Big Winds Moon

"Life is a circle, from birth to death to rebirth.  Humans, like the seasons, pass through many phases during their lives.  The moon stones of the Medicine Wheel give us a way of understanding and celebrating these changes.  The moon during which you were born determines your starting point on the wheel."[1]

Were you born between February 19th and March 20th? If you answered yes, then you were born under the Big Winds Moon.

There are two traditional animal spirit guides for this moon.  The first is the mysterious Cougar.  Cougars can teach you about speed, grace, territoriality, sensitivity, mystery, communicating without words, stalking and initiative.

The second is the Wolf, which the Native Americans regard as an intellect in mind and spirit, a keeper of knowledge, a great teacher, as well as a guide to the sacred. You are free to choose your totem; one of these is right for you.

The Big Winds Moon is the third moon under the spirit of Kabibonokka, the Spirit Keeper of the North.  It is also a time of the Frog Clan of the Water Element, and a time for Turquoise and turquoise colored crystals.

If you were not born under this moon, but are traveling the wheel and seeking its spirit, the Big Winds Moon is one of natural medicine, developing sensitivity, seeking spirituality, and learning to express true feelings.  It is a time to again become grounded in your life.  It is a time to recognize both your place in the natural world, and your deep spirituality.  If such issues confront you, seek the guidance of the spirit keepers, spirit guides, and tribes of this moon.  Use Turquoise crystals to help you at this time. 

 If you were born under this moon, as a wolf or cougar, you have a sense of family as well as an individual life. You enjoy spending time with companions you consider as your ‘pack’.   The members to consider in your pack are those born under Strong Sun Moon (Jun 21 – Jul 22), the Harvest Moon (Aug 23 – Sep 22) and the Snake Moon (Nov 22 – Dec 21). Like all of us, wolves need love, but it often conflicts with their need for independence. The Wolf will guide you to understand that we all need love, but we all have to provide it as well. Take pride in having a close family, but also respect your need for independence. Openly receive love, but also give it back to others.

Native Americans consider the Wolf as ‘The Teacher’. This is because of their extraordinary degree of intuition and understanding of other peoples’ intentions without explanations. Wolves enjoy teaching their young as well as others who are willing to learn. The Wolf’s goal is to teach you how to trust yourself and not fear what you do not understand. He will provide the push you need to take risks in order to learn and grow, and though it may be a scary journey, the Wolf will help you develop self-esteem, strength and confidence. Prepare yourself to accept what the Wolf has to offer you.

If you were born under the Big Winds Moon, your crystal totem is Turquoise.  If you are in need of the energy and spirit of this moon and its Spirit Totems, consider carrying or wearing Turquoise daily. Meditation with a Turquoise stone on the Medicine Wheel will aid in bringing the spirit guardians of the Big Winds Moon to your efforts.

Turquoise is perhaps the oldest stone in man’s history, the talisman of kings, shamans, and warriors. It is a stone of protection, strong and opaque, yet soothing to the touch, healing to the eye, as if carved from an azure heaven and slipped to earth. Its unique shade of blue, often blue-green, lends it name, Turquoise, to all things of this tranquil hue. The delicate veining or mottled webbing in cream or brown is inherent to the stone and serves to enhance its character.

For nearly a thousand years, Native Americans have mined and fashioned Turquoise, using it to guard their burial sites. Their gems have been found from Argentina to New Mexico. Indian priests wore it in ceremonies when calling upon the great spirit of the sky. Many honored Turquoise as the universal stone, believing their minds would become one with the universe when wearing it. Because of its ability to change colors, it was used in prophecy or divining. To the prehistoric natives in North America, Turquoise, worn on the body or used in ceremonies always signified the god of the sky alive in the earth. Read more about Turquoise in our Crystal Metaphysical Encycopedia.