.:. Mabon .:.

.: MABON :.
September 21, the Autumn Euinox, is the completion of the harvest begun at Lughnasadh. Once again, day and night are equal, poised as the God prepares to leave His physical body and begin the great adventure into the unseen, toward renewal and rebirth of the Goddess.

Nature Declines, draws back its bounty, readying for winter and its time of rest. The Goddess nods in the weakening Sun, though fire burns within Her womb. She feels the presence of th eGod even as He wanes.

Click Magick Circle if you do not know how to form a proper magickal circle, BEFORE attempting to perform the ritual below.

PREPARING YOUR ALTAR

° Altar candles should be brown.
° Incense should be pine, sage, sweetgrass or myrrh.
° Circle may be decorated with autumn flowers, acorns, gourds, corn sheaves, and fall leaves.
° Circle candles sould always be for the elementals (green, yellow, red, and blue).
° Have nutbread in a dish on the altar.
° Have a box of canned goods to donate to the needy.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CEREMONY

Sweep circle area; lay out circle and altar items; bathe and robe. Light incense and altar candles. Ring bell three times and say,

"The circle is about to be cast and I freely stand within to greet my Lady and my Lord.

Take center candle from altar, light each candle of the circle moving north, then east, south and west and say,

(N) I call upon light and earth at the north to illuminate and strengthen the circle.
(E) I call upon light and air at the east to illuminate and enliven the circle.
(S) I call upon light and fire at the south to illuminate and warm the circle.
(W) I call upon light and water at the west to illuminate and cleanse the circle.

Take athame in upraised hand, begin circle at north and move around the circle north to east to south to west, and say,

I draw this circle in the presence of the Goddess and the God where they may come and bless their child, Say your magickal name.

Lower the athame at the north, and as you walk around the circle, envision a blue light shooting out from the point and forming the circle boundary and say,

This is the boundary of the circle. Only love shall enter and leave.

Return to the altar and ring bell three times. Place point of athame in the altar bowl of salt and say...
Salt is life and purifying. I bles this salt to be used in this sacred circle in the names of the Goddess and the God.

Pick up the salt bowl and use tip of athame to drop three portions of salt into the altar bowl of water and set salt bowl back in its place. Stir three times with athame and say...
Let the blessed salt purify this water that it may be lessed to use in this sacred circle. In the names of the Goddess and the God, I consecrate and cleanse this water.

Take the salted water bowl in hand and sprinkle water from it as you move deosil around the circle, NESWN and say...
I (speak your magickal name) am consecrated in the names of the Goddess and the God in this, their circle.

Take the wand and hold it aloft, with both arms open and upraised, at the north of the circle, envision a powerful bull arriving and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have body and strength, we are kith and kin!

Lower wand and move to east, raise up wand, envisioning fairies devas or an eagle in flight arriving and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breathe and think, we are kith and kin!

Lower wand and move to the south, raise up the wand, envisioning a fire dragon and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Fire, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I consume life to live, we are kith and kin!

Lower wand and move to the west, hold wand aloft, envision an undine, sea serpent or dolphin arriving, and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Water, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I feel and my heart beats, we are kith and kin!

Return to the altar and use wand to draw in the air above tha altar the symbol of infinity (an 8 lying on its side), the sign of working between the worlds. Set wand on altar, raise up athame in both hands overhead and say:
Hail to the elementals at the four quarters! Welcome Lady and Lord to this rite! I stand between the worlds with love and power all around!

Pour wine into your cauldron as a libation to the Divine in which they are honored by offering to them the first draught, then you drink. Ring bell three times and say,

This day I celebrate the second harvest, that of fruits, nuts and the vines, and I remember those who struggle without. As I accept the gifts of the Lord and the Lady so do I pass along what I may to those who have need.

Ring bell three times and say...

The wheel of the year is ever turning, through sun tides and moon tides, through seasons and harvests, for plants and for people; for all life is the spiral dance of energy eternal.

Hold up the dish of nutbread and a cup of wine and say...

I ask the blessing of the Lady and the Lord, upon this food that the harvest be bountiful.

Ring bell three times and say...

The Lord of Shadows rules Shadowland, yet his love holds true, and with him my own dance will one day move the Other Way. As this harvest moves onward to the last harvest, I call upon the Lady and the Lord to belss this beautiful season and my life within it.

Take up wand and move to the north of the circle. Raise wand and say...

Hail to thee, Elemental Earth! Your steadfastness helps me to maintain the things of my jhome, my health, and my comfort. I honor you!

Lower wand and move to the east. Raise wand and say...

Hail to thee, Elemental Air! Your inspiration helps me to learn and understand. I honor you!

Lower wand and move to the south. Raise wand and say...

Hail to thee, Elemental Fire! Your energy helps me with the drive to accomplish my goals. I honor you!

Lower wand and move to the west. Raise wand and say...

Hail to thee, Elemental Water! Your gentle flow helps me maintain calm and balance in my relationships with others. I honor you!

Return to the Altar, touched canned goods with wand and say...

In the names of the Lord and the Lady, and with the aid of the elementals, I bless these fruits of the harvest for those who are in need. I offer aid and comfort to those whose needs arise throughout the turning of the Wheel. May the Goddess and the God baless these offerings, the one who gives and the one who receives. So mote it be!
Ring bell three times.

Wine and cakes are usual taken after any Green ritual or rite. Then, the elementals are thanked and dismissed, and the circle is taken down.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Take those canned goods to the food bank
Make a protection charm of hazelnuts strung on red thread
Hang dried ears of corn on the front door, doorposts or outside light fuxture
Serve a Mabon meal of wine from the God and beans and squashes from the Goddess. Multibean soup with smoked meats, like mild sausage.
Collect seasonal green pods to decorate at Yuletide and attract the fairies

Š1996, Llewellyn Publications, "Green Witchcraft" by Ann Moura, pp 239-246