January is the first month of the year according to the modern Gregorian and Julian calendars and its first day marks the beginning of the year for those calendars.
The name January comes from the Latin Ianuarius and is names after the Roman God Janus of doorways.
- A Saxon name for January is Wulf-monath (Wolf month)
- The full moon of January may be called the Wolf Moon or the Cold Moon.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
In witchcraft, January marks the beginning of a new year and is often viewed as a time for reflection, renewal, and setting intentions for the year ahead.
Witches may engage in rituals and spells focused on releasing the old, clearing away negative energy from the past year, and welcoming in positive energy and opportunities.
January is also associated with themes of purification, protection, and new beginnings, with rituals aimed at cleansing and purifying oneself and one’s space.
Additionally, witches may honor deities associated with new beginnings and transitions, such as Janus, Hekate, and the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess.
Contents
Magickal Practices in January
January is a month of reflection, purification, and new beginnings in witchcraft, marked by the beginning of the calendar year and the deepening of winter’s chill.
It’s a time to set intentions, release what no longer serves, and invite blessings and abundance into one’s life.
We often engage in rituals, spells, and meditations that reflect the themes of reflection, purification, and new beginnings, aligning themselves with the natural rhythms of the Earth and the turning of the wheel of the year.
| Practice | Description |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Rituals | Witches often perform rituals at the beginning of January to set intentions for the coming year, release what no longer serves, and invite blessings and abundance into their lives. These rituals may include candle magic, visualization, and journaling. |
| Winter Cleansing | January is a time for purification and cleansing, both physically and spiritually. Witches may perform rituals to clear stagnant energy from their homes, release negative emotions, and make space for new beginnings. This may involve smudging with sage, performing a ritual bath, or decluttering and organizing living spaces. |
| Divination | With the beginning of the new year and the deepening of winter’s introspective energy, January is an auspicious time for divination and spiritual exploration. Witches may use tarot cards, runes, pendulums, or scrying techniques to gain insights into the year ahead and receive guidance from the divine. |
January Correspondences
| Correspondence | Description |
|---|---|
| Symbols | Snowflakes, icicles, evergreen trees |
| Colors | White, silver, blue, dark green |
| Herbs and Flowers | Sage, pine, juniper, snowdrop |
| Crystals | Garnet, clear quartz, hematite |
| Themes | Reflection, introspection, purification, new beginnings |
Fun Facts
January begins the same day of the week as October and ends on the same day of the week as February and October in normal years. During leap years, January begins on the same day of the week in April and July and ends the same day of the week as July.
Divination in January
If January kalends be summerly gay, ‘Twill be winterly weather to the kalends of May
If Saint Paul’s day (Jan 25) be faire and cleare, It doth betide a happy yeare ; But if by chance it then should rain, It will make deare all kinds of graine; And if ye clouds make dark ye skie, Then neats and fowles this year shall die; If blustering winds do blow aloft, Then wars shall trouble ye realm full oft.
The First New Moon
It is unlucky to look at the first New Moon of the Year through a window.
But if an unmarried person looks at the first new moon through a silk handkerchief that has never been washed so that multiple images can be seen, the number of moons that appear will equal the number of years that will pass before before the person is married.
To dream of your future spouse, stand above a gate or doorway where you can see the first new moon of the year and say: All hail to thee moon, all hail to thee; I praythee good moon, reveal to me; This night who my husband/wife shall be.
Festivals in January
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- Plough Sunday
- Lunar New Year
English 
Spanish