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Coyotes and wolves have howled when the moon is out since Ancient Greek and Roman times. Hecate and Diana, goddesses of the moon, hung out with wild dogs in the night.
In Norse mythology it is dogs running across the sky that chase the moon and sun for day and night to occur.
But did you know studies have shown coyotes and wolves don't really howl at the moon? More simply, they howl more when the moon is bright and the light makes their nocturnal activities easier.
They lift their heads to the sky to project the sound in the best way possible. And they are heard more often in the colder months when nights are longer and their mating season is on.
I find it interesting that the expression “howling at the moon” when used for people signifies pining for something that is out of reach or unattainable. If the animals use the moon as a tool to achieve even more and communicate farther, why would we not be able to make it work for us? I say it's worth a try.
Howling can act as a GPS signal, a rally cry, an alarm or even just to form a harmony. All these are worthwhile acts and valuable to the community as well as the individuals. In the same way, our figurative howling can be valuable.
As the cold long nights get longer and more pervasive, why not make the most of it? Maybe your howling is just for a bit of fun, like those pack harmonies. Or perhaps you want to gather inspiration for a goal or a new project. Even if you just want to be in the moment, a starry night is a great moment to take in.
Since we don't really have the ability to raise our snouts and howl, a nice cup of something warm would help set the mood. I like homemade hot chocolate:
- fill your favourite mug with milk
- Pour the milk into a medium saucepan and put on medium heat
- Stir in 2-1/2 ounces of chopped semisweet chocolate
- Add 1 teaspoon honey
- Sprinkle in a bit of spice - I like 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger for my large mug (you can try 1/4 tsp cayenne if you like it really spicy)
- Whisk till ell blended. Pour into your mug once warm.
Howling at the moon might be about simple semantics, but that doesn't mean it can't be romantic too.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
