A History of Mabon and The Wheel of the Year
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Mabon is the last sabbat in the Wheel of the Year, marking the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Celebrated during the autumnal equinox, Mabon occurs around September 21st in the northern hemisphere and March 21st in the southern hemisphere.
The history of Mabon stretches back to ancient Celtic times, though Mabon as a sabbat holiday really took root in the 1970s. One of the lesser known sabbats, Mabon is gaining popularity as more people turn toward nature as a guide for their spiritual path.
The Early History of Mabon
The name Mabon comes from a medieval Welsh myth, the Mabinogion. This oral narrative, which is along the lines of Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey, tells four different stories featuring a cast of recurring characters. Mabon, who is often portrayed as a young man or warrior, is the cultural hero of one of these myths. He is born a Divine Child and his birth is associated with some kind of miracle, like immaculate conception, similar to the stories of Jesus, Buddha and the Aztec man-god Quetzalcoatl.
As a baby Mabon is kidnapped and taken to the otherworld (AKA underworld) and is eventually rescued, echoing the story of Demeter and Persephone, who are two figures from Greek mythology closely associated with the autumn and spring equinoxes.
Mabon as the name of a specific holiday did not take hold until the 1970s (more on that below). But the celebration of the autumn equinox is as old as humanity. So while ancient Celts may not have celebrated Mabon, per se, they most certainly celebrated the autumn equinox, rejoicing in the near end of the busy harvest season.
Mabon Printable - 1 PDF Download If you like this printable, be sure to sign up for the Free Member’s Library , where you’ll have access to more Wheel of the Year Printables, Planners and Calendars.
Mabon and The Wheel of The Year
So, if Mabon wasn’t an ancient holiday like Yule or Samhain, when did it start? Good question!
Despite hundreds of years of Christianity in Europe, there remained a keen interest in ancient pagan rituals and celebrations. The fear that surrounded paganism in the 17th and 18th centuries (think Salem Witch Trials) gave way to a more academic interest during the Age of Enlightenment. Ancient paganism was further mythologized by writers of the Romantic period of the late 18th century (think classic fairy tales). Throughout the 19th and 20th century a neopagan movement gained traction with many different sects popping up throughout Europe and North America.
The White Goddess by Robert Graves was one of many 20th century writings that helped popularize the concept of eight holidays based on the agrarian and seasonal cycles of the British Isles, blending the ancient Celtic fire festivals and the solstices and equinoxes.
By the mid-20th century, the Wiccan religion had been established in North America. In the late 1960s, Aiden Kelly, a neopagan writer who helped establish Wicca, is credited with shaping the eight pagan festivals into what would become known as the Wheel of the Year. He is also credited with coining the name Mabon for the autumn equinox celebration, marking the last sabbat holiday in the Wheel of the Year.
Mabon and Witchcraft
For modern witches, since Mabon marks the end of the Witch’s Year, it is a good time to let go of things that no longer serve you. Cast spells for decreasing or ending old habits, meditate on what you would like to let go, and give thanks for the good things you have in life.
Mabon and Astrology
In her book The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year, author Judy Ann Nock likens the season of Mabon with the transition from Virgo to Libra. She explains that this is a time from moving outward during the season of Virgo and the fullness of summer to a time of introspection. The Libra, with its focus on balance and harmony, is a turning point in the Wheel of the Year.
Modern Mabon Celebrations
The second of the three harvests, Mabon is often equated with Thanksgiving and seen as a time by Wiccan and Witches (as well as those who don’t identify with any spiritual label) to reflect and thank the earth for its bounty. While our modern Thanksgiving holiday in the United States often focuses on excessive amounts of food, football and getting a jump on the holiday shopping, historical thanksgiving celebrations were rooted in celebrating the efforts of one’s labor and the connection between people and the earth.
In his book Wicca Demystified, author Bryan Lankford explains “To understand this sabbat, picture Thanksgiving and add to it the fact all food was grown yourself…you would not starve over the winter. Then you will understand how important this celebration was.”
How will you be celebrating Mabon this year? Share in the comments!
References & Recommended Reading
https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/myths_mabinogion.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_A._Kelly
https://www.learnreligions.com/intro-to-paganism-step-by-step-study-guide-4006913 (Step 7)
Follow the Adventures
Moving from Mother to Crone & This Week's Free Printable
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well. It’s raining today. Which is a welcome sign, as Maine is experiencing a pretty bad drought. There is something magical about rainy days. I have always loved them. While lots of people like to curl up with a good book on a rainy day, I actually feel more motivated to get things done on rainy days. Is that weird? I absolutely love writing on days like this. Are you a rain person or a sun person?
From Maiden to Mother to Crone
As summer winds down, I’ve been thinking about my upcoming birthday (okay, it’s two months away) and the fact that my youngest is going to be a senior in high school this fall. After 27 years, my active parenting days are winding to a close. And I find myself wondering, what’s next? Who am I, if I am not a full time parent?
I’m going to be 46 in October. From my vantage point, it’s neither young nor old. In some ways it feels just right. I’m comfortable with myself. I like the person I have become. I have plenty of life experience to instill the right balance of confidence and prudence.
Biologically though….it feels like a hormonal dance (rave?) is happening inside me. Just like puberty, when you move from the spring of life into the summer, the move into the autumn of life (aka perimenopause) is marked by a lot of changes that are hard to ignore.
To put it less poetically, some days I am a hot mess. My uterus has no rules. Mood swings have taken on a whole new meaning. And I could take a nap at any point in the day.
Anyone else in this boat? Anyway, if you’d like to read my full ramble about moving from the Mother phase to the Crone phase of life, by all means continue….
This Week’s free printable is inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose biography I’ve been listening to on audible. I often think of him as one of the earliest slow living influencers of his time.
In other news not related to influencers or my raging hormones, the 2022-2023 planner is finished! But given my history of typos, I still need to go through it one more time before releasing it into the wild. So, for those you waiting, please hang in there!
I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day and I’ll see you next week!
Follow the Adventures
From Maiden to Mother to Crone
I’ve been thinking about my upcoming birthday (okay, it’s two months away) and the fact that my youngest is going to be a senior in high school this fall. After 27 years, my active parenting days are winding to a close. And I find myself wondering, what’s next? Who am I, if I am not a full time parent?
I’m going to be 46 in October. From my vantage point, it’s neither young nor old. In some ways it feels just right. I’m comfortable with myself. I like the person I have become. I have plenty of life experience to instill the right balance of confidence and prudence.
Biologically though….it feels like a hormonal dance (rave?) is happening inside me. Just like puberty, when you move from the spring of life into the summer, the move into the autumn of life (aka perimenopause) is marked by a lot of changes that are hard to ignore.
To put it less poetically, some days I am a hot mess. My uterus has no rules. Mood swings have taken on a whole new meaning. And I could take a nap at any point in the day.
But even with all the changes afoot, I’m excited. I am ready to leave the Mother phase of life and embrace the Crone (though, can’t we come up with a better name?).
From Maiden to Mother to Crone
I jumped from the Maiden to the Mother very quickly when I was 19. There was no time for me to really figure out who I was, before I was tasked with caring for another human being. Now though, the transition from mother to crone is slow and steady and full of discovery.
I feel like I’m standing at the gate between my younger self and who I am evolving into. Looking back I see a young mom with a baby on her hip and toddler or two in hand.
Then as a 30-something divorcee, figuring out how to balance work and tweens, and trying to figure out who I am outside of being a mother and (ex)wife.
To my forties, when grief and loss made their first impactful appearance in my life and I had to grow in ways that hurt beyond words and standing still was too painful.
To now, standing closer to 50 than 40. Silver threads are beginning to outpace the brunette curls. And the age spots on my cheeks tell the story of 40+ Maine summers.
I am simultaneously strong and soft. Strong in who I am, what I can handle, what I can give. Soft in the knowledge this journey has not been without its hurt and scars.
I’ve been thinking about this new stage with a kind of trepidatious delight. I loved having babies and raising kids. Even when it was at its toughest, I could still appreciate the beauty of watching your chicks fly on their own. But now, the promise of freedom from childbearing and active parenting beckons, and for the most part I am ready.
For me, embracing the transition to Crone is about embracing wisdom. I know enough now (finally) to recognize that I don’t know that much at all. I’m learning to be quiet and really listen for a change. I am happy to slow down. To really look at the world around me, without feeling the weight of it on my shoulders. I’m getting comfortable with letting go of the lifetime of accumulated emotional baggage. Of societal expectations. Of parenting responsibilities. Of pleasing people out of habit. Of always finding fault with myself.
And I am excited to see the person that emerges in this next phase of life.
What season of life are you in? What do you love about it? What are you ready to let go of?