|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:10 am
September 19-22
The date varies yearly Mabon is traditionally the second harvest festival of the year. Throughout the wheel of the year we have been planning, planting our wishes, and working hard toward our goals. A this time, we may make the final "harvest" of our dreams and at Mabon we shall give thanks for the "riches" of the year.
While in the past, most all were farmers, this harvest festival traditionally applies to the harvest of foods, yet in this day and age, the "harvest" may also apply to the "seeds of dreams and wishes" that we planted many months earlier."
http://www.amysticalgrove.com
(this site no longer works)
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:03 am
Mabon Information
~Mabon is one of the four Lesser or Minor Sabbats.
~Mabon marks the first "thanksgiving" sabbat for Witches. At this time many gather together to share what they can share. Whether the sharing is a story, a helpful hand, a bale of hay. or ?...
~It is a tradition to bring something that you grew, "created," or obtained during the earlier part of the Witches year to any ritual or gathering that you may attend at this time.
~At the Autumn Equinox the sun and moon are in complete balance. From this day fourth (until Spring Equinox) the moon (Goddess) will once again reign supreme over the sun (God).
~A ritual to thank the growing energies of the God and the fertility of the Goddess should be preformed at this time.
~Lay upon your altar a sampling of your "harvest" use it freely in your ritual (even if your "harvest" came up empty, IE: your dreams did were not fulfilled, the God and Goddess should still be thanked for the effort put fourth in your name.
~On this day the Sun passes the equator, this time on its trek south. At this time the "chase of Lugh" ends with the felling of the last shaft of grain, it is within the last shaft that Lugh is hidden, but with His death, His sacrifice, we live through His abundance.
~This is a time for giving thanks, evaluation, and meditation.
~Take stock in what you've received and prepare for the dark days.
~At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.
(http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabon.htm)
Did You Know:
~Samhain/Halloween is also a "thanksgiving" Saabbat
~Mabon is the name of the Welsh God who represents fertility in Welsh lore. (http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amethystbt/Mabon.html)
~Mabon is also the time Oak & Holly King. Throughout the year they have challenged each other and then mate with the Goddess. At Mabon, the Holly King challenges the Oak King and wins, the Holly King rules until the Spring Equinox where the opposite occurs. (http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amethystbt/Mabon.html)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:05 am
Mabon Correspondences
AKA:
Michaelmas (September 25th, Christian), Second Harvest Festival, Witches' Thanksgiving, Harvest Home (Anglo-Celtic), Feast of Avalon, Wine Harvest, Festival of Dionysus, Cornucopia, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Chung Chiu (China), Night of the Hunter, Alban Elfed "The Light of the Water"(Caledonii/ Druidic-celebrates Lord of the Mysteries), Winter Finding (Teutonic, from Equinox 'til Winter Night or Nordic New Year, Oct 15th.)
Animals/Mythical beings:
dogs, wolves, stag, blackbird, owl, eagle, birds of prey, salmon & goat, Gnomes, Sphinx, Minotaur, Cyclops, Andamans and Gulons
Gemstones:
yellow agate, carnelian, yellow topaz, sapphire, lapis lazuli & amethyst
Incense/Oil:
pine, sweetgrass, apple blossom, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense, jasmine, sage wood aloes, black pepper, patchouly, cinnamon, clove, oak moss
Colors/Candles:
brown, green, orange, red, deep gold, scarlet, yellow, russet, maroon, all autumn colors, purple, blue violet & indigo
Tools/Symbols/Decorations:
Indian corn, red fruits, autumn flowers, red poppies, hazelnuts, garlands, grains especially wheat stalks, and colorful, fallen leaves, acorns, pine & cypress cones, oak sprigs, pomegranate, statue/or figure to represent the Mother Goddess, mabon wreath, vine, grapes, gourd, cornucopia/horns of plenty, burial cairns, apples, marigolds, harvested crops, burial cairns, rattles, the Mysteries, sun wheel, all harvest symbols
Goddesses:
Modron (Welsh), Bona Dea, Land Mother, Aging & Harvest deities: the Triple Goddess-Mother aspect, Persephone, Demeter/Ceres, Morgan (Welsh- Cornish), Snake Woman (aboriginal), Epona (Celtic-Gaulish), Pamona (roman), the Muses (Greek)
Gods:
Mabon ap Modron (Welsh), Sky Father, Wine Gods, Aging Gods, John Barley Corn , the Wicker-Man, the Corn Man, Thoth (Egyptian), Hermes, Hotei (Japanese), Thor, Dionysus (Roman), Bacchus (Greek) & all wine Deities
Essence:
beauty, joy; fullness of life, harvest of the year's desires, strength; laughter; power; prosperity, equality, balance, appreciation, harvest, protection, wealth,
security, self-confidence, reincarnation
Dynamics/Meaning:
death of the God, assumption of the Crone, balance of light and dark; increase of darkness, grape harvest, completion of the harvest
Purpose:
second harvest festival, new wine pressing/making preparation for winter and Samhain, rest after labor, Pagan day of Thanksgiving, honoring the spirit world, celebration of wine
Rituals/Magicks:
Celtic Festival of the Vine, prosperity rituals, introspection, rituals which enact the elderly aspects of both Goddess & God, past life recall
Customs:
offerings to land, preparing for cold weather, bringing in harvest, cutting willow wands (Druidic), eating seasonal fruit, leaving apples upon burial cairns & graves as a token of honor, walk wild places & forests, gather seed pods & dried plants, fermenting grapes to make wine,picking ripe produce, stalk bundling; fishing,. on the closest full moon (Harvest Moon) harvesting corps by moonlight.
Foods:
cornbread, wheat products, bread, grains, berries, nuts, grapes, acorns, seeds, dried fruits, corn, beans, squash, roots (ie onions, carrots, potatoes, etc), hops,
sassafras, apples, pomegranates, carrots, onions, potatoes, roast goose or mutton, wine, ale, & cider
Herbs:
myrrh, thistle, tobacco, oak leaf, hazel, mums, hops, acorns, marigold, rose, sage, milkweed, solomon's seal, aster, fern, honeysuckle, benzoin, myrrh, passionflower, pine & cedar, ivy, hazel, hops, cedar
Element/Gender:
water (not sure of gender)
Threshold:
evening List courtesy of: http://katybugdidit.tripod.com/id21.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:07 am
Mabon Ritual
Cleanse yourself and your space in your normal manner (Ritual Bath is an example)
Light the incense and the altar candles, and cast the sacred circle. Then invoke the God and the Goddess. Pick up the basket of leaves and hold it in both hands. Spill the leaves slowly so that they cascade down to the ground within the circle as you say these words:
"The days grow colder, and the leaves fall. Our Lord of the sun rides the winds westward, and the cool, misty night descends. Fruits ripen, and the seeds drop. This is a time of balance, when night equals day, and though all seems dead or dying, I know that life continues. Life is not possible without death, and the coming of winter is just another spoke in the great wheel."
Put the basket down, and say:
"Oh great Goddess of the waning moon, keeper of the cauldron, of secret magick and forgotten lore, teach me to be wise and peaceful in thought and deed. Grant me your wisdom, and do not fear that it may be used unwisely, or for purposes other than those which encourage peace and prosperity."
Works of magic or any seasonal activities may be performed now. Spell workings for Protection, prosperity, security, self-confidence, harmony and balance are favored on this Sabbat. Feast on Cakes and Ale (cornbread and Cider are Traditional at this Sabbat) and then release the Circle in your normal manner.Ritual courtesy of: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/spiritwolf/mabon.htm**minor alteration: I included the bit about Ritual Bath**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:10 am
Mabon Recipes
Not all recipes here are meant for consumption.
Mabon Incense Recipe
2 Parts Frankincense
1 Part Sandalwood
1 Part Cypress
1 Part Juniper
1 Part Pine
1/2 Part Oak moss
(or few drops of Oak moss Bouquet)
1 Pinch Pulverized oak leaf
Cut up into small pieces and mix all ingredients together before burning upon lit charcoal in a fire proof container.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/spiritwolf/mabon.htm
Mabon Oil
4 drops each Rosemary and Frankincense oil
2 drops apple oil
1 drop chamomile oil
Use almond oil as a base here
http://www.geocities.com/gardenwitchry/oils/oils.html
Autumn Equinox Ritual Potpourri
45 drops Honeysuckle Oil
1 cup Oak Moss
6 small Acorns
2 cups dried Oak Leaves
2 cups dried Honeysuckle
1 cup dried Passionflower
1 cup dried Rosebuds and Petals
1/2 cup dried Pine Needles
1 tablespoon Sage
Mix the honeysuckle oil with the oak moss and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpourri well and store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container.
http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/2007/mabon_lore.html
Blackberry Cornbread
2 cup corn meal
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 c. molasses
1 1/2 cup blackberries
For the blackberries, I've found that the big Himalayas with the broad leaves aren't as flavorful a the smaller ground creeper variety, with the leaves that are jagged with deep groves.. but then, I have 5 different varieties of blackberries in my yard
Into mixing bowl, add corn meal, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, egg; stir well. Add molasses, stir well. Add blackberries, fold into mixture, and be careful not to mash them.
Pour into a well greased iron skillet and bake slow at 350 degrees until pone begins to brown. Reduce heat to 200 degrees until cooked.
*This tip was taken from a reply to the recipe:*
If you break the blackberries when folding them in, that can be the result Helice, one reason to go with the firmer variety of berry. While the big plump Himalayan (Rubus procerns), a non-native and pest really, work great for jams, jellies, cobblers and other such items where you want the berry to burst, the cornbread isn't one of them. What out for berries that are overripe too..they break really easily while mixing. Its kind of like making blueberry pancakes. If you are careful, the berries stay whole, and burst when you bite into them instead of while they are cooking. Some discoloration around the berries themselves is going to take place, but if you gently fold them into the batter, it is minimal.
(http://foolmoon.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/272511/site_id/1)
Simple Spiced Apple Cider
Put one gallon of apple cider in a crockpot, add 5 cinnamon sticks and about 15 cloves, simmer on the lowest setting and dip in throughout the day. Of course, as the day goes on, the cider becomes more infused with the cinnamon and cloves, so if it stars to get a bit strong for you, you can scoop the spices out.
http://foolmoon.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/272511/site_id/1
Edible Autumn Leaves
*great for kids*
1 bag each of semisweet
chocolate and white chocolate
morsels (chips), broad leafed herbs such as mint, basil, celery, etc.
Select your sprigs of leaves in the produce section of your grocery store or from your garden. Wash leaves thoroughly and pat dry. Melt chocolate with 2 tsp. of butter, stirring until smooth. Pour chocolate into small bowls and give each child a clean small paintbrush. Paint the underside of the leaves with the chocolate and place on a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm. Slowly pull real leaves away from chocolate leaves. (Explain to children how art is a reflection of the true beauty of Nature.)
http://foolmoon.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/272511/site_id/1
Black Bean Soup
Ingredients
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup summer savory leaves
6 cups cooked black beans
2 cups water
4 cups chicken stock
juice of 1 lime
4 Tbs. olive oil
salt and paprika to taste
Method
1) Heat vegetable oil in large stock pan, sauté onions and jalapeno pepper for three minutes.
2) Add garlic and half the summer savoury, and sauté for another three minutes.
3) Add 2 cups black beans and 2 cups water. Sauté, mixing constantly, until all the water is absorbed by the beans and the mixture acquires the consistency of thick puree. This will be your roux, or base, for the soup.
4) Add the chicken stock and boil for five minutes.
5) Strain the creamy liquid through a fine sieve, pressing all juices and puree through.
6) Return liquid to pot and add remaining 4 cups of beans, salt, and paprika. Boil for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle with a mixture of olive oil, lime juice, and remaining savoury leaves. Serve with tortilla chips.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/spiritwolf/mabon.htm
Traditional Mabon Apple Bread Pudding
Ingredients
1/3 cup raisins (about 3 oz)
1 oz. apple brandy
1 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 large apples, peeled, cored, and cut in pieces
5 slices French bread, crusts removed
4 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbs. melted butter
1 Tbs. cinnamon sugar
Method
1) Preheat oven to 350° F (190C, Gas Mark5).
2) Soak the raisins in apple brandy for 15 minutes.
3) Bring water and sugar to a boil in medium saucepan.
4) Add cinnamon and apples and simmer 5 minutes.
5) Remove from heat and cool to "warm."
6) Cut the bread into small cubes and place in a bowl. Add eggs, vanilla, raisins, and cooled apple mixture. Toss to coat the bread.
7) Coat a deep dish 9 or 10 inch pie pan with melted butter. Add the apple mixture and drizzle remaining butter on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
cool Bake 10 minutes at 350° F.
9) Turn the oven down to 325F (160C, Gas Mark3) and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until set.
10) Cut into wedges and serve warm with whipped topping.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/spiritwolf/mabon.htm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:11 am
Mabon Activities/Crafts
~Select the best of each vegetable, herb, fruit, nut, and other food you have harvested or purchased and give it back to Mother Earth with prayers of thanksgiving.
~Hang dried ears of corn around your home in appreciation of the harvest season.
~Do meditations and chanting as you store away food for the Winter.
~Do a thanksgiving circle, offering thanks as you face each direction - - for home, finances, and physical health (North); for gifts of knowledge (East); for accomplishments in career and hobbies (South); for relationships (West); and for spiritual insights and messages (Center).
~Decorate the table with colorful autumn leaves in a basket. Display the fruits of the harvest - corn, gourds, nuts, grapes, apples - preferably in a cornucopia. Or decorate with wildflowers, acorns, nuts, berries, cocoons, anything that represents the harvest to you.
~ Like its sister equinox, halfway across the Wheel of the Year, the Autumn Equinox is a good occasion for a ritual feast. Plan a meal that uses seasonal and symbolic fruits and vegetables. You can serve bread, squash, corn, apples, cider and wine. Make some homemade wine or cordial gather and dry herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods.
~Make grapevine wreaths using dried bitter-sweet herb for protection. Use ribbons of gold and yellow to bring in the energy of the Sun, and decorate with sprigs of dried yarrow or cinnamon sticks.
~Make a protection charm of hazelnuts (filberts) strung on red thread. Make a witch's broom.
~Tie dried corn husks or herbs (broom, cedar, fennel, lavender, peppermint, rosemary) around a strong, relatively straight branch of your choice.
~Collect fallen leaves and make a centerpiece or bouquet for your home. Save the leaves to burn in your Yule fire.
~Visit an apple orchard and, if possible, pick your own apples.
~Hang apples on a tree near your home. Watch the birds and other small animals who will enjoy your gift.
~Traditionally Sabbat festivals begin at sun set on the eve of the Holiday. You can use the daytime hours of this holiday eve to prepare baskets for harvesting the next day.
~Baking a pumpkin pie (from scratch if possible) is a wonderful way to bring in the fragrance of the holiday season.
http://cronescottage2002.tripod.com/thecottageaugustmabon2002/id1.html
Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Give each child a pine cone, a piece of string, and a spreader. (Plastic knives make ideal spreaders.) Place a jar of health-food store peanut butter (no added sugar or preservatives) and a tray of bird seed at each table.
Ask children to tie their strings around the small ends of the pine cone. (Young children may need help.) Show them how to spread peanut butter along the surface of the pine cone, filling in the spaces along the lower two-thirds.
After cones are coated in peanut butter, roll them in bird seed. Finally, let each child take his or her feeder home and hang it up, or scatter the feeders in trees around the school. Enjoy watching the birds feast on a tasty treat!
A Step Further: Buy peanuts from a health food store. Slowly pour peanuts into a blender to make peanut butter as students watch. You may need to add a little peanut oil to improve consistency of the peanut butter. Let students sample the freshly-made peanut butter before sharing it with the birds.
Easy Dried Apple Crafts
Do you remember the last time you were in someone's home that had an apple pie baking in the oven? Ahhh, the aromas of a fresh baked pie -- it is simply irresistible!
Well, now you can recreate this delicious scent in your own home, or in the homes of your loved ones, by making dried cinnamon scented apple crafts. None of them are hard to make and results are wonderful! Hang one of these on your wall and you will surely impress all of your
guests.
For each apple craft, you will need
* Juice of approximately 8-10 lemons
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 8 - 10 large firm apples
* 8 teaspoons cinnamon
* 2 teaspoons allspice
* 1 teaspoon cloves
* 8" - 10" sturdy, heavy gauge wire (for a wreath)
* Jute (for garland or apple stacker)
* 1 - 1 1/2 yards of ribbon or fabric scraps
To prepare and dry your apples
1)Place lemon juice in a large bowl, and stir in salt.
2)Peel, core, and slice apples horizontally into 1/4" thick circles. Soak slices in lemon juice bowl for approximately 6-10 minutes, making sure each side of the slices has a chance to absorb some of the lemon juice.
3)Meanwhile, mix spices in a bowl and blend well.
4)Remove the slices from the bowl and place them on paper towels. Pat tops of apple slices with paper towels.
5)Dust apples slices with spice mixture. Turn slices over and repeat on opposite side.
6)Place apples slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 150-200 degrees F for 6 hours or until completely dried. Apple slices should be slightly pliable.
To Create An Apple Wreath
1) Fold each apple slice in half, and then into quarters and thread the apples slices onto the wire. Continue to pack on the folded apples until the wire is completely filled.
2) When the wire is completely covered, use pliers to bend ends into hooks so that they can connect and close. Carefully shape wire into desired shape. I recommend either a circle or heart shape.
3) Using your ribbon or fabric scraps, create a hanger for your wreath. 4) Hang on your wall, or package as a gift for someone special.
To Create An Apple Garland
Cut of enough jute for your desired length of garland - remember, your apple garland shouldn't be too long, but approximately 2-4 works well. Also, it is always better to have too much, than not enough.
2) Start stringing on apple slices. Push one end of jute through the middle of each apple slice.
3) Consider alternating several apple slices and then a piece of tied on fabric strip.
4) Hang on your wall!
To Create An Apple Stacker
1) Using an approximate 12" piece of jute, tie one end to about three cinnamon sticks that are laid in a a bundle.
2) Being to string on apple slices by pushing jute through the center of each slice. Consider alternating several slices with a piece of fabric tied on.
3) When apple stacker is the desired length, end with three more cinnamon sticks in a bundle and tie a loop so that you can hang your apple stacker proudly!http://cronescottage2002.tripod.com/thecottageaugustmabon2002/id12.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:38 am
Mabon Chants/Prayers/Blessings
Mabon Chant (Thanksgiving)
We gather together, to offer thanksgiving
For all of the heavenly (magickal) blessings we've known
The troubles that find us serve only to bind us
And daily remind us we're never alone
http://www.en-chant-ment.ca/chants.html
Mabon Prayer
Autumn colors of red and gold
As I close my eyes tonight
Such a wonder to behold
I feel the God/dess hold me tight
Watch leaves turning one by one
Though it grows dark, I shall not fear
Captured bits of Autumn Sun
For Divine Love protects all here
Soon they'll fall and blow away
Through the night, until the morn
The golden treasures of today
When the shining Sun's reborn
When the trees are bare
Time to sleep, time to dream
And the ground grows cold
Till warm gold rays upon me stream
These warm memories
I'll still hold….
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabonchildren.htm
Hoof and Horn
(took from part of a ritual/ceremony)
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that dies shall be reborn.
Vine and grain, vine and grain
All that falls shall rise again. (X3)
http://www.mysticmountainlodge.com/index_files/Page569.htm
Mabon Blessings!
The Wheel turns again
Bringing us from warm & light to dark & cold.
Once again we stand at the crossroads;
The days and nights are in balance
At this, our second harvest.
Wrapped in the coolness of Autumn
Fruits ripen, Seeds drop.
The grapes have matured,
And the vines,
Once heavily laden with the sweet, ripe fruit,
Have been stripped of their purple hued orbs.
It is a time for celebration,
Of song& dance,
Food & fertility…
A time to give praise, honor & Thanksgiving
Before darkness settles in…
May Winter be gentle in its cold & loving in its dark. http://journals.aol.com/hearts333/JourneythroughmyRealm/entries/2006/09/17/mabon-blessings/730
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
