This Saturday, September 22 at 10:49 a.m. EDT, the Wheel of
the Year turned to the Autumnal Equinox.
At Mabon we stand at the crossroads of bounty, warmth, and light and
scarcity, cold, and darkness. Like
Ostara, Mabon is one of the few times throughout the year that true balance can
be observed in nature. The days are
still mild, the light is golden, asters and goldenrod brighten roadsides and meadows
while the fall migrations of birds and monarch butterflies begin.
The second of three harvest celebrations, Mabon is a time of
thanksgiving and celebration but also of reflection. Along with the actual harvest from our
garden, my family reflects upon what we have planted, tended, and harvested in
our lives. My seven year old has learned to read. One son has brought back a
new harvest of experiences from his first trip to Europe; another fruits of
spiritual growth; another harvest of new friendships. After nearly two years,
of writing & illustrating—my daughter Ellen and I are eagerly awaiting the
arrival of Solstice Moon Solstice Sun, our illustrated pagan children’s
book celebrating Yule and the winter solstice.
Because of its associations with the harvest, the apple is a
perfect Mabon symbol. Beyond harvesting
the bounty of our own garden and processing baskets of tomatoes and garden
herbs, our family takes an annual trip to a local orchard. We return with enough Golden Delicious, Honey
Crisps, Galas, and Empire apples. Over the next two days our household takes
part in epic apple processing and makes around a hundred jars of apple sauce,
apple butter, and apple jam. Teamwork in
action! Over the years this annual event
has become a Mabon family tradition. The
delicious aroma of cooking apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg and the positive energy
created as we work together fills and blesses our home.
Family and friends look forward to their annual gift of
homemade applesauce.
Another way that we connect our family to the Second Harvest
is through the hunting animals that represent the season. As the summer season slowly fades and an
autumn chill returns to the air in Delaware, thousands of migrating raptors
will travel south over Delaware on their way to warmer winter climates. During
the season of Second Harvest, we make two to three weekly trips to Hawk Watch
Hill at Ashland Nature Center, an established raptor migration monitoring site,
train our binoculars skyward, and observe and count hawks, falcons, eagles,
ospreys, and vultures.
To top off the season, we make full use of the bounty of
musical talent in our family, and host a Harvest Home music jam celebrating the
gift of friends, family, music. Using
the bounty of our gardens and produce
from our local growers’ markets, we prepare homemade seasonal foods, and on a cool early October night—enjoy the
warmth of music and friendship as bluegrass, Celtic, and blues, jazz and
eclectic music fills the house.
Mabon is also a time to celebrate our local Pagan community.
Delaware’s Pagan Pride celebration occurs around Mabon and includes a food
drive to share the bounty of the harvest. This Mabon was particularly important
for me as we dedicated our new Assembly of the Sacred Wheel coven, Grail of the Birch Moon on September 22nd.
Watched over by the Great Ones, we dedicated our coven in a
secluded meadow surrounded by autumn wildflowers, trees just beginning to
change color, the only sheer cliffs in Delaware, and the hum of autumn insects.
Celebrate Mabon yourself! Be thankful for the things you
have, and reflect upon the balance you have achieved and what needs balancing,
honoring both the darkness and the light. Invite your friends and family over
for a feast (the bigger the better!), and count the blessings of family,
friends, and community.
Marie, when and where will your book be available for sale? It looks fantastic.
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