It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, garden harvests are happening, and back-to-school schedules are being settled into. We’re on the cusp of my favorite season – Autumn. Time to celebrate Mabon!
Mabon, or the Autumnal Equinox, is the second harvest celebration of the Pagan year. Today, day and night are in equal balance, with the Wheel turning toward the coming winter.
Often celebrated as a wine festival and widely known as a Pagan Thanksgiving, it is a time of balance, relaxation, and completing tasks. Mabon offers a brief respite between harvesting summer’s bounty and storing it away to last the winter. It is also a time of reflection, as we look on the year thus far to see what worked for us and what didn’t. What didn’t work is a lesson on improvement and a plan to look ahead, to do better next time.
Many foods and drinks are associated with Mabon, as it is a time of plenty. The cornucopia is overflowing! While wine is a common component, apples (cider…mmmm!) and root veggies also play a role. Fall leaves, acorns and pinecones are frequent decorations on the Mabon altar, representing the continuity of life even as the world turns increasingly cold and dark.
Ways to celebrate are as unique as those celebrating. From a simple meditation to creating gourd art to a full-blown ritual with the coven, pick what works for you. So, pour a glass of wine/cider, eat a little root stew and sit outside to enjoy the fall leaves blowing about you. Or have a bonfire and usher in Fall with some good friends and music. Or teach your kids to make gourd art. Or….oh, just get out there and have fun already!
*Featured photo isn’t taking caption…photo by OakenHoof, found at http://cloggin.co.uk/content/incredible-edible-harvest-festival
A Doe in the Foothills 