On Thursday, September 22nd night and day are again of equal length and in perfect equilibrium - dark and light, masculine and feminine, inner and outer–in balance. Once again we are on the cusp of transition and with the Autumnal Equinox / Mabon, (in Northern Hemisphere), the year now begins to wane…from this moment, darkness begins to defeat the light.
The cycle of the natural world is moving towards completion, the Sun's power is waning and the nights grow longer, welcoming time to reflect, pause, and turn inward. We are returning to the dark from whence we came. It is time to thank the waning Sun for the wealth of harvest bestowed upon us. Mabon is the second of harvest festivals and brings both inner and outer gifts and insights. The sap of trees returns back to their roots deep in the earth, changing the green of summer to the fire of autumn, to the flaming reds, oranges, and golds.
Your altar should be dressed in the very best produce you can find: from field, forest and market, from garden and the wild. Apples, pears, damsons, sloes, rose hips, elderberries, blackberries, hawthorn berries, the possibilities are large. If you collect from the wild, be not greedy - always leave plenty of fruit and berries for the birds and wee creatures. Make an outdoor shrine for the nature spirits in thanks for the bounty they help to provide. Leave one of each flower, fruit and vegetable that you have, as a gift.
