* 3/1 eve to 3/8 eve: Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries--Old Greek festival celebrating the marriage of Goddess Kore and God Dionysos, following their return from Elysium.
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Mindfulness by Cristina Guitian[/caption]
* 3/2: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you are connected to each and every sentient being that has ever existed.
* 3/5: Old Romano-Egyptian festival honoring Goddess Isis as Lady of the Moon and Ruler of the Sea. * 3/5: Day commemorating the birth of Taoist Lao-Tzu (570? BCE). Taoists live simply and tranquilly, respect life, and recognize the equality of all.
* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment.
* 3/9 to 3/10: Mahashivaratri--Hindu fast, night vigil, and feast for God-Goddess Shiva-Shakti (union of Will and Power), who dances to create, destroy, and re-create the Universe. Tantric Hindus believe Shiva is within all men and Shakti within all women.
* 3/10 (2:00 a.m.): Daylight Savings Time begins - set clocks ahead 1 hour. * 3/10: Christian feast of Blessed Mary, partner of St. Joseph and mother of Blessed Jesus - honors her as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all mothers.
* 3/11 (3:51 p.m. EDT): New Moon.
* 3/14: Sikh New Year (Nanakshahi Era 545 begins).
* 3/15 to 3/21: Old Anglo-Teutonic festival of Goddess Ostara, celebrating the annual rebirth. Her Hare gave gifts of eggs - signifying rebirth.
* 3/17: St. Patrick's Day--Old European festival marking rebirth of the Green Man (God as deciduous vegetation); merged with the Christian feast of St. Patrick. * 3/17 eve to 3/18 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis - as protector of wild animals, vegetation, and places.
* 3/19: Christian feast of St. Joseph, partner of Blessed Mary and foster-father of Blessed Jesus - honors him as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all fathers.* 3/19 to 3/23: Old Roman festival of Goddess Minerva - as font of artistic inspiration.
* 3/20 (7:02 a.m. EDT): Spring Equinox--Marks the beginning of Spring and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates first, annual, and perpetual Creation with egg hunts and exchanges.
* 3/20: Old Slavic Jare--God Jarilo reunites with Goddess Morana. Their love and happiness bring the world light, warmth, and fertility.
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Aries by Josephine Wall[/caption]
* 3/21: Beginning of Aries (the Ram/Ewe/Lamb). * 3/21: Taoist festival honoring the Shen (Deities) of Water, East, and Spring; prayers are made for growth. Taoists seek enlightenment and live in harmony with Nature. * 3/21: Haru-no-Higan--Day Japanese Buddhists mark the time of change by meditating on the impermanence of death. * 3/21: World Forest Day--Day to celebrate the complex living community of trees, plants, birds, and mammals that live in forests world-wide.
* 3/22: World Water Day--Day to recognize the world's dependence on clean fresh water.
* 3/23 to 3/27: Holi--Hindu festival celebrating the courting of God Shiva by Goddess Parvati, and the efforts on Her behalf by Kama (God of Love) and Rati (Goddess of Passion).
* 3/24 (OC 4/28): Palm Sunday--Christian feast marking Savior Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem to teach love and justice for all humanity and to sacrifice Himself for the liberation and redemption of all.
* 3/25 (OC 4/7): Annunciation Day--Christian feast commemorating Blessed Mary's fiat - choosing to conceive Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. * 3/25 eve to 4/2 eve: Passover/Pesach--Jewish festival recalling their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and celebrating freedom from oppression.
* 3/26: Birthday of Joseph Campbell (1904), who found Deity within all religions and myths.
* 3/27 (5:27 a.m. EDT): Full Moon (White/Virgin Moon).
* 3/28 (OC 5/2): Maundy Thursday/Last Supper of Savior Jesus--He washed the feet of His male and female disciples, gave them bread and wine as His body and blood, told them to love one another, and told of the Paraclete who would come after Him. * 3/28: Death day of Scott Cunningham (1993), who taught a reverent, ethical, egalitarian, and ecological form of Wicca.
* 3/29 (OC 5/3): Passion Friday--Fast day to mourn the torture and killing of Savior Jesus by civil and religious authorities, and to contemplate the sacrifice made for the liberation and redemption of all.
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Quan Yin, Goddess of Compassion & Mercy[/caption]
* 3/30: Chinese Buddhist festival of Bodhisattva Kuan Yin/Kannon/Tara; celebrates Her "birth." She declared women the spiritual equals of men. * 3/30 (OC 5/4): Holy Saturday--Vigil remembering Savior Jesus in His cave tomb.
* 3/31 (OC 5/5): Easter/Pascha--Christian celebration of Lord Jesus' resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. * 3/31: Vigil to mourn China's annexation of Tibet (1959) and the killings, torture, and religious persecution of Tibetan Buddhists.
Excerpted fromTHE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2013A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality© 2012 Marija Miovskiwww.WheeloftheYear.com
