Mabon: The Autumn Equinox

The wheel of the year is a Wiccan construction that has been adapted by neo paganism. It takes from older pagan celebrations across Western Europe (mainly the UK) and puts them together in perfectly spaced celebrations in the year. However most of these celebrations were never celebrated as the Wheel of the Year and each region would celebrate a different festival. Nor were these perfectly spaced and always on the same date each year. Rather people would perceive seasonal change through the natural world via plants, weather or the sun signalling a changing of seasons. 

The origins of the Wheel of the Year seem to not matter anymore. Nowadays many pagans and witches (including me), whether they’re Wiccan or not, celebrate the Wheel of the Year. This could be for various reasons, however a prominent one seems to be the connection between other witches and/or pagans. Or simply to live more slowly and attentively with the seasons. In my Wheel of the Year series, I take you through the origins of these celebrations and give my interpretations and modern adaptions for them.

Mabon, or more commonly known as the autumn equinox, signifies the second harvest festival in the triad of harvest festivals (Lammas/Lughnasadh, Mabon and finally Samhain). Mabon falls on the autumn equinox, which this year where I live falls on the 23rd of September. The exact date and time can vary depending on your location. Mabon also symbolizes the middle of autumn and the balance between light and day. From this day until the winter solstice, the days will be shorter and the nights longer. 

Furthermore, on the Autumn Equinox the sun enters the sign of Libra, the scales. Adding to the energy and correspondence of balance and judgement. Autumnal harvest festivals date back all the way to the 1700’s where the Bavarians began a festival that starts in the last week of September, also known as Oktoberfest. A festival that is still celebrated today. Mabon is one of my favourite sabbats to celebrate, consisting of many activites one can partake in. This also entails that there are many correspondences to work with. In this post I'd like to take you through some aspects of Mabon and ways in which you can celebrate. 

Mabon or Autumn Equinox? 

There was no direct link before Wicca between the Welsh god Mabon and the Autumn Equinox. Earlier pagans celebrated Mabon solely as the Autumn Equinox. The Wheel of the Year is a Wiccan invention created by Gerald Gardener and Ross Nichols (Founder of OBOD). The Wheel of the Year is made up of the 4 Celtic fire festivals and the solar quarter celebrations. When Aidan Kelly was initiated into Wicca, he attempted to balance out the Celtic names by giving the Equinoxes and Solstices names from other Pagan Beliefs. He linked Mabon’s imprisonment and rescue to the story of Persephone, who is associated with the Autumn and Spring Equinox. As I ascribe myself to a Hellenic paradigm, I prefer to refer to Mabon as the Autumn Equinox. However you’ll notice that in my posts I shall refer to it as Mabon, for the pagans who do celebrate it as Mabon. 

(Not my picture, found on Pinterest)

The Eleusinian Mysteries

As a Hellenic Pagan I observe the relation between the Equinoxes and the story of Demeter and Persephone. The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiations held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone in the ancient Greek city Eleusis. The mysteries were based on the abduction of Persephone by the god of the Underworld Hades. I shall not go into great detail about this myth. However, if there's interest I would love to give my perspective on the myth in a future post. Most of the rites, ceremonies and beliefs were both perserved and kept secret from antiquity, thus gaining the title "mysteries". The mysteriers mainly focuse on the themes of the descent (the loss of Persephone) and the ascent (the reunion of Persephone and Demeter). The descent often happened around the Autumn Equinox and the ascent around the Spring Equinox. There were two Eleusinian Mysteries festivals. 

The Lesser Mysteries related to Persephone's ascent and reunion with her mother, usually taking place in the month of Anthestrion, the eight month in the Attic calendar, which usually falls in february/march. This then relates to the Spring Equinox. 

The Greater Mysteries related to Persephone's descent and Demeter's loss of her daughter. This festival took place in the month of Boedromion, the third month in the Attic calendar, which usually falls in september/october. This encapsulated the Autumn Equinox. The Lesser Mysteries is usually when initiation happened to be able to witness the Greater Mysteries, a ten day celebration involving various rites. 

On the Equinoxes I often like to honour Demeter, Persephone and Hekate (My main deity I work with and she is associated with the mysteries). This entails writing hymns and prayers for them, incorporating them in my Mabon altar, eating Pomegranates (Persephone after all ate a Pomegranate causing her to be tied to the Underworld), make offerings to them at my altar and reflect on the notion of loss and what that entails for me. 

Balance 

The Equinoxes often center around balance for me. During the Spring Equinox I tend to focus more on the growth aspect, whereas with the Autumn Equinox I like to focus on gratitude, reflection and letting go. What needs one last push before the last harvest? What do I need to let go of before I enter the rest period? These questions are often accomponied by divination methods. For Mabon, Samhain and Yule I like to reach for my Season of the Witch Oracles that correspond with each sabbat as well as the accompanying journals. I only tend to do this for the darker half of the year, as I find reflection and letting go to be central themes during this time. As I tend to balance out all that I have tried to manifest and grow in the lighter half of the year. 

This is also the time of year to look at what needs balance and stability in your life. Using the energies of the Autumn Equinox could be excellent for this. As my practice centres around planetary magic, I also tend to incorporate the energy of Libra into this. Furthermore I tend to look at the moon phase and the day the Equinox falls on. This year the Equinox will fall on a Wednesday, which is ruled by the planet Mercury. Mercury is the planet of communication, travel, eloquence, messages, the mind, intellect, writing, speed and psychopomps. The moon will be Waxing Gibbous in Aquarius, bringing in a correspondence of visionary, intellectuality and idealism. Although you don't need to work with the moon or any other planet for an effective working, it can add an extra layer of intention, making the working more powerful. In my case, I'd reflect on what in these aspects I need to work on and can balance out and write a spell accordingly. 

Harvest

Due to modernity there is a lack of recognition on the necessity of a good harvest. Most of us have fresh produce and food readily available year round in stores. This might make it hard for us to connect to the harvest aspect of Lughnasadh, Mabon and Samhain. However, celebrating the harvest doesn't have to be literal. You can also acknowledge it symbolically or metaphorically, through reflecting what has manifested for you this past year and what needs a little push. What seeds have you planted at Imbolc that have now come to fruition? What are you grateful for this past year? What needs protection to ensure a good harvest at Samhain? These are all questions to consider when approaching this correspondence of Mabon. 

Of course we can also celebrate the harvest literally by eating seasonal produce. For example apples are an important symbol of Mabon, as in September apples are in season. Some other fruits and vegetables that are in season at this time of year but less recognised are: pears, plum, figs, certain types of squash, zucchini, tomato, potato and radish. If possible you can visit an orchad that allows apple picking to celebrate Mabon. If this is not accessible for you, a (better in my opnion) alternative could be to go foraging. I like to look up what foragbles grow this time of year and try to incorporate them in my craft. I tend to stay away from funghi, as it's hard to distinguish a poisonous mushroom from an edible one. Foraging for funghi should really only be done with a detailed guide on how to recognise a mushroom, or preferably, an in-person workshop. 

My altar from 2024

Celebration & Gnosis

The Autumn Equinox signals the middle of Autumn to me, as Lughnasadh is the start of autumn to me. This is the time of year when I feel the coziest and at home. I celebrated the Autumn Equinox way before I was a witch. These traditions I have built over time have translated themselves into my witchcraft practice. First and foremost, every year I create or update my Autumn playlist. I also tend to create an Autumn bucketlist to get the most out of the season. Though this reaches all the way into late November, I have September specific bucketlist items. 

In September I like to enjoy the lingering warmth of summer in the afternoon and the fresh cold mornings. I enjoy watching the sporadic autumn rain from my windows as I fantasise about the season. On the 1st of September I always decorate my space and set up my Mabon altar. Although I enjoy nature walks year round, autumn is the time of year when they become extra special. These walks are often accompanied by my autumn playlist, an outfit in warm hues and paying attention to the land around me. 

Once the apples and pumpkins become in season, I tend to incorporate them into my meals on a daily basis. Both apples and pumpkins are my favourite produce, so my excitement arises whenever I see them in store. I love to fry my apples with cinnamon and pumpkin spice and top my yoghurt bowl with them. One of my favourite recipes to cook this time of year is Moroccan pumpkin stew. Aside from the fact I absolutely adore the flavour, I feel more connected with my ancestors, knowing they'd cook it this time of year too. 

As I am only 23 years old, a big portion of my life so far has been spent going to school and attending higher education. This means that September for me is coloured with the notion of new beginnings, as the new school year starts right before or in September. My past Mabon celebrations have been centered around this intention, because it's the energy I was feeling. However this year the energy of grief, loss, gratitude, healing and protection is quite strong. I have quite a lot to process and the Autumn Equinox provides me with the space for introspection. Therefore a way for me to celebrate the Equinox is to journal on what I need to let go of and what needs protection to manifest. This Equinox feels more as closure and transitional energetically to me rather than a new beginning. Moreover I will also be conducting workings in regards to these intentions. My current Mabon altar reflects these intentions as well. 

One thing I used to do for sabbats that I haven't done this year is making corresponding loose incenses. This year I hope to be able to get around to making one for Mabon and post it ;). I am also planning to forage for spell ingredients. I like to forage for acorns, conkers, hawthorn, elder and blackthorn berries and rotting leaves. I then like to incorporate these in upcoming workings. 

(Sorry for the Arachnophobics) Spiders are especially prevalent this time of year, and gods do I love them. I tend to take a moment to acknowledge every spider I see during autumn. Spiders are more active indoors during autumn, because around autumn the spring hatchlings mature. The male spiders then start roaming around to find a mate. To me spiders hold the following meaning: Persistence, weaving and web  f fate, connection, protection and patience. 

I am closing off this post with my Mabon playlist to help you get into the mood. May you have a blessed Autumn Equinox🤎