THE TRADITIONAL WITCH’S CALENDAR:  MARCH

Astronomically taken to be the period from the Vernal Equinox to the Summer Solstice (occurring around 21^st March and the 21^st June respectively in the northern hemisphere), Spring is the time of new birth and new growth in the natural world.   March is often not a pleasant month and has been described as the month God designed to show those who don’t drink what a hangover is like! For the traditional witch, however, the power of the March winds is an added impetus for magical working.

WOOD LORE:  Alder

With the alder’s natural habitat being streams and riverbanks it is not surprising that it can be viewed as being sacred to Elemental Water, although with its various associations, it seems to embrace all four elements. Pipes and whistles were made from alder, making it sacred to Pan and Elemental Air; whistles can be used magically to conjure up destructive winds — especially from the North (Elemental Earth). Associated with the Elemental Fires of the smith-gods (because although it burns poorly, it makes one of the best charcoals) it has the powers of both dissolution and regeneration. Primarily, the alder is the tree of fire, using the power of fire to free the earth from water and a symbol of resurrection, as its blooms heralds the drying up of the winter floods by the Spring Sun. Use alder flowers and catkins as part of your magical workings at Spring Equinox

 The indigenous British thought that the tree possessed ‘human’ qualities when they first witnessed the white timber turning a vivid reddish-orange — the colour of blood — which caused it to be revered as a sentinel, guarding the realms of Otherworld. Originally, it was one of the sacred British trees but was displaced by the ash following the ‘Battle of the Trees’, which means that it was sacred long before the Celts came to these islands. It is described as ‘the very battle-witch of all woods, tree that is hottest in the fight’ and is the tree totem of Coven of the Scales.

Ides of March: Traditionally, river sprites or nymphs are acknowledged on the Ides of March.In the ancient Roman calendar, the Ides denoted the 15^th day of March, May, July and October., and the 13^th day of other months.

18^thThe Feast of Sheela-na-Gig, acknowledged as a symbol offertility and of gateways between the worlds. Thisis a naked female figure, squatting facing the viewer with legsspread open to reveal its exaggerated genitalia. The majority ofthese are weird little characters dating from early medievaltimes, and can be found on buildings of the period right across Europe. The Sheelas appeared to have been absorbed into native Irish belief as powerful female protectors but there is littleevidence that they are viewed as images of any indigenouspagan deity. An old superstition claims bad luck can be avertedby making obsequies to a Sheela by touching her genitals.

21^st Spring Equinox. The Circle rite for the month should ask a blessing on the house for the coming year. At the Spring Equinox repeat theburning of the traditional nine sacred woods in a bundle (ash, birch, yew, hazel, rowan, willow, pine, hawthorn and blackthorn) and sprinkle the ash from the fire around the main entrance to the house.