March Notebook: The Celestial Issue

Daffodils, Ancient Moon magic and Easter biscuits

Hello,

March is a quiet month isn’t it. It can easily slip under the radar. It’s not really winter but not quite spring, and it can feel like nothing much is happening.

But don’t let that deceive you. When you look closer, this month is actually filled to the brim with ancient solar and lunar magic.

Want to know why?

Ever since the shortest day, on the Winter Solstice, the days have been gradually lengthening as the light returns, and on the 20th March we will celebrate the Spring Equinox where, for a fleeting moment, night and day will be exactly the same length.

The Full Moon falls shortly after this, and the timing of these two celestial events shape our entire month as they alone dictate when we celebrate Easter. (Which can only happen after these sun and moon phases.)

No other Bank Holiday in the year has to hang around until the sun and moon are perfectly lined up and ready before it can begin which, I think, makes this one pretty special.

So this month we’ll be following the lead of our pagan ancestors and tapping into some ancient magic by celebrating the power of the sun and drawing on the energy of the Full Moon. As well as trying out some some tasty Easter buns and biscuits.

Who’s with me?

Photo by Gary Fultz on Unsplash

---

Things to love about March

1. The swift transformation in weather

‘In like a Lion and out like a lamb.’ If you’re unsettled by the blustery start to the month never fear, by the end of March the winds will have blown themselves out, according to this folklore saying.

After the Equinox on the 20th we also officially tip forwards towards summer. From this point on each day will become longer and each night shorter, as we head towards the longest day of the year at the Summer Solstice. So if you’re hanging on for warmer weather, this is the month that will really turn things around.

2. Easter baking

Whether you celebrate the Christian festival of Easter, or the pagan festival of the Equinox this month, there are plenty of opportunities for seasonal baking.

Spiced biscuits, Easter cakes, chocolate eggs, chocolate nests… Keep an eye out for my Spring Equinox newsletter later this month which will be filled with tasty recipes and ideas. And if you can’t wait until then I’ve put a recipe for Spiced Easter biscuits below.

3. The connection to the moon

If you’ve wanted to embrace lunar living, now is your moment! This month is full of ancient moon magic.

As I mentioned above, the date we celebrate Easter each year is worked out according to a lunisolar calendar. In simple terms this means Easter falls on the Sunday after the Full Moon that follows the Spring Equinox. (here’s a link if you want the complicated version.) The Easter holiday can’t begin until the sun and moon are perfectly lined up and ready.

This beautifully direct link to the solar and lunar cycles is the perfect excuse to dive into lunar living and find out a bit more, if that’s something that tickles your fancy.

Find out more about lunar living here.

Photo by James Wheeler on Unsplash

---

Things to do in March

Feeling suitably March-like yet? I hope so. Right, here’s your list of things to do, see and eat this month:

1. Pick your own daffodils

More and more farms are offering ‘pick your own daffodil’ events in March. In the UK you can usually also buy bunches of locally grown ones very cheaply, and they are very easy to grow yourself. So there’s no excuse not to fill your home with them this month.

2. Celebrate the Equinox

On the Spring Equinox there will be approximately 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night and it’s considered by some to be the perfect time to bring more balance into your life. It’s also the start of astronomical Spring.

I will be sending out a dedicated Equinox newsletter soon, packed with ancient magic and modern rituals to follow. There will also be recipes aplenty. Sign up now to make sure you get your copy.

3. Celebrate the Full Moon

This year the Full Moon falls on the 25th March and is known variously in different cultures as the Seed Moon, Lenten Moon, Chaste Moon or Worm Moon.

According to the principles of lunar living, the Full Moon is a time of peak energy, so this is a good date to:

• Welcome people into your home

• Celebrate what you’ve achieved over the past month

• Get outside and be active

• Moon bathe or Moon gaze

Find out more about the basics of Lunar Living here.

4. Bake Easter Biscuits

Lemon, nutmeg, chocolate, marzipan; this time of year is associated with some really delicious flavours. My next newsletter will land in your inbox in a couple of weeks and will be packed with seasonal recipes to try but if you can’t wait until then, here’s one to be getting started with:

• Easy Easter Biscuits from BBC Good Food - Lemony current biscuits with a twist of nutmeg.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

---

March Folklore

Much of the folklore attached to this month is concerned with predicting spring weather, as well as harnessing the power of the Equinox to get ahead with planting. 

Here are a few pieces for you to squirrel away, ready to impress, surprise or completely baffle someone at the appropriate moment.

1. Plant seeds on the Equinox

The Spring Equinox on 20th March was thought to be a powerful and significant time to plant seeds. So if the weather conditions are favourable, plant some on this day to ensure a good crop this summer.

2. Predict the year ahead

• As it rains in March, so it rains in June

• So many mists in March you see, so many frosts in May will be

• March winds and April showers bring Spring Flowers

  

  Photo by Suzanne Rushton on Unsplash

---

Ok, that’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed your March newsletter and I hope you have a wonderful month filled with spiced Easter biscuits, Full Moon magic and armfuls of daffodils.

Now it’s over to you to share your March rituals and traditions in the Comments. I’m really interested to know if anyone else loves March and if so what your rituals and traditions look like?

I’ll see you in a couple of weeks for a Spring Equinox special newsletter. We’ll be diving into ancient folklore, rituals and recipes. Look forward to seeing you there. If you haven’t already Subscribed then just click below to make sure that post arrives safely in your inbox.

Vicky xx

---