Mabon/Autumn Equinox

[Shy Hawk]

So what types of rituals are y'all doing for Mabon/Autumn? Give me some traditions...lore....rituals, decorating tips, something. I'm not sure what I'm doing besides a public ritual.
~Shy

[MystyPines]

Hello Shyhawk!

Well, my husband and I usually put together a ritual. Here are some Mabon lore and tidbits:

Mabon marks the end of the second of three Pagan Harvest Festivals, a time where day and night are of equal length, after which the dark will become dominant as we descend towards winter, a time of darkness overtaking light, the principle key action of Mabon is giving thanks for the harvest and a time for rest after reaping the fruits (or grains) of our labor.

The Sabbat is named for Mabon, the Welsh God who symbolized the male fertilizing principle in the Welsh myths. Some mythologists equate him as the male counterpart for Persephone.
We celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.

Deities: Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses.
Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man

Décor: Ears of corn in honor of the corn Goddess Demeter, autumn flowers, hazelnuts and autumn leaves as well as grapes, apples, cider, wine, vines, gourds, pine cones, acorns, wheat, Sun wheels, and horns of plenty, a pomegranate to symbolize Persephone's descent into the Underworld

Incense: Pine, Sweetgrass, Sage, Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin

Foods: Corn bread, nuts, apples, berries, cider, fruit wines.

Colors: Red, orange, deep gold, brown, russet, maroon

Stones: Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates, yellow topaz, carnelian

Herbs: Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.

Activities: Making of wine and the adorning of graves. A traditional practice is to walk wild places and forests, gathering seed pods and dried plants. Some of these can be used to decorate the home or altar, others saved for future herbal magick

Animals associated with the Autumn Equinox are dogs, wolves and birds of prey.

Mythical creatures include gnomes, minotaurs, sphinx, cyclopes, andamans and gulons.

Poems:

Lady Autumn
by Deirdre Akins

Lady Autumn, Queen of the Harvest,
I have seen You in the setting Sun
with Your long auburn tresses
blowing in the cool air that surrounds You.
Your crown of golden leaves is jeweled
with amber, amethyst, and rubies.
Your long, flowing purple robe stretches across the horizon.
In Your hands You hold the ripened fruits.
At Your feet the squirrels gather acorns.
Black crows perch on Your outstretched arms.
All around You the leaves are falling.
You sit upon Your throne and watch
the dying fires of the setting Sun
shine forth its final colors in the sky.
The purple and orange lingers
and glows like burning embers.
Then all colors fade into the twilight.
Lady Autumn, You are here at last.
We thank You for Your rewards.
We have worked hard for these gifts.
Lady Autumn, now grant us peace and rest.

Mabon
by Ezzy Violet

The Time of Change is upon us again -
the Equinox comes, the Wheel turns...
The Goddess and the God prepare for
Their journey to the Otherworld,
as the Earth and all of Her children
prepare for the Time of Quiet and
Reflection that lies ahead...
May we use this Autumnal period to seek for the strength and power within
to assist us on our own quests for
vision, feeling, and peace...
May we see and feel the presence of
the Goddess and the God within, though
without, the Earth begins Her slumber...
Keep us in Your light...

---------------------------------

Have a great Mabon!