MABON (Fall Equinox)

Mabon is the sixth Wiccan and Pagan Sabbat of the year, following Lughnasadh, and symbolizes the end of summer and a time to prepare for the winter. It is one of the four solar festivals relating to the sun’s position in the sky, dividing the year into four quarters: the Spring Equinox, the Summer Solstice, the Fall Equinox, and the Winter Solstice. It is also the main and second of the three harvest celebrations in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, between Lughnasadh and Samhain.

Mabon, corresponding to the Autumn Equinox and the first day of Fall, is typically celebrated between September 19 and 24. In 2022, the Equinox occurs on the evening of September 22 in North America and the very early hours of September 23 in Europe. Some groups observe this Sabbat on the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox, while others try to place any ritual or feast as close to the actual moment of an equinox as possible. The 2022 Autumn Equinox will occur at ● 6:03 PM on Thursday, September 22 in California (Pacific Time) ● 9:03 PM on Thursday, September 22 in Washington, DC, and Detroit (Eastern Time) ● 2:03 AM on Friday, September 23 in London (United Kingdom Time) ● 3:03 AM on Friday, September 23, in Cologne, Germany (Central European Time). Compared to the solstices, which occur during the middle of their respective seasons, the Fall and Spring Solstices mark more significant shifts from one season to the next. By the Fall Solstice, the end of summer has become evident in the shortened days, cool chill in the air, and changing tree colors. As the bleak and cold winter approaches, this is a bittersweet time for many.

Mabon Origins Wiccans and others often think of Mabon as a Pagan Thanksgiving. Mabon gives thanks for our food and the sacrifices made by others for us to survive. As such, the main symbol of Mabon is the cornucopia, a character that goes back to ancient Greeks and Greek mythology, especially the story about Zeus as an infant. From an astrological view, the Autumn Equinox occurs as the sun enters the sign of Libra. Libra’s sign, represented by scales, appropriately represents the balance and careful judgment necessary to prepare for the upcoming rougher winter. Mabon is the name given to the Autumn Equinox by Aidan Kelley in the early 1970s. It is the name of a Welsh mythological figure mentioned in Arthurian legends. Mabon is the son of the goddess Modron, often described as the primordial triple goddess of the ancient Celts. The Mabon/Autumnal Equinox theme likely evolved from several myths in various cultures. Perhaps most notable, the Eleusinian Mysteries were a sacred harvest festival in ancient Greece which began at the full moon before the Autumn Equinox. Many Pagans find meaning in the harvest, death, and sacrifice myths that parallel cultures, including those of Dionysus and Adonis. The dying god celebrated at Mabon represented the god of vegetation, with emotions of loss as the ease of summer passes and winter approaches.

Mabon Celebrations Many different groups celebrate Mabon and associated Autumn events. ● Reflecting its importance to Pagans, Autumn is the time of the largest pan-Pagan celebrations, Pagan Pride. ● Modern Druids celebrate Alban Elfed, as the Autumn Equinox, as a time to thank the Mother/feminine Divine for her abundance in the harvest. ● Modern Hellenics celebrate Boedromion, which starts at sunset on the first new moon of September and honors different gods of the harvest for nine days, reminiscent of the Eleusinian festival. ● Heathens (those from Norse Pagan traditions) celebrate the Autumn Equinox as Winter Finding, where they give offerings to the god Odin. ● Traditional witches practice forms of Witchcraft prevalent in the UK before the advent of Gerald Gardner. ● Hedge Witches or Hedge Walkers use shamanic methods and a deep connection with nature to practice magick and to sense the Divine. ● Neopagans (those who prefer not to affiliate with an organized form such as Wicca) may celebrate Mabon as a day of personal balance, honoring the change in seasons. ● Some Celtic Pagans call the Autumn Equinox the Feast of Avalon, which is associated with the harvest of apples. ● Italian Witchcraft calls the Autumn Equinox the Equinozio di Autumno, a minor festival that honors the earth. The Lord of Light becomes the Lord of Shadows, and the god Janus departs for the underworld. Modern harvest festivals include Harvest Festival in the UK, which replaced Harvest Home, Erntedankfest in Germany, and Pagan Pride. Mabon is both celebratory and solemn. With themes of gratitude, death, grief, and looming winter, this is a time to acknowledge mixed feelings and do our best to tend to our inner balance. It also reflects the necessity of death in the life/death/rebirth cycle and the shifting relationship between the Wiccan Goddess and God. It is essential to take time to hear ourselves and the Divine. It is also an excellent time to reflect and consider what plans and projects need to be completed before we enter the dark half of the year. Balance is the other central focus of Mabon, as it is with Ostara (at the time of the Spring Equinox). Mabon coincides with the Sun’s entrance into the Zodiac sign of Libra, symbolized by scales and known for seeking balance, harmony, and equality. However, compared with Ostara, which is focused more on balance with the outer world, Mabon is more focused inward.

Mabon Celebration and Activities Suggestions ● Prepare a cornucopia for use in giving thanks for the abundance we have ● Prepare a lavish Mabon feast, with food shared with others who are less fortunate ● Meditate on the changing seasons and the darkness ● Symbolically clean house and let go of what is not needed ● Honor the Harvest Moon ● Spend quality time outdoors, such as a walk in the woods; enjoy precious days and sunshine as each day comes closer to winter. ● Watch the sunset ● Pick apples ● Build a bonfire ● Participate in Pagan Pride

Correspondences examples Themes ● Harvest ● Gratitude ● Balance (especially internal balance) ● Harmony ● Preparation ● Welcoming the dark Spiritual focus and keywords ● Balance ● Death ● Equilibrium ● Goals ● Gratitude ● Preparation Colors (including for decorations or a Mabon altar) ● Brown: balance, stability ● Green: fertility, growth, healing, rebirth ● Orange: action, harmony, kindness, optimism ● Red: action, changes, passion, protection, wisdom ● Yellow: creativity, light, optimism Altar decorations ● Cornucopia ● Gourds, acorns, and pine cones ● Other fruits and food that show Mabon colors

Flowers

● Chrysanthemum: cheerfulness

● Sunflower: spirituality, wisdom

Crystals and Stones

● Amber: eternal love, protection, spirituality

● Golden topaz: health, safety, wisdom

● Hematite: grounding, healing

Tarot keys

● The Empress

● The Hanged Man

● The Wheel of Fortune

● The World

Some critical take-aways for Theistic Satanists

As with Lughnasadh, Mabon is both an opening and a closing. It is an excellent time to evaluate past experiences and gauge prospects through the art of divination, tap into the hidden wisdom of our subconscious, check on the progress of our goals, and give thanks for our blessings. Spiritual and magical focus include reflection, introspection, growth, and personal transformation. Mabon is an excellent time for the Theistic Satanist to take an inward journey to prepare for what is ahead. It is a time of transition and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and an abundance of knowledge and wisdom. Satan connects us with Nature and the Divine energy from the Earth and the elements. Mabon celebrates our many accomplishments and teaches us the importance of finding balance, grounding, and protection as we shift into a deeper intuitive mindset for personal and collective wellness.

Main Reference Sources

● Llewellyns’s Sabbat Essentials: Mabon

● Lisa Chamberlain’s Wicca Wheel of the Year Magic

● Various internet sources (pictures and graphics)