Gaia's Garden

Even those of us on an Earth centered path can use a little help now and then in caring for our Mother.  This column is dedicated to making us more aware of the "footprints" we leave on Her and how to live more harmoniously with Her even if we're urban pagans.

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Poor SHE's Almanac
March 2001

Again rejoicing Nature sees,
Her robe assume its vernal hues.
Her leafy locks wave in the breeze,
All freshly steep’d in morning dews.
  ~Robert Burns

The Full moon in March, 2001 falls on Friday the 9th, at 12:23pm (Eastern, or 9:23am Pacific).  This date also happens to be Purim.  Purim is the Jewish festival celebrated on the 14th of Adar, the twelfth month in the Jewish calendar (Feb.–March). According to the book of Esther (Esther 3.7;
9.24,26) it commemorates the deliverance of the Persian Jews from a general massacre; however, the festival may have arisen in the Pagan celebration of the advent of Spring.  Preceded by a day of fasting, Purim is celebrated as a day of joy, marked by merrymaking and feasting.  The Book of Esther is read in the synagogue, and it is customary for children to make noise to blot out the name of the evildoer Haman.  Other customs related to the festival include the exchange of gifts, especially of food, the giving of alms to the poor, the presentation of Purim plays, and the wearing of costumes, especially by children.  In Israel, and many Temples around the U.S., a Purim carnival is held.  Purim is considered a minor festival, and work is permitted.  Another custom during the festivals and carnivals of Purim is the fact that most Jewish men (and women do it too, though not tradition) are encouraged to drink to excess, citing the often repeated quotation:  “A man is obligated to imbibe on Purim until he can no longer distinguish between ‘Cursed is Haman’ and ‘Blessed isMordechai’."   There are many reasons behind this custom, most of which confuse me, but felt it worth mentioning.

The Full moon in March generally heralds the last days of Winter, with the Spring Equinox near at hand, and is commonly referred to as the Chaste Moon, as the Earth before Spring is as a chaste young maiden beginning to blossom.  Some of the other lore names are:  Maple Sugar Moon; Sap
Moon; Moon of Awakening; Worm Moon; Cactus Blossom Moon; Flower Time Moon.

March is notorious for being windy and wild at its beginning and slowly giving way to the gentleness of Spring “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”  It is also the time of year that the first bulbs awaken and bravely face the weather proclaiming in no uncertain terms that Winter will
not last forever.   Snowdrops, crocus and daffodils manage to break through the soil and birds begin to return to mate and nest.

“Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares,
And take the winds of March with beauty.”
                    ~ William Shakespeare

It seems that when the seasons change it is always the onset of Springtime that comes as such a shock to me.  Winter in its severe beauty often creeps in around us so stealthily that it is upon us for quite some time before we truly take notice.  But not Spring, with its first bright green hues standing out boldly in contrast to the starkness of Winter’s icy grip, so inspiring to the senses!   The Earth’s beauty is beyond words, as language is inept to describe its continual wonder.

“How strange and wonderful is our home, our Earth,
With its swirling vaporous atmosphere,
Its flowing and frozen climbing creatures,
The croaking things with wings that hang on rocks
And soar through the fog, the furry grass, the scaly seas…
How utterly rich and wild…
Yet some among us have the nerve,
The insolence, the brass, the gall to whine,
About the limitations of our Earthbound fate
And yearning for some more perfect world beyond the sky.
We are none of us good enough
For the world we have.”
  ~Edward Abbey

A small editorial:  I have several friends and acquaintances that only look at the Moon as an object, a place to conquer, populate and to become an instrument of profit.  I do not hold with these feelings, as I do not see the benefit.  We must respect her presence in our sky and turn that same respect to the Earth we already have at our feet.  Of course, I have heard their views and must admit some have merit, but there are no safeguards, and I look around at this gem of a planet and think we must save what we have and learn to exist in harmony here first.  I invite everyone to honour and protect our Mother Earth and do everything within our power to sustain her.   As for me, in this lifetime, I will leave the Moon and Stars as the stuff of dreams.  ~SHE

                             Mother Bless,
                                     Kara Shima
 

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