Mabon is the festival of the second harvest of the year, just in time for the transition of long days and short nights to lesser daylight and longer nights.
Here's a ritual for harvest to get into the seasonal mood and get started with the preparation for a wonderful Mabon celebration and ritual. Blessed be!
For more details about this sabbat visit LoveDriven.com/Mabon
Harvest Ritual
Before Mabon gather in the last of your garden herbs, tie them in bunches and hang them up to dry.
Create an abundance centerpiece for your table with the fruits of the season, such as small pumpkins, gourds, cranberries, and Indian corn. Decorate your altar with cornhusks, acorns, pears, and apples.
Collect candles of yellow for health, orange for sharing the harvest and purple for spiritual awareness.
Hang a braid of garlic in your kitchen for winter-long protection, and tuck rose thorns in crack near windows and doors to keep out intruders.
Make a simple grapevine wreath, entwine it with bittersweet stems and hang it on your door. As you weave the bittersweet into the vine circle, focus your intention upon the aspects of your life where you desire to keep balance.
Fashion a simple broom from trimmed birch branches or fresh pine. On a clear breezy day, open windows and hang out rugs and blankets. Make a clean sweep of the house with your Witch's broom. Gather fresh air into your space Burn sage smudge sticks or bunches in corners and hallways to clear out stagnant forces and rededicate your home to peace.
Simmer a small pot of water with 3 cinnamon sticks and 9 whole cloves to invite abundance and good health. To encourage love and longevity, add chopped fresh rosemary to biscuits and breads, pizza, stews and roasted dinners.
Plan for a time of study, and begin looking through new books to ignite your interest in the longer evenings ahead. Buy a new dream journal to encourage winter dreaming.
Most importantly, take time to be outdoors during the last golden rays of the Sun. Walk through falling leaves and observe the animals in your neighborhood, readying their nests for winter. Listen to the Goddess and God with your body and soul, and offer thanks.
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Mabon Ritual
Tools:
In addition to your magickal tools you will need:
* A Red Altar Cloth
* A Wicker Basket
* A Red Apple
* Assorted Fruits and Vegetables of the Second Harvest (Berries, Squash, Corn, etc)
* A Bell
* A Fallen Tree Branch
* A Bolline
* A Sprig or Two of Ivy
* An Autumn Blend Incense
* Any other Personal items of choice
Preparation:
Sweep area, moving in a deosil (clockwise) manner. Outline your Circle with a red cord, low vibration stones, or various Harvest items such as wheat, corn, beans, etc. Set up your alter and place the red alter cloth over it. At center top, place the wicker basket, filled with the assorted fruit and vegetables. Place the apple and the bolline on your Pentacle or a plate. Place the tree branch to the right of the basket. Place the rest of your tools and props according to your personal preference. Take a shower or bath for purity. Sit quietly and meditate to ground and center. When you are ready, begin by playing some soothing music associated with the Sabbat and your ritual.
Cast the Circle and call Quarters.....Pick up your Wand in your right hand, face your alter, and with arms stretched out above your head, say:
"I honor Thee, Autumn Queen, and Thy consort, the God of the Harvest.
The Wheel has once more turned, and the change of season begins.
What will be is. What was will be.
The Equinox is upon us, and the time to reflect, at hand.
All time comes together, here and now in this sacred space.
And I, but a moment in time, feel the change as I pass From one season to the next.
The Second Harvest has been reaped, and the time of rest is deserved.
Go now My Mother and slumber.
Go now My Father and dream of re-birth.
I shall be here to greet Thee on Your return."
With arms still out-stretched lower your head and close your eyes. Contemplate what you have just spoken. When ready, open your eyes and lower your arms. Pick up the apple and place it in the center of the Pentacle/plate. Cut it crosswise with the Bolline, to reveal the natural pentagram at it's core. Then lift half the apple, pentagram up, as if in offering, while saying:
"As the Wheel turns, the seasons pass, and the years give 'way To the next,
Guide me most Wise Ones,
Lest I forget
Every beginning has an ending
And every ending is a new beginning."
Take a bite of the apple. Put the rest aside to share later with the wildlife. Pick up the tree branch and shake once at each direction, starting with North, saying:
"As the days grow colder, and the nights last longer,
May I remember the summer past.
With sunlight fading, and hearth inviting,
My memories will warm my soul.
From a season of hard work and hard play,
I hear Mother's voice calling me forward.
While I rest, shall She lull me, with songs of a dream,
As close to Her bosom I cling."
Face the alter and hold the branch out in front of you with both hands, saying:
"With memories of the summer, least I never forget,
And aspirings for the colder months to come,
Least I never stop striving,
I honor Thee with this symbol of Nature,
Keeping it and Thee in my home and heart,
That I may see it and pause,
To reflect on the Ancient Mysteries,
Leading me to a better understanding of myself,
And of others, and all that is Life."
Put the tree branch on the alter, into the basket of fruit so that it sticks out, back in your direction. Contemplate on the various memory symbols that you have attached to it. Also contemplate on the various projects for autumn and winter that you have attached to it. Close your eyes and feel the seasons pass within the circle from summer to autumn. When ready, say:
"Between the worlds I stand in this sacred place.
All time is here and now.
As I leave this circle, the season shall have changed,
And I will have changed with it.
May I use the short time of Winter Finding
To draw the strength and power from within
As I quest for vision, understanding, and peace."
Pick up the sprig(s) of ivy, and wrap around your arms, from the elbow to the wrist. Pick up the Bell with your right hand, and ring thrice, to toll the passing of the first 3 seasons of the year. Now place it in your left hand and ring once to usher in the 4th and last season of the year. Place the bell on the alter and the ivy in your cauldron (for burning later).
"In Life is Death, and in Death is Life.
The Sacred Dance goes on and on
From whence we came, we shall return,
And come again.
Seasons pass, and pass again,
The circle stays unbroken
Heed the words of your child, here,
Through Your wisdom I have spoken."
It is now time for meditation and spellworking. Associated spellworkings would include those for protection, wealth, security, and self-confidence. If there is no spellworking, celebrate with Cakes and Ale, then release the Circle. Clean up. You are done.
Find an appropriate place in your home to display the decorated tree branch.
*Find a fallen tree branch. It need not be a large one, for it will adorn your altar, and also display in your home. The more smaller offshoots from the main branch, the better.
Next, take a couple of pine cones, small shells, dried flowers, or any other item that reminds you of the late spring-summer months. With some string, tie each to the offshoots. Also take yarn or ribbon of yellows, oranges, reds, and gold and tie one end to the offshoots. Then, on very thin strips of (colored) paper, write down some projects to work on during the upcoming ' dark ' months. Wrap these around the offshoots (like little cocoons) and tie closed with silver thread. These you will open over the next couple of months when you start feeling lethargic or without a sense of direction. I tie on a couple of small bells, to add some ambiance to my ritual.
Courtesy of Wicca.com & Llewellyn Worldwide
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