Dark Worm Moon
Deep peace of the dark moon to you
february 27, 2025
Thaw Out Your Imagination
The Snow Moon has set. The Worm Moon has yet to reveal itself to us, but it’s on its way, just over the horizon. And the Worm Moon marks the ending of winter. Over the next two weeks, it will wax to fullness, and then in the weeks of its waning away, we will cross the threshold into spring.
The Worm Moon is so named because this is traditionally the time of year that the ground begins to thaw and worms start to move around and aerate the soil and process nutrients. And yet, that may be shifting in our landscapes as the climate changes and we have these significant winter storms lowering the temperatures. (I know I’m personally feeling the freeze this winter in Baltimore! What changes are you noticing where you are?)
I’m not knowledgeable enough to say what this winter’s deep freeze means for our friend the humble worm, whether it will significantly delay their hatching, waking up, and moving around - or if it will impact their population this year. But it’s clear from the increasing intensity of weather events around the world that climate change is having significant impacts on our ecosystems as a whole and our collective and individual lives.
For this moon cycle, I had planned for us to reflect on how our bodies and spirits are rousing themselves into a new season of stretching and growing with the conclusion of winter in tandem with the worms. And I do still think that’s worth exploring together.
However, it’s also worth noticing how we’re being affected by extreme weather events wherever we are. This could be effects on our emotional and spiritual lives and also the effects on what foods we have access to, the prices of those foods, our transportation, the cost of heating our homes, and how our fuel sources themselves impact climate change.
I encourage you to keep these things in mind - and allow your curiosity to expand into any other connections you’re making - as we delve into our meditation practice for this dark moon phase.
A Note on Worms
Some worm species can’t survive the winter. In their cases, they lay their eggs before the ground freezes, and as the ground thaws, the eggs hatch. These worms are going through the process of birth and growth. Others, like night crawlers, survive the winter by burrowing deep into the ground, below the point of freezing. Depending on where they live, this could be inches or feet below the surface. For these guys, they’re on a journey back toward the surface.
We can take our cues from these hard working, incredibly strong creatures (some baby worms can push 500 times their body weight, while adults push 10 times their body weight) as we notice how our energy is starting to wake up and our inner creative is stretching their arms, cracking their knuckles, and getting ready for a new season.
Guided Meditation
Sit or lay back and allow your mind to wander as you visualize your connections to the earth. Where might you end up?
Reflect
As you consider how this season is affecting you spiritually, emotionally, physically, and relationally, here are some questions to ponder:
Are there places in your life that feel especially fertile, dormant, or stagnant?
Are there practices you want to nurture to spark growth, prune back, or invite rest in any particular area of your life?
In what ways can you invite your community to join you in whatever is emerging for you?
Join me
Thursday, February 27, 2025, in Baltimore to reflect with others who are thawing out, imagining, and reaching toward spring energy.
Some Links
In my worm Googling, I came across the site for Growing a Greener World (a former TV and YouTube show) and the current iteration of it, The Joe Gardener Show podcast. Check them out for great garden, nature, and worm enthusiasm!
If you’re looking for inspiration for actions you can take as an individual to fight climate change, I recommend subscribing to the One 5 C newsletter.
Photo by Tahir Osman on Pexels.