Big Winter Moon

The last moon phase of the year is the Big Winter Moon in December, also called Long Nights Moon, or the Cold Moon.

Correspondences:

• Colors: White, red, and black
• Gemstones: Obsidian, ruby, serpentine
• Trees: Pine, holly
• Gods: Minerva, Osiris, Athena, Persephone and Hades
• Herbs: Ivy, mistletoe, holly and berries, cinnamon
• Element: Fire

As the days get shorter and Yule approaches with the longest night of the year, we force ourselves to get through the darkness because eventually we will see the sunlight and warmth again. Think about the things in your life that you’ve had to endure. Sometimes, a part of us must die in order to be reborn. Now is the perfect time for spiritual alchemy — time to evaluate your life, and know that you’ll survive the dark times.

If you’ve already put the darkness behind you, take your good fortune and share it with others. When it’s cold outside, open your heart and home to friends and family. Reach out to people who might be suffering from the chill of winter, either spiritually or physically.

source: about.com