March Magick: The Worm Moon
Happy 1st of March, witches!
Since bidding farewell to our Winter Witch, the Cailleach, tell us - are you sprinting towards the sun? Or are you still finding your footing amongst the seasonal shift?
We're somewhere in the middle. Maybe you are too?
How fitting that this month speaks to balance. A few weeks ago, we had a new moon in Pisces, and in one week, a full moon in Virgo knocks on our door. Appropriately named the Worm Moon, the third full moon of the year is also the final full moon of winter.
A sign that sunny, springtime days are nearly here…
If we feel called to step beyond our comfort zones and start new adventures, follow those instincts! With Aries season on the horizon, now is the perfect time to advocate for our desires and champion a cause. Yes, the Worm Moon asks that we do something that makes us feel alive.
So, why the 'Worm' Moon?
Although March can be a cold and stormy month, you've likely seen our dirt-loving friends wiggling around in the newly thawed earth. Perhaps you've also noticed the birds singing their approval?
While the name 'Worm Moon' feels fitting as we prepare for our garden spells, we might also know it as the Sugar or Sap Moon (a nod to the soon-to-be-tapped Maple trees) the Crow Moon (Delaware Native American origin), the Chaste Moon (Medieval origin), or my favorite, the Moon of Winds (Celtic origin).
Needless to say, spring is nigh - so says the birds, the weather, and the upcoming equinox. Remember when we said this month is all about balance? Around March 20th, modern Pagan and Witchcraft communities in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate the Spring Equinox through ritual and familial gatherings. In the Southern Hemisphere, people will light a candle for Mabon, the Autumn Equinox.
Traditionally, equinoxes symbolize balance, equality, and receptivity. They are invitations to turn inward and ask ourselves where we're supported. Are we happy? How do we feel (emotionally, physically, magickally)? Do we desire more alone time, space, or community? What feels overbearing, out-of-sync, and keeps us separated from our dreams?
Because, no matter the season, no matter the setbacks, we must remember our dreams. For many humans, it's these visions of what-could-be that keep us moving, motivated, and inspired to be a little better, a little wiser, and a little kinder than the day before.
In some modern Pagan and Witchcraft communities, the Spring Equinox is called Ostara. Sometimes described as Pagan Easter, families celebrate another turn of the seasonal wheel by decorating eggs, engaging in flower magick, and revisiting seasonal folklore.
While the origin of this sabbat will forever be elusive (like all good stories), theirs is a tale about a Germanic goddess by the same name – sometimes spelled Eostre.
