Mabon, also known as Autumnal Equinox, the Wine Harvest, and Alban Elved takes place on or
around September 21st and marks the beginning of Autumn. This is the time when the sun is directly over the
Equator, and day and night are of equal length. The harvest is well under way birds are starting their
southward journey, and leaves are in their autumn splendour . Mabon is typically celebrated through harvesting grapes from the vine and apples from orchard. Colors are Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Indigo, and Brown. It is the festival of thanksgiving. The Goddess manifests in Her Bountiful Mother aspects. The God emerges as the Corn King and Harvest Lord.

Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.

Altar : Prepare your alter with russet and orange candles. A dark maroon table cloth covered with wheat colored lace is also an attractive addition. Some witches include crystals of garnet to represent rebirthing and quartz to represent the rainbow of colors that blossom as the leaves change for the fall. Gold or brass serving trays and goblets for ritual offerings are also placed on or around the alter for easy access. Arrangements of early fall flowers and foliage should also be included to recognize the harvest part of the festival. If your alter is outside or you have space on your interior alter, you might include baskets filled with examples of the vine and orchard harvest.

Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Mabon Herbs Rue, yarrow, rosemary, marigold, sage, walnut
leaves and husks, mistletoe, saffron, chamomile, almond leaves, passionflower, frankincense,
rose hips, bittersweet, sunflower, wheat, oak leaves, dried apple or apple seeds.

Foods of Mabon:
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Incense Pine, sage, sweetgrass or myrhh. You can also mix
marigold, passionflower, and fern, using
frankincense or myrhh as a resin for Mabon incense

Mabon Stones : During Mabon, stones ruled by the Sun will help
bring the Sun's energy to you.clear quartz, amber, peridot, diamond, gold, citrine, yellow
topaz, cat's-eye, adventurine.

Activities of Mabon:

Select the best of each vegetable, herb, fruit, nut, and other food you have harvested or purchased and give it back to Mother Earth with prayers of thanksgiving. Hang dried ears of corn around your home in appreciation of the harvest season. Do meditations and chanting as you store away food for the Winter. Do a thanksgiving circle, offering thanks as you face each direction -- for home, finances, and physical health (North); for gifts of knowledge (East); for accomplishments in career and hobbies (South); for relationships (West); and for spiritual insights and messages (Center). Decorate the table with colorful autumn leaves in a basket. Display the fruits of the harvest - corn, gourds, nuts, grapes, apples - preferably in a cornucopia. Or decorate with wildflowers, acorns, nuts, berries, cocoons, anything that represents the harvest to you. Like its sister equinox, halfway across the Wheel of the Year, the Autumn Equinox is a good occasion for a ritual feast. Plan a meal that uses seasonal and symbolic fruits and vegetables. You can serve bread, squash, corn, apples, cider and wine.
Making some homemade wine, gather and dry herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods. Make grapevine wreaths using dried bitter-sweet herb for protection. Use ribbons of gold and yellow to bring in the energy of the
Sun, and decorate with sprigs of dried yarrowor cinnamon sticks.Make a protection charm of hazelnuts
(filberts) strung on red thread.Make a witch's broom. Tie dried corn husks or herbs (broom, cedar, fennel, lavender,
peppermint, rosemary) around a strong, relatively straight branch of your choice. Make magic Apple Dolls
Gifts of the Harvest can be used to make tools and emblems that will remind us of their bounty all year round. Look for colored leaves. Collect fallen leaves and make a centerpiece or bouquet for your home. Save the leaves to burn in your Yule fire. Vist an apple orchard and, if possible, pick your own apples. Hang apples on a tree near your home. Watch the birds and other small animals who will enjoy your gift.

Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.

At Mabon, Witches of many traditions prepare for the season of sleep, the dark time of Fall and Winter. Witches call to the animal spirits for guidance and insight as we enter this time of inner searching. We prepare to meet our true inner self and grow and further our journey toward self enlightenment. We undertake this journey so that when we return to the coming cycle of light, the seasons of Spring and Summer, we can do so in a more peaceful, harmonious and balanced state. Our energies can then touch the community around us and help to promote peace and harmony within it.
Use this time of balance, to look closely at the balance in our life. How do you balance your personal needs with your commitments to the outside world? How do you receive and how do you give? You might want to reflect on this in your journal or make it concrete by putting objects on a scale. For everything which represents one side of the scale to you (for instance, a book representing quiet time alone), place something on the other side which represents its opposite (a letter or phone for reaching out to friends).