Long Snows 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]

If you were born between November 22nd and December 21st, then you were born under the Long Snows Moon.

Your Animal Totem for this moon is the Elk. You are also protected by Mudjekeewis, the Spirit Keeper of the West, and his Spirit Animal Guide the Bear. Finally you can use the Crystal Totem of Obsidian to guard your life and spirit.

Those born under this moon were also born into a time of the Thunderbird Clan – the clan of the Element of Fire. The Thunderbird Clan is a clan of intense energy. It can be used for your good or for the people around you. Thunderbird people need to be clear about their power and its uses. The Clan will help you to sort out your uses of power and your priorities.

Your lessons may be unpredictable, so you must focus and listen in order to grow and be successful. You can read a lot more about Mudjekeewis on his page in this guide.

As an elk, you are a gracious creature with a great balance. Your mind has a habit of staying attuned to your environment. Unfortunately, you automatically notice when something is out of place. Like the elk, once you feel threatened or spooked, you my tend to flee quickly as possible, For example, in your daily life when times are difficult, you may have a tendency to flee from your fears. This tendency can keep you from accepting yourself and your dreams.

The elk symbolizes both majesty and cooperation - a perfect illustration of the dualities we find in life. The Long Snows Moon and its animal totem the elk, teach us mental strength and the wisdom to combine it with the energies of others to accomplish the goals of our "herd."

If you were born under this moon, you will enjoy the company of those born under the Budding Trees Moon (Mar 21 – Apr 19) and the Ripe Berry Moon (Jul 23 to Aug 22). With them, you will have the ability to see the good in any conflict that may jeopardize your relationships.

Your greatest challenge to overcome is just being too busy. You have a myriad of things to discover and so many people to meet that you are constantly on the go. Stop. This moon, at the end of the year, will teach you to take a breather. You have plenty of time to see and experience all that you wish, but you will never feel satisfied if you don’t stop and savor your life from time to time.

Obsidian is the crystal totem for the Long Snows Moon. While trying to decode the mysteries of the world, allow obsidian to be your aide. It contains energies that will help your focus, so there are little to no distractions. Since obsidian is made from molten lava that cooled quickly, its powers are fast acting.

However, be careful when you use this stone on your Medicine Wheel. Some people believe obsidian is overpowering because it has a barrier that forces negative emotion to rise. Place it with care, and observe its energy. Sometimes only a small piece is needed.

In using your Medicine Wheel, first practice meditating with your Obsidian before you use it with the rest of your crystals on the Wheel. This way, you will have more control to channel the energies the stone possesses.

The Long Snows Moon is also the time of the year for amethyst colored crystals. As the old year wraps around into the new, and the color wheel wraps from red to violet, the Long Snows Moon rises in a dark, red/violet evening sky.

Amethyst is the red-violet ray that connects both time and color. It leads from the old year to the new and connects the red end of the visible spectrum to the violet at the other end of our perception.The deeper amethyst rays have potent, powerful color energy that binds things together, wraps them tightly, and unifies them.

The color Amethyst connects beginnings to ends, joins life to new life, and makes the great circle of life complete once again. It captures the dying rays of the sun, and sends the message that winter is arriving.

In this way, amethyst is the color of creativity. As the world begins to cycle through a time of renewal once again, creating the means for the rapid growth of the new spring, we too prepare for new creations by allowing a quiet time of reflection and insight.