Many shifting energies are upon us now and in the coming days and weeks, so it’s important to be mindful. These are as follows: Daylight saving time (DST) occurred Sunday, March 13 in Canada and the United States (except...
Many shifting energies are upon us now and in the coming days and weeks, so it’s important to be mindful. These are as follows:
Daylight saving time (DST) occurred Sunday, March 13 in Canada and the United States (except for Arizona and Hawaii which do not observe DST). It’s a known fact that sleep deprivation brought on by the transition to daylight saving time has been associated with demonstrable physical harm. For example, the risk of experiencing a stroke, heart attack, or car accident increases significantly in the days and weeks following the time change in the spring.
The Sun is transiting out of the Aquarius constellation and into the Pisces constellation on Monday, March 14 at 2:46 PM Eastern Time (6:46 PM UTC). According to the sidereal zodiac which I use, the Sun will transit through Pisces from March 14 to April 13. In astrology, the Sun is the soul of the world, and as it moves through the hopeful, creative, and compassionate sign of Pisces, we may begin to resolve some of our longstanding problems. Being at the end of the zodiac, Pisces is about letting go of the old to make room for the new. The Sun’s annual sojourn in Pisces awakens our spiritual side and helps us become more aware of the bigger picture.
From early on Monday, March 14 and into early Tuesday, March 15, the Sun will be sandhi, on the cusp between Aquarius and Pisces. In Vedic astrology, this is also known as the monthly “sankranti” which refers to the Sun’s passage or change. We should avoid this period for beginning a new action like starting a job or new program of study, making a significant purchase, setting out on a journey, establishing a new business venture, or getting engaged or married, etc. This is because the Sun is the soul of the world and the vitality of everything in life, and it needs to be strong when we set anything new into motion if we want it to have positive lasting results.
Sankrantis are turning points when the Sun’s energy is transitional and “on the edge of change.” Often what we set into motion on a sankranti will not have the expected outcome. This solar transition period from one sign to another occurs every month. It falls within 1/2 day on either side of the Sun’s ingress into a new sign, and is a time when we may literally get lost, misplace items, or feel metaphorically “lost.” Sankranti periods are best reserved for inner reflection and maintaining the status quo, with a focus on staying steady.
Speaking of the above, another kind of sankranti (a seasonal version) will occur at the equinox on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 11:33 A.M. Eastern Time (3:33 PM UTC). This is the beginning of springtime in the northern hemisphere (vernal or spring equinox), and the beginning of fall in the southern (autumnal equinox). On the equinoxes, day and night are nearly of equal length throughout most parts of the world: “equi” means equal, and “nox” means night. The equinoxes are thus seen as balance points in the Earth’s seasonal cycle, when Mother Nature undergoes something akin to an electromagnetic reboot.
Vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere is traditionally celebrated as a time of rebirth when the solar cycle begins to expand, as the days are becoming longer and warmer and the natural world is beginning to come back alive. Aptly, in the Persian calendar (northern hemisphere), the vernal equinox marks the beginning of the New Year, when the seasonal wheel turns closer toward the light and daylight will gradually begin to dominate over darkness until the summer solstice.
Both vernal and autumnal equinoxes universally represent a time when the earth energies as well as our own bioenergetic systems are dramatically shifting gears, so our emotional and physical health can be quite sensitive, and we may need extra rest and care to protect our life force and maintain equipoise.
The day before, the day of, and the day after the equinoxes are the most sensitive ones for protecting health and maintaining status quo. According to classical Vedic elective astrology (Muhurta), these days are not recommended for setting anything of worldly import into motion, because (again) the energy around a sankranti is too transitional and will probably not support long-term success and fulfillment.
The Full Sap Moon will culminate two days in advance of the equinox, on Friday, March 18 at 3:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time (7:18 AM UTC). The waxing gibbous Moon is strong and growing stronger in the days leading up to the Full Moon. This phase is a great time to complete projects and fulfill social responsibilities as the brightening lunar energy can support us in our endeavors.
At the same time, as we move within a few days of the Full Moon, we become more sensitive to the negative power and attacks by inappropriate astral entities, so it is an especially important time to protect ourselves with spiritual and psychic practices, and to avoid fearful, pessimistic, and angry emotions and antipathetic people. In other words, the Full Moon energy heightens mental and emotional processes for good or bad, depending upon where we place our focus, so it’s a wonderful time to align with spiritual and healing teachings and practices.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, there are several names for the March full Moon. These lunar month names were given a long time ago by various tribes of Native Americans:
1. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees.
2. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter.
3. Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night.
4. Full Worm Moon: As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins.
5. To the early settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon (before Easter) and was the last full Moon of winter season in the northern hemisphere.
The purnima tithi occurs the day before the Full Moon culminates. It is the best period for Full Moon healing/health rituals and spiritual practices, and will be in place from around 4 AM Eastern Time on March 17 (7 AM UTC), until 3:18 AM March 18 Eastern Time (7:18 AM UTC). So the night of Thursday, March 17, will be best for celebrating and taking advantage of the highly flowing soma (energy) of the Full Moon.
The coming Full Moon will occur in the juicy, sweet, and fertile constellation of Virgo, which is the sign of purity, service, and healing. Virgo is depicted by an innocent, beautiful, light-bearing goddess, as in the image below (Signo de Virgem by Johfra Bosschart).
Additionally, the Full Moon will occupy Uttara Phalguni nakshatra, the Star of Patronage ruled by the ancient Vedic solar deity Aryaman, the third son of the goddess Aditi. He is depicted as the early morning sun disc, and helps alleviate the suffering of humanity through his kindness and compassion. This Full Moon is especially supportive for dealing with authorities, for professional matters, and for offering service and charity to others.
In the Vedic calendar, the Lunar New Year (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada) will occur on April 1 at the New Moon in Pisces, which means that in the remaining weeks of March, we are completing the old year and preparing for the new. The days around the spring equinox (in the northern hemisphere) can trigger enormous spiritual and creative power, and this is especially so this year as we will also have the Full Sap Moon occurring in the same time window. The sap of life is already beginning to rise in the trees and plants and also within us now!
Spring is considered a time of miracles when life is coming into full bloom and our own psychic power expands its capacity for meaningful and abundant growth. By aligning with the potential generated during this time, we can use this period to meditate on what we want to create more of in our own lives in the coming six months and beyond.
My recommendations to assist with the upcoming Full Moon and equinox alignment are quite simple:
1. Let go of the past and all preconceived notions about what “should” be and ask your Higher Self to show the way to your most joyful and abundant creative path.
2. Truly take time and create space for listening within to know which direction to take.
3. Observe the signs that will be shown in your outer environment and in your dreams and reflections.
4. Trust your inner knowing to guide the way.
Ceremony and spiritual practice to help with embodying your intentions will be very powerful on Thursday night into Friday, and on Saturday night into Sunday, as well. I wish you a blessed Full Moon, equinox, and bright new season ahead!
May the winds, the oceans, the herbs, and night and days, the mother earth, the father heaven, all vegetation, the sun, be all sweet to us…Let us follow the path of goodness for all times, like the sun and the moon moving eternally in the sky…Let us be charitable to one another…Let us not kill or be violent with one another…Let us know and appreciate the points of view of others…And let us unite.
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