Long Silences Moon

We  crossed over the midpoint of winter,  though it is still a long way to spring.  For our ancestors this was time for careful stock taking and perhaps rationing the remaining food and fuel.  but at least they knew spring was coming, no mater what the weather looked like. The weather  could trick you into thinking it was spring. but the moon and the stars were constant and could be trusted to correctly mark the passage of time and seasons, in the time before clocks and calenders.

The deep and bitter cold of winter lessens its grip and instead of snow, there is icy rain, that clings to everything and sends tree limbs and power lines crashing to the ground. The landscape sparkles, with its glossy layer of ice, as beautiful as it is dangerous.
The stars and moon  seem so much nearer and clearer at this time of year, the whole universe has drawn in and appears to be sleeping, but that slumber is becoming fitful, roots begin to grow under the protective ground, a few hardy bud begin to swell, Owls have begun there nesting and bear cubs are born, the sweet maple sap will soon be rising, and so will our winter weary spirits.

February Moon names

Ice (Celtic).
Old Moon (Cree).
Gray Moon (Pima).
Wind Moon (Creek).
Winter Moon (Taos).
Nuts Moon (Natchez).
Avunnivik Moon (Inuit).
Geese Moon (Omaha).
Bony Moon (Cherokee).
Purification Moon (Hopi).
Little bud Moon (Kiowa).
Snow Moon (Neo-Pagan).
Lateness Moon (Mohawk).
Shoulder Moon (Wishram).
Rabbit Moon (Potawatomi).
Sucker Moon (Anishnaabe).
Long Dry Moon (Assiniboine).
Little Famine Moon (Choctaw).
Storm Moon (Medieval English).
Sparkling Frost Moon (Arapaho).
Running Fish Moon (Winnebago).
Coyote Frighten Moon (San Juan).
Spruce Tips Moon (Passamaquoddy).
Raccoon Moon, Trees Pop Moon (Sioux).
Hunger Moon : Dark, Storm Moon : Full (Janic).
Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Trapper’s Moon (Algonquin).

Other moon names : Wolf Moon, Wild Moon, Quickening Moon, Solmonath Moon, Chaste Moon, Horning Moon, Red Moon, Big Winter Moon, Cleansing Moon.
~Everything Under the Moon

The whole world seems to have slowed to a crawl, almost as if we are all holding our breath, waiting, waiting here in the growing light of the approaching spring for the first true sign that spring is near, and they we are not being fooled by the weather.  Waiting and listening for the long silence to be broken by the song of the first robins.   The Long Silences Moon, will be my personal name for this moon, and I will  be waiting with you, under the Long Silences Moon.