Chasing the Hare: March Magic Between Winter and Spring

When March arrives the over seventy inches of annual snow begins to melt. It is the seasonal war of early spring, and for my woods continues until April’s end. A time to chase the hare, as the maiden emerges from the melting snow, gifting us with a few days here and there of almost fifty. Upon seeing this the Hag of Winter slams her staff to the ground and takes to flight, swirling up a wicked winter storm. One can hear her late into the night, screeching as she rides the winter winds…

Melting, freezing, more snow, warming, on and on the battle goes. For me winter growth both physically and spiritually is deep underground, in the pitch blackness of the season. The planetary ruler for the dark season is Pluto, which has connections to Scorpio, ruler of death and resurrection. So I favor spells for keeping or uncovering secrets, as well as invoking radical change for spring. I combine this with Venus energy, as Venus is the ruler of the first half of spring. Venus is a very moist planet, (which explains all the melting icicles, snowbanks, and puddles within my woods this time of year). Venus brings to me the reward of my nighttime flights, and the hare offers me protection. As well as a strong connection to lunar energy.

Hares and rabbits were used in spells to cause harm or manipulate situations, thus a part of the darkness that this in-between seasons instills. The rabbit burrows deep and lives underground within winter’s darkness, so some true Pluto vibes there. The “mad” behavior of March hares led to their association with erratic, chaotic energy used in curses… which I confess does give one a definite edge. The hare and I travel deep into the rabbit hole, sharing visions, insight, and fright…

So this time of year I watch out my window, the one that faces my woods. Once I see the rabbit I know tis time, and my nighttime flights take me to the wood. I chase the hare and down the rabbit hole we go, were winter and spring ignite. I see spring visions there and hear the whispers from roots as I shapeshift into the night.