Mabon rituals, the beginning of autumn

Mabon is undoubtedly the most forgotten festival of the year in all religions, pagan and neopagan. Mabon takes place on the autumn equinox, on September 23. In today's world, it is a time full of activities that leaves little time for spirituality: it is the end of the holidays, the return to work or studies, changes in climate, diet, routines, the days already feel shorter. ... It was also like that in ancient times, since it is the harvest season and the whole town joined forces to collect everything as soon as possible, as well as prepare the land for new plantations and protect it from the cold and rains to come. It was also the time of slaughter and preparation of sausages. For this reason, there are many who believe that at this equinox the success of the work of the entire previous year was celebrated, being a more human festival in which the gods were left aside. Hence, Mabon's main activity is to prepare a warm feast and celebrate the arrival of autumn and indoor life. In other words, it celebrates that one has enough to survive.

Among the Celts, it seems that this time was known as Haleg-Monagh, "sacred time." In the Nordic and German world, the Haustblot, the autumn banquet, was celebrated. The Romans at this time prepared markets and honored Venus Genetrix (the generator). The Greeks, the boedromion, in honor of Artemis Agreste, Demeter and Persephone.

The name Mabon is not ancient, but was invented by Aidan Kelly in the 20th century, co-founder of the Reformed and Orthodox New Golden Dawn, supposedly based on the name of a Celtic god, and, although he denied it, influenced by the Old Religion of Gerald Gardner, which would lead to Wicca, a religion in which Mabon is one of the key festivals of the wheel of the year.

• Acclimatizing 

In neopagan spirituality, Mabon is the penultimate festival before the end of the witch year, and therefore it is the ideal time to throw away the bad and of course collect the good. Among the general practices is that of preparing the house, generally sweeping ritually with a broom made of herbs or in the old style, to purify it, as well as acclimatizing it, protecting it from the cold by means of autumnal decoration such as dried leaves, mushrooms, twigs, scented candles, pumpkins, etc. It should be noted that the key to Mabon is that life begins indoors.

In addition, as a meditative practice it seems common to dedicate part of the time to walking through a forest, to contemplate the changes in the deciduous trees and admire the ripeness of the nuts and wild fruits, in the idea that the energy that is lost has been transformed into something else. In this idea, it is positive to begin projects, studies, hobbies, at this time. Harvesting, picking fruits or herbs are other recommended activities to get in touch with nature.

• Mabon rituals

Practitioners are strongly advised to use elements with autumnal correspondences as much as possible, all with the intention of acclimatising to the new time in a more conscious way. However, the lists presented are not entirely convincing, since depending on the region (and the hemisphere), the products to be found are one or the other. However, in the rituals, the "tradition" of the northern hemisphere is respected.

To accompany the rituals, it is recommended to use elements and objects of autumn colours, which provide harmony: ochres, browns, oranges, yellows, reds. This will be very useful especially when choosing the minerals to use, being able to opt for jasper, carnelian or tiger's eye.

Purification and protection Mabon is traditionally associated with the element of water, so herbal baths or baths with a little apple cider, as well as the preparation of autumnal flower water are recommended for this festival (see below, on the Harvest Moon). Speaking of apple, grape juice, cider, or if you prefer, grape wine, are ritual drinks and offerings recommended to bring together the autumn element with water. Teas are considered a good accompaniment.

In addition to general cleaning, the use of the old broom is important, as mentioned before, because it is made of branches and herbs. You can sweep the house symbolically, projecting that bad energies are sterile, or also sweep papers or dry leaves that symbolize them. There are those who even write on these leaves and then burn them in a small fire.

Incense is common for purification, but on these dates it is recommended to use cinnamon, pine, oak, cypress, poplar, even wheat and corn, in reference to the harvest. Bundles of herbs collected from a walk in the woods can also be made, or they can be burned in a cauldron.

Once dried, wheat ears or corn leaves were normally used to make dolls that could serve two purposes. The first, to symbolize the bad (the unusable) and be burned or buried in the farmland. The second, to be kept in the home as a symbol of gratitude and protection, being buried or destroyed the following year, to be replaced by a new doll.

With the cinnamon sticks you can make garlands or simple and aromatic amulets. A red ribbon is wound around them and they are placed in the places that are considered most necessary, such as the entrance or the bedroom.

• Money and wishes

In money rituals, you can take a small amount of savings and divide it in two. A part of these savings must be spent, it is what is going away. But it must go away with enthusiasm, so this money must be spent on gifts, on whims, on donations... The other half must be put in a small bag with a cinnamon stick or incense, and kept until the end of the cold times, so that it also preserves our economy.

Spells with cinnamon scented candles, or candles dressed with oil and cinnamon, chai powder, nutmeg, etc., are also common, where wishes can be burned. Clove spice, in a magic number related to the number of people involved or the spell sought, can be stuck into the candles that are going to be lit with magical intention, making the request while they are dipped in wax. In the case of wishing for something bad to go away, this same ritual with clove spice could be performed with a black candle.

Also autumnal resources for money are pomegranates and corn (due to the abundance of their grains), oranges, cereals, and nuts.

• Spells with apples

The apple takes on great importance in Mabon. Baked apples or cakes are good offerings for both the gods and friends and family.

Its skin can be used to prepare infusions with a teaspoon of sugar and cinnamon, and also for divination, if it is peeled in one go and the peel is thrown into water, hoping to see initial letters about the question asked. The peel can also be used to make incense, or filed very finely as an ingredient for a bath.

The desired thing can be written or drawn on the apple with an awl. It can be a word, an image, a sigil. Afterwards, the apple must be devoured keeping in mind that the desired thing is being obtained. A variation of this spell consists of cutting the apple in two and writing the wish inside, on both pieces. One will be buried and the other eaten. Likewise, the wish can be written on the skin and the apple left under a chair or bed, the wish being fulfilled when the apple begins to spoil.

There are many spells that involve the use of the apple, especially those of love: not in vain, it is the fruit won in mythology by Aphrodite, goddess of love. In these rituals, a red apple is cut in half, and a piece of paper with a wish or a photo is placed between the halves. The two halves are then joined together using honey.

• The Harvest Moon

For those who practice lunar magic, this seems obvious, but for many practitioners, it is easier to use the moon for parties rather than for its phases. This month's moon is known as the Harvest Moon, with a clear meaning. Depending on the phase it is in and its meaning, water can be left in the moonlight throughout the month of September to create water that serves to purify and ritualize all the elements that will be used in the fall. Other people use this water in the preparation of drinks or for the main meal of the ritual banquet, as well as as an offering if they have an altar.

It can also be used for divination rituals and to water plants and trees. Of course, it can be used to prepare autumnal flower water. For Florida water you can use pine, hawthorn, juniper, if you want it woody, and if you prefer it sweet, cinnamon, vanilla, apple tea… Also orange, lemon and apple peels. Unlike traditional Florida water, which is made with a high percentage of pure alcohol, this water is not intended for cosmetic or long-term use, but is intended to serve for the current month, or at most the season. Since fresh ingredients are added, this water is intended as a quick spell or amulet for the next day. An example would be to leave water in the moonlight one night, then the next day fill a small jar and fill it with herbs to take to a job interview.

If you want a permanent amulet, the water will only be used on the outside, when the jar has been filled and closed, to enchant the jar as a whole.

• The Cornucopia

The Cornucopia is a legendary horn from which riches and food eternally flow. Greek myth tells us that it was one of the horns of the goat Amalthea, who suckled Zeus when he was hidden so that his father would not devour him. In the Celtic world, the bearer of eternal fertility was the Rosmerta goddess. In many cultures, having fruit on display has been considered to attract good energies, and in Feng Shui it is even believed to be a magnet for prosperity.

There are testimonies that at various autumn banquets it was common to display a basket or a horn filled with the fruits and grains collected, as occurs in traditional representations of Thanksgiving Day. For this reason, one of the rituals of modern Mabon consists of preparing a Cornucopia with seasonal foods. Although nowadays it can be done with fake fruits and vegetables, the meaning is the same: to attract prosperity, to ensure that nothing is missing in the home. It should be placed at the entrance of the home, in the kitchen or on the table where one usually eats.

In some cases, the cornucopia is accompanied or replaced by the presence of deer antlers. Some scholars think it is related to the god Cernunnos, and others, to the English legend of Herne the Hunter. It may even have older, Paleolithic origins, where deer antlers, as well as any other horns, were symbols of fertility and power.

• Divination rituals

Mabon is a good time for short-term divination, as the witch year is coming to an end. Apart from the use of apple peel or reading tea leaves, any other method is valid and considered empowered on this date.

As stated above, water is the element of Mabon, so any divination that uses water as a medium, for example, divination by pouring wax over water (ceromancy), or divination using the waves or lights of water (hydromancy), will be especially effective. Seeds or pine needles can be thrown into the water and their final shape, or whether or not they float, can be interpreted.

The most common is divination with a glass of water and an egg, or with any other element that can be poured into the water to interpret shapes later. In American regions, it is the right time for divination with corn, as this is the most magical time of year (within Wiccan neopaganism).

• Wand making

Although literature and the audiovisual world have presented magic wands to us as an essential element for magicians, practitioners use them very sparingly. However, by chance, apple, almond, oak, walnut and poplar branches are used to make magic wands that help channel energies. These woods are soft and easy to treat, so they are very grateful for incisions, for example to write sigils or runes, or to embed a small stone in them. At this time it is easier to find broken or fallen branches due to the weight of the fruit, which makes it easier to acquire them naturally.

• Ritual banquet

When cooking with a magical intention, the ingredients must be carefully chosen, which is why Mabon recommends recipes with apple and pumpkin, as well as the preparation of breads with seeds and nuts. For drinking, apple cider, must, wine and beer, since it comes from wheat. Milk with honey is a very old religious drink, it can be used in offerings or to make libations in plants or forests.

In sweets, chocolate and cinnamon must be present. Food can also be shared with animals, for example, by throwing seeds for the birds to eat.

As we have explained throughout the article, the celebration of a friendly or family meal is very relevant for this date. If the whole group shares the beliefs, a common chant and ritual can be performed around the table, such as passing candles or sharing the food. The magic is in the need to be imbued with the image of coexistence, well-being and abundance, not only of food, but of good feelings.

Pietro V. Carracedo Ahumada – pietrocarracedo@gmail.com

Bibliography:

-Cunningham, S.; Wicca. A guide to individual practice. Arkano Books, 2008.

-Rajchel, D. Mabon. Rituals, recipes and Lore for the Autumn Equinox. Llewellyn Publications. 2015.

- O'Gaea, A. Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon. Red Wheel/Weiser, 2008.

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> Imbolc Rituals, the festival of light (February 1st and 2nd)

> Walpurgis Night and May rituals (Beltane)

> Lunar rituals: phases, esbats and astrology.