September 20-23)
Is pronouced (May-bon or Maa-bon) which is also known as The Autumnal Equinox,
where day and night are equal in length,
and lightness and darkness are balanced.

Mabon (September 20-23) This holiday, marks the time, when darkness now begins to overtake the light, and was named after the Welsh God Mabon, and centers around the life, death and rebirth cycle, as the wheel turns. It is also known, as "Harvest Home" after the old Anglo-Saxon festival where a respite from harvesting was taken, which was a time when our ancestors enjoyed the fruits of their labors, and a time to give thanks. This is also originally where, our present day Thanksgiving, originated from. The original Harvest Home activities included: cider pressing, grain threshing, feasting, dancing and the crowning of the harvest King & Queen. Mabon is a "Lesser Sabbat" and the second harvest festival, which is one of the oldest in Europe, and is also known as the "Witches Thanksgiving."

The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox, is called the Harvest Moon, because as the light was continuing to decrease, there was much less daylight to harvest the crops so our ancestors had to harvest them by the moonlight, to get them all in, on time, before the coming of winter.... The harvest was life itself. This was also a time, of the slaughtering the animals, and gathering other provisions for the coming winter. Because of this, it was a time, to appreciate, and reap the benefits of all the hard work that was done the previous year, and to give thanks for the bounty, and that the harvest was now in, that would sustain them through the long, cold winter months. September is also the time of the "Wine Moon" because this is when all the grapes have ripened, and ready to be made into wine. The Greek God of resurrection, Dionysus, honored grapes and wine as symbols of rebirth and transformation. The wine is associated with the "God" aspect, and the corn, wheat & bread, is associated with the "Goddess" aspect. It became customary, at Mabon, to visit buriel mounds, to honor the dead ancestors. They did this to appease the spirits so that when Samhain came, and the spirits freely walked the earth, that they would be treated with kindness and goodwill. It was also believed, that because Mabon was on the equinox, that this would offer protection against the any negative spirits because of the balance of light and dark on this day. Mabon is also the Sabbat, that honors the Greek myth of the Goddess's Persephone, and her mother Demeter, which tells the story, of the reason of the changing of seasons. The myth says that Demeter's daughter, Kore, was picking flowers in a field, when the God Hades, pulled her into the underworld, to become his bride, which is when her name changed to Persephone. For nine straight days, her mother, Demeter searched for Kore. In misery and desperation, Demeter quesioned Helios, the Sun God, who informed her, that her brother Zeus, had given the girl to the God Hades, of the Underworld. Demeter was so distraught, that soon after, she cursed the Earth so it would yeild no more crops. Zeus sent a frantic message inquiring as to why she had prevented growth on the planet. She replied that there would be no regeneraton of vegetation until her daughter was returned to her. Zeus immediately dispatched Hermes to the underworld to retrieve the girl. Hades, not wanting to part with his bride permanently, convinced Persephone to eat some pomegranate seeds before she returned to her mother, thus tricking her, to return to him again, for one half of the year. Zeus declared, that Kore-Persephone would live with her mother during one half of the year, and return to her husband, Hades, during the other half. In thanks, Demeter lifted the curse on the Earth, creating spring. Though every year hence, during her time of greatest sorrow, with the lost of her daughter,, Demeter renews the curse, as her daughter returns to Hades, and the Underworld, as we enter the dark half of the year.

Mabon is a time, of retrospection, of your own accomplishments of the past year, of the hopes and dreams, that you "planted" at Ostara, and worked so hard on, throughout the spring and summer, that you are now able to reap. It is a time of thankfulnes, of the dreams that you have manifested in your life. It is a time of thankfullness, for what you have accomplished, and also for all you are greatful for in your life. Greatfullness, is a powerful way to raise your vibration, and that of others....and way to bring much joy, peace, and happiness, into your life. It is also a time, of looking forward, towards the new "seeds", again, that you want to plant in the spring, your new hopes, dreams, goals, and ambitions, for the coming year. Mabon is a time to strive for internal balance, a time for reflection, grace & thankfulness.

Some Things To Do On Mabon

-Harvest the vegetables from your garden, and share your abundance by giving them to your neighbors or the homebound elderly people.

-Feed the wild animals that are getting ready
for the winter to come...squirrels, chipmunks,
birds and deer.

-Give an offering of wine or cider to the trees.

-Make pies, jams and freeze and can vegetables
for the coming winter.

-Go through and clean your house, getting
rid of things you really don't need in your life
anymore, and give them to the salvation army.

-Go and pick up all the trash on in your neighborhood.

-Go and offer your services, and work for a day,
at a soup kitchen.

-Take a walk in the woods, and enjoy the fall
weather, and the colorful leaves, before winter
arrives.

~Mabon~ ~by Ezzie Violet~ The time of Change is upon us again- the Equinox comes, the Wheel turns..... The Goddess and the God prepare for Their journey to the Otherworld, as the Earth and all of Her children prepare for the Time of Quiet and Reflection that lies ahead..... May we use this Autumal period to seek for strength and power within to assist us on our own quests for vision, feeling, and peace.... May we see and feel the presence of the Goddess and God within, though without, The Earth begins her slumber..... Keep us in Your Light...... Blessed be....Tala :)