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Almanac of the Ancients:
March 2007
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by Triple Moon Goddess |
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The ancients were probably getting a little nervous by this time. The weather may have already begun to change to a little warmer and wetter, but yet food supplies were probably low and it wasn’t quite time to plant yet. They didn’t have greenhouses to enable them to plant early, or deep freezers to keep food stored. Hunger was a daily part of life. Today most of us are probably fed, but have a case of cabin fever. We want OUT into the springtime. We want things to turn green again and for the birds to return. We made it through the winter and so did some of the ancients. So what did they do and what can we do to celebrate? We saw that last month there were some spring rituals that were already begun. It never hurts to ask the gods to bring in what is needed, even if it isn’t quite spring yet. Think this month of what you want your new start to be!
How many of you have turned an old ancient ritual into a new one, or to celebrate a forgotten festival in your own home? Remember that the ancients asked the Universe every day to help them, and also sent praise on a consistent basis. Remember that you can also ask, receive, and even manifest. It is time for new beginnings , maybe a new affirmation about helping you to start anew! Being that spring was coming, the ancients went out and celebrated, prayed, ritualized, and danced! This was a busy month in ancient times. I am sure that you will find something here that you can use in your current life!
Please remember to feel free to email me (triplemoongoddessgina@hotmail.com),if you have any questions or comments . I have more information on some of the items listed here and will be happy to share with you.
It is now March and thoughts turn to spring! The name Maritus comes from Mars, the ancient War god. Mars also was in charge of making sure the land was fertile, so his name became the name of the first month of spring. The month of Maritus, or March begins in the sun sign of Pisces, the final sign of the zodiac. How fitting for a new beginning! Following Pisces the fish, the sign of the Ram, known as Aries, comes into the zodiac. Speaking of the skies, there will be a Full Moon on March 3 this year. Remember the full moon for any prayers, spells and affirmations!
The birth stones of March are bloodstone, and aquamarine. The flowers to celebrate this month are jonquil and daffodil. It is fun to display these crystals and flowers in your home for the month. I have a huge piece of aquamarine on my night stand. There may be daffodils poking their heads up, depending where you live. When you do not yet have them in your garden, most stores sell small pots of these flowers at this time and can cheer up your home with some floral sunshine!
After the short month of February, we go into one of the seven months with 31 days.
March was originally the first month on the Roman calendar! That is because January and February were not added until around 700 BC by King Numa Pompilius. Russia also began the year on March 1, well into the fifteenth century. In Great Britain, the year began on March 25 until 1752 when they adopted the Gregorian calendar.
Many deities were honored this month. They include Eostre (some say her name is a version of the word Easter), the Green Goddess, the Lord of the Greenwood, Mars and Ostara (also said to be a name taken from Easter). The great solar wheel turns yet again, this time to the Vernal Equinox, one of the four lesser sabbats celebrated by Wiccans and modern witches throughout the world. Not to mention lovers and those of us with Spring Fever!
The vernal equinox (or Spring!), is March 21 this year. The earth tilts toward the sun and the daylight hours go from 12 hours to longer and longer periods, until the autumnal equinox. What this basically means is, spring has arrived! So, how did the ancients celebrate this month? They were quite busy!
Mar 1- The Vestal Virgins rekindle the fire at the Temple of Vesta in ancient Rome each year on this date, this ritual began when this was the first day of the Roman year. Matronalia was celebrated as Roman women went to the temple of Juno Lucina . Men gave presents to their wives and rich women waited on their female servants!
Mar 2- In many countries (mostly European), the Mother-Goddess is still worshiped. She presides over the entire month of spring and is honored for giving life to everything.
Mar 3- This day is sacred to all Triple Goddesses, as three was, and still is, a magical number. It is said that the power of the pyramids is especially strong on this day as far as healing. Today was Dionysia, a day to honor Dionysus. Bulls and pigs were sacrificed, there was dancing, plays and feasts. The final ceremonies were held under the full moon (this date of course changes with the moon).
Mar 4- In Ancient Greece, Anthesteria was celebrated. This was a three day long ritual to honor the dead (the Keres). In Ireland and Wales, today is the Feast of Rhiannon, the Celtic Mother Goddess, originally known as Rigatona (“great Queen”), she is sometimes associated with the mare goddess Epona. In Japan on the first two Sundays in March (today and the 11th), Hime-no-miya is celebrated. The mother goddess of Japan named Izanami is honored with rocks, clamshells, and any natural piece that resembles genitalia. These are left at her shrines after being paraded through the streets.
Mar 5- Isis was honored on this date in North Africa, and still is to this day. Her rituals include dancing, music and feasting. This goes back to Rome as on this day Isis was called upon to bless the fleet. Today was the day the seas were again open to navigation for the year. The blessing was called Navigum Isidis (Blessing of the vessel of Isis). If you have a new boat, today would be a great day to take your first voyage or to bestow a blessing upon it! In ancient times the women wore flowers and sprinkled the streets with perfume. They held up shiny surfaces so that the goddess could see herself. The people carried lamps and candles and shouted, “Make way for the goddess !” , as they proceeded to the port. Priests dribbled milk from a breast shaped pitcher. There was a boat built just for the celebration and the priests cut the lines to allow the boat to sail away on its’ own. This was a gift to the goddess!
Mar 6-The ancient book “Perillous Dayes of Every Month” claim that the 6th and 7th of March “shall come to no good end and the dayes be full of perillous things” . Not quite “Beware the ides of March”, but close!
Mar 8- Mother Earth day in China. This is an ancient celebration that honors the earth as mother goddess. Today there are parades, feasts, and firecrackers. People bury “birthday presents” in the ground to thank mother earth! Today would be a good day to plant something or fertilize mother earth. Even picking up some trash would be greatly appreciated by Gaia! Some cultures still celebrate the old ways, maybe this would be a good one to add to our culture!
Mar 9- Another ancient festival that is still celebrated today is the Butter Lamp Festival. The monks in Tibetan Buddhist temples use this ritual to render the demons around them powerless and to secure blessings from the gods. Yak butter is used to make sculptures of Buddhist “heroes” and they are paraded through the streets while ancient chants are recited. When the parade ends, the sculptures are tossed into the river.
Mar 12- Babylonian Feast of Marduk- this is an ancient festival to honor the god of the city of Babylon . Marduk is usually associated with water, white magic, and vegetation. The name “Mordechai” was given to children to honor the god.
Mar 13- A pagan ritual is still celebrated in parts of France called Burgsonndeg. It is a fire festival to celebrate to rebirth of the sun . In Luxembourg a similar event named Burgbrennen is celebrated with bonfires on the first Sunday of Lent.
Mar 15- In ancient Rome this day was celebrated to honor Attis and Cybele. It began with a parade of reed bearers. This was to honor the finding of Attis in the reeds. There were picnics and singing. The next nine days were honored with and sexual abstinance. Attis and Cybele were featured in several celebrations during March.
In Japan-Honen Matsuri- A fertility festival. This is honored to bring a bountiful harvest to all. Shinto priests play music and parade through the streets carrying a 69 inch long wooden phallus from Shinmei Sha to Tagata Jinja temple. There is food and saki for all and the celebration as ancient as it is usually gets a little out of hand.
Mar 16-Holi (India), an ancient festival still celebrated today to celebrate the burning death of the demon Holika. An effigy of Holika is put on the fire with a child on her lap. The child is made on non combustible material. There are barley seeds placed under the child. Coins are thrown into the bonfire for material prosperity. Women carry their babies around the fire clockwise to bring them prosperity in life. People look into the flames for clues on the next harvest. Coconuts are sometimes thrown into the fire and eaten later.
Bacchanalia begins. This was to celebrate Bacchus, the Roman god. Originally they were secret celebrations attended only by women. The festival lasted three days and was dedicated to pleasure. Drinking wine was a major part of the festival.
Mar 17- St. Patrick’s Day. Liber Pater was honored in ancient Rome. He is a fertility and wine god who is honored during the festival called Liberalia. It was a time of feasting and drinking, young men were expected to enter manhood on this day(those who were 17 years old). Special honey cakes were eaten, and statues were dressed with ivy.
Mar 18- The ancient Pagans celebrated Sheela-na-gig. She was a fertility goddess with oversized genitalia. She is carved on to many castles and churches in Ireland and other parts of Great Britain. The carvings are said to ward off death and evil. The Christians converted her to a consort of Saint Patrick. Birthday of Kwan-Yin (Guan-Yin, Avalokitesvara, Kannon), is celebrated in Taiwan. She is the goddess of compassion and mercy in many eastern cultures. Her name is said to mean “observing the sounds of the world”. Her name, qualities, and the way she is pictured depends on if you are in A Taoist culture or Buddhist; if you are in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand or China.
Mar 19- Akitu, another ancient Babylonian festival that celebrated the marriage of heaven and earth, it lasted for 10 days. In Rome Quinquatria was celebrated on this date. This was a festival to honor Minerva. Women consulted Fortune tellers , and there were plays, music and poetry. The festival lasted 5 days.
Mar 20-Isis was again honored in Egypt on this day as part of spring festivals. Celebrations were held along the banks of the Nile in her honor.
Mar 21-SPRING! First day of the astrological year.
Mar 22- Pine trees were uprooted on this day in ancient Egypt ( let’s not celebrate this one please!), and carried to the Temple to mourn the demise of Attis. Attis had been hunted down by Cybele after he betrayed her. He was driven mad are ripped off his genitals because they caused him to betray Cybele.
Mar23-Day of Blood in Ancient Rome. This was the day when priests were ritually castrated, and the population would also cut themselves. The blood was spilled to honor Cybele. People spent the day in mourning and the night was spent holding a virgin over a tomb created for the celebration. This was also the Tubilustrium and final day of Quinquatria! The Tubilustrium was a ceremony to make the army fit for war. An ewe was sacrificed to Mars. This was not a festival, but a traditional start of the campaign season. The event was again marked on May 23!
Mar24-The Hilaria (Joy Festival) of Ancient Rome, this was the celebrate the triumph of night over day. The priests opened the tomb to show that the god (Attis) was not within, he was not dead (sound familiar!). There was then much rejoicing with feasts and merriment. After the celebration there were ritual “washings” to cleanse for the new beginning.
Mar25- One of the Irish Quarter Days (the year in marked in quarters based on seasons and holidays)
Mar 29- Festival of Ishtar the Babylonia goddess of love, fertility, storms, childbirth and battle. As a triple goddess she also represents life, death and rebirth.
Mar 30-In ancient Mesopotamia this day was set aside the thank the god and goddess for creating the earth. In ancient Rome it was a day to honor Salus, the goddess of health and cleanliness. She is usually pictured holding a snake.
Mar 31-Feast of Luna (ancient Rome) was celebrated at moonrise to honor the moon and lunar magic. An old ritual is to shout “Hares! Hares !” before retiring for the evening and “Rabbits ! Rabbits !” when awakening the first of April.
Enjoy the first month of Spring and some create some wonderful new beginnings for yourself and your family! May you grow and prosper along with the spring flowers!
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Triple Moon Goddess,
Psychic Tarot Consultant
& Author
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Triple Moon Goddess has been psychic all her life, receiving her first deck of cards, 36 years ago, at age ten.
As a Psychic, she is currently reading on KEEN, Kasamba, and in person, most recently, in Evansville, IN.
In addition to a BA in psychology from Montclair State in NJ., She has studied Mediumship with Denise Ilwaine, and currently studing Reiki.
She is a student who "plays Tai Chi", and enjoys playing with energy.
Triple Moon Goddess also teaches monthly metaphysical classes at the Bead Angel, in Evansville, covering different topics each month. She has also taught Tarot classes and psychic development classes; led "ghost hunts", and "seances".
She has attended many metaphysical classes, both in person and correspondance (before the internet!). She also teaches quilting!
As an avid reader, she loves to pass on everything she can to others.
She was the editor on "C.R.U.M.B.S.," a New Age self help book., and currently writing a book on tarotand readings.
She is the mother of two children, one of which is autistic, and teaches her a great deal about viewing the world through different eyes.
Email:
triplemoongoddessgina
@hotmail.com
Web:
www.Keen.com/
Triplemoongoddess
URL
www.myspace.com
/triplemoongoddessgina
Blog URL
http://blog.myspace.
com/
triplemoongoddessgina
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