March

Hrethemonath                                                                       mArch

March is the third month of the year and was originally the first month of the year in the Roman calendar and named Martius.  It was named after the Roman God of war, Mars. The vernal or March equinox falls during this month between the 19th and 21st.  March also marked a time when war would resume after the long winter months.

The month of Hrethe, the Goddess who fights winter.  This is the month of Lenting and the Spring Equinox. This festival marks the end of Winter and the beginning of the season of rebirth. Libations of mead are poured onto the Earth. March’s birth flower is the daffodil. The birthstones for March are aquamarine and bloodstone which symbolize courage. The zodiac signs for the month of March are Pisces (until March 20) and Aries (March 21 onwards).

Air (wind, future, change, ideas).  Not a true Ancient Norse Rune but one I use for practice from other runic alphabets.  If you’re doing a ritual related to communication, wisdom or the powers of the mind, Air is the element to focus on.  Gar, spear, is also the name of G.  Phonetically, gar represents the g-sound, sacrifice and dignity.  Like many weapons, a spear may also be a symbol of power.  Raido ride, journey, quest; is the name of the r rune of r.  This rune represents the path of a person’s life and how it interacts and intersects with other people’s life paths.  

The Third Hall is about communication. This time also rules writing, mental abilities, lower education from 1st to 12th grade, short journeys, local travel and travel within the United States. It also refers to early learning and immediate environment. Other keywords include mental processes, active search for knowledge, telepathy and mental energy.

2 Read Day

Many people in the United States, particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day, annually held on March 2. This nationwide observance coincides with the birthday of Dr Seuss, who is known for writing children’s books.

Read Across America calendars and other promotional material for Read Across America Day show images of activities associated with reading, learning, literacy and other elements of education. Many schools, libraries, and community centers across the United States participate in the day by bringing people together to take part in reading books. Various reading activities and events are held across the country on this day. For example, some students take part in a Read Across America channel designed to showcase student and educator videos around the country. Others make reading pledges, organize book fairs, or read aloud to groups of people.

5 Full Storm Micro Moon M

A micro full Moon is the name given to a full Moon that occurs when the moon is farthest from the Earth. The next micro full Moon will occur on Thursday, March 5, 2015. When the Moon is at its apogee, it exerts its lowest gravitational pull, leading to low tides and a smaller variation between high and low tides.

Remember the importance of rain for this season's crops.  This is a time to perform rituals dealing with communications, strength, healing and cleaning of the body and spirit.  It is traditionally the time when Wicca’s gather to celebrate the power of the Moon through an Esbat ceremony. It is during this time that the God becomes the strong Warrior figure who cares for the Earth and all its creatures.

                              God of the Moon, king of the night,

                              keeper of women's mysteries, mister of the tides,

                              you who are ever changing and yet always constant,

                              I ask that you guide me with your wisdom,

                              help me grow with your knowledge,

                              and hold me in your arms.

9 Day of Olvir

A Norwegian Heathen Olvir of Egg (late 900s) organized festivities to the Gods, defying King Olaf Tryggvason.  When the men go before the king, Olvir uses some clever wordplay when he responds to the king that 'no one can be responsible for what fools and drunken people say' while being evasive in what he tells the king.  The king eventually sends Olvir home, but with a warning: that he shall discover the truth, so Olvir better not participate in Pagan practices again.

Olvir was really in this case an early example of a diplomatic spin-doctor as he downplayed the significance of the gathering to make it seem like it was more a bunch of folks enjoying a feast and some drinks together.  While sometimes there is that over-emphasis of the prowess of a warrior in battle, the ancient Norse loved a person of keen-mind and clever-tongue as well, and Olvir definitely had the later skill in spades.

When Olaf caught him again planning Ostara celebrations, he killed him.  After he was assassinated Olvir, their accomplices were killed, tortured or exiled.  Today remember the martyrs who maintained lives of the old traditions, that managed to arrive nowadays to us.

13 Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th is believed to be a day of bad luck. The superstition surrounding Friday 13 could also be linked to Norse mythology. According to legend, 12 Gods were at a banquet at Valhalla when Loki, the God of mischief who was not invited, turned up, bringing the total number of guests to 13. He was responsible for the chaos that led to the death of one of the good Gods – Balder – so all the Gods grieved.

13 Wane Moon

The Waning Moon are best for doing magic for removing something from your life (bad habits, stress, etc.) or for clearing out negative energies.

                              Moon of the finest silver wane,

                              take with you bad luck and bane.

                              As you fade into the night,

                              bring new hope back in sight.

14 Judy Harrow Birthday

July Harrow (1945-2014) was a Wiccan elder, counselor, and Co-founder of Proteus Coven, author of several books including "Wicca Covens."  She was a community leader and activist, the first Wiccan priest to be registered with the state of New York, founder of the Pagan Pastoral Counseling Network and head of the Pastoral Care and Counseling Department at Cherry Hill Seminary.  She was a Pagan pioneer.

19 Thor's Day

On this day a blot is dedicated to Thor, the protector. A cup of mead is passed around, and each drinks for Thor, saying what first comes into his mind, like a lightning bolt of truth. The remainder of the mead, and the rainwater, is poured out as a libation. Then the Mjollnir is passed, and each lays it on their heart and swears to make their word be as a bond of iron.

Thor is a son of Odin, and is one of the most powerful of the Gods.  Thor is the God of Strength and Storm who governs the weather, sending the life giving rain to the farmers fields.  Unrivalled in strength, Thor is the embodiment of pure, raw might and power which can be felt upon the intense air of thunderstorms and seen with each flash of lightning, or even in your light bulb. 

Thorsdagr in Old Norse, Thunresdaeg in Old English, is the day of Thunor, commonly known in Modern English as Thor, the Germanic God of thunder.  On Thursday, concentrate on the mystery of thurisaz T.  Become aware of your temper and changes in mood. Learn to use this knowledge consciously.  Learn to defend yourself physically, but make sure you don’t ever sink to the level of a mindless bully.  Dedicate this day to the God Thor.  Learn why he was very much the favorite deity of Scandinavians, but also think about his important role in the Aesir’s war against the thurses, the forces of unconsciousness and primordial nature. 

                              May Odin give you knowledge on your path,

                              May Thor grant you strength and courage on your way,

                              and may Loki give you laughter as you go.

20 New Moon

In many magical traditions, this is considered a fallow time, in which one rests and rejuvenates before beginning more intense magical workings again.

                              Hail to thee, thou New Moon, beautiful guide of the stars.

                              Hail to thee, thou New Moon, loved one of my heart.

                              If you have found me well tonight, seven times better may you

                              leave me, Bright white Moon of the seasons, beautiful dear one of

                              the skies!

20 Spring Equinox

A day of Renewal and Easter.  The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the Spring Equinox on March 21.  The Venerable Bede said the origin of the word is actually from Eostre, a Germanic Goddess of spring. Of course, it's also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well.  For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season.

Get outside for a walk and picnic.  This is the time to run wild like the March Hare!  Gather together a group of friends to celebrate the first signs of spring.  You could even nurture Mother Earth by organizing a litter-pick.  Then settle down on a grassy knoll somewhere to enjoy a delicious picnic of joyful spring food: green leaves, devilled eggs, seeds/grains like couscous or quinoa, and pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Also called Summer Finding.  This is a time to perform rituals dealing with health, healing and growth in all areas. Today many honor Frigg, Freya and Nerthus. Libations of mead are poured onto the Earth.  Ostara celebrates the coming of spring and return of life after the dead of winter.  Many Americans follow the tradition of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving baskets of candy.  The Easter Bunny is a popular legendary anthropomorphic Easter gift-giving character analogous to Santa Claus in American culture. 

                              On this day I give thanks to the Divine Friends

                              for granting me the experiences

                              that develop my strengths and teach me confidence in myself.

                              I trust my decisions today,

                              because I choose my path with a clear mind and a loving heart.

                              Blessed be.

20 Happy Day

The International Day of Happiness is celebrated throughout the world on the 20th of March. Advertisers tell us that happiness comes from buying and consuming their products. Celebrities and the media pretend it comes with beauty & fame. And politicians claim that nothing matters more than growing the economy.

A profound shift in attitudes is underway all over the world. People are now recognizing that 'progress' should be about increasing human happiness and wellbeing, not just growing the economy. In July 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a groundbreaking resolution which recognized happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes... happiness and well-being of all peoples”.

What makes you happy?  One thing that religion often does for people, or gives people, is an idea of what should create or nurture happiness.  In the Norse there is the Havamal, a collection of wisdom sayings attributed to the God Odin which outlines advice for right living.  This includes the core idea, I believe, that happiness is found in appreciating what we have and doing the things we can within our circumstances.

20 Solar Eclipse

As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse is a type of eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun.  An eclipse is a natural phenomenon.  Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omens.  The Emperor Kang supposedly beheaded two astronomers, Hsi and Ho, who failed to predict an eclipse 4000 years ago. 

In Norse mythology, the Gods Odin and Tyr both have attributes of a sky father, and they are doomed to be devoured by wolves at Ragnarok.  Sunna, the Norse Sun Goddess, will be devoured by the wolf Skoll.

                              Come out into the light!

                              You are meant to shine!

22 Water Day

World Water Day has been observed on 22 March since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly declared 22 March as "World Day for Water".  Events are organized on or around this day to increase people's awareness of water's importance in environment, agriculture, health and trade.

Without water, we would die. Water is essential for life on earth, not just human life but all life.  Water is needed for drinking, cleaning, washing and making crops grow.  There is no substitute for this precious resource, and yet we waste it, we pollute it, and we even commodify it!  Let's start anew, working towards clean water for all.

                              We pray for those that we know who are in need

                              of your life-giving water at this time... (add names

                              and circumstances known to you). May their

                              thirst be quenched.

                              Hear the cries of those without clean water

                              And quench their thirst

                              So may it be.

27 Wax Moon

During this time, we recognize the God as the young Warrior who searches for a partner with which he can become a new father.

                              May all I say and all I think,

                              be in harmony with thee,

                              God within me, God beyond me,

                              makers of all. Thank You.