Welcome the March Worm Moon in Virgo
If you’re looking how to find and appreciate Divine moments every day, and deepen your connection to Nature and indeed the Universe we inhabit, there is no better time than the Winter to do so – especially the Full Moon in March.
So stick around to the end of the video because I’m going to share some tips, some little known facts, and an easy ritual template that will help you make the most of this auspicious time.
From time immemorial, the moon has played an important part in our human culture, tradition, and history. The phases of the moon are a powerful and constant reminder that life is a series of cycles that repeat themselves, ad infinitum.
The moon has been our constant celestial reminder of our connection with Nature, the universe, and our own alignment within it.
In the Ara Tradition, we celebrate the sunrise, sunset, new and full moons, and seasonal changes as connected.
When we observe the changing phases of the moon and how each full moon connects to the seasons, we reconnect to a sense of organic flow—how all life experiences are woven together.
Importance of Full Moon Rituals
Full moon rituals, just like our seasonal holiday rituals, are about aligning ourselves with Nature and Her natural rhythms.
Full Moon rituals help to bring our awareness of our own internal seasons. We can become aware of how our own seasons are naturally aligned with Mother Nature's seasons. We can experience the ebb and flow of the universe we live within.
Honoring the Full Moon connects us with the ancestors of the land we inhabit. For instance,
The ancient indigenous people of North America had a deep connection to the moon and regarded it with great reverence and respect. The moon played a significant role in their daily lives, and many of their traditions and beliefs were centered around its phases and cycles.
For example, many indigenous cultures used the lunar calendar to mark the passage of time and to plan their activities, such as planting and harvesting crops, hunting, and fishing. They also used the moon as a guide for navigation and as a source of inspiration for art, music, and storytelling.
The moon was often seen as a powerful and sacred entity that influenced the natural world and the behavior of animals. Some tribes believed that the moon had the power to heal and protect, while others saw it as a symbol of femininity and motherhood.
Overall, the moon held a special place in the hearts and minds of ancient indigenous people of North America, and its importance can still be seen in many of their cultural practices and traditions today.
In recent times we have either forgotten or simply lost touch with our connection with the Great Mother and the Universe at large. Full moon rituals are an opportunity to revive this connection with Nature, our bodies, our natural rhythms, and the universe.
And bringing a ceremonial frame of mind to your time in Nature, communing with the Moon, infuses the moment with sacredness.
What’s Cool about the Full Worm Moon
The final full moon of the winter season will appear on the nights of Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7. Specifically, March’s full Worm Moon reaches peak illumination at 7:42 A.M. ET on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until the middle of the night to see the Moon! Look for the spectacularly bright Moon as it rises above the horizon on Monday evening. If your weather is poor on Monday night, try again on Tuesday!
To find out when the Moon rises near you, check out this handy tool from the Farmer's Almanac...
This March Moon will look especially large to us when it’s near the horizon because of the “Moon illusion,” when it looks bigger when near comparative objects than it does when it’s high in the sky without any references.
Learn more about our full moon rituals:
Why is it Called the Worm Moon?
Full Moon names come from several places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources.
Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not just to the full Moon herself.
The surprising truth behind the Worm Moon Name
March’s full Moon goes by the name Worm Moon. For many years, we thought this name referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring. This invites robins and other birds to feed—a true sign of spring!
However, more research revealed another explanation. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver visited the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes and wrote that the name Worm Moon refers to a different sort of “worm”—beetle larvae—which begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and other winter hideouts at this time.
- Farmer's Almanac
There are quite a few names for the March Moon that speak to the transition from winter to spring. Some refer to the appearance (or reappearance) of certain animals, such as the Eagle Moon, Goose Moon (Algonquin, Cree), or Crow Comes Back Moon (Northern Ojibwe), while others refer to signs of the season:
The Sugar Moon (Ojibwe) marks the time of year when the sap of sugar maples starts to flow.
The Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo) refers to the strong windy days that come at this time of year.
The Sore Eyes Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine) highlights the blinding rays of sunlight that reflect off the melting snow of late winter.
How to Watch for the Full Moon Rise
At a full Moon, the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun so the face of the Moon facing toward the Earth will be illuminated by the Sun’s rays.
What’s interesting about the full moon Is that Most of the time, the full moon isn't perfectly full. We always see the same side of the moon, but part of it is in shadow, due to the moon's rotation. Only when the moon, Earth and the sun are perfectly aligned is the moon 100% full, and that alignment produces a lunar eclipse.
This month, the Moon will reach its full phase at 12:40 GMT (7:40 a.m. EST) on March 7, 2023. The Full Moon will climb to the highest point in the sky around midnight local time. But our advice is to start observations just after the Moon rises fully above the horizon — at this time, it looks bigger than usual and appears orange in color.
How long does the Full Moon last?
The Full Moon time mentioned above is the time when the Moon and the Sun are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth, and our natural satellite is 100% illuminated by the Sun. But even after the Moon passes this moment, it appears as a complete circle in the sky to the unaided eye. So the timing, in this case, isn’t so important — you’ll see the full lunar disk on several nights around March 7.
How the Zodiac Influences the Moon’s Energy
For many of us who live in concert with Nature’s rhythms, the Full Moon is one of the most magical of times -- an ideal occasion for becoming intentional and for creating change.
The Moon orbits one full turn around the Earth in 28 days. And as it does, it passes through each of the Zodiac signs for about 2 to 2 1/2 days.
The sign of the Moon on any given day broadcasts a subtle emotional undercurrent.
Sun / Moon axis
When there's a full moon, she sits opposite the sun, which symbolizes divine feminine and masculine energies coming face-to-face to enkindle harmony between your emotional and physical reality.
The sun reflects your outer world, physical identity, and the ego; it is the way you express yourself in the physical dimension. Its light also provides you with enough strength and courage to move forward.
With the sun and moon on complete opposite sides of the zodiac wheel, you — both personally and collectively — are being asked to create balance between your inner and outer world. One cannot exist without the other.
Full Moon in Virgo
The Virgo Full Moon is grounding and connecting you with the transformation you have been wanting to make. There is a sense of Spring Cleaning, preparing you for a transition – whether it’s physically re-organizing your house, or changes in your physical and emotional life, this Full Moon is inspiring the necessary steps to get different results. Virgo emphasizes getting organized and reviewing the details or simple steps you need to take daily to create the life you want.
The Virgo Full Moon supports you in taking practical action and creating healthy habits in your daily routines. Virgo attunes you to your overall health.
The main theme of the Moon in Virgo is upgrading daily habits and systems that support your health and work. As an earth sign, Virgo helps you have clarity about working the plan that helps you get results. Virgo loves diving into the details to get stuff done.
While the Moon is in Virgo, the sun is in. Pisces
The Virgo/Pisces axis inspires you to get back on track with daily habits that lead you toward the results you want. However, the Pisces sun energy pulls you back toward dreaming (Pisces) versus action (Virgo). Because of the strong opposition in Pisces, you may be reviewing potential options in moving forward without taking definitive steps.
This Full Moon provides the practical steps to move the needle forward. Be open and explore options and ready to take the next step. Virgo also helps you tune into minute details that you may not have considered. Be open to transform and adapt to a new path. Your passion and presence are needed to support your growth and the evolution of humanity.
Putting it all together
In this video, you learned some important facts about the Full Moon in March that will help you make the most of this auspicious time.
You discovered why Full Moon rituals are so important.
You also learned that the Full Moon in March offers a chance to balance the solar energy of the sun in Pisces with the lunar energy of the Full Moon in Virgo. This balance can help us tap into our intuition while remaining grounded in reality.
As you prepare for the Full Moon in March, remember the deeper meaning behind this lunar cycle. Embrace the energy of renewal and growth, and use it to set intentions for your own spiritual practice.
And make sure you schedule some time to get outside to enjoy the Full Moon.
If you’re looking for an easy Full Moon in March ritual, here are some tips for you:
- Spend some time focusing on your breathing, to bring yourself into the present moment and to let go of all the everyday troubles and concerns.
- Take a moment to think about all that you learned in this video and what wisdom Grandmother Moon may have for you at this time.
- Specifically meditate on: What wisdom does the Full Moon in March have for you? How can you absorb Her energy as She sits in Virgo? What wisdom does the Native American lore have for you?
- Now focus your gaze on the moon. Feel the energy of the Moon cascading down upon you –
- Allow the full moon to bathe you in a protective circle of light. Vibrant with energy, feel your space transformed, filled with the purity of spirit.
- Feel the energy shining on you, illuminating you…
- Allow your intuition to receive what Grandmother Moon may have to say to you at this time.
- Take a moment to write down the words that you were given, the words that you created.
Your Next Step
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