Mabon Blessings!

The Wheel of the Year is turning into fall and with that comes the fall harvest Sabbats. Mabon falls on September 23rd this year and I'm looking for the colors of fall and enjoying the cooler weather after a summer filled with extremely hot and humid weather.

Mabon, which falls at the Autumnal Equinox, is the second harvest celebration. As at the Spring Equinox, it is a time of balance between light and dark. In the autumn, we move from light to dark and from warmth to cold. It is a time to gather the harvest of summer, apples, grapes, corn, wheat, and vegetables such as squashes and gourds, and prepare for the long winter ahead. It is also a time for thanksgiving and enjoying the bounty set before us.

One of the best known 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.

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, by 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.

In the British Isles, the ancient name for the goddess of this time was Modron, which means 'mother'. Sometimes she was pictured as a trio of women, each seated on a throne. Together, they were called the 'Mothers'. They were responsible for abundance and sustaining the life of the people in the Celtic myths, as was Modron's son who was stolen away into the underworld. Whenever we feed the hungry, we honor the Mothers.

This Sabbat takes its name from the god 'Mabon'. He was called 'Mabon, son of Modron', which means 'son of the mother'. Mabon is such an ancient god that most of the stories about him have been lost. All we know is that he was stolen away from his mother when he was only three nights old and imprisoned until he was rescued by King Arthur's companions. Because Mabon knows what it is like to be imprisoned, he is also the god of freedom. He frees animals from their cages and loosens the bonds of all those unjustly imprisoned. He protects all things wild and free. His totem animals are the owl, blackbird, stag, eagle and salmon. We honor Mabon when we protect animals and when we work for freedom for all people.

The Mabon altar can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. For a simple altar you can have an arrangement of some of the things harvested that will keep for a few weeks like winter squash, dried corn, wheat, pumpkins, and pomegranates. Autumn leaves, a bouquet of late-blooming flowers, a picture or figurines of animals are also appropriate for your Mabon altar.

Candles in various shades of autumn colors like yellow, red, rust, and orange are also nice additions. You may also add fresh herbs like juniper berries, sage, campunala and cloves. Crystals are also a nice addition and I've included ones like carnelian, red tiger's eye, garnet, orange calcite, and citrine. You can also include incense such as sandalwood and myrrh.

Be sure to get outside as much as possible now and enjoy the sunlight. All too soon, we will be enveloped in darkness and cold as the wheel turns into winter.

Mabon Blessings!

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh is just around the corner on August 1st. This Sabbatt is especially meaningful for me as it completes a full turn of the wheel in my journey as a Wiccan. I've come so far and learned so much and am looking forward to continuing my journey with the turn of the wheel for the coming year.

Lughnasadh is the first of three harvest festivals. It is a time to celebrate the fertility of the Earth and the abundance she provides. It is a time to honor the Sun God in all his glory as he starts now to make his decline.

I spent a considerable amount of time putting together my altar. As I took down my Midsummer altar and put things away, I gave thanks for all the blessings that have come during this time. I spent time contemplating each item I placed on my Lughnasadh altar making it a spiritual journey into the meaning of Lughnasadh and what it means to me personally. Listening to my intuition yielded some great additions, like the Vanadinite crystal I've been working with.

I enjoyed taking the time to set up my altar for Lughnasadh and I'm looking forward to celebrating the Sabbatt with fires blazing!

Have a Blessed Lughnasadh!

Making a Corn Dolly

Traditionally, the corn dolly was made at Lughnasadh from the last sheaf of wheat (called corn in Europe) that was harvested and then paraded through town for all to see. The sheaf, called the Old Woman, was then placed in the home to protect the spirit of the grain and to represent the Goddess in her Crone aspect. In this aspect she is thought to protect the home and family until winter is over. She was placed high in the rafters near the hearth.

Being a relatively new Wiccan, and just getting used to the idea of all the Sabbats and what each one entails, I didn't manage to get my corn dolly made at Lughnasadh. With Imbolc right around the corner, I decided better late than never, and went about making my dolly. At Imbolc the corn dolly is dressed as the Bride to await the God in his youth aspect. The dolly was then traditionally plowed back in the field at Ostara.

I started with two bundles of wheat I purchased from Michael's and soaked the bottom portions for about an hour.

I took some of the wheat (about 2 inches in diameter) and tied it with white ribbon just below the bushy parts. I cut the stalks to about 10 inches measuring from the bottom of the bushy parts. This makes the body and head.

I then took some of the stalks (about 1/2 inch in diameter), cut the bushy parts off and tied them together about 1/2 an inch from the ends to make the arms and hands.

I then took the remainder of the wheat and divided it into two bunches. With one bunch I bent it over the arm on one side, holding tightly to the whole thing. Then I took the other bunch and bent it over the other side. I then cut the stalks in the back to the same length. I then took my white ribbon and wrapped it around, tied it off and made a bow.

And there you have it! A corn dolly all ready to become the Goddess Bride at Imbolc.

Charging Your Corn Dolly
(from Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac)

Lay the dolly on a table with a green candle and sandalwood incense. Create your sacred space. Light the incense and the candle saying:

"Green for Nature's abundance, and aroma of abundance, luck, and protection."

Pass the dolly through the incense smoke, saying:

"Made of the grain that there is always food in this house;
Tied with white ribbon for protection and peace;
She represents the spirit of abundance;
Kept through the winter to ward illness and want."

Set the dolly on the table and place both hands, palms down over her, saying:

"Through the Earth Mother and the Sun God, with the power of the Elementals, this dolly is charged to protect my home from adversity and illness! So mote it be!

Envision energy being released through your palms into the dolly. Snuff the candle, open the sacred space, and place the dolly in a secure place at home, such as on a kitchen wall or in the rafters.

Lammas . . .

Today is Lammas, or Lughnasadh, the Sabbat where many Wiccans and Pagans choose to celebrate the beginnings of the harvest. This Sabbat is about the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth; the grain god dies, but will be reborn again in the spring. Lammas begins at sunset on July 31st and ends at sunset on August 2nd, although traditionally it is celebrated on August 1st.

Summer is nearing it's end and soon the leaves will begin to change. However, the sun is still bright and the days hot. You can celebrate Lammas by creating an altar using a combination of summer and fall colors; the yellows and oranges and reds of the sun can also represent the turning leaves to come. Add some browns and greens to celebrate the fertility of the earth and the crops being harvested. Cover your altar with cloths that symbolize the changing of the season from summer to harvest time, and use candles in deep, rich colors - reds, burgundies, or other autumn shades are perfect this time of year.

You can also include symbols of the harvest fields on your altar. Sickles and scythes are appropriate, as are baskets. Sheafs of grain, fresh picked fruits and vegetables, a jar of honey, or loaves of bread are perfect for the Lammastide altar. Corn dollies are also a wonderful addition to the alter as are grapes and wine, ears of corn, iron - such as tools or weaponry or armor, fall flowers, such as cornflowers or poppies, straw braids and onion garlands.

A Lammas Ritual
Written by Joanna at Sea Gypsy Magickals

My Gratitude and Blessings upon this day
The Seasons change upon this Spiral Path
Honoring the Bounty of the coming Harvest

At this harvest time
Blessed be Mother Earth
Blessed Be Father Sun
Blessed be this circle of life, death & rebirth

Here I stand, A child of this Earth before you now
Teach & Guide me with your gentle wisdom of light and dark
For there can not be one without the other
Blessed Be the Corn Mother
Blessed be the Grain God
Blessed be the Harvest and bounty of my life.

I honor and respect all living beings, creatures, plants & winged ones
Of this Earth
You and I are One upon this path-as it is, as it always shall be
Blessed be the Mother Ocean
Blessed be the Father Sky
Fire be Flame, The Well be Water
The Mounds be Earth, the Wind be Air
Blessed Be the Harvest
Every seed, every grain is a record of ancient times
May the Ancients Bless me this Lughnassadh
And So It Is.