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Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on September 16, 2014 at 8:19pm

Gwyl canol Hydref or Mabon: (Also known as Harvest Home, Harvest Tide, Fall Equinox, Autumn Equinox etc.), September 21-24.

Technically, an equinox is an astronomical point and, due to the fact that the earth wobbles on its axis slightly, the date may vary by a few days depending on the year. The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun crosses the equator on its apparent journey southward, and we experience a day and a night that are of equal duration. Up until Mabon, the hours of daylight have been greater than the hours from dusk to dawn. But from now on, the reverse holds true.

Mabon marks the middle of harvest, it is a time of equal day and equal night, and for the moment nature is in balance. It is a time to reap what you have sown, of giving thanks for the harvest and the bounty the Earth provides. For finishing up old projects and plans and planting the seeds for new enterprises or a change in lifestyle. Mabon is a time of celebration and balance.

This is the time to look back not just on the past year, but also your life, and to plan for the future. In the rhythm of the year, Mabon is a time of rest and celebration, after the hard work of gathering the crops. Warm autumn days are followed by chill nights, as the Old Sun God returns to the embrace of the Goddess.

The passing of Mabon is inevitable and The Sun God should be mourned. We too, must remember that all things must come to an end. So the Sun God journeys into the lands of winter and into the Goddess' loving arms, but endings are a good time to celebrate our successes, thank our selves and those who helped us, and take part in the balance of life!

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on September 16, 2014 at 8:18pm

Mabon Lore

Autumn Equinox, around September 21, is the
time of the descent of the Goddess into the
Underworld. With her departure, we see the
decline of nature and the coming of winter.
This is a classic, ancient mythos, seen the
Sumerian myth of Inanna and in the ancient
Greek and Roman legends of Demeter and
Persephone.

In September, we also bid farewell to the
Harvest Lord who was slain at Lammas. He is
the Green Man, seen as the cycle of nature in
the plant kingdom. He is harvested and his
seeds are planted into the Earth so that life
may continue and be more abundant.

Mabon ("Great Son") is a Welsh god. He was a
great hunter with a swift horse and a wonderful
hound. He may have been a mythologized actual
leader. He was stolen from his mother, Modron
(Great Mother),when he was three nights old,
but was eventually rescued by King Arthur
(other legends say he was rescued by the
Blackbird, the Stag, the Owl, the Eagle, and
the Salmon). All along, however, Mabon has
been dwelling, a happy captive, in Modron's
magickal Otherworld -- Madron's womb. Only in
this way can he be reborn. Mabon's light has
been drawn into the Earth, gathering strength
and wisdom enough to become a new seed. In
this sense, Mabon is the masculine counterpart
of Persephone -- the male fertilizing principle
seasonally withdrawn. Modron corresponds with
Demeter.

From the moment of the September Equinox, the
Sun's strength diminishes, until the moment of
Winter Solstice in December, when the Sun grows
stronger and the days once again become longer
than the nights.

Symbols celebrating the season include various
types of gourd and melons. Stalk can be tied
together symbolizing the Harvest Lord and then
set in a circle of gourds. A besom can be
constructed to symbolize the polarity of male
and female. The Harvest Lord is often
symbolized by a straw man, whose sacrificial
body is burned and its ashes scattered upon the
earth. The Harvest Queen, or Kern Baby, is made
from the last sheaf of the harvest and bundled
by the reapers who proclaim, "We have the Kern!"
The sheaf is dressed in a white frock decorated
with colorful ribbons depicting spring, and then
hung upon a pole (a phallic fertility symbol).
In Scotland, the last sheaf of harvest is called
the Maiden, and must be cut by the youngest
female in attendance.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on September 16, 2014 at 8:17pm

Mabon by Akasha

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.

Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter's Night, which is the Norse New Year.

At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.

Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.

Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Herbs of Maybon:
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.

Foods of Mabon:
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Incense of Mabon:
Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.

Colors of Mabon:
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones of Mabon:
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.

Activities of Mabon:
Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.

Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.

Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!

--Adapted by Akasha Ap Emrys to share with all her friends and those of a like mind.--
Copyright © 1997-99 Akasha, Herne and The Celtic Connection wicca.com. All rights reserved.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on September 16, 2014 at 8:13pm

All About Mabon, the Autumn Equinox by Patti Wigington

It is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty, because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the second harvest. On or around September 21, for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings. You may want to take a moment to read up on:

Mabon History
Take the Mabon Seven-Day Sabbat Class

Rituals and Ceremonies

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Mabon, but typically the focus is on either the second harvest aspect, or the balance between light and dark. This, after all, is the time when there is an equal amount of day and night. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying -- and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

Setting Up Your Mabon Altar
Create a Mabon Food Altar
Mabon Altar Gallery
Ten Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox
Honor the Dark Mother at Mabon
Mabon Apple Harvest Rite
Hearth & Home Protection Ritual
Hold a Gratitude Ritual
Autumn Full Moon -- Group Ceremony
Mabon Balance Meditation

Traditions and Trends

Interested in learning about some of the traditions behind the celebrations of September? Find out why Mabon is important, learn the legend of Persephone and Demeter, and explore the magic of apples and more!

Origins of the Word "Mabon"
Mabon Celebrations Around the World
Persephone and Demeter
Michaelmas
The Gods of the Vine
Gods and Goddesses of the Hunt
Nutting Day
Symbolism of the Stag
Acorns and the Mighty Oak
Pomona, Goddess of Apples
Scarecrows
Balancing Eggs on the Equinox

Mabon Magic

Mabon is a time rich in magic, all connected to the changing seasons of the earth. Why not take advantage of nature's bounty, and work a little magic of your own?

Mabon Prayers
Apple Magic
Grapevine Magic
The Magic of the Kitchen Witch
Raise Energy with a Drum Circle

Crafts and Creations

As the autumnal equinox approaches, decorate your home (and keep your kids entertained) with a number of easy craft projects. Start celebrating a bit early with these fun and simple ideas.

Five Quick Decorating Ideas for Mabon
Make a God's Eye for Mabon
Prosperity Candles
Mabon Cleansing Wash
Mabon Harvest Incense
Make Your Own Ink

Mabon Feasting and Food

No Pagan celebration is really complete without a meal to go along with it. For Mabon, celebrate with foods that honor the hearth and harvest -- breads and grains, autumn veggies like squash and onions, fruits, and wine.

Mabon Meal Blessings
Apple Butter
Stuffed Grape Leaves
Renaissance Faire Turkey Leg
Buckeye Candy
Pomegranate Sorbet
Dark Mother Bread
Cranberry Pumpkin Bread
Autumn Beef Stew
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Baked Corn with Red Peppers
Wild Mushroom Rice Pilaf
Venison Pot Roast

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 26, 2014 at 2:52pm

Bre Geier 12:25in the mornin' Jan 26
History of Mabon

Mabon
Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the
Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally,
and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark.
We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest
of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n
Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by
offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and
fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging
Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God
as he prepares for death and re-birth.

Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second
Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno
(Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name,
Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th,
Winter's Night, which is the Norse New Year.

At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and
dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of
family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It
is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest,
relaxation, and reflection.

Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.

Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates,
vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Herbs of Maybon:
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed,
myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle,
and vegetables.

Foods of Mabon:
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes,
carrots, and onions.

Incense of Mabon:
Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.

Colors of Mabon:
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones of Mabon:
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.

Activities of Mabon:
Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods,
walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields,
offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves,
acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of
harmony and balance.

Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses.
Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.

Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor
Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it
is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal
harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our
jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of
everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and
spirits be filled to overflowing!

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 26, 2014 at 2:28pm

Bre Geier 1:03in the mornin' Jan 26
* Mabon Ritual *

Preparation: For decorating the altar use fall leaves, a Horn of Plenty
with Indian corn and vegetables and plastic grapes, and dark red, golden
yellow, and indigo ribbons or streamers. Prepare the altar with the God
and Goddess candles and the supplies for casting the circle. Include a
cauldron prepared for use as a portable fireplace, a bottle of wine
(homemade the year before, or three years before if possible), ritual
cake, a Corn Dolly, a Grape Dolly, a chair, a white pillow, and the herb
or flower planted at Ostara. The Corn Dolly should be dressed in
russet-red to look pregnant. The Grape Dolly should be dressed in a deep
purple. Place the chair with pillow in front of the altar with the
cauldron in front of it. Begin by casting the circle.

Here I am on this evening, Mabon, the Witches' Thanksgiving, the Second
Harvest, the Autumnal Equinox, and the first day of the planting season.
I am here to understand life, death, and rebirth, and to give reverence
to those who have endured each.

Set the Dollies on the pillow on the chair. Bow your head to think about
how Lammas fits in one of the three groups above and how it fits in the
Wheel of the Year.

I stand at the gate between the living and the dead on this evening when
both light and dark are equal. I am here to witness the generosity of my
Goddess, Mother Earth, the waning Lady of the Moon, and her consort, my
God, Old Lord, the waning Lord of the Sun. Thanksgiving. . . a necessary
transition on the Wheel of the Year.

Set the wine bottle and ritual cake on the pentacle. Hold high the
athame and chalice.

Now is the time of the giving of thanks to the beloved Dark Crone, one
of the three faces of my Goddess, and to the beloved Old Lord, one of
the three faces of my God. I watch as the God and Goddess bestow their
gifts upon me.

Open the wine bottle and pour some into the wine chalice. Use the athame
to cut the cake into three pieces and dip a piece in the wine. Hold up
the chalice in thanks and drink from it. Using the athame as a fork,
hold up a piece of the ritual cake in thanks and eat it. Say:

The Elder Gods wish to bestow upon us the gift of knowledge. Thus they
shall speak.

Hold the Corn Dolly and Grape Dolly high.

These wise words are their gifts. "There is a time for ever purpose
under the heavens above. Now is the time to reap that which was sowed
during the spring. This is the time to pay for the karma built up over
the years before it becomes unbearable. Release emotional baggage and
remove restraining walls. This is now your time to reap your seeds, both
good and bad, that you have sowed through your actions of the past
seasons." So mote it be.

Light the fire, and burn the remainder of the ritual cake and wine from
the chalice as a gift to the Gods.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 25, 2014 at 1:24pm

Bre Geier 11:41in the evenin' Jan 24
MABON RITUAL (circa September 21)

Decorate the altar with acorns, oak sprigs, pine and cypress cones,
ears of
corn, wheat stalks and other fruits and nuts. Also place there a
small
rustic basket filled with dried leaves of various colors and kinds.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the Circle
of
Stones. Recite the Blessing Chant. Invoke the Goddess and God. Stand
before
the altar, holding aloft the basket of leaves, and slowly scatter
them so
that they cascade to the ground within the circle. Say such words as
these:

Leaves fall, the days grow cold.

The Goddess pulls Her mantle of the Earth

around Her as You, O Great Sun God,

sail toward the West to the lands of

Eternal Enchantment.,

wrapped in the coolness of night.

Fruits ripen, seeds drop,

the hours of day and night are balanced.

Chill winds blow in from the North wailing

laments.

In this seeming extinction of nature's power,

O Blessed Goddess, I know that life continues.

For spring is impossible without the second

harvest, as surely as life is impossible without

death.

Blessings upon You, O Fallen God,

as You journey into the lands of winter

and into the Goddess' loving arms.

Place the basket down and say:

O Gracious Goddess of all fertility,

I have sown and reaped the fruits of my

actions, good and bane.

Grant me the courage to plant seeds of joy

and love in the coming year,

banishing misery and hate.

Teach me the secrets of wise existence upon

this planet, O Luminous One of the Night!

Works of magick, if necessary, may follow. Celebrate the Simple
Feast. The
circle is released.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 11, 2014 at 4:26pm

Second harvest, 21st March: Balance of light and darkness, Abundance. Thanks giving. Demeter, Tammuz, Feasting, and Cornucopia: Yellow, orange and brown.
Time: For three days from sunset on or around 21 September (21 march in the Southern Hemisphere).
Focus: A time of abundance, reaping the bounty of the Earth and of celebration of life and if gifts; welcoming the waning, darker part of the year, the God in the underworld or within the womb of the Earth Mother; for letting go and if necessary grieving for what is not for filled.
The autumn equinox, or time of gathering, was traditionally celebrated as the wild or green harvest, a time of celebration for the fruits and vegetables of the Earth and the Earth Mother. This equinox is a sign of balance between day and night in the Wheel of the Year, and sees Lugh; the God of light, defeated by is twin and alter ego, Goronwy, the Goddess of darkness. Goronwy was associated with the Horned God as Lugh was with the Green Man, God of vegetation.
Mabon, or Maponus, was another form of Lugh, and was regarded as the son of the Earth Mother and known as the liberator prisoner. The Corn God lies fallow in the womb of the mother. But because this sacrifice was willing, Death has no Dominion over him and he grows stronger.
This is the time of the second harvest of vegetables, fruit and remaining crops, the harvest home that predates Christianity. On the day when equal night and day heralded winter, the Feast formed a sympathetic magical gesture to ensure that there would be enough food during the winter, by displaying and then eating in celebration the finest fruits of the harvest. Druids traditionally climb to the top of a hill to take leave of the summer Sun, as the nights will get longer. Michaelmas, the Day of St Michael, the Archangel of the Sun, is celebrated on 29 September. St Michael was a patron saint of high places and replaced the pagan Sun deities in Christianity.
Today, global rituals concentrate on positive steps to ensure enough food, shelter and resources for vulnerable communities and individuals, relief of flood and famine, protection of endangered water creatures, dolphin, whales and fish whose death involves great suffering; they also look for peace especially where initiatives are already in motion.
On a personal level, autumn equinox rituals are potent for the completion of tasks, for abundance in all aspects of your life, including security for the future which may involve is issues of Employment or the need to consolidate finances; reconciliation, the settling down of unresolved anger and quarrels; all matters concerning retirement and older people, especially those who are turning their experience to new fields; the resolution of chronic other health problems and all Water magic.
Associations
Candle Colours: Blue for the autumn rain and green for the Earth Mother
Symbols: Ripe fruit and vegetables, autumn leaves, berries and nuts
Crystals: Blue laced Agate, Aventurine, Malachite, and Laboradite
Flowers, herbs, oils and incenses: Chrysanthemum, Geranium, lemon, parsley, pine, sage and Solomon's Seal

Cassandra Eason

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 11, 2014 at 4:26pm

A falling leaf ritual
This ritual of the autumn equinox may be performed to shed fears and regrets and the welcoming the coming of winter. Anyone who has seen a profusion of swirling brilliant red, yellow, orange and vibrant brown leaves will understand that this is the time of great energy as the light battles but finally submits to the darker days.
As the winds blew at the spring equinox, bringing new life, now they and the autumn rains carry away all that is fulfilled and unfulfilled, leaving room for the quieter contemplation of a time when the Sun still shines and the fruits of the harvest are all around. In this way we can say goodbye to the summer with joy.
Collect a basket of autumn leaves or any dying greenery and surround it with the fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts of the harvest.
A place blue and green candles alternatively at the four quarters, beginning with green in the West, marking out a square that holds both the joy and sorrows of the year that has passed. Make the square large enough so you can work within it.
Light the first blue candle of the North followed by the green candle in the East and the blue candle in the south, saying:
"The light is born, increases, flames and flares, and with it our lives increase, intensify, we plough and plant, create and tend, travel far and seek our destinies."
Light finally the green candle of autumn and the West, the Celtic direction of endings and the direction of the Otherworld, to which souls go for rest and regeneration, saying:
"The harvest is gathered and the streets of our endeavours are made great by the bounty of Modern Nature."
Take now a large bowl (or your cauldron) filled with water and place it to the West on the leaves and the circle of the harvest fruits.
Take a leaf to symbolise and ending, and unforfilled hopes or plan another for one that was achieved or a problem now resolved; name first the sorrow and then the gain and drop the leaves into the bowl of water, saying:
"What is lost and what is gained our balance and one and the same, as the waters of life's flow on."
Eat a nut or seed or a sliver of fruit, saying:
"I take with thanks the abundance of the harvest and I bid farewell to the summer with joy and not with sadness."
Continue to name and float the leaves and eat nuts and seeds until your repository of regrets is empty.
Move the candles closer to the container of water and look into the water and see, either in your mind's vision, or on the surface images in the light and shadows. It's you wish, drop blue and green wax from the candles on to the surface of the water to create images that may suggest ways in which you can make the darker days ahead rich and fulfilling.
When you next go out of doors, scatter your unused leaves into the air, saying:
"Fly free, fly joyous, nuts in sorrow, to return renewed in the spring."
Use the remaining fruit and vegetables for a meal for family and friends.

Cassandra Eason

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on September 23, 2013 at 10:14am

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox (http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/holidaysandcelebrations/p/Mabon_His...), is celebrated in many ways around the world. It is a day of balance, with equal amounts of darkness and light, but soon, winter will arrive. In some Wiccan traditions, it marks the time when the Sun King descends into the underworld, from which he will be reborn at Yule (http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/p/Yule_History.htm).

In many pantheons, the apple is a symbol of the Divine (http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/p/AppleMagic.htm). Apple trees are representative of wisdom and guidance. This apple ritual will allow you time to thank the gods for their bounty and blessings, and to enjoy the magic of the earth before the winds of winter blow through.

Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Varied

What You Need
A pair of orange candles.
A cup of cider or wine.
An apple and something to cut it with.

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