Mabon Rite

Mabon is sometimes known as the Harvest/Thanksgiving Ritual of the Autumn Equinox. In the many Earth of Pagan Religions, a special kinship with the passing of the seasons is felt... this is usually due to the history of the said Tradition, most of which stem from agrarian culture, where the season marked the way of life. From planting to reaping to winter to summer... the seasons were of great importance to our ancestors, for their very existence depended upon good harvests, mild winters, enough rainfall, and the like.

Mabon celebrates autumn, the harvest time, the reaping of what was sown and cared for through the year. This is a  time of thankfulness and rejoicing. Apple trees are heavy with their load, providing the means for that warm cider we love to drink on those lengthening nights. The leaves begin to shed their summer green for earthy tones, as their job is done. There is a chill in the air and all of Earth's creatures begin to prepare for the winter to come.

You will need a dish on the altar containing a single sheaf of wheat or an ear of corn or some wheat covered with a cloth. Decorate altar and circle with grapes, vines, pine cones, grains, acorns, rattles, indian corn, guords, horns of plenty, red poppies, autumn flowers, fruits and leaves.

This is an Eclectic Rite, the terms "Lord" and "Lady" will be used when referring to the God and Goddess... You may use which ever names you wish.

OUTLINE:

A. Invocation... once everybody has arrived, a Circle shall be cast, and consecrated by the HPS and any attendants. (This may be just the HPS, the HPS and HP, or the HPS may call the circle and it can be sealed and cleansed by others carring saltwater, and censer. The 4 Watchers/Callers each will call their quarter, invoking that which that direction symbolizes to come and attend the festivities. After the circle is cast, and the 4 corners have been called, then the HP will call upon the Lord to attend, and the HPS shall call upon the Lady.

B. A brief statement of purpose and Thanksgiving will be said by the HP(S):

"Now is the time of balance, when night and day face each other as equals. Yet at this season the night is waxing and the day is waning; for nothing ever remains without change, in the tides of earth and sky. Whatever rises must also set, and whatsoever sets must also rise. In token of which, I will dance the dance of going and returning!"

 - Dance going slowly widdershins in an inward spiral until you are in the center of the cirlce.

 - Sit in front of the dish and remove the cloth:

"Behold the mystery: in silence is the seed of wisdom gained."

- When ready, rise and go to the east candle, facing the west and say:

"Farewell, O sun, ever-returning light, The hidden god who ever yet remains, He now departs to the land of youth, Through the gates of death To dwell enthroned, the judge of gods and men, The horned leader of the hosts of air. Yet, as He stands unseen without the circle, So dwelleth He within the secret seed The seed of new-reaped grain, the seed of flesh; Hidden in the earth, the marvelous seed of the stars, In Him is life, and life is the light of man, That which was never born, and never dies. Therefore the wise ones weep not, but rejoice."

- Return to the center of the circle and dance slowy doesil in an outward spiral.

- Replace dish on the altar.

D. Thanksgiving

 - Going aroung the circle, each person gives Thanks for whatever in their life they are grateful for, they also ask for one blessing, or one thing that they would like to see grow in their life in the coming year.

 - The HPS asks a blessing for all for the coming year.

E. Cakes And Ale: The Symbolic Great Rite may be performed to bless the wine (juice, water, whatever) and then the cakes (cookies, bread) are blessed. These things are passed around the circle with the blessing ("May you never thirst." "May you never hunger.")

F. Dismissal: The HP dismisses the Lord and the HPS dismisses the Lady. The four quarters are dismissed in the reverse order of that in which they were called. The dismissal consists of a Hail to the being summoned, a thank you for their attendance and help, and then a structured dismissal (eg. "Guardians of the Watchtowers of the EAST, element of Air, Thank you for attending this circle and joining us in this rite. Go if thou must, but stay if thou wilt").

"The Circle is open, but never broken"

Mabon Correspondances