Magic of Autumn

Don’t wait till Samhain to practice magick. Autumn offers plenty of ideas. Mabon is a Lesser Sabbat, when darkness and light are evenly balanced. Mabon is the second Sabbat in the season of Water and the second harvest festival. The days begin to darken and the Wheel of the Year ends here and is renewed at Samhain.

To honor the God and Goddess at Mabon, which is a time of gratitude, consider creating a personal Mabon Gratitude prayer. Try to think of as many things as you can that you can be thankful for. That could be family, friends, your spiritual practice, pets, a talent for music or writing, whatever comes to mind. Date it and decorate it if you wish. Put it in your Book of Shadows. Anoint a small white candle with frankincense essential oil for spirituality and purification on your altar, light the candle, and meditate on your prayer of gratitude.

The symbols of Mabon are autumn foliage, cornucopias, acorns, hazelnuts, crops, sickles, apples, gourds, and rich fall colors. The gemstones that are popular during fall are flourite, garnet, labradorite, tiger’s eye, and tourmaline. The herbs, oils and resins are allspice, cedar, hazel, oak and oakmoss, patchouli, sandalwood, tobacco, willow, and sage.

Some popular activities of fall are gathering leaves, creating an autumn display, enjoying cider, seed gathering, creating a besom, hay-rides, stargazing, and making apple dolls. Pumpkins are also popular now. Create a ring of leaves by weaving the ring of leaves one into another till you complete a full circle and put the ring of leaves beneath a large ripe pumpkin. Set autumnal decorations around the pumpkin.

Create your own incense from findings in nature on a long nature walk. Dry and store and grind with your mortar and pestle. Blend the incense, visualizing bright energies flowing into the incense blend, and store in a large jar in a spot out of the way of sunlight. Burn it on charcoal in your cauldron.