Mabon House in 2022 - A Letter to My Readers

As I write this post winter has arrived in all its simple splendor. Outside my window the gardens and trees sleep peacefully, awash in soft shades of white, gray, green and brown. The blue skies are softer this time of year, as if the sunlight is perpetually filtered by thin clouds and sharp air. Every season has its own beauty and winter is no exception. 

I’ve wanted to write to you all for some time, to let you know I have not fallen off the face of the earth. The seasons turn and here in Maine, it’s a time for nature to rest and recharge. And that, dear friends, is what I’ve been doing these past few months. My body and spirit were both calling out for me to slow down, wayyyy down and pause. And I’m finally old enough to know that when the body and spirit call, you had best listen. And so I’ve rested. I went on a total creative hiatus and just spent time focusing on the present moment, my health and my family. 

And I spent a lot of time thinking about Mabon House and if I still wanted to keep it running. 

What had started as a lovely creative idea had morphed into a full fledged micro-business almost overnight. It was delightful - who knew so many people would dig my printables? - but also added a new layer of stress to an already over-stressed life. I felt pressure to produce a steady stream of new prints and planners. I began thinking in terms of SEO, keywords, traffic and open rates. All the joy and creativity that had motivated me to start Mabon House in the first place was gone. 

And there was also the imposter syndrome. 

I’ve been open about the fact that I don’t identify as any particular denomination or as a witch. While I do draw strength from nature and the seasons, my interest in the Wheel of the Year was more cultural & academic than spiritual. I have my undergrad degree in history (at the time, my practical parents were not thrilled about my liberal arts major - what kind of paying job will you get with a history degree?!) and I have always been fascinated by the history of holidays and other cultural celebrations and how they have evolved over time. 

I saw a gap in the digital  printables market - there were like, 8 million Christmas planners on Etsy, but nothing for Yule let alone for the lesser known holidays like Imbolc or Lughnasadh. And the few witchy printables I found all looked like Halloween party invitations - so much gothic fonts and skulls and bats. To me, that did not represent a celebration of the seasons and nature. So I decided, on a bit of whim if I am being honest, to make my own and share them. I chose the name Pagan Planner because it sounded catchy and would be easy for folks to find in a search - not because I was a pagan. 

As Mabon House grew, occasionally readers would reach out with very specific questions about sabbats or manifestations or how to honor loved ones who had died, and I was kind of like…erhhh…I don’t know?  I mean, I have trouble meditating during yoga - I would never be able to cast a spell that worked.  And death is not something I am at all qualified to discuss with strangers.  And so all of this gave me an uneasy feeling that I was fooling people and eventually someone was going to figure out I was full of beans. And so, rather than deal with all that anxiety and stress, I just opted out. 

But the thing is, I really like writing for Mabon House and creating pretty printables. And I love sending out this newsletter and hearing from folks (but please don’t ask me how to honor your late cat - it’s just not my thing). 

So, I’ve decided on two things about the future of Mabon House: 

The first is that I am not reopening the Etsy shop. Thank you to everyone who bought something from Etsy - you helped me grow this site and printables library so much over the past couple of years. Moving forward, all the printables I make will live right on Mabon House in the Members Library, for free. I’ll be adding in printables previously only available on Etsy over the next couple of months, including the 2022 Pagan Planner. 

The second thing I’ve decided is that I am going to write more from my heart about things I enjoy. This will include some Wheel of the Year topics, but also more content on styling, saving money, sustainability and simplifying life (AKA minimalism for people who don’t want to give away all their stuff). I love sharing with others how I live beautifully, inside and out, on a budget.   

I think the world - especially the digital world - needs more authenticity and transparency.  And I want Mabon House to be a reflection of myself, not a carefully curated brand. 

So, over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more about the new look and feel of Mabon House, new content and new printables.  You can check out all the free printables right in the Members Library.

Seven Thrift Ideas for Your Wheel of Year Celebration

The Wheel of the Year sabbats are opportunities to pause and celebrate the changing of the seasons, both within and around you.  When you are just starting out, it can feel like you have to buy all.the.things in order to celebrate each sabbat properly. You may need certain items like candles or vessels, or fabric in a specific color that corresponds with that sabbat. Or maybe you are throwing a dinner party and need additional place settings and serving dishes. Thrift stores, charity shops and even yard sales are all great places to stock up on items for your Wheel of the Year celebrations. 

Anyone who’s been following along on my Instagram knows that I love thrift store finds. Most of my home decor is thrifted or second hand finds. I love thrifting because it's affordable and more sustainable than buying new. I can often find higher quality items than what is available in local box stores. 

Here are seven things that you can usually find for pennies on the dollar at your local thrift store:

Candles

I often find nice quality candles, new in the original packaging at my local thrift store. Candles are useful for altars, centerpieces or add a specialness to an ordinary day.  Imbolc especially embodies candles as part of its celebration.  

Dishes

A beautiful table doesn’t have to cost a lot of money (looking at you Pottery Barn).  I love (and I mean LOVE) picking up vintage dishes whenever I’m thrifting. I am especially partial to Blue Willow china because it’s easy to find and adds an instant charm to any meal. Plus it reminds me of Jessica Fletcher’s kitchen from Murder She Wrote.  

Along with place settings, I have scored most of my nice serving dishes from my local thrift store, including mixing bowls, various size platters, small serving vessels and pitchers.   

Table Linens

Along the same lines of thrifted dishes, thrifted table linens are an easy and inexpensive way to dress up your dinner table. Along with vintage tablecloths and napkins, I often pick up handmade doilies and dresser scarves to use throughout my house or on my altar, if I am setting one up. 

Picture Frames 

I love adding framed printable art and quotes to my seasonal decor.  It’s usually free or very low cost and easy to swap out as the seasons change. To make my thrifted frames look more cohesive, I’ll often give a mismatched collection a coat of spray paint. And whenever I find an oversized frame (bigger than 8x10) I’ll grab it, because they are harder to find and surprisingly pricy to buy new.  

Baskets

Woven baskets offer beauty and function for your entire house. I use them for holding bread on the dinner table, to store magazines or craft projects and corral clutter in my office. In the autumn, to celebrate Mabon, I like filling small baskets with dried flower bouquets from the garden and placing a larger basket of fresh red apples on our kitchen counter. 

Faux Greenery 

Not everyone has ready access or a budget for fresh flowers and greenery, especially in the winter months. Thrift stores are an excellent place for scoring gently used fake plants, picks and flowers. I use faux greenery to add a little color and texture to places in my house where real plants won’t make it, such as my kitchen which gets little direct sunlight.  For my Wheel of the Year celebrations, I will add faux greenery for sabbat decorations. 

Now, some might argue that using fake greens goes against the very essence of a nature based spiritual path. I argue that it is the intent that you have when using any item, real or fake. Plus I feel it's a bit elitist to assume that everyone can pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers for their Wheel of the Year celebration. I say do what you can, where you are, with what you have.   

Clothes 

Easily half of my wardrobe is thrifted. If you are looking for a special outfit for your Wheel of the Year celebration, thrift stores and consignment shops are a great place to look. ThredUp is another resource, if you don’t live near any good quality second hand clothing stores. I wrote a whole post on how to shop online for thrifted clothes. Buying second hand clothes is one of the best ways to avoid fast fashion and reduce the environmental footprint of your wardrobe.  

As you plan for your next Wheel of the Year celebration, I hope that these tips have helped inspire you. Be sure to visit the Member’s Library for Free Wheel of the Year Printables, calendars, art and more! 

Quinoa Craisin Walnut Salad

This is one of my favorite dishes to make in the summer. It’s quick and easy and perfect for humid summer evenings when I don’t want to do a lot of cooking. It also makes for a fun addition to a Lughnasadh dinner party.  

Ingredients 

1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed 

½ cup craisins

½ cup chopped walnuts

¼ cup chopped scallions

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 

1 tbsp olive oil 

Salt to taste 

Directions 

1. Cook quinoa as directed on the package. Let cool to room temperature.  

2. In a mixing bowl, mix quinoa with the rest of the ingredients. If it tastes bland, try adding in a dash more balsamic vinegar and/ or salt

3. Chill for an hour before serving. 

Serves eight buffet portions, four side portions or two entrée portions.