because in days gone by, this was a time when the hungry wolves, desperate to find food in lean times, could be heard howling outside the villages. The people would wrap their blankets around them and draw a little closer to the fire, making sure the little ones were near and the old and weak ones were secure. One can imagine the shiver that would go down your spine as you locked eyes with your loved one while the wolves circled outside, yipping and keening in the moonlight.
The Goddess Jana
The questions Jana asks us as we enter 2011 and the bright Wolf Moon of winter shines above are:
What doorway might I seek to open and enter in the year ahead?
What inner resources do I need to call forth to accomplish the goals I have set for the New Year?
What inner qualities may be lying dormant that it is time to bring into the light of day?
What am I hungry for or longing for in my life?
What hopes and dreams can I begin to manifest from the dark, quiet soils in which they are rooted?
How can I nurture myself in these dark days of winter in preparation for the return of the sun?
How can I balance the need for rest and stillness with the need for energetic pursuits?
For me, finding balance each day by resting and filling myself up with the things that give me comfort are what is needed most now: Sitting by the fire and reading, writing, or quietly creating something; soaking in hot baths lit only by a pink, salt lamp; making delicious soup; connecting with friends over glasses of red wine or hikes through snowy woods; consulting the tarot and other oracle cards; meditating at my altar and communing with images of the sacred feminine; sipping warm Chai lattes and immune-strengthening Kukicha tea; making plans and dreams; and shoring up my strength for the days when the creative fires burn bright.
I have gone back and forth trying to decide what my new word should be for this year. Should it be “play” or “balance“? And then it came to me that the attitude of play is what I need to feel balanced. I am often too hard on myself as I work on birthing my projects, judging or doubting myself if I don’t live up to my own inner vision. Or else I get frustrated and find myself struggling against, forgetting to have fun with the creative muse and allow mistakes.
I remind myself of Picasso’s words, which hold true for all of us as we enter the doorway of the New Year: “If you know exactly what you are going to do, what is the point of doing it?” Here’s to Not Knowing and taking small steps into the Unknown. My word for last year still holds true: Trust.
Wolf Moon
About The Author
Stephanie- Thank you for this feast of wisdom and inspiration. Whatever you write about seems to always be what I am needing to hear. If my calculations are correct -is your birthday January 21rst. Well that is my birthday as well 1959 to be exact. I’d love to get your home address to send you an invitation to my gallery reception on Febuary 3rd from 7-9 at Gallery A right across the street from the Rialto. I hope it works out for you to stop by. Well the best to you in this new year. Take care and know that I appreciate your blog.
Greetings Stephanie,
I loved this entry about Jana. I have looked high and low for more info on this goddess. She is sort of one of those unsung heroines who quietly and patiently waits in the background to be noticed. Bringing her into your life is a beautiful thing and I wish there were more stories sung about her and praise given to her. I have for many years now considered Brigid to be my patron goddess until recently I have come to realize that it is very narrow-minded to only have room in your heart for one male and female deity especially when you come to discover that Jana has been dropping subtle hints that she has laid claim to you for many years, long before Brigid, and gone unnoticed. Here is a good example, when I was a teen, reading and preparing to start my journey on my path, I worked one summer at a zoo. One day as I was leaving work, a peacock was standing on the hood of my car, it turned and crowed at me before taking flight and leaving behind a gift of a single peacock plume. There were other more subtle things that happened through the years but until a year or so ago, now that I am in my 30′s, Jana made it clear that she wanted my attention since subtle wasn’t working. Walking in the woods one day, I turned down a different path and was drawn to a tree. On the tree was a name, my magical name which I had been seeking for many years. When translated from italian means, “She dances with Jana” and when spoken radiates with a power I can’t even describe– kind of spooky, huh?
Once again, thank you for writing this entry about her. I would love to know what books you used to research her, as I would like to learn as much as I can about her. Also, reports may vary on this point but I believe Jana was Janus’s sister hence the two heads being a similar trait for both.
Many Blessings in the coming year,
Balla
Hi, Balla. What a beautiful name who dances with Jana. Wow! That’s a great story about your encounter with the peacock and with the name on the tree. I love those mysterious synchronicities. Yes, it’s hard to find a lot on Jana, I agree. I’ve had difficulty finding much on a number of goddesses I’ve been researching, including Ostara, the Teutonic goddess of spring/Easter, who I’m going to feature again in April. But I think we have more inner wisdom on a collective, soul level–maybe it’s in our DNA?–than we know. So I find that with little bits of information sometimes I can intuit more about the goddess and find out what is resonating with me or wanting to come forward that may be buried deep in the collective unconscious. I have a collection of books on the goddess that I use as well as finding resources on the internet, too. I’m not sure where I got the information, specifically, to be honest. A little here and a little there. Seek and ye shall find! I’m going to be putting out a goddess interactive e-book in April that will feature 5 goddesses, although Jana is not one of them. However, I am thinking about including a bibliography of goddess books and sources there. Keep your eye out! Blessing to you, too!
This sent shivers down my spine! I’ve been on my path for years but have become more focused in the past 9 months. I know that I will be choosing a magic name soon so I’ve been learning about the different Goddesses. When I saw that there is one named Jana, my very own name, and she rules over January, the month I was born, I was blown away! My parents always say that they aren’t really sure how they picked my name but now it seems like kismet. Thank you for your post!
Jana