March's Moon of Awakening

After a long dark winter, one pines for warmth and light and likes to think of the third moon interval as earth's awakening time - many (if not most) of the names of March's full moon hint at awakening, springtime and greening.

This year, there is little evidence of awakening in the landscape. Beyond my window this morning lies a vast ocean of deep soft new snow which billows and curls and rolls away into the distance: the cars, small trees, hedgerows and fences of the village poking out of the breakers like storm tossed toy boats and channel markers.

I knew there was a moon up there in the inky darkness last night, and just where it was rising beyond the ash trees, but one could see nothing of "She Who Rules the Night", and the same will probably hold true this evening. I shall not be standing out in the garden with tripod and camera, wrapped up in every warm garment I possess, looking up and shivering from head to foot - Lady Moon will not be visible on this most radiant night of the lunar month.

One can do very well without these March storms, but the fresh snow outside is exactly the colour of the moon which has been spangling the late winter skies in my dreams all week long, and the Vernal Equinox is only few weeks away. I shall place a pot of daffodils, crocus or fragrant purple hyacinth (my favourite) on the old oak table in the dining room this evening, make tea, light a candle and think of warm and happy things. After so many years of life and moon watching on the earthly plane this time around, the moon is an old friend, and her image is clear and radiant in my thoughts, whether the night is cloudy, or clear and full of stars.

We also know March's moon as:

Alder Moon, Big Famine Moon, Big Winds Moon, Blossoming Out Moon, Bud Moon, Buffalo Dropping Their Calves Moon, Catching Fish Moon, Chaste Moon, Cherry Blossom Moon, Cold’s End Moon, Crow Moon, Daffodil Moon, Death Moon, Deer Moon, Eagle Moon, Earth Awakens Moon, Equinox Moon, Flower Shower Moon, Geese Return Moon, Greening Moon, Growth Begins Moon, Hertha's Moon, Hyacinth Moon, Kono Moon, Lenten Moon, Little Frog Moon, Little Spring Moon, Maple Moon, Maple Sugar Moon, Middle Finger Moon, Moon of Opening Hands, Moon of the Crane, Moon of Snowblindness, Moon of the Vernal Equinox, Moon of Whispering Winds, Moon When Buffalo Cows Drop Their Calves, Moon When the Leaves Burst Forth, Moon When the Geese Return, Moose Hunter Moon, Much Lateness Moon, Oestara's Moon, Ogroni Moon, Pexsisen Moon, Plow Moon, Princess Flower Moon, Purple Glory Tree Moon, Rebirth Moon, Renewal Moon, Sap Moon, Seed Moon, Sleeping Moon, Snow Blind Moon, Snow Crust Moon, Snowshoe Breaking Moon, Sore Eyes Moon, Spring Moon, Storm Moon, Sucker Fishing Moon, Sugar Making Moon, Third Moon, Tibouchina Moon, Trail Sit Along Moon, Tree Peony Moon, Violet Moon, Water Stands in the Ponds, Moon, Wind Strong Moon, Windy Moon, Worm Moon