Saturday September 21 Mabon 2019

Blessed Mabon!

The leafs are changing and slowly falling to the ground to provide coverage and a safe and warm space for the seeds and critters below to slumber the colder times.

The days are visibly shorter and cooling off to remind us that it’s time to slow down ourselves and prepare our harvests for winter storage.

Autumns energy reminds us that everything in nature (even us!) needs time to withdraw, slow down, and recharge and the fall and winter are the perfect times to do just that.

It’s no accident that as the trees change our desire to wrap up in cozy sweaters and blankets while sipping a hot beverage increases. We are hardwired to seek out the comfort and draw inwards and rest and recharge for the spring and summer. 

What is Mabon

Mabon (or Autumn Equinox) is one of the holidays on the witches Wheel of the Year. It is one of the Harvest celebrations and marks the equal part day and night. At this time the bounty of the harvest is celebrated with the knowledge that there will be food to keep us through the winter.

Correspondence

Each holiday has its own set of corresponding colours, herbs, deities, and foods. Below is a short list for your use. These correspondences will likely not be of a surprise as you will already be familiar with them from your day to day life.

Colours

• Reds
• Browns
• Yellows
• Oranges
• Maroons

Herbs

• Cinnamon
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Sunflowers
• Chamomile
• Rosehips

Deities

• Persephone
• Demeter
• Morgan
• Epona
• Thoth
• The WIcker-Man
• Thor
• Dionysus
• All Harvest Deities

Food

• Apples
• Pomegranate
• Corn
• Wheat
• Barley
• Grain
• Berries
• Nuts
• Squash
• Roots
• Cider
• Ale

Celebrating

There are so many ways to celebrate the turning of the wheel. The celebration can be as elaborate or as simple as you feel drawn to. You can celebrate alone, with your family, or with a group/coven.

I typically prefer to do simple and practical celebrations such as:

• Decorating my altar with seasonal items of squashes, corn, leafs, and reds and orange colours
• Make a nice meal of roast meat, potatoes, carrots, and bread. Served with apple cider or wine. Sometimes a dessert of apple or pumpkin pie.
• I harvest as much of my garden as I can and leave an offering to the fairies and the harvest deities.
• I honour Persephone and Demeter and leave some wheat and pomegranate seeds out.
• Finally I do an energetic cleansing of my house and my family and make sure things are tidied up outside for the cold weather.

Other ways you can celebrate is to host a gathering with like minded people and host a pot luck with a thanksgiving style celebration. If you are ambitious you can host a full Mabon Circle Ritual.
Watch the sunset and the moon rise and appreciate the balance of night and day.
Go for a hike and enjoy the transition of the seasons and the beauty that is fall.

However you choose to celebrate the balance and change keep a feeling of gratitude about your day.