March 2016...
* 2/10 to 3/26 (OC 3/14 to 4/30): Lent.
* 2/28 eve to 3/6 eve: Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries--Old Greek festival celebrating the marriage of Goddess Kore and God Dionysos, following their return from Elysium.
* 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.
* 3/5: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you are connected to each and every sentient being that has ever existed.
* 3/6: 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.
* 3/7 to 3/8: 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.
* 3/8 (2:19 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. AKST): Total Solar Eclipse (visible in Alaska).
* 3/8 (8:54 p.m. EST): New Moon.
* 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. .
* 3/14: Sikh New Year (Nanakshahi Era 548 begins).
* 3/14 eve to 3/15 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis - as protector of wild animals, vegetation, and places.
* 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.
* 3/19: 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.
* 3/19 to 3/24: 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)
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* 3/20 (12:30 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.
* 3/20 (OC 4/24): 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.
* 3/21: 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.
* 3/22 eve to 3/24 eve: Jewish fast of Esther and fest of Purim--Recalls a planned massacre of Persian Jews and their deliverance by Queen Esther; time for helping those in need.
* 3/23 (5:37 a.m. to 9:57 a.m. EDT): Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (visible in North America).
* 3/23 (8:01 a.m. EDT): Full Moon (White/Virgin Moon).
* 3/24 (OC 4/28): 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.
* 3/25 (OC 4/29): 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.
* 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.
* 3/26 (OC 4/30): Holy Saturday--Vigil remembering Savior Jesus in His cave tomb.
* 3/26: Birthday of Joseph Campbell (1904), who found Deity within all religions and myths.
[caption id="attachment_10716" align="alignright" width="240"]
Kuan Yin Flame by Sue Halstenberg[/caption]
* 3/27: Chinese Buddhist festival of Bodhisattva Kuan Yin; celebrates Her “birth.” She declared women the spiritual equals of men.
* 3/27 (OC 5/1): Easter/Pascha--Christian celebration of Lord Jesus’ resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.
* 3/28: Death day of Scott Cunningham (1993), who taught a reverent, ethical, egalitarian, and ecological form of Wicca.
Excerpted fromTHE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2016A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality© 2015 Marija Miovskiwww.WheeloftheYear.com
