Mabon, the autumn equinox, falls on September 23rd. Here’s how we’ll be celebrating at Suzie K.
What is Mabon?
Mabon falls upon the autumn equinox and marks the point in the year where summer fades and day and night are once again in equilibrium. It’s the second of three pagan harvest festivals of the year, the first being Lammas and the last being Samhain. As a neopagan festival, Mabon was named after the Welsh hero Mabon ap Modron in the 1970s, by Aidan Kelly, an influential Wiccan. However, it has its roots in traditional autumn equinox harvest festivals dating back to ancient times.
Mabon symbolism
Mabon is a time of harmony, equality and balance, when day and night are equal. It’s also a celebration to mark the second harvest of the year, to give gratitude for the fruits of the harvest, to acknowledge the work that has been put in to achieve them, and to give thanks for the ability to survive winter because of them. It also marks a reflective time of change, where we let the summer go, look inward, and acknowledge the turning of the wheel and the coming of the dark half of the year.
Some symbols associated with Mabon include:
The horn of plenty, the Green Man
Pomegranates, acorns, seeds, pinecones, rosehips, mushrooms
Any harvest fruit or root vegetables, particularly apples and pumpkins, corn and barley
Cider and wine, beer and mead
Herbs such as mugwort, sage and rosemary
Marigolds, chrysanthemums, rowan berries
Any crystals for balance, introspection and energy – such as Citrine, carnelian, sunstone, tiger’s eye and garnet
Colours associated with the season are autumnal oranges, reds, brown, yellow and green.
How you can celebrate Mabon
Mabon is the perfect time of year, with its emphasis on change and letting go, to let go of things that no longer serve you – be they unhelpful habits, self-sabotaging beliefs or unhealthy relationships. It’s a great time to reflect upon and be grateful for what you have, to enjoy what you have achieved, and to perform any magical workings involved with decreasing or ending that which is longer useful to you, or letting go.
Some ways you can celebrate Mabon include:
Create a Mabon harvest altar, with some of the symbols of the season listed above
Meditate and reflect on the past year, give thanks for your achievements, let go anything that doesn’t serve you, and set your intentions for the coming season
Decorate your home for autumn
Have a meal with friends or family
Whatever you have plenty of, share some – be it giving to charity, or simply lending a listening ear to someone who needs it
Autumn-clean your home! Get rid of any clutter that you no longer need – that can include emotional and mental clutter too
Go fruit picking – at a pick-your-own farm, or forage the hedgerows (remember to not over-pick and leave some for the wildlife and other foragers, though)
How we’ll be celebrating Mabon at Suzie K
The next Turn of the Wheel Sabbat will be on 24th September – some members from our community will be carrying on the Turn of the Wheel events, with Suzie as a mentor. It’s taking place in the Custom House at 2-3.30pm, and will be free to attend.
You can check out all the Turn of the Wheel dates for 2023 over at our events page.
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