Finding Enchantment in March
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Finding Enchantment in March
Every month, I like to jot down a list of ideas for creating a magical month. You seem to enjoy it when I share these lists, so I have been making it a regular thing. You can read last month’s list here, in case you missed it.
The official start of spring, here in the northern hemisphere, occurs in March. Depending on whether you acknowledge meteorological spring or astronomical spring, this year the start date is March 1 or March 20.
There is, however, a third way of observing the beginning of spring. This third way is through the lens of horticulture. This takes into account your unique microclimate. This third way, this way of allowing nature rather than a date on a calendar to guide you, is what I follow.
There’s no point in preparing your spring beds in March if they are still covered in several inches of snow, as pointed out by Peter Wohlleben in The Weather Detective: Rediscovering Nature’s Secret Signs.
No matter how cold the weather is in my region in March, there is no ignoring the return of the sunlight which becomes noticeable beginning with Imbolc in February. But though the days are longer, most of them require those of us in my region to continue to wear coats, hats, and scarves — often until the end of April or even into May. So, instead of seeing spring as one season, I like to consider it as consisting of a few mini seasons.
My way of honoring the various phases of spring is not new; it is what those who follow the wheel of the year have always done, and in fact it was documented as an idea by Dr. Fritz Schnelle, a German agrarmeteorologist in 1955 (Wohlleben).
His idea consists of ten phenological seasons throughout the year. Spring, summer, and autumn all get three distinct periods, whereas winter only gets one.
If we think of spring as being three seasons, the Wheel of the Year makes a lot of sense.
With the start of Imbolc in February, or even as early as January in some places, we see the earliest spring flowers such as snowdrops and winter aconite, bravely pushing up through the snow. This season is pre-spring.
Here in upstate New York, pre-spring can be thought of as the time between Imbolc and Ostara (February 1st to March 20/21). It’s still too early to prepare our beds for planting, but trees are budding and bulbs, such as daffodils, pushing up or even blooming. We might have warm weather some days, followed by lots of snow.
Early spring usually arrives in April (though in recent years it can arrive as early as March) here in upstate New York. If we are lucky, we can prepare our beds and plant seeds. We just have to be mindful of the unpredictable snow and frost. This early spring follows our spring equinox celebrations.
Full spring is when all the fruit trees are in bloom, the lilacs are budding, and it’s warm enough to walk downtown and sit outside a favorite coffee shop to enjoy the beauty all around. Some years, in my region, this occurs in April and other times not until May. This full spring coincides with Beltane on May 1st, also known as May Day. Hawthorn blossoms are known as “the May” and indeed they often begin blooming in time for Beltane.
The timeframe for your region might look very different from mine. When planning your list of enchanting ways of honoring March, consider your microclimate and plan accordingly.
This is how I plan on finding enchantment in March, according to nature’s rhythm in my neck of the woods.
Walk in my neighborhood with the intention of spotting daffodils in bloom.
On a warmer day, open the windows to air out the house. Sweep the pathway. Clean the door. Clean the floors. Add lemon essential oils to the wash water.
Craft a springtime wreath to hang on the garden gate.
Weave a flower crown to wear on Ostara.
Create a springtime altar full of pastel tints and floral patterns. Add a picture of one of my favorite spring goddesses (from my ancestral lineage: Blodeuwedd, Brigid, Olwen, Freya, or Medeina).
Treat myself to hot cross buns from my favorite bakery. Place on floral patterned china and drink a cup of tea from my fanciest cup and saucer.
On a sunny afternoon, have a natter with the birds.
Journey to meet the Goddess of Spring. Allow her to guide me in my creative endeavors.
If we are blessed with rain, go on a spring rain walk. Wear my most colorful rain gear and don’t avoid a single puddle.
Write springtime poems/blessings and deposit them in the little free library at the edge of my neighborhood.
Visit the pond to see if we can spot the turtles. Maybe the blackbirds will have arrived early this year.
Paint my nails cotton candy pink.
When it snows, retreat indoors with a mug of coffee and a warm blanket. Listen to a classical music playlist that makes me think of spring.
Choose a book from the Anne of Green Gables series to re-read.
Get lost in the world of Mary Oliver’s poetry.
Braid my hair with colorful ribbons.
Wear champagne shimmer eyeshadow from dear Kelsey, to brighten the dreary spring days.
Hunt for fir, spruce, or hemlock tips and make into tea, medicinal honey, or an oxymel.
Steam artichokes and eat with lemon butter.
Harvest violet leaves if they happen to be out.
Walk in all weather. Appreciate the lengthening days.
Haunt my local antique shop and search for little spring treasures to gift and to keep.
Allow room for unexpected, pleasant surprises.
Please share your ideas for embracing enchanted simplicity this March. Will you do anything from my list?
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I’d never heard of the third way of observing spring, and how fascinating to learn about the 3 different sub seasons! I love that! Some ways I celebrate this time of year are: basking in the scent of warming earth, watching for and naming the birds that visit our neighborhood, seeking out violets & daffodils, and bringing out my spring candles. 🕯️
I saw some snowdrops blooming the other day and got excited. Now I'm carefully watching my garden beds to see if the tulips start pushing up soon because I'll have to spritz them with pepper spray immediately so the deer don't get them!