Mabon/Autumn Equinox Lore
By Akasha
Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter’s Night, which is the Norse New Year.At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.
Gods and Goddesses of Mabon
Some appropriate Goddesses: all grape, berry, fruit, and vegetable Goddesses; Ceres (Roman), Demeter (Greek), Harmonia (Greek), Ma’at (Egyptian), Modron (Welsh), Nikkal (Canaanite), Pomona (Greek), Persephone (Greek), Prosperpina (Roman), Rennutet (Egyptian)
Some appropriate Gods: all wine, fruit, and harvest Gods; Bacchus (Roman), Dionysus (Greek), The Great Horned God (European), Hauran (Canaanite), Hermes (Greek), Iacchus (Greek), Mabon (Welsh), Shai (Egyptian), Vertumnus (Roman), Yerikh (Canaanite)
Herbs of Mabon
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose,sage, solomon’s seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.
Mabon Incense
By Scott Cunningham
2 parts Frankincense
1 part Sandalwood
1 part Cypress
1 part Juniper
1 part Pine
2 part Oakmoss
1 pinch pulverized Oak Leaf
Stones of Mabon
Carnelian, lapis lazuli, sapphire, yellow agate
Foods of Mabon
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Harvest Morning Muffins
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup grated apples
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbs. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 12-muffin tin or line it with paper liners. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend the eggs, sugar and oil until well combined. Stir in the grated apples and carrots. In a separate bowl, sift the flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Blend the dry ingredients with the apple mixture until just combined. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins and bake for 25 minutes.
Makes 12 muffins.
Mabon Caramel Apples
1 package Kraft* Caramels
6 red or green apples, destemmed
6 popsicle sticks
Melt caramels slowly in a double boiler. When runny in consistency, stick popsicle sticks into top center of apple, and dip apple into caramel sauce, making sure to cover entire apple with a coating of caramel. Place dipped apples, stick up on wax paper covered cookie sheet an refrigerate till caramel hardens.
Makes 6 servings.
Remember, an apple a day keeps the dentist, doctor, and dermatologist away!!!!
Mabon Altar
- Colors: Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.
- Decorations: hazel, corn, aspen, acorns, oak sprigs, autumn leaves, wheat stalks, cypress cones, pine cones, harvest gleanings, grapes, wine, vines, garlands, gourds, burial cairns, rattles, horns of plenty, Indian corn, Sun wheels
Spellworkings of Mabon
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.
Activities for Mabon
- A traditional practice is to walk wild places and forests, gathering seed pods and dried plants. Some of these can be used to decorate the home; others saved for future herbal magick.
