Mabon & The Autumn Equinox

September 21^st-24^th

Mabon pronunciation: MAY-bon

Themes: harvest, gratitude, abundance, balance, preparation for winter, welcoming the dark

Also known as: Autumnal Equinox, Fall Equinox, September Equinox, Harvest Home, Harvest Festival, Harvest Tide, Wine Harvest

And The Wheel Turns….The Goddess is filled with the abundance of the Harvest. Bringing forth food for the coming winter. The harvest is at its height and we offer gratitude for abundance and welcome the darkness to come. The Lord of the Forest, the Hunt, and the Land holds sway and the Lord of the Underworld will great us at Samhain.

Mabon falls on the Autumn Equinox and is the second of the three harvest festivals (Lammas, Mabon, and Samhain). Just like Ostara on the opposite side of the Wheel of the Year, at Mabon the days and nights are of equal length. The name “Mabon” is a rather recent name for the Sabbat, coming into usage in the late 20th century. Mabon was a Welsh mythological figure whose origins are connected to a divine “mother and son” pair, echoing the dual nature of the relationship between the Goddess and the God. It is also associated in some ways with The Dagda or Good God.

Though temperatures may still be warm during the day, summer has truly come to an end. The leaves on deciduous trees have begun to turn colors and fall to the ground, and there is a chill in the evening air. The days were longer than the nights until this moment, and after this the nights will begin their reign. As with Ostara, the theme of balance is highlighted here, reminding us that everything is temporary, that no season lasts forever, and that neither dark nor light ever overpowers the other for long.

All Sabbats are occasions to express gratitude to the God and Goddess for the blessings in our lives, but Mabon is particularly so, coming at the height of the harvest season. Traditionally, this was a very busy and physically exhausting time. This holiday provided a brief rest from toiling in the fields—a day to sit back and enjoy the fruits of the labor thus far. In these modern times, most of us are not involved in agriculture, but we can still take a moment to rest from our labor and relax, appreciating all that we have. It is a time to recognize the need for balance between work and play.

Mabon rituals can include decorating your altar with acorns, pinecones, seasonal fruits, apples, grapes, and nuts, and/or a few of the first colored leaves that drop from the trees. Decorating with Cornucopias filled with vegetables is traditional.  It is a good time to honor and give thanks for those who do farm and work with the land in order to bring us the food we have. Mabon is traditionally the pagan thanksgiving. Candles and altar cloths in autumn colors like rusty red, orange, brown, and gold are appropriate. If you have a feast, whether solo or with others, include seasonal vegetables like onions, potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables. Spellwork related to protection and security is appropriate now, as are workings for self-confidence, prosperity, harmony and balance. If you are one who struggles with seasonal depression during the fall and winter months, use this time to set an intention for inner peace and strength. You might make and charge a talisman for this purpose, to accompany you through the next two seasons.

Herbs and Incense making ideas for Mabon, the Autumn Equinox:

Cornflowers, chamomile, benzoin, bay leaves, elder flower, marigold, rose hips, calendula, myrrh, oak leaves, passionflower, pine, roses, sage, Solomon's seal, elderberries, rowan berries, orris root, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and/or allspice.

Make your own incense from the ingredients above mix a few resins with flowers and woods and at least one berry. All items can be purchased from our apothecary. Or gather some of them from your garden, be creative, honor the earth with provides us with life.

Have a Blessed Mabon!

By Cynthia Killingbeck Owner