Mabon/Autumnal Equinox Suggestions and Ideas
Mabon, often referred to as the Witches’ Thanksgiving, is the 2nd Harvest festival in the wheel of the year…a time when we celebrate the abundance of Nature and we get serious about storing away supplies for the coming season and preparing our homes for the Dark half of the year. We often make lists of what we are thankful for to be read during our ceremony, thankful to the Mighty Ones and the Universe…but also to each other. After our ceremony, on Mabon, we often have a feast that is similar to other Thanksgiving dinners (some years we do Turkey with stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, breads and pies). This year we are changing it up a bit and featuring a hearty Italian soup that contains lots of Harvest veggies and serving it with nice Italian bread, and butter. One of the beautiful things about Witch holidays is we are free to adapt and make them our own…and Harvest time just seems like an appropriate time to Give Thanks…(and without the colonialism and celebration of the genocide of indigenous peoples that comes with the American state endorsed “thanksgiving”). In fact, in our home, our celebration becomes a way to promote justice for and education about indigenous people and the culture(s) that thrived here on this land for thousands of years before the invaders arrived from Europe…something sorely needed today.
Also, being thankful and cultivating a mindset of gratitude helps to set up an energetic pattern that attracts blessings and positivity to us in our lives…the Autumnal Equinox is a perfect time to reflect on this.
I should also mention…the Equinoxes weren’t widely celebrated (if at all) in pre-Christian Europe, to my knowledge, and their inclusion in the wheel of the year by the early Wiccans who put these celebrations together has not been without controversy. The name “Mabon” is attributed to Aiden Kelly who took the name from welsh mythology and added it to the Autumnal Equinox celebration in the mid-20th century. (Mabon is a son of the Earth Mother who descends into the underworld…much like the Greek Persephone…Descent myths are common in many parts of the world and in many cultures during this time of the year.)
Below, you will find our suggestions for crafts, recipes and ritual, which we hope you will find fun, useful and inspiring in your own celebrations. We also want to give thanks to you for your support and for following us here at Witch Joseph…we appreciate each and everyone of you and are deeply grateful for all your interactions with us…you are true blessings to myself and Christopher and Angelique and we couldn’t do what we do without you. We strive to continually improve our offerings here and on all our platforms in our mission to inspire creativity, empowerment and liberation in the lives of all those we come into contact with…and we could never do it without you and your help…so thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We wish you and yours all the blessings of the second Harvest and we pray for your continued blessings in the coming seasons.
Mabon Craft-Making an Autumn Wreath
you will need: a wreath form, preferably grapevine, floral wire, autumnal ribbon and foraged autumnal leaves and items from Nature.
Spend some time outdoors foraging for autumnal leaves and things…after you have gathered all the items lay them out in your craft space and tie them to the wreath form using the floral wire…Once everything is attached, accent the wreath with your ribbon. Get creative…add small pumpkins or black birds (available at most craft stores this time of year)…have fun and make it your own. Hang on your front door to welcome Autumn or make a couple and hang one above your altar or ritual space.
Witch Joseph’s Italian Sausage Harvest Soup
ingredients: 3 Italian sausages, 1 onion, 1 potato, 1/3 green pepper, 3 carrots, 1 zucchini, 1/3 cup cabbage, 1 cup of diced tomatoes, 4 cups water 1/3 cup pasta sauce, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1/3 cup of pasta, 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoons of olive oil 1 teaspoon sugar, salt/pepper to taste
on medium heat add olive oil to large pot…sauté chopped sausages, onion, green peppers, carrots…after a couple of minutes, add the tomatoes and the water…add the bay leaf, basil, pasta sauce, vinegar, sugar and Worcestershire sauce…bring to a simmer and let simmer for 10 minutes….add cabbage and potato, simmer another 10 minutes and then add the pasta, simmer for another 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Serve with toasted Italian bread with butter. I also like to serve a nice salad with this meal.
(Fruit and Cheese is always a good addition to the Harvest Table…warmed brie and delicious grapes with some nice crackers are pictured here)
Witch Joseph’s Mabon Abundance and Prosperity Mojo Bag Spell
You will need: 3 dimes, small lodestone, iron filings or magnetic sand, lodestone oil, teaspoon of cinnamon, 3 sage leaves, pinch of Abre camino, petition paper, green cloth or small green bag, cord and incense.
Cleanse all items. Write on the petition paper these or similar words:
“Money and Prosperity belongs to me And flows to me easily
By Earth Air Fire and Sea As I will so mote it be!”
Awaken the herbs and other ingredients by speaking your intentions to them. Tell the lodestone what you want and feed it a small amount of the filings or sand. Place all ingredients on the petition and fold it three times towards yourself visualizing yourself surrounded by prosperity. Place everything in the cloth or bag and tie with three knots. Anoint the bag with the lodestone oil. Keep it on your altar until Mabon and say a special blessing over it during your ceremony…then keep it in your purse or wallet or somewhere secure where it can attract abundance to you.
(One of Witch Joseph’s early Mabon Altars)
Mabon/Autumnal Equinox Ritual Suggestion
Items needed for this ceremony: Candle placed in the cauldron, slips of paper for banishing negative things from one’s life, shaft of wheat, special libation dish and a list of things we are giving thanks for.
Sabbat Colors: Orange, Brown, Autumn Harvest Colors
Altar is decorated with wheat and autumn leaves along with items of the Harvest
Circle or Sacred Space is established according to your traditions.
Declaration: “This is the time of the second Harvest, of Thanksgiving and Joy. Now the day and night are equal, in perfect balance, and we give thought to the balance and flow within our own lives. The Sun God has become the Lord of Shadows and we follow Him into the Darkness. Life declines, the season of barrenness is upon us, yet we give thanks for that which we have reaped and gathered. We meet to turn the wheel and weave the cord of Life that will sustain us through the coming seasons.”
-Mabon Candle is lit in the cauldron-slips of paper written with things that have hurt us or held us back are now burned in the fire and placed in a libation dish to be scattered latter, with these or similar words- “In the name of the Mother Goddess and in the name of the Horned God, I now banish _____N______ from my life. So Mote it Be!”
-shaft of wheat is held aloft, saying “Autumn’s Grain is Spring’s Seed.”
-shaft of wheat is passed thru the fire and placed in the libation dish with the ashes.
”Blessed Be the Mother of all Life. Blessed be the Life that comes from Her and returns to Her. We have sown, we have tended, we have grown, we have gathered, we have reaped a good Harvest. Mother Goddess, we thank You for Your gifts. Horned God, we thank You for Your bounty. I thank you for_______recite the list of items you are giving thanks for________. Blessed Be!”
response: “Blessed Be.”
Circle is released and normal space and time established.
If done with a group, it can become a potluck dinner where food and drink are shared and the Harvest celebrated together.
