Mabon is a coming

[Lark]

Mabon will be upon us in a month.  The Wheel will have turned to another great balancing point between the light and the dark.  Here are some good sites with information on Mabon and things to do to celebrate the Sabbat:

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=holidays&id=3623

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabon.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabon_ap_Modron

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7280/harvest.html

And here's a short poem I wrote some years ago about Mabon:

Twixt the darkness and the dawning
Twixt the sunset and the night
Now the Wheel swings round in balance
'Tween the darkness and the light.

Now the pace of harvest hastens
Now the wind blows often cold
Now the balance is established
'Tween the new ways and the old.

We who walk this path together
Honoring those who went before
Balance now between the world gates
Remembering the sacred lore.

-Lark-

[WildPixie]

What a beautiful poem.

[Night_Raven]

Darn, another equinox I'm going to miss out on... maybe I can get the week off work.

It always occurs on my longest day at work and I'm too tired to do anything special to celebrate the moment Oh well.

[Rin]

I really love your poem, Lark.

I have to say that this year, I am going to look for some way to observe the Autumn Equinox (not Mabon ) with Dionysos and Hestia. I'm glad I have a month, because I still don't have a clue as to HOW.

It will probably have something to do with acorns, though.

[Picador]

Beautiful poetry, Lark. =) Autumn is my favorite time of year, so I can't wait for Mabon. I just pray it falls on a weekend so I can spend a whole day in celebration!

Oh, and how much does the average gourd or small pumpkin cost? Are they available in time for Mabon? I'd love to  have some decorations, and perhaps I can make a craft out of it. =p

[Lark]

Gourds and pumpkins are generally fairly inexpensive.  I don't know whether they will be ready to harvest prior to Samhain, but since you're in Canada they may be available earlier than there are down here in the States.  Check your grocery store or farm stands.

-Lark-

[Brijrian]

You don't *have* to do anything exotic for Mabon, Night_Raven.

Since you are exhausted (and out of balance) when you come home, you could always just commemorate the holiday by taking a nice soak (long or short) in epsom salts with candles lit all around as you unwind and rebalance.

[Night_Raven]

You don't *have* to do anything exotic for Mabon, Night_Raven.

Since you are exhausted (and out of balance) when you come home, you could always just commemorate the holiday by taking a nice soak (long or short) in Epsom salts with candles lit all around as you unwind and re-balance.

I know, but that's basically what I've been having to do for the last 9 years(minus the bath bit)... I just want to do at least one lavish thing for a change!

[Zenon]

hope you all had a happy sabbat.

[An Daghdha]

Mabon will be upon us in a month.  The Wheel will have turned to another great balancing point between the light and the dark.  Here are some good sites with information on Mabon and things to do to celebrate the Sabbat:

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=holidays&id=3623

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabon.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabon_ap_Modron

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7280/harvest.html

-Lark-

OK, I hate to rain on any parades, but Mabon, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Alban Elfed, Gwyl canol Hydref, were not the names of some Celtic equinox. The Celts didn't celebrate Equinoxes...At all. Mabon was a character in the Mabinogion, of the Arthurian romances which are very Norman influence.

That aside, Mabon to my knowledge has no connections to any harvest, and was only connected to the Equinox during the 70's by Aidan Kelly as some sort of comparative religious school project or some such nonsense. He chose Mabon, from Welsh myth and legend pretty much at random. He also came up with a new name for the Spring Equinox which was Ostara, and Litha for the Summer Solstice is also attributed to Kelly. It was chosen, in essence to give the equinox a more "Celtic" sound to it. I have read, and believe that his motivation for this, was that the other four were Celtic so why not?

The Gardnerians traditionally call 'Mabon' simply the autumn equinox, and thus Mabon (as a harvest festival) is a NeoPagan construct I'm afraid, as Mabon as far as festivals go, didn't exist when Wicca was being compiled.

The only term I am aware of that was used by Pagans to describe the Autumn equinox would be the Anglo-Saxon term and denoted the entire month, this term was called haleg monath or 'holy month', if people need an ancient 'Feel' to the equinox.

Again - not wishing to step on toes, Until next time, may the power of An Daghdha's heart be in you!

Slan go foill!

You resident Druid and Fili

[Still Kate]

I'll be in glorious Cornwall at the Autumn Equinox and I intend to vist the Witch Craft Museum in Boscastle (yet again). I'll be with friends who don't follow my beliefs so I doubt I'll do a full ritual unless I can find a quiet beach that evening. I will be treating myself to a piece of jewelry from the shop in Tintagel so that will remind me of the Sabbat.
Enjoy everyone.
Blessings
Kate. xx

[Labrys]

Mabon will be upon us in a month.

Yes, less than a month.  Very nice poetry, btw.  I don't celebrate Mabon, not being Wiccan.  I do note the passing of the Equinoxes in a small ritual, but it isn't much like the Wiccan practice.  While I tend to note all the Wiccan sabbats, for me, it is more like hands on the clock reminding me to move my self along thru tasks of the year.  My own sabbats tend to be more family specific with our own habit and the needs that seem fitting with the deities we honor.

I have less time, lol, Genesia is upon me.  While I do not do a big ritual...it is time for a long, tender look at honoring the dead prior to the Samhain fire later this fall.

[Lark]

And this year I'll be celebrating Mabon for the first time with the Gardnerian coven that I'm starting training with.  Talk about leaving behind one thing and moving on towards another! 

-Lark-

[Labrys]

Talk about leaving behind one thing and moving on towards another! 

-Lark-

Well, you know, it is a personal belief of mine that the new things, the initiations, if you like, just keep on a-coming.
Life IS a journey, apparently.

But you know, I think a few rest-stops along the way would rock!

[Brijrian]

Labrys and Lark,
*chuckles, good will, and affection sent in your general direction*

I've gotta agree with you about the constant "initiation" train. I just hope that the rocks at your next rest stop aren't sharp! Seems like every time I stop to sit down I change my mind!!

I'm looking forward to celebrating Mabon--it'll be my first with my coven too. I'm contented because I found this lovely, quite and tree-full place near my home where we are going to celebrate.

I'm looking forward to performing our ritual outside...has anyone else been feeling the "pressure" to start spending every single available moment outside while it lasts?   

*Brijrian