Okay so yes, technically, it’s 2026. A fresh, blank slate where new possibilities have fertile soil to bloom. Yet, you may not be feeling that energy translate from out of your brain and into your body. You may feel a resistance towards action and initiation, as if your spirit longs to remain in its cocoon just a little while longer.
If this ring true for you, it’s important to know that you’re not crazy. In fact, you’re perfectly aligned with what many different ancient systems have long been rooted in: the belief that the true new year doesn’t begin until March. Let’s dive into the historical, astrological, and psychological backing for this idea and how to prep yourself for the true new year.
The New Year Actually Begins in March
Long before December 31st became the evening of fireworks and kisses at midnight, March marked the start of the calendar year. In fact, the ancient Romans named March after Mars, the god of war and action. With their calendar kicking off in March, it was deemed a time of movement and initiation. January wasn’t slated as the official start of the year until 153 BCE, largely due to political and administrative convenience.
In astrological studies, the New Year aligns with Aries season, the first sign of the zodiac, and the Spring Equinox, when light and dark are equal and energy begins rising. This typically lands between March 19 to 21, a time marked for rebirth, momentum, courage, and initiation. It only makes sense that this would mark the beginning of a new year, as January often feels like “planning mode,” while March sparks real movement and clarity. It’s been secretly embedded in our practices anyway, as March marks the beginning of most academic semesters, fiscal years, fashion seasons, and of course, spring cleaning.
Listen to Your Body
It’s almost against your biological nature to treat January as the beginning of the new year. A winter season of rest and dormancy in the Northern Hemisphere, plants aren’t blooming and animals are still hibernating. Humans ourselves are also naturally experiencing lower bursts of motivation, due to less sunlight and longer nights. By March, however, the days lengthen, and with that, creativity, libido, and ambition naturally increase.
We’re pushing ourselves to set and act on massive goals, reinvent our routines, and be hyper-productive, all while still feeling burnt out from the holiday season, low on vitamin D, and mentally exhausted. It can feel like you’re behind or inefficient, impacting your self image and setting you off into comparison paralysis. Yet, the fact of the matter is that this is truly a time of slow recalibration.
If you want to operate in true alignment, you would use January and February as a time to marinate and set intention, while waiting until March to activate. Rather than going with the flow, if you want to build out a schedule on a rhythm that mirrors both astrology and biology, here’s what a true year looks like:
- March: Action, initiation, rebirth
- April-June: Growth and momentum
- July-September: Expansion and expression
- October-December: Closing loops and ending chapters
- January-February: Reflection, rest, vision-setting
Know that you are in charge of how you operate, and you don’t need to work against your body just because society has deemed it correct. Listen to your ancestral compass and tend to your garden the way that feels best for you.
