Mabon ( under a little construction)

But until such time as I have a chance to work on this page, here's the text of an article I wrote on the Mabon Sabbat:

  The Pagan Wheel of the Year in the Northern hemisphere celebrates three phases of the harvest:  Lughnasad (Lammas), when the grain is ripe; Mabon (Autumnal Equinox) when corn and other produce of the fields are ready; and Samhain, the last days to gather before the coming of the Celtic New Year.  Tradition says that anything left unharvested in the fields after Samhain belongs to the Spirits.

   At Mabon we celebrate the breadth of the harvest, the bounty of the fertile fields. The Lord of the Grain has sacrificed Himself to send His essence into the fields.  The Mother Goddess (in Her aspect as Demeter) is now bringing the rest of the fields to full ripeness, and the work to be done is joyous work, the physical work that will feed ourselves and our families over winter.

   For those of us who don't have acres to tend, or even small garden plots, the work of the season becomes more spiritual; harvesting pride in our accomplishments, and getting back in touch with the visible cycle of the seasons. We see the waning of summer; we feel the slowing of the pace of life, the settling down for the more somber levels of activity during Autumn and Winter.  Autumn flowers are blooming now, and soon the trees will turn a riot of colors.  The Wheel turns....

   Mabon (as the Autumnal Equinox) also celebrates balance in all it's aspects.  The hours of day and night are equal.  Mabon marks the Sun's entrance into the astrological sign of Libra, the Scales, further reinforcing the theme of Balance.  Not only is it time to take stock of our pantries and larders, but also of ourselves and our lifestyles.  With the coming Winter months, we turn introspective, and magickal items (potions, candles, oils, etc.) are planned for manufacturing over Winter.  We take stock of our magickal supplies, and start gathering in what we will need.

   Decorate your altar in black and white to accent the balance of day and night.  Feast upon local produce or home-made foods to realign with the growing season, or if all else fails, know what is ripening in your locale at this time and buy it at a store if you have to.  Reconnect with the timing and the spirit of the land around you, and acknowledge the cycle of the seasons where you live.

Blessed Mabon,

Atropa

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