Mabon – The Autumn Equinox.
Mabon is the second harvest celebration, Lammas being the first and the initial harvest celebration. It is the time of the year when the harvest is half over and begins winding down. The fields are almost empty and the crops have been gathers and prepared in storage for the coming winter. The leaves of the trees begin to change as the Earth prepares for it’s winter slumber. Mabon is the mid harvest festival, for the winter preparations are not quite yet complete but we take time out to honour the changing seasons and celebrate the half way point of the harvest.
Mabon is usually held on September 21st and for many Pagans is a time of giving thanks for the things that we have. It is a time of gratitude and for appreciating what you have. It is also a great time for manifestation and gratitude spells.
Mabon Rituals and Ceremonies
Everyone walks a different spiritual path so there are many different ways that one can celebrate Mabon. Some ways that people celebrate are to honour the second harvest, or honour the balance between light and dark. This is the time of year when there is an equal amount of day and night, forces of darkness and light and in complete equilibrium. People also celebrate the gifts of the earth and honour the fact that the soil is dying. We have to store up our food as the crops are brown and becoming dormant.
The Warm summer days have past and we have the chill of winter to greet us. There are many rituals that can be done to Honour Mabon. Do some research and select one that resonates with you are your spiritual path.
Mabon Folklore
There have been many different stories over the years which have made contributions to the tradition of Mabon. These myths and folklore can be found across many different cultures and religions.
One of the Most Popular is the Story Demeter and Persephone. Persephone, the daughter of Demeter and the maiden of Spring, was kindnapped and taken to the Underworld to be wed to the Lord of the Underworld Hades. Though she eventually feel in love with Hades, her moth Demeter was so distraught with grief over losing her daughter she killed all the crops and created eternal winter upon Earth. Zeus had to intervene and ordered Hades to return Persephone to her Mother. While in the underworld Persephone ate the seeds of a Pomegranate and so had to reside in the Underworld for four months of the year. During those four months Demeter weeps for her daughter and brings Winter upon the world.
The Magic of Mabon
Mabon is a time when the Earth and it’s energies are shifting. The veil of the spirit world is becoming thinner and the connection between all things is very apparent. It is a great time for working Manifestation and Divination Magic. A great time to use your senses and tap into the spirit world and uncover answers to your questions and secret knowledge. It is also a great time to cast manifestation spells to bring towards you what you desire. It would also be a great time to evocation, invocation and seeking guidance from the spiritual world.
Mabon Feasting
As is tradition with this time of the year, family gathering and communal feasting are very popular. It is a time of year to be grateful for friends and family and to come together and celebrate what we have. Most cultures celebrate feasting during the fall times. In Canada and the United States we have Thanksgiving. This Mabon take the time to reflect upon yourself and be grateful for all you have and all the wonderful people that you have in your life and get together with those family and friends and celebrate that you are in each others lives.
Have a Happy Mabon!
Akelta
