How do you look at the moon during Ides of March?

Tuesday is the Ides of March, March 15. The famous line from Shakespeare is, "Beware are the Ides of March."

Ides actually means the first new moon of a given calendar month, so really it's a marker of lunar phases.

But the famous phrase "Beware the Ides of March" originates in ancient history, because it's the day Julius Caesar was assassinated while surrounded by 60 fellow Senators on the steps of the Roman Senate. And by Caesar saying, "Et tu Brute?" (and you Brutus?) - who Caesar thought was his friend.

A soothsayer had warned Caesar about March 15.

So it's actually a day of caution by those who are a bit superstitious. Or maybe they are just fans of Shakespeare! And it's a phrase that has entered modern culture as a general warning to be careful. I think carefulness is good advice for the bereaved, because we are a bit more vulnerable in grief.

The ancient Romans also considered it a deadline date for settling debts.

It's also a Catholic feast day for the canonization of a saint who founded an order of laywomen dedicated to education, as well other Christian special occasions for observance that happen on March 15.

The new moon usually appears between March 13-15, and, so for me, it's the time to look at the moon while reciting an old Nazarene prayer my beloved Baheej always said when looking at the new moon: "Dear Lord, your majesty has shone on us, please let this month be a blessed one for us."

So the Ides of March is really a more complex day than usually thought to be.

The point is: The date March 15 raises the very interesting topics of both superstition and faith. And it's Tuesday. Well, it's not a day of celebration or an actual holiday, but it might be worth keeping our eyes open, and doing something nice for yourself and others.

And then it's only two days more until St. Patrick's Day, thought to be the day St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Now that's a big day of celebration. Quite a week this is!

• Susan Anderson-Khleif of Sleepy Hollow has a doctorate in family sociology from Harvard, taught at Wellesley College and is a retired Motorola executive. Contact her at sakhleif@comcast.net or see her blog longtermgrief.tumblr.com. See previous columns at www.dailyherald.com/topics/Anderson-Kleif-Susan.