Star Stories, part 19: The Blood Moon, When Great Changes Begin
- zhaawano
- Dec 28, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Updated: Onaabani-giizis (Snowcrust Moon)/Ziizbaakdoke-giizis (Sugaring Moon) - March 3, 2026
Boozhoo, aaniin! Today we will explore the awe-inspiring sight of Dibiki-giizis (ᑎᐱᑭ ᑮᓯᔅ, The Moon), known as MISKWI-DIBIK-GIIZIS (BLOOD MOON). The moon takes on a red tint during ᑰᑯᒥᓯᓈᐣ ᑎᐱᐠ-ᑮᓯᐢ ᒪᑲᑌᐚᐱᑭᓯᐏᐣ (gookomisinaan dibik-giizis makadewaabikiziwin); this happens when our Grandmother is completely eclipsed, especially during the spring and summer moons. The sight of a Miskwi-dibik-giizis is of great spiritual significance in Anishinaabe culture, symbolizing new beginnings and transitions. She brings with her the energy of fertility, healing, and growth, both in nature and within ourselves.
ᑰᑯᒥᓯᓈᐣ ᑎᐱᐠ-ᑮᓯᐢ ᒪᑲᑌᐚᐱᑭᓯᐏᐣ Gookomisinaan dibik-giizis makadewaabikiziwin, a total lunar eclipse, is often referred to as a ᒥᐢᑷ-ᑎᐱᐠ ᑮᓯᐢ (blood moon) due to the reddish hue that ᐚᐏᔦᓯ-ᑎᐱᐠ-ᑮᓯᐢ (waawiyezi-dibik-giizis; "Full Moon") acquires during a full eclipse. The Earth's atmosphere scatters and bends sunlight, giving it a red border.
As the atmosphere scatters blue light from Giizis, the Sun, the light reaching the Moon appears red, visible when the Moon is nearly entirely in Earth's shadow, giving it a red appearance. The term "blood moon" is also used to describe a sequence of four successive total lunar eclipses. The Ojibweg might refer to this moon as ᒥᐢᑯᒥᓂ-ᑮᓯᐢ (MISKOMINI GIIZIS) or ᒥᐢᑷᐤᒥᓂ-ᑮᓯᐢ (MISKWIWMINI GIIZIS)—Raspberry moon; the seventh moon of Creation, marking the beginning of significant transformations. It is a period for focusing on healing and restorative practices.
No two miskomini giizisag, incidentally, are the same. The hue of red varies depending on the atmospheric conditions at the moment.
In 2021, the year this blog post was initially written, during the sixth moon known as ᐅᑌ'ᐃᒥᐣ ᑮᓯᐢ (ODE'IMIN GIIZIS; the Strawberry Moon; June), we observed a total Lunar Eclipse, a Super Flower Blood Moon, a "ring of fire" Solar Eclipse, and many bright stars around the Summer Solstice and the WENABOZHO constellation (Scorpio). On the 24th day of the month of July, GIIZHIG-ANANG (Venus) and the "Pollux" star appeared closest to each other in the evening sky. The Strawberry Moon was the last supermoon of the year.
In 2022, a miskomini giizis was visible in the early morning hours from Thursday, March 13 to Friday, March 14.
There were no miskomini giizisag in 2023 or 2024.
In 2025, on March 14, Dibik-Giizis once more transformed for a few hours—immersed in a mystical crimson light, as if painted by gookomisinaan herself.
Gookomisinaan: Our grandmother—a different form (inflection) of the word "nookomis."
ᓅᑯᒥᐢ Nookomis, our word for "Grandmother," has always been associated with ᑎᐱᐠ-ᑮᓯᐢ Dibik-giizis, or grandmother moon, who, as we believe, regulates the menstrual cycle of women on earth. Some of our aadizookaanan (sacred stories) link women's menstrual blood with the Moon and certain stars. One story explains the bright red color of the star commonly called Betelgeuse, or by its Latinized Greek name, alpha Orionis. Long ago, Wenabozho (the Great Hare) and his brother Ma’iingan (Wolf) battled and defeated a wiindigoo (the spirit of starvation) by taking a menstrual clot from Nookomis, their grandmother, and throwing it at the wiindigoo, covering him in blood.
Since then, Anishinaabe star stories describe a celestial entity with the same name lying in wait along the Jiibay-miikana (Milky Way) to capture those unprepared for the celestial voyage. Wiindigoo Anang, part of the Gaa-biboonikaan (Bringer of Winter) constellation, is what the Anishinaabeg call it.
What time does the total lunar eclipse start today—on March 3, 2026?
According to the Gregorian solar calendar, the initial phase of the eclipse, called the penumbral eclipse, begins at 12:44 a.m. PST, 3:44 a.m. EST, 8:44 UTC. The Moon enters the Earth’s penumbra, the outer part of the shadow. When this happens, the Moon begins to dim, but the effect is quite subtle.
During the eclipse, totality—when the moon is fully immersed in Earth's dark umbral shadow and appears blood-red—will begin at 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT) on March 3 and peak at 6:33 a.m. EST (1133 GMT). During totality, the Dibik-Giizis will remain fully inside Earth’s darkest shadow for about 58 minutes, making it one of the most memorable “Blood Moon” views of the decade.
When will the next total lunar eclipse take place?
Today's blood moon is the only Gookomisinaan dibik-giizis makadewaabikiziwin (total lunar eclipse) visible in 2026 and will be the last one until late 2028.
Note: The Gregorian calendar is based on the Earth's orbit around the Sun and the seasonal changes, but it does not synchronize the months with the lunar phases. The Anishinaabeg, however, traditionally use a lunar calendar, where time and dates are determined by the lunar phases, and the appearance of the full moon signifies the start of a new "month." Consequently, this year, the lunar eclipse takes place on the first day of Onaabani-giizis (the Snowcrust Moon) and the third day of the Gregorian month of March.
Images:
Wenabozho Sings at the Blood Moon © 2021-2026 Zhaawano Giizhik
Wolf Howling at the Blood Moon © 2022 -2026 Zhaawano Giizhik
THE LINKS:
Star Stories: The Great Sky Bear That Lives Among the Stars