Autumn Equinox

Some information I had put together a bit ago on the season!

The Science of the Equinox:

Two days a year, the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight. Not only that, each receives the same amount of light as they do dark -- this is because the earth is tilted at a right angle to the sun, and the sun is directly over the equator. In Latin, the word equinox translates to "equal night." The autumn equinox takes place on or near September 21, and its spring counterpart falls around March 21. If you're in the Northern hemisphere, the days will begin getting shorter after the autumn equinox and the nights will grow longer -- in the Southern hemisphere, the reverse is true.

Global Traditions:

The idea of a harvest festival is nothing new. In fact, people have celebrated it for millennia, all around the world. In ancient Greece, Oschophoria was a festival held in the fall to celebrate the harvesting of grapes for wine. In the 1700's, the Bavarians came up with Oktoberfest, which actually begins in the last week of September, and it was a time of great feasting and merriment, still in existence today. China's Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated on the night of the Harvest Moon, and is a festival of honoring family unity.

Giving Thanks:

Although the traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving falls in November, many cultures see the second harvest time of the fall equinox as a time of giving thanks. After all, it's when you figure out how well your crops did, how fat your animals have gotten, and whether or not your family will be able to eat during the coming winter. However, by the end of November, there's not a whole lot left to harvest. Originally, the American Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated on October 3, which makes a lot more sense agriculturally.

Thanksgiving was originally celebrated on October 3. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued his "Thanksgiving Proclamation", which changed the date to the last Thursday in November. In 1939, Franklin Delano Roosevelent adjusted it yet again, making it the second-to-last Thursday, in the hopes of boosting post-Depression holiday sales. Unfortunately, all this did was confuse people. Two years later, Congress finalized it, saying that the fourth Thursday of November would be Thanksgiving, each year.

Symbols of the Season:

The harvest is a time of thanks, and also a time of balance -- after all, there are equal hours of daylight and darkness. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead.

Some symbols of Mabon include:

• Mid-autumn vegetables, like squashes and gourds
• Apples and anything made from them, such as cider or pies
• Seeds and seed pods
• Baskets, symbolizing the gathering of crops
• Sickles and scythes
• Grapes, vines, wine

You can use any of these to decorate your home or your altar at Mabon.

Feasting and Friends:

Early agricultural societies understood the importance of hospitality -- it was crucial to develop a relationship with your neighbors, because they might be the ones to help you when your family ran out of food. Many people, particularly in rural villages, celebrated the harvest with great deals of feasting, drinking, and eating. After all, the grain had been made into bread, beer and wine had been made, and the cattle were brought down from the summer pastures for the coming winter. Celebrate Mabon yourself with a feast -- and the bigger, the better!

Magic and Mythology:

Nearly all of the myths and legends popular at this time of the year focus on the themes of life, death, and rebirth. Not much of a surprise, when you consider that this is the time at which the earth begins to die before winter sets in!

Demeter and Her Daughter

Perhaps the best known of all the harvest mythologies is the story of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter was a goddess of grain and of the harvest in ancient Greece. Her daughter, Persephone, caught the eye of Hades, god of the underworld. When Hades abducted Persephone and took her back to the underworld, Demeter's grief caused the crops on earth to die and go dormant. By the time she finally recovered her daughter, Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, and so was doomed to spend six months of the year in the underworld. These six months are the time when the earth dies, beginning at the time of the autumn equinox.

Inanna Takes on the Underworld

The Sumerian goddess Inanna is the incarnation of fertility and abundance. Inanna descended into the underworld where her sister, Ereshkigal, ruled. Erishkigal decreed that Inanna could only enter her world in the traditional ways -- stripping herself of her clothing and earthly posessions. By the time Inanna got there, Erishkigal had unleashed a series of plagues upon her sister, killing Inanna. While Inanna was visiting the underworld, the earth ceased to grow and produce. A vizier restored Inanna to life, and sent her back to earth. As she journeyed home, the earth was restored to its former glory.

Modern Celebrations

For contemporary Druids, this is the celebration of Alban Elfed, which is a time of balance between the light and the dark. Many Asatru groups honor the fall equinox as Winter Nights, a festival sacred to Freyr.

For most Wiccans and NeoPagans, this is a time of community and kinship. It's not uncommon to find a Pagan Pride Day celebration tied in with Mabon. Often, PPD organizers include a food drive as part of the festivities, to celebrate the bounty of the harvest and to share with the less fortunate.

If you choose to celebrate Mabon, give thanks for the things you have, and take time to reflect on the balance within your own life, honoring both the darkness and the light. Invite your friends and family over for a feast, and count the blessings that you have among kin and community.

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Balance Through the Sacred Apple

One of the fruits most associated with the Autumnal Equinox is the apple.  You can use it as an altar decoration or as part of your Sabbat feast.  This versatile yet average-every-day-fruit has some very ancient magickal roots.

The Apple Tree is associated with the goddess, most specifically Ishtar, Aphrodite (Venus), Hera, Athena, Freya, Cerridwen, Pamona and Idunna.  The Greek Pamona and the Norse Idunna are perhaps the best known for their sacred, magickal apples.  Pamona was considered both a Hamadryad (a wood nymph) as well as a goddess while Idunna was a maiden goddess of the earth.  Pamona as the goddess of the apple tree tended a sacred grove of them while Idunna was in charge of the Golden Apples that maintained the immortality of the Norse pantheon.  Due to its magickal correspondences, the apple is also associated with Venus (Aphrodite) as it is a fruit of the element of water and when sliced cross-wise, it reveals to you the pentagram or the Star of Knowledge, the same shape that the planet Venus makes as it travels through the skies.

The pentagram that resides within the apple is called the Star of Knowledge is because according to Druidic lore, the apple tree is the keeper of all knowledge, and since ancient times, the apple has been a symbol of love, fertility, magick and wisdom.  These markings also represent the womb of the Mother Earth Goddess, from whom we come from and to whom we must return.

It is also a Faery Tree, so make sure to plant one in your yard as an invitation to them.  When picking apples for the Autumnal Harvest, make sure to leave a few hanging on the tree to show respect to the Faeries, the spirit of the tree as well as the Mother Earth Goddess.

THE SPELL

This is a very simple spell; you only need an apple (Golden is preferred, but not required) and a knife to cut it.  Make sure to wash your apple before using it magickally!

Either create sacred space or cast a magick circle in the tradition or style of your choice.

Standing at your altar, hold the apple up to the Gods and say:

“Fruit of the Faery Tree;

Symbol of love and fertility,

Symbol of magick and wisdom,

Keeper of the sacred pentagram.”

Cut the apple cross-ways to expose the Star of Knowledge and then say:

“Fruit of the Tree of the Goddess;

Pamona, Indunna and Venus,

Keeper of the apples of gold,

Containing wisdom ancient and old.”

Take a bite of the apple slice, making sure to notice its watery goodness and taking in the sustenance.  Say:

“I take Your wisdom within me,

Nourish my mind and soul fully.

Show me the way, guide my path,

So I may be serious, but also laugh.

At this time of equal night and day,

I am balanced in every way.”

Close your eyes and meditate as to how to be bettered balanced in all aspects of your life. Contemplate as to how to give equal time to the different hats that you wear In both your mundane and spiritual life.  Ask Pamnona, Idunna and Venus to share Their wisdom with you.  When done, say:

“My thanks to the apple Goddess,

At this moment, I am blessed.

For the good of all and harm to none,

So say I, so shall it be done.”

Place the remaining apples outside as an offering to the Faeries!

SOURCE: Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon by Ellen Dugan

13 Ideas for a Family Mabon
by Heather Evenstar Osterman

This is a gorgeous season. Nature is a blaze of color
and everything seems to come into balance. Night and day are again equal. There is a  bountiful  harvest to be thankful for, yet we must plan for the  sparse times ahead.  This is a time of generosity and conservation.

So, how do you share  these values with your children? You can plan Mabon  activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Mabon (also Harvest Home, Alban Elfed or Winter
Finding) is celebrated  at the Autumnal Equinox. This is the second harvest festival of the year, that of fruits and vegetables. Mabon is the Welsh God of  all things wild and free. He is also associated with the Sun God whose  power dies on this  day.

We also give thanks to the spirit of vegetation for the sacrifice made  so that we can live through the winter. The Goddess at this Sabbat is the grandmotherly crone, warm and wise. Here are some ideas to get your  familystarted in celebrating this season:

Have a potluck feast with a group of friends and loved
ones to  celebrate the abundance of the season.

Feel the warmth of being part of a community.

 

Adopt someone in a nursing home. As a family, take
your special person  baked goodies and colored pictures. Read them books or tell  them stories.

 

Walk around your neighborhood picking up garbage. Do
what you can to  improve your home and prepare for winter.

 

Pick a subject that interests the whole family. Go to
the library or find other resources and study that subject. Together, share what you've  learned.

 

Look at old family photo albums or scrapbooks. Try to
tell stories about each person in the pictures.

 

Leave an apple on the grave of an ancestor.

Cut an apple in half to  show your children the star inside. This is a reminder that all life is  renewed in some way.

Bake cored apples filled with butter and cinnamon as a
special treat.

 

Create decorations for your front door out of colored
leaves, pinecones,nuts, acorns and Indian Corn bundles.

 

Take a walk in a wild place. Gather seedpods and dried
plants.

Sing songs and talk about all the things you've done over the summer. Make plans for the winter.

 

Honor the birds and small animals in the wilderness or
by your home by making a birdfeeder or mandala filled with seeds and grain.

Make rattles out of empty gourds and sunflower seeds
or seeds collected from nature walks. Use the rattles to make music or scare away bad dreams.

Look at your family habits and figure out what you can
do to improve your conservation habits. Can you use less water or recycle more of your  garbage?

Make a Vine God (stick-type male figure with a hollow
body) filled with foil-wrapped cornbread and sacrifice him on thecampfire (or barbeque!). Give thanks to the god for his sacrifice and enjoy the cornbread!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mabon Celebration Small Childrens Activity
Planner


      Mabon is the Sabbat that celebrates the second
harvest. Along with the
grains, fruits and vegetables are harvested and stored
for the oncoming
winter, (or dark half of the year). This is a good
time for parents to start
planning inside activities for their small children.


      BeanBag Dolls
      Materials:
      That one glove in the bottom of the closet or
drawer that lost its
mate over the summer. A small ball, some dried grain,
yarn, and a needle and
thread, and 2 buttons.

      Tuck the ring finger up inside the palm of the
glove and stitch the
hole closed. Fill the glove up to the stretch cuff
with rice, beans,
popcorn, etc, and tie it off with a piece of yarn. For
the doll's head,
place a small ball (ping-pong) in the cuff and sew the
glove closed. For
hair, wrap the yarn around your hand several times,
tie the loops together
at one end with a strand of yarn, and cut the other
end. Stitch the tied end
to the top of the doll's head. Finish the doll by
stitching on some button
eyes. (Explain to children that although we all look
different on the
outside, we are all the same inside. Tell how the
God/dess made each of us
with love and care.)


      Animal Brethren

      Materials:
      An apple, paring knife, lemon juice, whole
cloves, pencil, jar, glove,
felt scraps, glue.

      Peel the apple and remove some of the core from
the bottom. (Parents)
To carve the animal's face, cut two holes for the
eyes, slice two triangle
flaps for the ears, cut a deep "X" for the nose and
mouth, and some shallow
slits for whiskers. Soak the apple in the lemon juice
for about 15 minutes,
then remove to a paper towel to dry. Insert cloves
into the eye holes. Push
the pencil into the bottom of the apple, and set it in
a jar to dry. To
hasten drying process, a food dehydrator works great!
As the apple dries,
lift the ears so they dry upright. When the head has
dried, use the glove
and felt scraps to make the body. Glue on markings and
paws. Cut off the
middle finger of the glove, and drop the pencil
through it, with the head
attached. Have the child grab the pencil with their 3
middle fingers, while
using the thumb and pinkie for the animal's forelegs.
( Discuss the habits
of different animals during the winter months. Explain
why we leave bird
food and other tidbits out for our winged and furry
brothers.)


      Edible Autumn Leaves

      Materials:
      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.)


      Woodsy Flower Vase

      Materials:
      ¼ inch diameter sticks, scissors, an empty
plastic (p-butter) jar, 2
thick rubber bands, ribbon, glue, and pinecones.

      Break or snip sticks to about 1in. longer than
jar. Place rubber bands
around jar, 1in. from top and 1in. from bottom. Tuck
the sticks under the
rubber bands, placing them together as close as
possible. Once the jar is
surrounded by sticks, push the rubberbands to the
center of the jar and
cover with autumn colored ribbon. Ribbon can be tied
into a bow. Glue on a
few pinecones and fill the vase with flowers. (While
hiking and looking for
sticks, explain why fallen sticks are more Earth
friendly, but if live
branches are needed, to take only what is needed and
thank tree for gift.)


      Harm None Paper Bouquets

      Materials:
      Autumn colored tissue paper, scissors, crayons,
and pipe cleaners.

      For each flower cut eight 3-1/2 in.squares. With
side of crayon color
down 2 opposite sides on each square. Lay on flat
surface with colored sides
at top and bottom. Start folding from the top, like a
paper fan. Each pleat
should be approx 1/2in wide. For the stems, bend a
pipe cleaner 1-1/2in.
from one end to form a hook. Place the pleated squares
in a stack, and place
the stack in the hook. Twist the hook around the stem.
To open flower to
full bloom, twist the petals a half-turn near the
stem. (Thank children for
beautiful vase of flowers that can be used on your
alter for the Mabon
ritual, and later a table center piece.)


      Begin Again Eggheads

      Materials:
      A couple of eggs per child, felt-tip markers or
crayons, grass seed or
bird seed, some soil, a nail, and some plastic wrap.

      Have children draw funny faces on their eggs
with the markers or
crayons. Take the nail and make a hole at the top of
the egg, keep working
on hole until about the size of a quarter. Drain and
rinse inside of egg and
spoon some soil into it. Put in some grass/bird seed,
moisten soil, and wrap
in plastic wrap. Set in a sunny spot to sprout. Once
grass starts sprouting,
remove the wrap and water daily. (Explain to children
that although the egg
is no longer what it was originally, it has gone
through a death and a
rebirth as something else living and part of Nature.)



      Animal Guide Totems

      Materials:
      A sheet of construction paper, plastic spoon,
small water-based paint
set, markers, paper towel tube, and glue.

      Fold the sheet of paper in half, and have the
child drop spotsofpaint
along the fold. Fold the paper, lay it flat, and
gentely rub it. Re-open the
paper and have the child tell you all about the
animals, fish, and birds
that they see in the paint blots. When the paint
dries, help the child
outline these creatures with the markers. Cut out and
around the blot
characters and glue to the paper towel tube to make
the totem stand upright.
(Discuss the different AnimalGuides, and the qualities
we learn from them.)



      Backyard Chant -- 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.
      ---Akasha


      --Adapted by Akasha Ap Emrys to share with all
of her friends and
those of like mind
      Copyright © 1997-99 Akasha, Herne and The Celtic
Connection All rights
reserved.