Celebrating the Beaver Moon (November's Supermoon)

The night is growing longer, and the still hot summer is giving way to the sharp, cold wind of winter. Out in the forest and wetlands, beavers are gathering the strongest sticks to fortify their dens and gathering food to make it through the long winter nights. Cue the supermoon of November, also known as The Beaver Moon.

What is the Beaver Moon?

The Beaver Moon is rooted in indigenous culture in North America and arrives right on the cusp of the start of winter. It is also known as the Frost Moon, Snow Moon and the Mourning Moon.

In the olden days, the arrival of this moon told humans that it’s the time to set beaver traps before the water froze and beavers hid for the winter. They had to stay warm somehow, but poor beavers! For the beavers themselves, this time of year signaled the final days of fortifying their damns and gathering food to sustain a long, cold winter.

In other words, this moon was the warning sign from nature to prepare, preserve and protect what you wanted to survive the winter and let go of what will not survive the cold season.

Humans would follow suit; gathering and storing to prepare for winter and readying their community. The shorter days meant more time fireside, in community with each other & everyone working towards one common goal: surviving the winter.

 The Modern Beaver Moon

Today, we’re far better insulated from the harsh weather of winter, but we can still use this season for self-reflection on what is burdening us and what we can let go of.  Find a quiet place, light a candle (we recommend Winter Solstice!), grab a notebook and take a deep breath. Think with intention about what is no longer serving you, let go of the negative thoughts in your mind and prepare yourself for the coming season. This clearing of mental space allows you to let go of what is burdening you and focus on what you want to bring with you into your metaphorical winter’s den.

Want to let go of that clutter one step further? Make a list of what you want to let go of on paper and literally let it burn. Please do so in a safe manner in a controlled environment. Another option is to rip up the page and recycle the pieces.

Ways to Honor this Season like a Beaver

Connect with a loved one: can you call, text or email three loved ones and share with them what they mean to you? Beavers work for the good of their community, and honor them with an act of kindness or sharing a note of care with a loved one.

Prepare your home for winter: look around the space you’ll be spending time in this winter and do what you can to declutter and make it cozy. Think throw blankets, candles & warm foods.

Try a Cozy Recipe: make a new soup recipe, I’m loving this butternut squash soup one from Love & Lemons: https://www.loveandlemons.com/butternut-squash-soup/ or try your hand at fermenting the last garden veggies to make it through the winter.

Reduce Waste in Your Home: Beavers are very naturally aligned with the environment and practical. Be like a beaver and find ways that you can reduce and reuse items in your home rather than throwing them away.

Host a Gathering: host a small gathering to share a warm meal with others and be in community as winter approaches.

Walk Near Water: honor the beaver by taking a stroll near a wetland or other body of water. With any luck, you may see a real beaver working to safeguard it’s community!

 

Beavers & The Environment

Beavers are often referred to as nature’s engineers and they are also a keystone species. Their activities have a long-lasting impact on the biodiversity of an area and the control of water flow. That means that when beavers are unnaturally removed from a habitat, it has a cascading impact on the whole environment.  In both the UK and the US, there are efforts being made to rewild beavers. This means that we are working to reintroduce them to natural ecosystems where they had been hunted to extinction. There used to be 400 million beavers in North America, and today there’s only 10-15 million. Co-existence and respect for this powerful (and cute) creature helps pave the way for a sustainable and flourishing planet.

Celebrate the Beaver moon today by preparing your heart and mind for the coming winter. Tag us on social media with what you do!