Three Mabon Rituals

Friends, it is Mabon season! Break out your sweaters! Buy your first pumpkin spiced latte!  Book a date with a friend to go apple picking!

As the Wheel turns to the dark part of the year, it is a time for reflection and gratitude.  When preparing for your ritual, consider these ideas in your planning processes.

Blessing Donations and Canned Goods

In the time of year that we look at what we have gained, we also can choose to consider those who have had a tougher year.  Our thoughts can turn towards those affected by Hurricanes Harvey or Irma, the Syrian refugees displaced from their homes, or the homeless guy who hangs out beside your train station.  Take a leaf out of a practice my mom has been doing for years  Every time she goes to the grocery store, she buys an extra can of peas or box of pasta.  She puts them in a box under her sink.  At Thanksgiving, she says a prayer over the cans and takes them to the local food bank.  I think this is an excellent practice for Pagans to develop.  Instead of making the big donation at Thanksgiving, gather cans to bless and donate at Mabon.  Or alternatively you can make a financial donation to your favorite charity.  A couple of my favorites include the World Wildlife Fund and UNICEF.

Leaves and Wishes

If you are in the part of the world where the leaves change and fall at this time of the year, go outside and try to catch some leaves as they’re falling.  If it is a particularly windy day, whisper a wish into the leaf and let it go.  Otherwise take your leaves home and into the ritual circle.  Bless them wish your hopes and wishes and dry them between the pages of a heavy book.  Use them as bookmarks or incorporate into a piece of artwork.  See the leaves regularly to remind you of your goals.  This ritual is especially fun to do with kids.

Gratitude Jar or Board

I know, I know.  These are super trendy in the self help community.  But there’s a reason they are so popular: they create a meaningful practice that puts life into perspective.  The goal is to develop a sense of appreciation of what all life has to offer.  The concept is simple: find a jar and a bunch of pieces of paper or a chalkboard and some chalk.  Decorate the jar or chalkboard as you want.  Every day for a set period of time write something you are grateful for on a piece of paper or on the board.  If using the jar method, put the piece of paper on the jar.  After a certain period of time, go back through and read all your gratitudes.  Then either erase the board or burn the pieces of paper and start over.  Ideally, this is a practice should be begun at Mabon and released at Mabon.  But even if you do this for a week, it will be a valuable experience.

© Ariadne Woods