Origins of the Name “Worm Moon”
As the earth begins to stir from its long winter sleep, March’s full moon rises with the whisper of thawing soil and waking roots. This moon, known as the Worm Moon, is a sign that spring is near and the great turning of the wheel has begun.
Names in Other Cultures
The Worm Moon goes by many beautiful names across cultures and traditions, each one reflecting this liminal time of seasonal awakening:
Celtic Tradition: Known as the Moon of Winds, marking gusty days and stirring skies as winter loosens its hold.
Anglo-Saxon: Called the Lenten Moon, tied to the Christian season of Lent and its themes of reflection and preparation.
Dakota and Lakota: Sometimes referred to as the Sore Eyes Moon, due to the bright glare of sunlight reflected off melting snow.
Chinese Lunar Calendar: Often falls close to the Second Full Moon of Spring, associated with the preparation of soil and planting of seeds.
Neo-Pagan/Wiccan Traditions: Referred to as the Sap Moon or Chaste Moon, symbolizing purity and the rising flow of life force.
Each name carries a similar thread: transition, stirring energy, and the quickening of new life.
Affirmations for the Worm Moon
I welcome new life and new beginnings.
I honor the stirrings within my soul.
I am rooted, growing, and ready to bloom.
Final Thoughts
The Worm Moon awakens the earth with soft movement and gentle growth. Embrace the stirrings of your own transformation, and trust the soil of your spirit to nourish what’s next.
The name Worm Moon comes from early Native American and Colonial traditions, passed down and recorded in The Old Farmer’s Almanac. As the ground warms and softens, earthworms begin to reappear in the soil, a sign that robins and other migrating birds would soon return.
The re-emergence of worms was a clear, magical marker of the changing season—life returning to the land, slow and sacred. In many ways, the Worm Moon represents renewal, rebirth, and movement after dormancy.
How to Work With the Energy of the Worm Moon
This full moon is a powerful time for awakening, intention-setting, and letting go of what no longer supports your growth. Just as worms churn the soil beneath the surface, this moon invites you to shift your inner landscape.
Worm Moon Ritual Ideas
Seed Blessing Ritual: Hold physical seeds or symbolic ones (goals, ideas) and bless them with your intentions for growth. You can even plant herbs indoors to mark the start of something new.
Grounding Practice: Walk barefoot on the earth (if weather allows) or meditate with soil or stones to reconnect with the roots of your being.
Decluttering & Energy Clearing: Clear out stagnant energy from your space—physically and spiritually—to make room for renewal.
Crystal Companions: Use moss agate, green aventurine, or carnelian to awaken vitality and align with spring’s energy.
Tarot Spread Prompt: What is ready to awaken within me? What must I release to grow? Where am I being invited to move forward?
