January 2026 (Winter Collection)
Theme:
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
What are you hungering for?
This month’s theme calls you to awaken your inner instincts and reconnect with your raw, untamed truth.
Clay:
The cup you're holding in your hand was made with Laguna Miller 90- a sturdy, grounded body with warm, natural brown tones when fired. Like the wolf it is solid, dependable and filled with colors of the wolves fur.
Glazes (each cup will come in 1 of these 5 glazes):
The color choices are a reflection of the wide variety of wolves ranging from smokey grey, speckled brown to Snow White. I’ve chosen to make an experimental ash glaze using the ash from our beautiful dogwood (I’ll be calling it the wolfwood from now on 🤣) in the backyard. You can find a video (link here) to watch the process of an ash glaze being made from start to finish.
dogwood ash plus silky black (from Amazing Glaze book recipe pg.177)
Smokey grey
Shino
Layered browns
Tuning In
I like to use the full and new moons as gentle reminders to pause and check in with myself. I’m often going, going, going — so I love knowing that at least twice a month I’ll take the time to slow down and reflect with a longer tea session.
You definitely don’t have to choose the moon phases, but for me they help me feel more connected to nature’s cycles and more present in my day-to-day life. I also enjoy exploring the themes associated with each moon in astrology. Even if astrology isn’t really your thing, the symbolism still offers beautiful messages, prompts for reflection, and ideas you can use to create a themed ritual.
Full Moon (time of culmination, release & emotional climax):
Cancer January 3, 2026
WOLF MOON
Tap into this nurturing watery moon. Allow yourself to relax in a hot bath and imagine the water warming every cell of your being, releasing you of anything that no longer serves you. Reflect on where you feel emotionally fulfilled.
New Moon (new beginnings, setting an intention):
1/18/2026 CAPRICORN.
This new moon is an ideal time for discipline and structure along with goal setting and manifestation. Think about how you could create a few routines to support your aspirations.
Plant:
Inside your ritual kit is a beautiful sprig of ROSEMARY, hand collected by me and my family from our neighbor's garden. Rosemary has a quiet yet powerful connection to January, both symbolically and seasonally.
It has an evergreen spirit in the depth of winter. In this way, it mirrors the endurance and renewal of January, when life begins again from the stillness of winter.
Rosemary symbolizes steadfastness, memory & clarity, helping you to stay rooted in purpose as the year begins.
Rosemary is ruled by the Sun in herbal and astrological traditions. In January, when the days slowly grow longer, rosemary's solar nature aligns with the return of light and vitality.
Traditionally, rosemary was used for ritual cleansing and remembrance at the year's turning. It was burned to clear stagnant energy and honor the ancestors.
January is a time of reflection and intention setting. Rosemary's sharp, piney aroma is known to awaken the mind and enhance the memory- helping you to hold your resolutions and visions clearly.
Stone:
Red Garnet: It is January’s birthstone and represents warmth, protection and renewal- a perfect reflection for the heart of winter.
Mantra
"Moon above, guide my sound. Instinct pure, wisdom profound. I listen, I trust, I know my way- the wolf within shows me today."
Journal Prompt
The Wolf moon is deeply primal and tied to instinct, hunger and truth. While we sit with our inner thoughts during these longer, darker and colder nights, tap into your untamed self with these prompts.
What are you hungering for, not just physically, but emotionally or spiritually?
What desires have I silenced or starved that are now howling to be acknowledged?
When was the last time I followed my instincts without overthinking? What happened?
Where in my life have I been too domesticated and what would it look like to reclaim my wildness?
What does freedom feel like in my body? What keeps it from me?
Where do I still try to belong where I don’t truly fit?
Write a letter to your inner wolf. What does it need, fear, protect or long for?
What does your primal howl sound like?
Herbal Blend
January’s blend captures the raw, instinctive wolf energy that will ground, connect and empower you. In the deep, heart of winter, when the Earth sleeps and our primal senses awaken we find ourselves in a time to reconnect to body, trust intuition and nurture both strength and sensitivity. Let this one steep for a good 10 minutes to extract the wolf within. Add the juniper berriest and cayenne in right towards the end before straining. Watch me make it here: (*video)
Cacao (3 parts)- provides a non jittery energy “howl”
Fresh ginger (2 parts)- circulatory stimulant pushing warmth to all of your paws
Cinnamon Bark (1 part)- helps with winter sluggishness
Rosemary (1 part)- the focus, “herb of remembrance”- remembering your primal self
Juniper Berries (1/2 part)- creates a northern forest vibe in your mouth
Pinch of cayenne (optional)- added heat for the winter fire
Spirit Pet
A tea pet or spirit pet is a small clay figurine that sits on your tea table as you sip your tea. In Chinese folklore, households often honored small domestic spirits by inviting them to share a cup of tea with them. This was not only a way to honor this unique spirit but also to invoke the unique qualities of that specific tea pet. This month's the tea pet is the howling wolf. The howling wolf is a call to connect with your inner truth, intuition and the unseen realms of spirit. The howl is the wolf's song and how they affirm their place in the wild. This spirit pet asks you to connect to YOUR song and sense of belonging.
BONUS!