I know there are those of you that don’t want to even hear me mutter the word autumn, but it’s coming my dears. It’s time to let go of summer for another year and celebrate the falling leaves with the sabbat of Mabon!
Mabon is the autumn equinox, the second period in the year that the days and nights are equal in length and we start to accept that our days are going to be shorter from here until the spring equinox. This is the second of the three harvest festivals, so stocking up on seasonal foods and flora is always a good way to start celebrating this sabbat.
What is Mabon and how did it start?
Mabon is a harvest celebration that lasts from the 21st-29th September in the Northern Hemisphere and is a fairly modern celebration. Mabon is the autumn equinox, so more traditional ways of celebrating autumn have been absorbed into the celebration of Mabon. It is seen as the pagan thanksgiving, where we come together to reflect on what nature has gifted us with throughout the year.
The term ‘Mabon’ was only created in the 1970’s by Aidan Kelly, so it is a holiday that not all pagans recognise.
How can you celebrate Mabon?
Mabon is a festival of gratitude, so giving thanks to nature and the earth for all it’s brought you this year is a great start. Mabon lasts between the 21st-29th September, but the actual day of the autumn equinox is around the 22nd September every year, so this is the main day of celebration.
On this day, you can cook a feast for you and your loved ones, that uses seasonal food and drink and give thanks to nature for giving you everything you’re about to eat. In this respect, it is a lot like the American holiday of thanksgiving.
Take time to be present and really feel the gratitude in everything you do. Think about all the things you have in your home, how they got there and why they’re valuable to you. This can also be a great time to get rid of unnecessary things, just go full Marie Kondo.
Decorating your space for Mabon
When it comes to decorating your altar or spiritual space for Mabon, think about all the things you associate with autumn. Fallen leaves, acorns, pumpkins or squashes. Whatever makes you feel those warm cosy autumnal feelings, that’s what you want to bring into your home.
One of my favourite things to do around Mabon, is to head out to my local woods and forage for dried leaves, conkers and acorns. I then set them up as decoration on my altar. If you’re worried about creepy crawlies, you can always place these in the oven on a very low heat for an hour or so, to kill off any tiny bugs that may be living in there.
The main intention is to help you feel how the earth is winding down and getting ready to rest for a few months. It’s time for a break and for nature to regain its energy ready for spring in a few months.
Mabon is a great time to get a career or business tarot reading, so why not book in with me, to find out where your focus needs to be during this autumnal equinox?