March 2008...
* 2/26 eve to 3/4 eve: Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries. * 2/6 to 3/20 (OC 3/10 to 4/19): Lent. * 3/1: Day the production and use of landmines was outlawed world-wide (1999); day to mourn their victims. * 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. * 3/1: Mindfulness Day Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you are connected to each and every sentient being that has ever existed. * 3/2: Christian feast of Blessed Mary, partner of St. Joseph and mother of Blessed Jesus--honors her as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all mothers. * 3/2 to 3/20: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as 'Ala'--Loftiness, followed by the Fast--time of purification by fasting from sunrise to sunset. * 3/5: Day commemorating the birth of Taoist Lao-Tzu (570? BCE). Taoists live simply and tranquilly, respect life, and recognize the equality of all. * 3/5: Great American Weigh In--Day to commit to a healthy diet and daily exercise. * 3/5 to 3/6: Mahashivaratri--Hindu fast, night vigil, and feast for God-Goddess Shiva-Shakti (union of Will and Power), who dances to create, destroy, and re-create the Universe. Tantric Hindus believe Shiva is within all men and Shakti within all women. * 3/7 (12:14 p.m. EST): New Moon. * 3/8: International women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment. * 3/8 eve to 3/9 eve: Remembrance day for Rabi'a al-bint Isma'il 'Adawiya (717-801), Sufi saint and preacher; she loved Deity passionately. Sufis seek Truth through love, wisdom, and action. * 3/9 (2:00 a.m.): Daylight Savings Time begins--set clocks ahead 1 hour. * 3/9: Day slavery was outlawed world-wide (1927); day to mourn its continued existence. * 3/10: Death day of Harriet Tubman (1913), who risked her life to guide slaves to freedom. * 3/13: Birthday of Joseph Priestley (1733), Unitarian who found Biblical basis for belief in a unitary Deity, and recognized Jesus to be Deity's Great Prophet. * 3/13 eve to 3/14 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa)--as protector of wild animals and vegetation. * 3/15 to 3/21: Old Anglo-Teutonic festival of Goddess Ostara, celebrating the annual rebirth. Her Hare gave gifts of eggs--signifying rebirth. * 3/16 (OC 4/20): Palm Sunday--Christian feast marking Savior Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem to teach love and justice for all humanity and to sacrifice Himself for the liberation and redemption of all. * 3/16 to 3/20: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Mainyu, creator and protector of humans. * 3/17: St. Patrick's Day--Old European festival marking rebirth of Viridios/the Green Man/Green George (God as deciduous vegetation); merged with the Christian feast of St. Patrick. * 3/17 to 3/22: Holi--Hindu festival celebrating the courting of God Shiva by Goddess Parvati, and the efforts on Her behalf by Kama (God of Love) and Rati (Goddess of Passion). Shaivas are devoted to God Shiva in all His aspects. * 3/18: Day the first bat mitzvah occurred - in Reconstructionist Judaism (1922). * 3/18: Day the first woman served as imam, leading a public, mixed‑gender, Muslim congregation in Jum'ah prayer, and delivering the sermon (2005). * 3/19: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Osanyin, Orisha of Deciduous Vegetation. * 3/19 (some transfer to 3/31): Christian feast of St. Joseph, partner of Blessed Mary and foster-father of Blessed Jesus--honors him as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all fathers. * 3/19 eve to 3/20 eve: Mawlid al-NabiDay commemorating the birth of Muslim Prophet Muhammad (570). He conceived Deity to be a compassionate, genderless unity. * 3/19 eve to 3/21 eve: Jewish fast of Esther and fest of Purim Recalls a planned massacre of Persian Jews and their deliverance by Queen Esther; time for helping those in need. * 3/19 to 3/23: Quinquatrus of Minerva--Old Roman festival of Goddess Minerva (Greek Athena)--as font of artistic inspiration. * 3/20 (1:48 a.m. EDT): Spring Equinox--Marks the beginning of Spring and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates first, annual, and perpetual Creation with egg hunts and exchanges. * 3/20 (OC 4/24): Maundy Thursday/Last Supper of Savior Jesus--He washed the feet of His male and female disciples, gave them bread and wine as His body and blood, told them to love one another, and told of the Paraclete who would come after Him. * 3/20: Old Slavic Jare--God Jarilo/Lado returns from Virey (the realm of the dead across the sea) to reunite with Goddess Morana/Lada. Their love and happiness bring the world light, warmth, and fertility. * 3/20 to 3/21: Old Sumerian festival celebrating the return of Dumuzi (God of Life and Death) from the Underworld to be with Inanna (Goddess of Life) for the verdant part of the year. * 3/21 (2:40 p.m. EDT): Full Moon (White/Virgin Moon). * 3/21: Taoist festival honoring the Shen (Deities) of Water, East, and Spring; prayers are made for growth. Taoists seek enlightenment and live in harmony with Nature. * 3/21: Haru-no-Higan--Day Japanese Buddhists mark the time of change by meditating on the impermanence of death. * 3/21: Naw Ruz Baha'i New Year (Year 164) and feast honoring the one Deity as Baha--Splendor. * 3/21: Beginning of Aries (the Ram/Ewe/Lamb). * 3/21 (OC 4/25): Passion Friday--Fast day to mourn the torture and killing of Savior Jesus by civil and religious authorities, and to contemplate the sacrifice made for the liberation and redemption of all. * 3/22 (OC 4/26): Holy Saturday--Vigil remembering Savior Jesus in His cave tomb. * 3/23 (OC 4/27): Easter/Pascha--Christian celebration of Lord Jesus resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. * 3/25 (some transfer to 4/1) (OC 4/7): Annunciation Day--Christian feast commemorating Blessed Mary's fiat--choosing to conceive Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and to become catalyst of liberation and redemption. * 3/25: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oshun, Orisha of Passion and Fertility. * 3/26: Mahayana Buddhist festival of Bodhisattva Tara/Kuan Yin/Kannon; celebrates Her birth. She declared women the spiritual equals of men. * 3/26: Birthday of Joseph Campbell (1904), who found Deity within all religions and myths. * 3/26: Day production and use of biological weapons was outlawed world-wide (1975); day to mourn their victims. * 3/28: Death day of Scott Cunningham (1993), who taught a reverent, ethical, egalitarian, and ecological form of Wicca. Wiccans create sacred space by calling on the powers of the four directions, invoke the Lord and Lady in their various guises, and raise power (through drumming, dance, and chant) to realize a positive purpose. * 3/29: Birthday of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (1819), who founded Reform Judaism in 1873. * 3/30: Day the Constitution's 15th Amendment went into effect, recognizing the right of all ethnic peoples to vote (1870). * 3/31: Birthday of Cesar Chavez (1927), who won recognition of migrant workers' rights through organization and non-violent protest. * 3/31: Vigil to mourn China's annexation of Tibet (1959) and the killings, torture, and religious persecution of Tibetan Buddhists.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2008
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2007 Marija Miovski
www.WheeloftheYear.com
