mabon

13 Things I am Grateful For This Mabon

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With Mabon in a few days and Thanksgiving in a few weeks, looking at your life and reflecting on what makes it awesome can be an uplifting spiritual practice.  We spend so much time running around and on the go that it is easy to forget what make life so special.

During this season I have spent a lot of time really looking at my life and allowing myself to feel a deep sense of appreciate for it.  The good, the bad, everything. Continue reading →

Three Mabon Rituals

~ witchesbrew ~ 2 Comments

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!

leaves-fall-colors-rainbow

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. Continue reading →

Magical in the Mundane Series: Mabon

~ witchesbrew ~ 1 Comment

Sabats are seasons.  They are more than just a singular day, but rather the culmination of an entire spiritual and natural era.  It’s like a switch goes off and suddenly your in Mabon mode.  For me, I know I am in Mabon’s season because I want to buy mums and drink pumpkin beer.  All year long I will be practicing exactly what I’ve been preaching–fusing elements of the spiritual seasons into everyday activities–and sharing some suggestions based on my experiences.

Mabon is otherwise known as the Witch’s Thanksgiving.  It is a time of preparation and gratefulness.  Here are a few ideas to bring that energy into everyday life.

Household

  • Harvest the remainder of your crops and take potted plants into the house
  • Take extra cans and nonperishables to the local food pantry
  • Board up holes to avoid pest infestation
  • Make applesauce and cider to enjoy all winter long
  • Turn off air conditioners and store window units for next summer

Personal Care

  • Take coats, hats, scarves, boots, and sweaters out of storage
  • Begin any regime to avoid the winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Yoga, sun lamps, and time outside work well for mild cases; see a doctor in moderate to severe cases
  • If you’re super DIY, make a big batch of body or hand cream 
  • Stock up on cold and flu remedies, including your flu vaccine
  • Enjoy including fall fruits and veggies, such as apples and squash, into meals

Work and School

  • Take off work for Samhain
  • Stock up on school supplies and make any necessary upgrades to your computers and devices
  • Plan a charitable event hosted by your company or campus organization
  • Make a list of dormant projects to keep track of your workload
  • Start a project to make your work life easier.  For example, I work in a historical society and we are putting environmental monitoring devices in every room to make sure the objects are in optimal conditions.  After its installed, I will check these devices every week to check for problems.  This action will prevent deterioration and damage to the collections

Social Life

  • Go apple picking with your family or friends
  • Host or attend a bonfire with plenty of warm cider and seasonal beers
  • Volunteer at a local park to help clean up trash
  • Take a drive with a crush or significant other to see the changing leaves
  • Sign up for a class, whether to expand the mind, learn a new skill, or to make friends

© Ariadne Woods

Magical in the Mundane Series: Mabon

~ witchesbrew ~ 1 Comment

Sabats are seasons.  They are more than just a singular day, but rather the culmination of an entire spiritual and natural era.  It’s like a switch goes off and suddenly your in Mabon mode.  For me, I know I am in Mabon’s season because I want to buy mums and drink pumpkin beer.  All year long I will be practicing exactly what I’ve been preaching–fusing elements of the spiritual seasons into everyday activities–and sharing some suggestions based on my experiences.

Mabon is otherwise known as the Witch’s Thanksgiving.  It is a time of preparation and gratefulness.  Here are a few ideas to bring that energy into everyday life.

Household

  • Harvest the remainder of your crops and take potted plants into the house
  • Take extra cans and nonperishables to the local food pantry
  • Board up holes to avoid pest infestation
  • Make applesauce and cider to enjoy all winter long
  • Turn off air conditioners and store window units for next summer

Personal Care

  • Take coats, hats, scarves, boots, and sweaters out of storage
  • Begin any regime to avoid the winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Yoga, sun lamps, and time outside work well for mild cases; see a doctor in moderate to severe cases
  • If you’re super DIY, make a big batch of body or hand cream 
  • Stock up on cold and flu remedies, including your flu vaccine
  • Enjoy including fall fruits and veggies, such as apples and squash, into meals

Work and School

  • Take off work for Samhain
  • Stock up on school supplies and make any necessary upgrades to your computers and devices
  • Plan a charitable event hosted by your company or campus organization
  • Make a list of dormant projects to keep track of your workload
  • Start a project to make your work life easier.  For example, I work in a historical society and we are putting environmental monitoring devices in every room to make sure the objects are in optimal conditions.  After its installed, I will check these devices every week to check for problems.  This action will prevent deterioration and damage to the collections

Social Life

  • Go apple picking with your family or friends
  • Host or attend a bonfire with plenty of warm cider and seasonal beers
  • Volunteer at a local park to help clean up trash
  • Take a drive with a crush or significant other to see the changing leaves
  • Sign up for a class, whether to expand the mind, learn a new skill, or to make friends

© Ariadne Woods

Are All Sabats Created Equal?

~ witchesbrew ~ 3 Comments

Most witches, Wiccans, and Pagans follow the Eight Great Celtic Sabat model (although there are thousands of other traditions.  Read The Grandmother of Time by Z. Budapest and The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick for more information).  The benefit about following the natural world is the major holidays are nicely spaced throughout the year.  Getting bummed after Yule? Imbolc is right around the corner.  We are constantly celebrating life and the Earth and our faith.

Yet, I have found that try as I may to celebrate every holiday, I have noticed a pattern about how I approach the Wheel of the Year:

  • Yule: Christmas (a very important day in my family) is a few days away and since that’s such a high stress holiday I am too wiped to stay up with the Goddess as she births the God.
  • Imbolc: Very informal celebration.  This year I had my friends over for mead.
  • Ostara: I always seem to forget about it.
  • Beltane: One of my favorites, but it always falls on finals or reading days.  I do make an effort to do some sort of ritual, though.
  • Litha: I go to a local farm festival with my mom every year and go home for a late night ritual.  One of the best days of the year.
  • Lammas: So. Much. Baking.  Always a laid back holiday.
  • Mabon: I adore Mabon.  Never miss it.
  • Samhain: I celebrate it, but I always seem burnt out due to a variety of reasons.

I do not treat them all with the same amount of pomp and circumstance.  I mean, it’s not practical for me.  I have school, work, family, friends, boyfriend, extra curricular activities, taking care of myself, etc.  The prep time is not always there.

What ultimately drives celebratory worship is the connection to particular times of the year.  For me, I feel at home in summer and fall holidays.  They speak to my soul in such an empowering way, which is what matters the most about sabat celebrations.  That connection is key because that is what allows the worshiper to benefit spiritually from the ritual.

© Ariadne Woods