Months of the Year Pendulum

How to use this board

This board is for medium-range planning: which month to start a class, when to take that trip, when to pick a habit back up. Always ask about something you will do: "Which month is right for me to move?" rather than "Which month will I meet someone?" The pendulum doesn't hand out dates from fate; it helps you notice which part of the year feels like yours.

Keep in mind where you live. December is high summer in Buenos Aires or Sydney and winter in Chicago or Madrid, so each month's character shifts with the hemisphere. The reflections on this wheel speak to the month's place in the year (beginning, middle, close), which is the same everywhere.

Several month names come from the Roman calendar: January honors Janus, god of doorways and beginnings; March, Mars; July, Julius Caesar; and August, the emperor Augustus. September through December mean seven, eight, nine, and ten, because the earliest Roman year began in March. If the month that comes up has already passed, read it as next year's, or as a nudge to look at what you started back then.

The options

What each answer invites you to consider.

January

January, the month of Janus, who looked both backward and forward. Good for beginnings with intention. Ask what you want to leave in the old year before you walk through this door.

February

February, the shortest month. January's resolutions have been tested by now: which ones are still alive? It may be a good time for something small and sustainable rather than a big leap.

March

March is named for Mars and was, in the early Roman calendar, the first month of the year. If this needs momentum and resolve, there's starting energy here. What's holding you back today?

April

April, with the first quarter behind you. A good time to adjust course with what you've learned. Ask which part of the original plan deserves to stay and which is worth changing.

May

May carries the rhythm of a year already underway. If this month came up, maybe your project wants continuity more than novelty. What could you grow out of what you've already begun?

June

June closes the first half of the year. It's a natural lookout point: how are you doing with what you set out to do? If this lands in June, think about what you'd like to have ready by then.

July

July, named in honor of Julius Caesar, opens the second half. A fresh start inside the year. Ask whether this is something to begin from scratch or to pick up again with new eyes.

August

August, the month of Augustus. For many people it's a time of vacation or a school break, depending on the country. Does this call for focus, or would it benefit from a looser pace?

September

September, whose name means "seven," is a reminder that calendars change. A good month to reorganize. Think about what structure you'd need for this to work through the months that remain.

October

October, the old eighth month. The year starts turning toward its close. If this falls here, ask whether it's about harvesting what you planted or planting with next year in mind.

November

November, the old ninth. A month to finish what's pending without December's rush. What could you complete now, and what is it better to accept will wait until later?

December

December closes the cycle, between taking stock and celebrating. If this is slated for year's end, notice whether that gives you time to prepare or whether you're quietly putting it off.

Frequently asked questions

How do I ask a pendulum about a month?

Ask about your own action with a clear time frame: "Which month this year is best for me to start the course?" Avoid asking when something will happen to you, since a pendulum doesn't predict. If a month that has already passed comes up, read it as next year's.

Why does September mean "seven" if it's the ninth month?

Because the earliest Roman calendar began the year in March, which made September the seventh month. When January became the start of the year, the names September through December stayed as they were.

Do the months mean the same thing in the Southern Hemisphere?

Not quite. July is winter in Chile or Australia and summer in the United States. That's why the reflections on this wheel speak to the month's place in the year, not the weather. If you want to work with the season itself, try the seasons board.

Go deeper

• Using a Pendulum for Timing and Dates · How to use a pendulum to pick a day, a month, or the moment to take a step, with weekday, month, when, and moon phase boards, without sliding into fatalism.
• Questions to ask a pendulum: how to word them, plus 40+ examples · What to ask a pendulum and how to phrase it: one thing, present tense, no double negatives. Over 40 example questions by topic, plus what not to ask.

Sources

• The Old Farmer's Almanac, "How Did the Months Get Their Names?" (https://www.almanac.com/how-did-months-get-their-names)