Mabon Ritual For The Entire Family

Mabon Ritual For The Entire Family

SPECIAL NOTES: Today is the Autumn Equinox and the official first day of Fall. Called Mabon or Harvest Home, it's usually around September 23rd and is halfway around the Year Wheel from Ostara. Mabon has two distinct aspects, balance and the harvest. On the Equinox the length of day equals the length of night. Light and dark are in balance for this short time, as are the warmth of the Summer season and the cold of the Winter. Neither reigns, but both are present. After this day though, the scales will be tipped in darkness' favor. Here in New England the nights will grow steadily longer and the temperatures steadily colder as the year wanes on to Winter. Mabon's other message is one of thanksgiving. This is the second of the three harvest festivals (Lughnasadh being the first and Samhain the third). According to Margie McArthur in her book WICCACRAFT FOR FAMILIES, it was only the lateness of their planting that kept America's pilgrims from celebrating Thanksgiving on this date. Had they been able to get their crops planted in time Americans, like their European counterparts, would still be celebrating Harvest Home or Thanksgiving now, instead of late November. You can revive this tradition in your family by declaring Mabon a time of thanksgiving and serving up a sumptuous feast. Let the kids help with the menu so you make sure you have a lot of their favorites! You'll find a wealth of fresh vegetables for your table at roadside stands during this harvest season. Besides tasting incredible, fresh-from-the-field produce shows your children exactly what it is we're giving thanks for: the bounteous gifts from Mother Earth. (* Note: Following the regular ritual is a small prayer to say when you place your bundle of corn on the front door.)

EXTRA SUPPLIES: The yellow Sun candle, a bundle of dried corn (available in supermarkets and craft stores) the bell, quarter candles, a safety lighter, the candle snuffer.

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Begin your ritual by ringing the bell to establish Sacred Space.

The child chosen to be Bell Ringer rings the bell three times and says:

I ring the bell

To cast the spell

Let sacred time begin

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be

Let sacred time begin.

Then an Adult casts the Circle by saying:

Great Mother, Weave around us

A circle of radiant light

Where we can honor Our Lord and Lady.

Protect us, guide us and love us.

Tell the kids to imagine a silvery-blue light surrounding the table to create a Circle. Explain that this "Circle of Light" means we want to make this a sacred place to honor the Goddess and God. Explain that a Sacred Place doesn't have to be a church. It can be in your dining room, a special spot in the forest, or even at school, as long as you show the respect and honor the Goddess and God deserve by creating your Sacred Space first.

Next we "Call the Quarters." Explain that this is asking the Ancient Ones to add their powers to ours to make our Circle stronger.

The child chosen to call the Eastern Quarter lights the yellow candle then says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle

The child chosen to call the Southern Quarter lights the red candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Spirits of Fire

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to call the Western Quarter lights the blue candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

To Witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to call the Northern Quarter lights the green candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

Then the Adult says:

The Circle has been cast

The Ancient Ones have been called

Now it is time to welcome

The Goddess and the God.

Great Mother,

Whose symbol is the bright night moon,

Heavenly father,

Whose symbol is the fiery sun,

We ask you to join our family

For this Mabon celebration.

The adult lights the Sun candle to draw the children's attention to the light aspect of this ritual.

Tonight we celebrate the Autumn Equinox,

The beginning of Fall,

When day is as long as night.

Tonight Nature stands in balance

Between Summer and Winter

Between warmth and cold.

And the Sun stands in balance

Between light and dark.

The adult picks up the bundle of corn, to emphasize the harvest aspect of this celebration.

Tonight we give thanks

For the gifts of the Earth.

Our ancestors had to work hard all summer long

To grow enough food to survive the cold, winter months ahead.

We might not have to farm the Earth ourselves,

But we still depend on Her gifts for our survival.

Now the adult reads several blessings, after each of which the child repeats, "Thank you."

We say thank you to the farmers

The herders and the bakers,

Whose hard work helps feed us.

Everyone says:

Thank you.

The adult continues:

We say thank you to the animals

Whose sacrifice provided this meat. (Vegetarians should obviously skip this part)

Everyone says:

Thank you.

The adult continues:

We also thank the plants

Who supply not only our food

But clothes and medicines too,

As well as the seeds for next year's crop.

Everyone says:

Thank you.

The adult finishes by saying:

And most important,

We thank our Lord and Lady

For this wonderful Mabon feast.

Everyone says: Thank you Lord and Lady.

The adult ends the blessing by saying:

We bless this food

That it may bless us.

Now let us enjoy our Harvest meal!

During dinner you can talk about the changes that will come in the months ahead. Depending on which region of the country you live in it could be a whole new season. Tell your children about how hard it was in years past, when people had to depend on their own skills and the gifts of the land to make it through the Winter. And why their God was so associated with the land and the harvest. You can also explain astronomically what is going to happen in the next few months between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Tell how our ancestors were frightened by the increasing cold and dark, and made up stories to help them understand what was happening, and to help them return that the Sun would indeed return, bringing with it light and life. Remembering that Mabon, to our ancestors, was thanksgiving, go around the table and have everyone tell something they're thankful for on this Sabbat night.

When dinner is finished and the dishes have been cleared, the adult reclaims the Sun candle and says:

The Year Wheel has turned again

And brought us to the Autumn Equinox.

It is the beginning of the return of the dark time.

From here on the nights will grow longer

And the dark will grow stronger.

With that the adult extinguishes the Sun candle.

But these harvest blessings from the Earth

Will sustain us

Until the light and the warmth return.

The adult finishes the ritual by saying:

Tonight, as in Ancient times,

We have gathered together to give thanks

For all that has been given to us.

For this bounteous season,

For our family and friends,

And for the many blessings in our lives.

By the grace and love of our Lord and Lady

May these blessings be magnified in the coming year!

So mote it be!

Now it is time to release the Circle. Explain to the children that the ritual is over so we need to thank the Ancient Ones for their help and their guidance.

The child who called the Eastern Quarter now says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the yellow candle)

The child who called the Southern Quarter now says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Spirits of Fire

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the red candle)

The child who called the Western Quarter says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the blue candle)

The child who called the Northern Quarter says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the green candle)

Then the Adult says farewell to the Goddess and the God:

We thank you God and Goddess

For sharing this special time

With our family.

May we keep you in our hearts,

And follow your path of love every day.

Blessed be!

Now the Bell Ringer rings the bell three times to release the Sacred Space and says:

I ring the bell,

Release the spell

And Sacred Time will end.

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be,

Until we meet again.

Explain that this is the signal that Scared Time is over. The Circle has been released and the Sacred Space is no more.

Now the Adult says:

The Circle is open

And yet it remains a Circle.

Around and through us

Always flow its magical powers.

This ritual is over.

** The ritual is over but there is one more thing to do. Take the bundle of corn and hang it on your front door. This is a wonderful way to express your paganism without drawing undue attention to your home (if this is a concern). Many people hang corn on their doors at this time of year, although most probably aren't aware of its pagan significance as a harvest blessing. Say:

May this gift from Mother Earth

A symbol of our bounteous harvest,

Bless our home and keep us safe.

In the name of the Goddess and the God

So mote it be.