Mabon

🌾 Mabon: The Autumn Equinox & The Witch’s Thanksgiving

As the days grow shorter and the air begins to cool, we arrive at a sacred turning point on the Wheel of the Year: Mabon, the Autumn Equinox. This is a moment of balance, when light and dark are equal, and nature tips into the darker half of the year. For many modern pagans, witches, and nature-based spiritual practitioners, Mabon is both a celebration of the harvest and a time of deep reflection.

🍁 The Origins of Mabon

The name “Mabon” was popularised in the 1970s by Aidan Kelly, drawing from the Welsh myth of Mabon ap Modron, a god associated with youth, hunting, and the turning of the seasons. However, the festival itself is rooted in much older agricultural traditions across Europe, marking the second of the three harvest festivals (Lammas/Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain).

Ancient cultures celebrated the autumn equinox as a time of gratitude for the harvest and preparation for the leaner months. From the grape harvests of ancient Greece to the apple-picking festivals of the Celtic lands, the season has always carried themes of abundance, balance, and gratitude.

🌞 Balance Between Light & Dark

At Mabon, the Sun stands directly above the equator, granting us equal day and night. This balance in nature invites us to reflect on our own lives:

• What feels in harmony?

• Where do we need to let go to restore equilibrium?

• How can we express gratitude for what we’ve gathered—whether that’s food, experiences, or personal growth?

Just as the trees shed their leaves, we too can release what no longer serves us, making space for rest and renewal.

🕯️ Traditional Symbols & Correspondences

Colours: Gold, deep red, russet, dark green, burnt orange

Herbs & Plants: Apple, blackberry, sage, rosemary, marigold

Crystals: Carnelian, citrine, amber, moss agate

Foods: Pumpkins, squash, bread, cider, root vegetables, grapes, wine

Deities: Demeter, Persephone, Mabon ap Modron, Modron, Dionysus, Inanna

🍎 Ways to Celebrate Mabon

1. Create an Autumn Altar – Decorate with leaves, pinecones, apples, candles, and seasonal crystals.

2. Hold a Gratitude Feast – Share a meal with friends or family using seasonal produce. Begin by giving thanks for the blessings of the year.

3. Apple Magic – Use apples in spells for love, healing, or wisdom. Slice one horizontally to reveal the star within.

4. Release Ritual – Write down habits, fears, or situations you’re ready to release. Burn or bury the paper to symbolically let them go.

5. Nature Walk – Gather fallen leaves, seeds, or berries to connect with the shifting energy of the season.

🔮 Spiritual Themes of Mabon

• Gratitude for what you’ve harvested (physically, emotionally, spiritually).

• Release of the old, making way for new cycles.

• Balance in all areas of life.

• Preparation for the inward journey of winter.

Mabon reminds us that endings are as sacred as beginnings. The fields are bare, but the pantry is full. The days grow dim, but the hearth is warm. We are reminded that life moves in cycles, and each season has its gift.

🌙 Closing Blessing

As the light wanes and the nights grow long, may your harvest be plentiful, your heart be at peace, and your spirit walk in balance. Blessed Mabon.