Mabon sabbat is once again upon us. It is the second harvest of the year and the autumnal equinox. It is the completion of the harvest that began at Lughnasadh. At this time of the year grapes are harvested. The Greek God Dionysus who is the Lord of the Drink is honored at this time. The autumn equinox marks the first day of the Fall season. It occurs when the sun enters 0 degrees into the zodiac sign of Libra. At this time day and night are of equal length. So this is a time to celebrate balance in our lives. During this time we notice the day light begins to decline and nature slows down her bounty. We start to sense the impending dark that is to come with the dark part of the year approaching.
Many cultures around the world celebrate this second harvest just under different names. In Celtic countries, the main crops harvested are grapes and apples. This was the original American Thanksgiving until it was moved by Franklin Roosevelt to the second to last Thursday in November. In Africa the crop of the time is yams. The South Americans harvest corn around this time. Whatever the crop, it is a time of celebration and thanksgiving for the bounty that he earth has given.
Mabon Activities
There are many ways to celebrate this harvest festival. Some of them are:
- Making wine
- Offering libations to the trees
- Leaf rubbings
- Decorate the altar with leaves, apples, seeds
- Make apple cider
- Apple picking
- Bonfires
- Nature walk
grow shorter and the animals prepare for hibernation. It is a time of quiet reflection. As the grass and the trees go dormant or turn all their energy inward, we are led to do the same. We reflect on the events of our lives that have come to past. This is also a great time of year to do shadow work. One of my favorite authors is Debbie Ford. She has an excellent book called, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers. It is a book that I highly recommend at this time of the year. She explains how we deny and hide the darker side of our nature rather consciously or unconsciously and reject that part of ourselves we are not comfortable with, thus creating an inauthentic self.
As we approach the midpoint of February there is a little bit of Spring anticipation in the air. With the first Spring Sabbat having already passed (and do I hope everyone had a blessed Imbolc/Candlemas), you can definitely feel the gentle stirrings of Mother Nature as she begins to awaken. This year so far in the South we have had a very mild winter. The Temperatures here in Tennessee stayed in the high 60’s to low 70’s for about 3 weeks which was awesome. Unfortunately, there has also been the blooming of many early spring bulbs including Daffodils which I am hoping are not destroyed by a late frost. But with all of the beautiful weather for the past few weeks I am in full on Springtime mode. And what do I like to do best in the Spring? Gardening! Yes. Realizing it is too early to start my garden or even my seedlings at this point, I have decided that now is the perfect time to plan the layout of my garden as well as check up on my seed stores. This year I plan on making my garden a bit bigger. Not only will I continue to do my container gardening on the back deck, I also want to expand my front flower beds to include more herbs. Maybe, I’ll even include a fairy garden bed.
There comes a time in every practicing witch’s life that you have to make a little trip to the graveyard. For some, I know this can be a very anxiety laden chore and for others it’s quite exhilarating. I tend to fall into a different category. Visiting graveyards for me has always been a very peaceful, calming and grounding experience. There is a certain calm that exists only in a cemetery. I find that most reassuring. Most people like to go to a park and relax, have a picnic lunch or just commune with nature. Me, I would much rather enjoy and share my lunch with the spirits of those who have passed on. I see this as a perfect way to establish a relationship with the spirits who live there in the cemetery.
Upon entering the cemetery I ask Baron Samedi’s permission to enter. Once granted, I proceed on. The best time to collect or “pay” for some graveyard dirt is between the hours of 9:00 pm and 12:00 midnight. There are occasions when you would need to do your work between Midnight and 3 am. I usually reserve that time for my “dark energy” work. Most cemeteries close at sunset so you would need to be very discreet in your actions. Always bring flowers. Most times if you’re caught at the gravesite after hours the simplest explanation would be that you are simply there to pay your respects to a loved one as you are on your way home from work. At that point you would simply leave the flowers on one of the gravesites and exit the cemetery quietly and call that little trip a wash or a “water haul” as my Mama used to say. If you don’t attract the attention of those passing by or security then it’s time to get to work. Locate the grave of the spirit you are most comfortable with and ask their permission to collect a little bit of dirt from the site. Upon getting that approval then proceed to collect a small bit of dirt into a clean bottle. Don’t be greedy, take only what you need. After collecting I usually deposit nine dimes in the disturbed dirt and gently cover it back over. Thank the spirit for the help and quietly leave the site.
There are numerous reasons you can go to the cemetery to do work, this was just two reasons I shared in which I visit. As you become more comfortable with communing with the dead you will develop your own ways of doing this blessed work. As a general rule however I make it a point to thank Baron Samedi as I enter and as I leave the graveyard. He is after all the keeper of the graveyards and of the crossroads. Also it’s important to remember to never look back. Don’t doubt. Trust that the work you have done is sufficient and trust that your will be done.
