Wicc'ed
Ways~Mabon Magic
By Adrienne Wesner, Illustrated by Sue Miller
The wheel of the year turns, and for a moment the world is balanced. The sun has reached the equator and light dances with darkness equally across Mother Earth. Mabon is how we celebrate this wonderful dance. You may hear the words “Fall is in the air.” Sitting in the sunshine, a cool breeze may brush by you reminding you that cooler days are just ahead. Colorful leaves dance in the trees and fall like rain on the street and in yards. Animals hurry and scurry to fill theirs dens and birds fly south high in the sky. Harvests of corn and apples are brought to the barns, and farmers spend days making cider and apple butter. Family fireplaces are stocked with wood.
This is a time of great celebration. Many of us dread the coming cold. Mabon reminds us to be thankful because it is the high point of the main harvest season. A good harvest means lots of great food to eat right through Winter.
Mabon around the World. People celebrate the Autumnal Equinox in different ways. The Chinese bake special birthday cakes because they believe the moon’s birthday falls around Mabon. These cakes are baked with flour from harvested rice. They also believe flowers fall from the sky on this night, and anyone who sees them will be blessed with great abundance.
Long before the Pilgrims came to America, Native Americans honored the harvest with thanksgiving festivals. The Iroquois people held a Corn Dance each Fall. This was how they gave thanks for the ripened grain. Songs, dances and drumming were all part of the celebration. Naturally, food played an important part as well, including corn.
The ancient Greeks believed Persephone, goddess of Spring returned to the Underworld in the Autumn. Her mother Demeter missed her so much that she would not eat, or sleep, or tend to the earth. Her great sorrow is said to cause Winter. Some pagans tell how the Sun God travels down through the Underworld, only to be reborn at Yule.
Celtic tales tell of Mabon, stolen from his mother by Modred and rescued three years later by King Arthur. He is the power in the darkness, the Lord of the Otherworld and guardian of the harvest and fertility. Mabon represents innocence as a baby, strength as a young man and the sacrificed God when elderly.
Fall Fun. What can you do to celebrate this wonderful Sabbat? Jumping into leaves or gathering apples are just two examples of how you can celebrate Mabon and honor the Lord and Lady. Here are two crafts for Mabon decorations that you can try:
Scarecrow Puppet
A wooden spoon
Yellow yarn (wool)
Craft foam (various colors)
Pens/Markers
PVA/White glue
Cut out a hat, top and dungarees from the craft foam and glue them to the front of the spoon (Hint--you may want to draw them lightly in pencil on the foam before cutting!).
Glue some small pieces of yarn to the hat and where the hands and feet should be--this is the scarecrow's "straw."
Draw a face on the spoon using your pens or markers.
Stick your scarecrow outside your front door, in your garden, or even in a potted plant to welcome the equinox!
Falling Leaves
Red and gold cardstock
Red and gold glitter pens
Yarn, ribbon, or other cording
CLICK HERE to get a leaf template to print out. Cut out the leaf shapes and trace them on the cardstock.
With the glitter pens, draw the veins of the leaves, using red pen on the gold card and gold pen on the red card.
Cut out the card leaves and punch a hole in each one, then tie through some cord.
Hang the leaves around your home to bring Autumn inside. You can also attach the leaves to a fallen branch to make an Autumnal wand, or a recycled hanger to make a mobile.
Want to do another Autumnal Equinox craft? Visit Honor Your Mother, or CLICK HERE!
However you celebrate the coming of Fall, whether you run through leaves, help bring in the harvest, or just enjoy the changing colors, remember the Lord and Lady and give thanks for all the blessings you receive.
Gods
of the Universe, I know what you are telling me,
Today the Earth prepares for a great change.
Light and Dark are for a moment balanced
As we slip into the night of the year.
Thank you for the wonderful dreams we will share.