Transcript
Speaker: Do you feel drawn to learn more about witchcraft and the occult but feel lost on where to start? Then welcome to Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft, a podcast all about what it means to be a witch and where to get started on your journey.
Speaker: Join us as we navigate through various witchy topics and share what we've learned about the craft. So get in, witches, for part six of our altar series, this time focusing on Mabon Altars.
Speaker: Good good. How was your guys' this time in Florida? It was good. It was rainy. It rained the entire time. so that was a little bit frustrating because like there were some things that Emily wanted to do and places that she wanted to go that we couldn't really because it wasn't just a rain like where if it rains here like you just you just deal with it and yeah continue on because if not then you're never gonna leave your house yeah But in Florida, they were like...
Speaker: Huge downpours. Lots of thunder, lots of lightning. So it was really nice. Don't get me wrong. But like the girls were just one day we were able to take them to Topgolf. And then one day we got in the pool, but it literally thunderstormed every day. Oh, gosh. And now since we left, like literally the day we left, it's been gorgeous ever ever since. so No rain. Just perfect summer days.
Speaker: So I was like, okay. Thank you for having me. So rude. It's been like we had. you know that stupid heat wave where it got ridiculously hot we were over 100 degrees And then we dropped down into like the 70s.
Speaker: And then the last two days, it's been today's high is 81. Yesterday it was 85. It's a little bit warmer, but. It's been almost like fall weather. Mm -hmm i love it if it'll just stay this way but it's not going to it's going to get hot again ill Well, hopefully not as hot as it has been. Yeah, that's what I'm hoping.
Speaker: We had a few days this past week where it was like heat advisory because it was it was in the 90s, but... it didn't It wasn't that hot, and it yeah didn't even feel that hot. But um it's now we're back into our normal 70s, lows in the 50s, highs in the mid -70s, which is perfect. perfect weather I'm so jealous Bye. We're not talking about the weather today. No. We are not. What are we talking about?
Speaker: We are talking about Mabon. And Mabon alters. Yes. So for a full episode on Mavon, make sure to go back and listen to episode 28 from season one, where we did a complete deep dive.
Speaker: But just as a brief introduction. Mabon celebrates harvest, balance, and gratitude, and it's observed in the northern hemisphere between September 20th to the 23rd and in the southern hemisphere between the 20th and the 23rd of March.
Speaker: Mabon marks the balance between light and dark and it arrives at the autumn equinox when day and night are nearly equal. It's a reminder that life moves in cycles and that balance isn't something that we achieve once, but rather it's something we continually return to.
Speaker: Mabon is rooted in gratitude and the harvest. And this season invites us to pause and recognize the harvest in our own lives. Not just the tangible things, but the lessons, the growth. relationships and resilience that we've cultivated.
Speaker: throughout the year. Because of this, This season is also the perfect time for just a little bit of self care. This Sabbath sits at the threshold between the active energy of summer and the introspective months ahead.
Speaker: It's a season that helps us slow down. reflect on what is complete. and intentionally prepare for the inward journey of autumn and winter.
Speaker: So for a brief history of Mabon, Mabon is a modern pagan celebration of the autumn equinox. It marks the second harvest on the wheel of the year. And while harvest festivals around the autumn equinox have been celebrated by cultures across the world for thousands of years, Mabon itself wasn't actually called Mabon historically. The name is a ah modern addition to the wheel of the year and became popular in the 1970s among Wiccans and many modern pagans. It was inspired by Mabon Ap... Modron, who is a Welsh mythological figure whose name actually means son of the mother. His story isn't directly linked to the harvest or the equinox. but he became associated with the equinox due to his themes of loss, renewal, and return, which resonate well with this time of year.
Speaker: Historically, people throughout Britain and Europe would have marked this season by celebrating the harvest. Communities would gather crops and use this time to preserve food for the winter, share feasts together, and offer thanks for the land's abundance. The equinox itself became a symbol of reflection, gratitude, and finding balance due to the natural balance between light and dark.
Speaker: Today may bonus a blend of ancient harvest traditions with modern pagan and Wiccan spirituality mixed in. So looking at the core themes, the first one we have is the harvest and abundance. So at its heart, Mabon is the second harvest, and it is a time to recognize that we've been planting seeds all year, whether it's like within our relationships, our careers.
Speaker: personal growth, our spiritual practice, this Sabbath invites us to pause and take inventory of what has come to fruition.
Speaker: It's a reminder that abundance isn't always measured by material things. Sometimes the greatest harvest is wisdom, resilience, or the confidence that we've cultivated throughout life's challenges. The next core theme is balance. As Tiffany mentioned already, Mabon occurs when day and night are just about equal in length, making this time of year a natural symbol of balance.
Speaker: When looking at balance, we can also look at it through the lens of light and dark. Not viewing this as good versus bad, however, as a reminder that both the light and the dark are necessary parts of life and the natural cycle of the world. Another aspect of balance for this time of year is looking internally and seeing if there are aspects of our own life that may be out of balance.
Speaker: Next is gratitude. So gratitude is one of Mabon's most powerful practices because it shifts our focus from what's missing to what's already present. As the Earth offers its final harvest before winter,
Speaker: We're encouraged to acknowledge the people, the experiences. and the blessings that have nourished us throughout the year. By intentionally expressing gratitude, we create space to appreciate the fullness of the season before turning inward.
Speaker: The next core theme is reflection. And for this, Mabon is a great time to reflect back on the past year to evaluate what's been successful. what hasn't, and also being grateful for the accomplishments, relationships, blessings, or any lessons we've learned along the way. Reflection isn't just about the past either. Reflection can also help us to decide what we wish to take into the darker months and what we should be releasing.
Speaker: And then next is transformation and release.
Speaker: And so this time of year, we're seeing the trees start to release their leaves. So Mabon reminds us that letting go is a natural and necessary part of every cycle. This is the season of transition, honoring what has served its purpose while making room for what's next. Whether we're releasing old beliefs, habits, expectations, or emotional burdens, Mabon teaches us that transformation doesn't only come from growth. but that it also comes from knowing when it's time to surrender and trust the changing seasons.
Speaker: So now looking at deities and spirits associated with Mabon, and there are a lot, and we're not going to cover all of them. I just picked like some of the most well -known ones whenever I was making our outline. There are so many more. that could be associated with this time of year. Like I mentioned, Mabon is a newer
Speaker: Addition to the Wheel of the Year is a newer Pagan Sabbath. However, that doesn't mean that There are not deities that are associated with. this harvest time of year. And so that's what these deities are associated with.
Speaker: So the first, of course, Mabon Apamodron the Celtic god of light, death, and resurrection. He is a hero from Welsh mythology who, according to legend, was taken from his mother three nights after his birth. and later rescued and returned by King Arthur. His story of disappearance and return associates him with light, renewal, and rebirth.
Speaker: although he was never actually worshipped as a god of the autumn harvest. Modron, the Walsh great mother goddess. Her name derives from the word mother, and as you probably could have guessed, is the mother of Mabon and is also linked to the Gaulish mother goddess, Matrona.
Speaker: In modern paganism, Modron represents nurturing, abundance, wisdom, and the enduring strength of the earth. providing its final harvest before winter. Epona the Celtic Roman goddess of horses and fertility.
Speaker: She was a Celtic goddess who was later widely worshipped throughout the Roman Empire, and she is a protector of horses, riders, and travelers, and is associated with fertility, prosperity, and the abundance of the land.
Speaker: Dionysus, the autumnal god of wine and ecstatic trance. His connection to the grape harvest makes him a natural seasonal association for Mabon when grapes and their fruits are traditionally gathered. But beyond celebration, Dionysus embodies transformation, just like grapes become wine through transformation.
Speaker: Next is Osiris, the Egyptian autumn god of death and the harvest. And according to legends, he was killed by his brother Set before being restored to life by Isis, making him a symbol of life. death and renewal. He is also closely connected with grain and the annual flooding of the Nile, which is another tie to this time of year.
Speaker: Next is Pomona, the Roman... goddess of fruit trees, gardens, and orchards. She is often depicted carrying apples or a cornucopia, and she represents the abundance and sweetness of autumn's fruits. Because apples are one of the most common symbols of Mabon, Pomona is frequently honored during the equinox as a guardian of orchards.
Speaker: And then there's Persephone. Greek goddess of the underworld and spring. Each autumn, she returns to the underworld to spend half of the year with Hades. marking the beginning of the darker half of the year as the earth becomes quiet and dark.
Speaker: Her annual descent makes her one of the most recognizable deities associated with Mabon symbolizing transition, introspection, and the natural cycles of death and rebirth. Next, we have proserpina or...
Speaker: Prosperina, depending on where on Google you are. I kept finding both. so um And this is the Roman goddess of the underworld and would be the equivalent. to the Greek goddess Persephone. She's the daughter of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture. Her annual descent into the underworld symbolizes the Earth's transition into autumn and winter.
Speaker: During Mabon, she reminds us that endings are a natural part of life's cycle and that periods of rest and reflection are essential before new growth can begin. Next is Hermes, the Greek messenger god associated with travel, communication, commerce, and crossing boundaries.
Speaker: At Mabon, his connection to transitions makes him a fitting guide as we move from the bright half of the year into the darker months. Encouraging us to embrace change with wisdom and adaptability.
Speaker: Next is Hearn, and this is a British forest deity, often depicted with antlers of a stag and closely connected to the wild hunt and the ancient woodlands.
Speaker: At Mabon, he represents the untamed rhythms of nature, reminding us to honor the changing seasons, respect the natural world. and recognize the balance between life, death, and renewal.
Speaker: Kernanos is the Celtic horned god of wild animals, fertility, abundance, and the natural world. As the harvest season comes to a close, he embodies the richness of the earth. while also reminding us that nature exists in constant cycles of growth decline and rebirth pan is the greek god of the wild the forests shepherds and untamed nature
Speaker: His presence at Mabon celebrates the beauty of abundance of the natural world before it settles into winter, encouraging us to reconnect with the land and appreciate the gifts it has provided throughout the year.
Speaker: And then last is Bacchus, who is a Roman god of wine, vineyards, agriculture, and joyful celebration. Because Mabon coincides with the grape harvest and the season's abundance, he represents both the fruits of the harvest and the importance of gathering with loved ones to celebrate gratitude, community, and the blessings of the earth.
Speaker: So now let's look at some Mabon correspondences. As far as colors, this would be really anything that you associate with autumn. So golds, orange.
Speaker: Deep reds or burgundies, brown, forest green, rust. purple, dark blue and copper. As far as plants go this would include wheat, oats, barley, corn, and rye. Fruits would be apples, pears, grapes, figs, blackberries, plums, and pomegranates.
Speaker: Herbs would be rosemary, sage, thyme, bay laurel, mugwort, cinnamon, and cloves. And trees would be oak, maple, ash, and apple. Flowers would be sunflowers, marigolds, chrysanthemums, asters, and dahlias.
Speaker: Animals. are deer, foxes, squirrels, ravens, crows, owls. bears stags horses butterflies and honeybees And magical workings would include gratitude, balance, and reflection workings, abundance, workings for letting go, preparation, and protection.
Speaker: For symbols, you have wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains. corn, apples, pomegranates, vines like ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.
Speaker: Incense and oils would be pine, sweetgrass, apple blossoms, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense. jasmine, sagewood aloes, black pepper, patchouli, cinnamon, clove,
Speaker: oak moss, and sage. The element is water.
Speaker: Crystals and gemstones would be sapphire, lapis lazuli, yellow agate, carnelian, amethyst, amber, hematite, onyx, topaz, and for metals, gold. And food and drinks would be things like apples, nuts, dried fruits, squash of all kinds, breads, seeds, potatoes, wine, ale, and cider.
Speaker: Now looking at some alter styles and setups. So the first...
Speaker: Altar type is the traditional harvest altar. This focuses on honoring the abundance of the earth and giving thanks to it for the nourishment provided throughout this year's growing season. This altar style connects most closely with the historical harvest celebrations where communities gathered crops, shared meals, and prepared for the colder months. Altar elements could include things like seasonal fruits, grains, gourds, a cornucopia, or some other woven basket to represent abundance, candles, and corn. colors, etc. And the magical focus here is on harvest blessings, prosperity, and abundance work, honoring the land and the natural cycles, and giving thanks for what's been received.
Speaker: The next altar style and setup is a balance altar. This altar style centers around the autumn equinox itself and the moment when light and darkness exist in harmony. Rather than focusing only on the harvest, this altar acknowledges the importance of opposites like growth and release, giving and receiving, light and dark, et cetera.
Speaker: Altar elements can include things like two candles, one being white and the other being black to represent light and darkness, scales, anything else in contrasting colors on your altar, sun and moon imagery, etc. And the magical focus for this altar style is restoring balance, meditation, and grounding, finding harmony between opposing forces, and aligning intentions before the darker half of the year.
Speaker: Next would be a gratitude altar. This altar style focuses on appreciation, recognizing the blessings and relationships and experiences that have shaped this past year.
Speaker: This altar style is all about acknowledging the unseen harvest and all the things we should be grateful for. Altar elements can include things like a gratitude journal, photos or objects representing your loved ones, candles dedicated to people, places, or experiences, Harvest Foods. flowers, or plants that symbolize appreciation.
Speaker: And the magical focus for this altar style includes things like gratitude rituals. Blessing works, honoring your ancestors or loved ones, strengthening relationships, and recognizing personal growth.
Speaker: And the last one that I'm going to talk about is the reflection altar. This altar style is all about looking inward as nature begins its transition toward winter. This altar style supports self -examination, releasing what no longer serves you, and considering what we want to carry forward into the next season.
Speaker: Alter elements can include things like a journal. you're um mirrors for self -reflection. any items that represent change, candles and any of the darker colors that correspond with the season. So the browns, the burgundies and the deep greens and purples. And the magical focus for this older style is shadow work, divination, reviewing goals and intentions and releasing old habits and patterns.
Speaker: Another one is the transformation and release altar. So this altar should focus on letting go of what no longer serves you. Mabon marks that transition from the light half of the year to the darker months. So this is an ideal time to release old habits, limiting beliefs, emotional burdens, or anything that is preventing you from moving forward. forward So as the trees begin shedding their leaves, Mabon reminds us that release is a natural part of every cycle. This altar honors the wisdom that growth often requires making space for something new. just as nature prepares for its season of rest. So things to include, you could decorate your altar with fallen leaves, black, purple, or deep burgundy candles, feathers, dried flowers, obsidian or smoky quartz, a bowl for burning and releasing intentions, and a journal.
Speaker: or slips of paper where you can write down what you're ready to let go of. Next is a kitchen witch Mabon altar. So this altar style should celebrate nourishment, hospitality, and everyday magic of preparing food.
Speaker: It honors the harvest by recognizing. cooking, baking, and sharing meals as sacred acts of gratitude. Mabon is one of the year's greatest harvest festivals, making it a perfect Sabbath to celebrate seasonal foods and the abundance provided by the earth. This altar reminds us that the kitchen has long been the heart of the home and a place where magic and intention can be woven into daily life. Things to include on this altar, you could fill it with apples.
Speaker: pumpkins squash corn bread oats nuts Herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, and cinnamon, jars of spices, honey, cider or wine, wooden kitchen tools, recipe cards, and warm colors like gold, orange, or brown candles. And the last one I have is the abundance altar.
Speaker: This altar should be centered on recognizing and celebrating everything that you've harvested throughout the year. This includes material blessings as well as personal growth, meaningful relationships, accomplishments, wisdom, and spiritual development.
Speaker: Mabon encourages us to pause before the quiet seasons of winter and to reflect on the fullness of our lives. Rather than focusing on what is still missing, this altar shifts our attention towards gratitude for everything that we've already cultivated.
Speaker: So for this one, you could decorate your altar with pumpkins, apples, pears. grapes, corn, wheat, acorns, pine cones, sunflowers, baskets of seasonal produce, coins or symbols of prosperity, citrine or green aventurine, crystals, and then green, gold, or orange candles to represent abundance and a richness of the harvest.
Speaker: And as far as offerings for the season, I mean, we really covered a lot of shit just on the altars section. So you can take like any of those. and incorporate it. how you see fit as an offering.
Speaker: But... Traditionally, any sort of the traditional food items that are associated with the harvest would be perfect for this. So this would be those apples, grains, corn, squash, gourds, acorns, and pine cones. And then additionally, if you want to give some sort of libation.
Speaker: This would include cider, juices, wine, and mead. These are all great offerings, as well as any sort of baked goods, any of the fallen leaves or dried herbs that we talked about. Any of those things would work as an amazing offering for this season. And then just to kind of close this out, here's some common misconceptions. So the first one that I came across is that Mabon is only about the physical harvest, which if you've listened to anything we've said in this episode.
Speaker: you will know that that is not true. So while Mabon is rooted in the harvest season, it also celebrates the personal, emotional, and spiritual harvest. that we've cultivated throughout the year The Sabbath encourages reflection on lessons learned, on goals achieved, and personal growth just as much as it honors the abundance of the earth.
Speaker: The next one is that every Mabon altar has to include things like pumpkins, apples, and traditional fall decor. But the the reality is that seasonal symbols are wonderful additions, but your altar should reflect your own relationship with the season. So if another item represents gratitude, abundance, balance, or the harvest more personally to you, it belongs on your altar just as much as those traditional decorations.
Speaker: And there's also this huge debate that I came across surrounding the name Mavon, where it... Would seem that everyone has this opinion on the name in general, um even down to an article that I found titled The Worst Named Pagan Holiday being centered on the history of the naming of Mabon, which I thought was kind of funny. That is funny.
Speaker: I put that in our show notes if anyone wants to go read it. it was Like ridiculous, but also hilarious. Yeah. So the article. um
Speaker: touched on everything between Welsh versus Anglo -Saxon, the year Mabon became like the quote -unquote pagan standard, and the historical and mythological ties, and so much more. But it was really funny. i read the whole thing and I was like, this is such a weird. thing like this is the hill that they're gonna die on and is the name is stupid So.
Speaker: But that's like all I have. Are they like, I'm... I'm not going to celebrate Mabon because the name sucks. Yeah. I mean, basically they were just like, it was. The one article that I have linked was kind of like the most, it had the most information in it. But there were several different either threads or articles just talking about how
Speaker: the name Mabon is stupid, how they came up with it, like, that it's a modern, that you I mean, we talked about it being a modern. celebration but that it's like this is modern and it has no ties to paganism and like It was just the most ridiculous rabbit hole that I fell down for like an hour. And then I was like, I gotta stop reading these.
Speaker: So that's so funny. I just looked in the show notes too. Like I love how it's from the web or the webpage is called allergic pagan. I know. I know. I was like, Oh my God.
Speaker: So but that's it. That's all we have on Mabon Altars. It sure is.
Speaker: That's a wrap on this episode of Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft. We hope you had as much fun as we did. If you loved this episode, we'd be eternally grateful if you left us a five -star review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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Speaker: Until then, stay magical, stay curious, and as always, blessed be your chance.
