Mabon: Magick is in the air

Mabon, also known as the Autumn Equinox, is the second harvest festival. It is commonly celebrated around September 21st or 22nd. We’ve entered the dark time of the year with today being the balance between the day and night hours. 

The heat from the sun is dissipating. September can still be warm with hunts of summer trying to hang up, but the promise of cooler days, chilly nights, colorful leaves falling and bonfires linger in the air, a promise soon to be delivered.

I personally love this time of year. The energy is strong and I can feel the magick in the air.

Every morning as the sun is slowly starting to rise, I hear the crows cawing in the distance, drawing closer. Most mornings, it is just them and me. And I listen to their conversations for a few brief moments before the rest of the world awakens. It’s a peaceful, magickal time.

How To Celebrate

To honor this magical part of the year, take notice of how the season is bringing change. While the days may still be warm, there’s a slight chill in the morning. The sun is slowing moving south. I used to notice it high above a park near my house. But now, it is slowly shifting south to bring warmer weather to our friends in the southern hemisphere.

Focus internally

This is a good time of year to focus your energies on your own personal growth. The last couple of months have been out and about enjoying the summer weather. Cooler and darker days are near. Think about the fun things you can still go out and about to do.

Take a look at any goals you made earlier in the year. For many, especially this year, those goals may seem impossible. Don’t be discouraged. Take one goal and make it smaller. Readjust. Be kind to yourself. 

Meditation

Along the lines of focusing internally, if you don’t meditate, now is a good time to start. Build your strong inner core, which can be especially important as we head into those long, dark winter days. 

Know that you are strong, beautiful and powerful. No matter what life has thrown at you. You are amazing. 

Start small with meditation. Our minds tend to want to fight us on it and get distracted. Try some deep breathing for a few moments, focusing on your breathing. Inhale to the count of four, hold and exhale to the count of four.

Harvest and gather

The last of our gardens are ready to be harvested and prepared for the winter months. Take the spoils of your harvest and enjoy a feast. Or find a local farmer’s market and purchase some locally grown and delicious food.

It’s the time of year for apples, squash, root vegetables like carrots, potatoes and onions. Bread is also especially important this time of year.

Make a delicious homemade bread, stew or roast. I personally love homemade vegetarian vegetable soup and since we are heading into the cooler weather, it’s a perfect time to start cooking. 

Give thanks for the wonderful food you have prepared and to the Earth for providing such sustenance. Some like to share with their Goddesses and Gods to help secure blessings for the coming winter months. 

It’s important to give thanks for each meal and ensure some positive energy upon it to provide our bodies with the nutrition it needs. 

Decorate Your Altar

If you started decorating for the harvest at Lughnasadh, now is the time to add to it. Add orange, yellow, red and brown to your altar. You can use candles or crystals in those colors.

 A cornucopia is a great addition with some small gourds or squash. You can add some pretty leaves that you’ve collected outside (always giving thanks to the Earth for its beautiful offering). Or, if you prefer the silk variety, you can go to a local craft store and pick up some autumn inspired items.

Whatever you do will be beautiful! 

Plan Some Fun Fall Activities

This time of year is beautiful and there are so many wonderful outdoor activities to choose from. Take note of the leaves slowly starting to change color and fall. Part of being pagan is enjoying our kinship with nature and that means recognizing the beauty of each season. 

Whereas in spring we see the various shades of green in the grass and leaves and all the flowers blooming, fall marks more vibrant colors of oranges, red, yellow and even brown as nature prepares to rest. Look around for some fun activities such as:

• Apple picking

• Walking in nature

• Pumpkin farms

• Hay rides

• Upcoming trick or treating (some places do it before Samhain (Halloween)

• Corn maze

• Fall festivals

• Making a leaf pile to jump in

• Build a bonfire

While we may be back to the hustle and bustle of the school year, it’s important to take some time to enjoy the people you care about, the beautiful change in nature and most importantly to be kind to yourself.