Mabon Ritual

For this ritual you will need the following items:

Altar set-up and tools.

Alter decorations: fall-colored leaves arranged on the altar, flowers of season, corn, gourds, etc.

Perfect love (red) and Perfect trust (blue) candles, as well as a candle to represent the God and one for the Goddess. (Fall colors are fine, or use white, or use gold and silver)

Props: big bowls, popcorn in basket, large dutch oven or cauldron with lid to pop corn in, and some kind of safe heat source. (If this isnt possible you can use air popper, just sit it in the cauldron for the symbolism). veg oil, pot holders.

It is really fun to pop the corn in circle, but if this proves to be too much challenge for you, you can use corn in the basket, and put already popped corn in the cauldron, covered (either with a lid or black cloth) and then have it "magically" appear as transformed.

The symbolism is the improtant part, as long as the lesson can be learned, the props can be as easy or as inventive as you like them to be.

Purify Space with Besom.

Cast the circle as you normally would. Bless the participants, and have them ground and center themselves.

Invoke Watchtowers:

East (water): Hail to thee guardians of the watchtowers of the east, the powers of water. We call upon the deep oceans' mysteries:

Height of swell, Whiteness of foam

Depth of trough, Torrent of shoal

Eddy os current, Roar of wave

Flood of the tide, Wash of the ebb

Generosity fo flow, Abundance of life

Be about us in beauty and protection this Mabon night. So Mote It Be.

South (air): Hail to thee guardians of the watchtowers of the south, the powers of air. We call upon the nine encircling breaths:

Ecstasy of energy, Pattern of destiny

Protection of learning, Inspiration of initiation

Challenge of adversary, Liberation of confidence

Transformation of self, Trust of guardianship

Empowerment of wisdom

Be about us in beauty and protection this Mabon night. So Mote It Be.

West (fire): Hail to thee Guardians of the watchtowers of the west, the pwers of fire. We call upon the bright harvest fires:

Heart's flame, Seal of night

Bright fire, Living light

Flame's own flower, Spirit's web

Leaf light, soul light, Harbinger of Autumn's ebb

Star-gleam dancing in the night

Candle flickering, Holy light

Be about us in beauty and protection this Mabon night. So Mote It Be.

North (earth): Hail to thee guardians of the watchtowers of the norht, the powers of earth. We call upon the cloak of covering:

Glory of garlands, Fruit of orchards

Fertility of fields, Healing powers of herbs

Plenty of plantations, Nurture of nurseries

Wine of the vineyards, Medley of meadows

Grace of grasslands, Mantle of the earth

Be about us in beauty and protections this Mabon night. So Mote It Be.

Light the Perfect Love and Perfect Trust candles.

Evoke the God and Goddess saying:

(Goddess Soverign Lady of the stars, comnpassionate Queen of the night, We give thanks this night for the fertility of the earth's harvest; There is more than enough to share with all.

Oh Taillte (tell-tay), You give to us the energy to reap the goodness that we have sown, and you enhance our strengths at this time, so that we may share our avundance equally with all. We join together in your presence, with those we love, to give true thanks for our good fortune. We welcome you here to share our Mabon celebration. Blessed Be.

(light the Goddess candle.)

(God Lugh, Shield of courage and Lord of light, as we begin the journey toward the cavern of the dark, we thank you for the courage to look at ourselves, both our light and our dark sides. For like this equinox, we must balance ourselves between forces, and reap the benefits of both. Continue to challenge us, for through the trials of change, we learn to grow and to weave these lessons into the fabric of our lives. This harvest, may we reap joys of successful endeavors. We welcome you here to share our Mabon celebration. Blessed Be.

(light the God candle.)

(statement of purpose - usually read by the High Priestess, or whoever she may designate)

On this night as the wheel of the year turns to yet another spoke, we gather together to celebrate the Sabbat of Mabon, our second harvest festival. In agricultural societies where our lives would have depended on a bountiful harvest, giving thanks would be heartfelt and gracious. However, we rely on modern conveniences for our livelihoods, and so tonight we are goin to reflect on the mundane, taken for granted, little things that allow us to enjoy the leisure of not have to break our bakcs working the fields! Things such as: a car that runs, a job that pays our way in this world, a place to dwell where we feel safe, stores where we can puchchase anything we need or take a fancy to at almost any hour of the day! How many of these things do we simply take for granted? Have you thanked the Goddess for your refrigerator lately? How would you survive in south Florida without it!!

Take a moment at this time to remember these things.

(obviously you may use a different reference if you live in a different area! but I'm sure you get the hint!)

chant: THANK YOU GODDESS EVERYWHERE

FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT WE SHARE

(this is a very simplistic chant but to the point, use this or any other one you feel is appropriate. Form a circle, chant and dance around, at each end of the chant, have people call out something that they are grateful for. Remember, these should be the everyday things that we often don't take time to think about. After each person says something, we respond with, "Blessed Be!" and then chant again. Do this until the energy gets low.)

(pass around the basket of corn kernels)

Now that we have brought to mind many things that we are grateful for having as you take the corn, remember that each kernel represents a blessing in your life. Corn is ruled by the sun, and represents life's energy and vitality, as well as the element of fire, which brings out the corn's ability to expand and become more than just the kernel - which is how we make popcorn! Popcorn is the transformation of what we harvest from seed to food, from the seed of the earth, into the food we depend upon for life itself! Yes, popcorn is the food of the Gods !

Charge your corn kernels with the energy of your thanks for what we reflected on tonight, then place them into the cauldron of rebirth, that they may be transformed into the true blessings of the harvest season.

(Now perform the symbolic Great Rite, using whatever words you normally use. Then the High Priestess asks the High Priest, as representative of Lugh, Lord of the Harvest, to light the Flame of Desire under the Cauldron of Rebirth.)

(Popcorn pops as the cakes and wine are passed around. Then have each person also eat some of the popcorn, thereby sharing each other's blessings as well as their own.)

(do any other dancing and chanting you wish until time to close the circle.)

(Goddess Thank you taillte for the powers of the earth's bounty which have been with us throughout this harvest season. May we respect the cycles of growth and the miracle of the food chain. May the gifts we have received ignite the spark of generosity within us so that we are moved to share with others. Let your loving touch be upon us now and always. Blessed Be.

(God Thank you Lugh for your generous self-sacrifice in bringing our harvest to fruition. May we never fear failure or let it keep us from attempting what we dream to do. May we always keep our balance and equilibrium during the storms in our lives, which, like the hurricane season, can brew up unexpectedly. Help us all to find the still center of peaceful resolution within. Let your loving touch be upon us now and always. Blessed Be.

Dismiss watchtowers:

East (water): Hail to thee guardians of the watchtower of the east, the powers of water. We thank you for a gentle and easy rainy season this year, and may the ocean and all the life within it be preserved and respected as life's first home. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and farewell, and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

South (air): Hail to thee guardians of the watchtowers of the south, the powers of air. We thank you for a season without a hurricane hitting us - may the remainder of the hurricane season pass by uneventfully. May the ozone layer be rebuilt and respected as the boundary which shields and envelops us in it's protective cushion. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee hail and farewell, and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

West (fire): Hail to thee guardians of the watchtowers of the west, the powers of fire. We thank you for the ecstasy of life. May the Mighty Ones bestow the flame of ecstasy upon all inspirers, that creativity may catch and toss the dull hears of those who live without ecstasy, bak into the dancing blaze of life. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee hail and farewell, and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

North (earth): Hail to thee guardians of the watchtowers of the north, the powers of earth. Thank you for the abundant gifts of the sweet earth and that there is more than enough to share with all. May all who carry heavy responsibilities be given the strength and commitment to fulfill their duties with lightness, humor, and respect. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee hail and farewell, and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

Open the circle