The Autumn Equinox

The Autumn Equinox is a time of balance between light and dark, of good and evil. The day and night are of equal length at this time of year. After this, the nights will be longer than the days. It is a time of looking within, and preparing ourselves for the winter to come.

The zodiac sign is Libra, the balancing scales.

This celebration is also referred to as Mabon ("Sacred Son"), named after the Welsh God of fertility. Mabon is the second of three harvest celebrations. Most of the crops are harvested from the fields at this time. Nuts, apples, and grapes are the key food items. Gourds and squash are ready for harvesting. They are naturally decorative and colorful; consider decorating your home with baskets full. Indian corn is another good decorative item. Now is the time to select the ears of corn that will represent the Goddess as Bride at Imbolc (Feb. 1). Bring in the corn with ritual and honor as part of your celebration.

Grapevines also figure into the symbolism of the season. They can be used for decorating altars and for making wreaths. The vine is a symbol of the emptiness represented by the completed harvest.

The festival of "Harvest Home," also occuring at this time of year, is Anglo-Celtic in origin, and was also a celebration of harvesting and thanksgiving. It had many of the same features as Mabon, such as cider pressing, grain threshing and feasting. Add prayers and songs of thanks to the celebration, for the many blessings received over the year.

In Ireland it was customary at this time of year to visit the 'cairns' (burial mounds) to honor dead ancestors. Women would decorate the graves at Mabon, while men prepared the feast site. Visiting the graves at this time of year was considered safe since the belief was that the balance between dark and light would act as an equal-armed cross for protection against negative spirits.

The Goddess descends to the dark underworld where she tends to the souls who have passed over. This is a symbolic act of defeating death and is celebrated as the Eleusian mysteries. These rites were the most famous festival in old Europe. It was believed that those who participated in the mysteries gained deep insight from the goddesses. Celebrants would follow in procession from Athens to Eleusis, then deposit sacred objects at the feet of Demeter. Torch Day would follow, when processions would begin again to symbolize the search for Persephone. The second day involved a ritual of purification, to wash away ignorance and to assume new grace. The third day was occupied with preparing an altar, burning incense, and pouring libations. The next day, processions anew. The fifth day, people marched continuously, carrying torches. This is the beginning of the mysteries.

Recipe -- Baked apples is a wonderful way to enjoy the season. Find the recipe instructions here.

September's Aspects

Full Moon aspect: the Harvest Moon
The Seasonal Message: create, prosper, appreciate!
Color: Brown
Creature: Snake

Sources
Budapest, The Grandmother of Time
McCoy, The Sabbats
Campanelli, Wheel of the Year

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