Merry Meet and Welcome to you magickal souls!!!!
It's time to consider the second of the harvest Wheel of the Year celebrations which is Mabon or the Autumn/Fall Equinox. It doesn't necessarily have a set date but on or around 21st September (or 21st March for the Southern Hemisphere) is the closest specific - so if you want to celebrate Mabon, you can choose any date around this time.
This is a very similar time to the Spring Equinox or Ostara. This is because the days and nights have equal length, and the world is in balance as the whole planet receives the same amount of sunlight and darkness. But Mabon is the middle festival of the three associated with harvests, so it holds equality and balance within, and this is definitely something we can work with if we want to.
Mabon is the second of the three harvest festivals, with Lughnasadh and Samhain being the other two. This is the mid-point of the harvest season, the time when farmers can look back on the harvest so far to review what went wrong, what worked well, and how the future can be improved. It's a little rest-moment in the middle of all the hard work associated with bringing in the harvests.
There are five trees that could be seen as particularly special at Mabon: Oak, Birch, Ash, Yew, and Hawthorn. Oak is known as the "king of the forest", associated with strength and steadfastness. Oak has also been shown a lot of respect for millenia, possibly due to its importance for Druids as it really is a tree of power to them. To connect with the Oak's energy at any time, you can sit underneath an Oak with your back to the trunk and allow its strength and wisdom to flow through you. You can also work with Oak to direct and channel this energy by using Oak leaves and/or Acorns in your workings.
Birch is known as the "White Lady" or "Queen of the Woods", associated with delicate femininity as well as protection. Traditionally, besoms (better known today as brooms) would be made from Birch and used to drive out bad spirits/energy, and sweep the property boundaries to keep it safe. It's also a good wood for Maypoles and Yule logs.
Ash is shrouded in mystical and magical associations due to it being a tree of enchantment as well as healing. Ash wands can be used to direct energy, while keys made from Ash can protect against evil. The leaves of the Ash tree can be placed under a pillow to encourage whoever sleeps there to have prophetic dreams.
The Yew tree is known for its longevity, which can be up to 900 years old! This tree can also regrow from branches that sprout roots into the ground. This means that the Yew tree is associated with both life and death. Beltane fires have in the past been used in Beltane bonfires.
The final tree is Hawthorn and it is believed to stand at the threshold to the Otherworld. To some Witches, this tree is full of magick and superstition. However, when the Hawthorn flowers in may, they can be symbolic of love.
As well as trees, there are also plants you can use that still cling to life as the world turns towards winter and death. Lovage can be used to protect cattle, as a love charm, or in general kitchen witchery in stews and other autumnal meals. Crab Apples may be hard and bitter but they can be preserved as jams and jellies, or used in love magick (throwing the pips into a fire to see if they explode), Hazel can be used for matters of the heart of fertility magick (but still consult a medical professional for long-term issues). Mint is well-known as a cleansing and healing herb, but it can also be used in love spells, abundance/money spells, or to boost divination skills - Mint can be placed with tarot cards, runes or a black mirror to help the energy to stay fresh; however it can also be drunk in a tisane before doing any kind of reading.
Crystals are always good to use but here are four that connect nicely with the energy of Mabon:
White Opal is a seductive, opalescent stone that is associated with magick and luck. The Ancient Greeks believed it gave people the power of prophecy while also protecting against disease.
Malachite is believed to be pure nature in crystal form, while also being attributed with powers of transformation and healing. It was used by Egyptian Pharoahs within their head-dresses to amplify wisdom. Some eye-shaped bands or stones have been found in these pieces, and because of this it was believed to stimulate clear vision and insight.
Aquamarine is seen as the mystical jewel of mermaids and other visionaries, perhaps this link is due to its colour and connection with the sea. Roman sailors would call it the "water of the sea" and would carry it with them as protection against misfortune. But there is also a connection with air due to the blue colour, so prophets, shamans and mystics would also value it.
Hematite has been seen as the grounding stone of the god of war, Mars. It is found abundantly across the planet and has a weighty presence that connects it to anchoring and steady grounding.
Mabon is a time for gratitude, guidance and positivity rather than negativity, scarcity and coldness. This is actually a really good time of year to prepare and plant for Spring, but while you plant these bulbs, you can use them to visualise growing certain things in your lif, from a new job/career, romantic relationship, your magickal practice or something else entirely.
With all of this in mind, I crafted this Mabon spread so that we can all see the positives of this time of year as well as for the next 6-ish weeks to a year - remember that this energy can follow us for a year depending on the situations we are dealing with in our individual lives. I chose to use the Seasons of the Witch Mabon Oracle deck by Lorriane Anderson and Juliet Diaz which is illustrated by Tijana Lukovic.
What have we grown that we can harvest in our lives in the last year?
Grieving
"The chambers of your mourning are surrounded by nothingness, emptiness waiting to be seen."
With this card, the feeling is that we haven't yet mourned what we have lost in the past, we haven't actually grown anything, because we're holding onto the pain, hurts, people etc that have left us behind in some way.
We haven't yet wanted to move on so that part of our life garden is fallow and waiting for us to decide what we actually want to grow there after such a loss.
We seem to have forgotten that sometimes the best growth (even with Nature) comes after a period of doing nothing but healing. So heal, mourn and then grow.
What can we take forward towards Samhain and the next year?
Apple of My Eye
"Not all that's alluring may be what it seems; see beyond the illusion."
With this card, the message is that sometimes we can be having such a good time, or what we think is a good time, when in reality we're actually deceiving ourselves.
It's all about denial, and how we need to stop this cycle if we truly wish to enjoy our lives. This is what we can take forward: that it's better to realise and live the truth than to wear masks and deny reality.
Remember that the lives people live on social media isn't every part of their lives because they are selling us their image but it's not the whole truth; it's just a bite of their apple which we can't see.
What is our biggest obstacle as we move towards the future?
Fire Cider
"Dwell in the medicine that exists to protect the spirit."
With this card, the message is that our biggest is not protecting ourselves. We are too ready to move on to the next best thing, whether it's an animal, a new home, a new relationship or the latest fashions. We don't take the time to review what went wrong and how we can protect ourselves from something similar in the future, so we just go from one chaotic event to a repeat of it. This is what we need to overcome: being unwilling to protect ourselves. This could be by changing our behaviours and attitudes but also through natural remedies.
What is the best way to overcome this block?
Crow
"Pay close attention to the winds; there's a message making its way."
With this card, we can overcome this avoidance of healing by slowing down and paying attention to the signs that we are always being sent.
These signs can take any form, from birds, animals, insects, plants or the weather (specifically the clouds). However if we're not open to them, we'll miss not only them but also opportunities that could lead us to a greater healing.
We've been shrouded in a thick fog for so long that it's time for us to see where the fog is leading us, the direction the wind is trying to blow us in because we've been wandering blindly for long enough now.
There's a lot of heavy messages here but I think we can learn from this harvest celebration. While these messages may be a lot, it doesn't mean they are bad or negative in any way - they are among the opportunities hinted at in the first and final cards. The other two cards can lead us from one state of mind/being to the next but only if we are willing and ready to put in the time, effort and hard work.
I hope this was helpful and insightful. If you'd like a more personal look at how what you do around Mabon could influence your life in the future, my diary and inbox are open.
Peace and love to all!!!!
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