The Wheel of the Year is once again turning, bringing a change of season and perhaps changes to your own life. We are on the way to
the Autumn Equinox aka Mabon. The Autumn Equinox 2021
in Northern Hemisphere will be at 3:20 PM on Wednesday, September 22. In the days after the autumnal
equinox, the Sun begins to rise later and nightfall comes
sooner. This ends with the Winter Solstice, when days start to grow
longer and nights shorter.
As any practicing
witch can tell you, the equinox is a powerful time energetically; the
start of autumn, specifically, marks the point at which the light
begins to wane. For pagans, equinoxes are particularly significant
events, and the autumnal equinox—also referred to as Mabon by
neo-Pagans—is somewhat equivalent to Thanksgiving. This is an
important time to give thanks to Mother Goddess and the earth for her
gifts.
This year, the
Harvest Moon happens on Monday, September 20 two days before the
autumnal equinox. I can already feel the energy and magic in the air. Here are a few ways to
celebrate Autumn Equinox/Mabon:
Spend time outside immersed in nature and her gifts. Take this time to find a connection to Gaia, the goddess of the earth and nature incarnate.
Consider casting a protective circle, creating an altar outside, or
leaving an offering of apples, milk, honey or bread for the faeries
and elements.
Cleansing yourself
by burning protective cleansing herbs like sage, mugwort, and
cedar is a good way to use the Autumn Equinox energy.
With
each passing day, nighttime arrives a little earlier and lingers into
our waking hours. With this gift of environmental down-time. This is
a time for meditation and rest. A
time to ask
difficult questions and listen deeply for what arises. Get
curious as you dive into the darkness you
may consider the following contemplation questions either in
meditation or in journaling:
What
has been my personal harvest this year, what has grown into full
expression and brought me joy? Begin each sentence with I
celebrate…
What
seeds of insight will I collect and re-plant in the next season? I
nourish…
Where
am I creating struggle or holding on? How can I conserve energy by
releasing any unnecessary effort in this cycle? I
release…
Am
I holding
any latent anger towards myself or others? How can I liberate myself
from it? I
forgive
Do
I feel guilty for any of my thoughts, words, or actions? How can I
make a conscious change? I
resolve…
If
my body were to speak, what would it say to me?
I hear…
I know throughout the season I will be reflecting on some of these things as I continue to regain my health and make a few changes in my own life.
Colors of
the season: brown (family, hearth, home, stability and
family)
Orange (balance, action, warmth)
Red (action,
change, passion, protection)
Yellow (creativity, happiness)
Crystals and
Stones of the Season:
Stones for the Root
Chakra to bring in Earth’s energy: red jasper, red garnet, red
cornelian, obsidian
Stones for abundance and prosperity: amber
(also protection), bloodstone, carnelian, citrine, flourite, yellow
and orange calcite, jade, topaz, smoky quartz
Flowers & Trees of the Season: Chrysanthemums (protection)
Marigold (healing and protection)
Ash Tree (protection, prosperity)
Maple (abundance, balance)
Oak (health, fertility and protection)
Foods of the
season: apples, barley, breads, carrots, corn, squash, potatoes,
nuts, oats onions wheat, parsnips, pears, cranberries, figs, pumpkin,
wild mushrooms, pomegranate, chestnuts, cider, wine, mead, beer. Apples are known
as a symbol of the Divine, wisdom and guidance.
A
few Goddesses
of the Season: Demeter-Greek
Goddess of harvest and agriculture, rules over the fertility of the
Earth-mother of Persephone. (Greek) Upon the kidnapping of Persephone
by Hades, lord of the Underworld, they were able to get her back, but
not before she ate pomegranate seeds that bound her to Hades for 4
months out of the year. In these four months Demeter dries up the
earth and all the crops (winter) in her grief, until the first signs
of spring when she returns.
Symbol: grain
Goddess
of plants that feeds us
Offerings: honeycombs, unspun wool,
unpressed grapes uncooked grain.
Persephone-Greek
Goddess of the Underworld and goddess of the spring. Mother Demeter
mourned her kidnapping by Hades, creating Winter.
(Greek)
Symbol-pomegranate
This is the time she returns to
the underworld until spring
Hestia or
Vesta- Goddess of the hearth-she represents unity of
family, spiritual center of the home and community. The hearth is the
center of the home for taking care of a family, older sister Demeter
and Hera. (Greek/Roman)
