Mabon: The Autumn Equinox
Mabon is the Sabbat of the Autumn Equinox, celebrated around September 21–23 in the northern hemisphere. It marks the point in the Wheel of the Year when day and night stand in perfect balance before the scales tip toward the longer nights of winter. Often called the “Pagan Thanksgiving,” Mabon is a festival of gratitude, harvest, and preparation; a time to honor the fruits of labor, acknowledge cycles of growth and release, and give thanks before stepping into the darker half of the year.
The name “Mabon” is relatively modern, drawn from the Welsh mythic figure Mabon ap Modron, the “Son of the Mother.” But the equinox itself has been celebrated for millennia in many cultures as a cosmic turning point, a time when balance, harmony, and reciprocity become central themes.
The Meaning Behind Mabon
Spiritually, Mabon embodies:
Balance: The equal length of day and night symbolizes equilibrium; between light and dark, inner and outer, self and other.
Gratitude: It is a time to harvest the rewards of hard work, both physically (food, material security) and spiritually (growth, wisdom).
Release & Preparation: Just as fields are cleared and preserved for winter, Mabon calls us to release what no longer serves and prepare for the quiet, inward season ahead.
In magickal practice, Mabon is a season of thanksgiving, reflection, and completion; honoring cycles of birth, growth, and eventual decline as part of the eternal rhythm.
Scientific & Cosmic Explanation
The Autumn Equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night approximately equal. It signals the astronomical start of autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere.
Northern Hemisphere: The sun moves southward, shortening days and cooling temperatures, heralding the harvest season and approach of winter.
Southern Hemisphere: The sun moves northward, lengthening days and bringing renewal and growth.
Cosmically, the equinox represents a point of balance on Earth’s journey around the sun; a reminder that cycles of light and shadow, waxing and waning, are woven into the structure of the universe itself.
Symbolic Aspects & Correspondences
Colors: Gold, red, orange, brown, russet, maroon, deep green.
Plants & Foods: Apples, grapes, corn, squash, gourds, pomegranates, nuts, grains, cider, wine.
Dishes: Hearty breads, roasted root vegetables, mulled wine, pumpkin dishes, apple crisps, corn pudding.
Herbs: Rosemary, sage, myrrh, marigold, yarrow, cinnamon.
Animals: Stag, owl, blackbird, crow, squirrel, wolf; creatures tied to harvest, preparation, and mystery.
Symbols: Cornucopia, acorns, seeds, baskets, vines, harvested fields, the setting sun.
Crystals: Amber, citrine, carnelian, tiger’s eye, smoky quartz.
Deities: Demeter, Persephone, Mabon ap Modron, Modron, Dionysus/Bacchus, The Green Man, Inanna/Ishtar, Pomona, Freyr, Cernunnos
Global Acknowledgements & Celebrations
Across cultures and history, the equinox has been honored as a turning point:
Ancient Celts & Pagans: Celebrated as the second harvest festival, with offerings to deities of grain, fertility, and the land.
Greek Mythology: Linked to the descent of Persephone into the underworld, symbolizing the coming of winter and the cycle of life and death.
Norse Traditions: Associated with harvest feasts, mead, and honoring the Vanir gods of fertility and abundance.
Chinese Culture: The Mid-Autumn Festival coincides closely, honoring the moon, balance, and the harvest with mooncakes and lanterns.
Native American Traditions: Many tribes hold autumn festivals of thanks, acknowledging the gifts of the earth and preparing for winter.
Modern Celebrations: Today, Wiccans, Pagans, Druids, and nature-based spiritual communities honor Mabon with rituals, feasts, and community gatherings, while secular culture often celebrates the equinox through harvest festivals and seasonal traditions.
How to Flow with Mabon Energy
+ What Aligns with Mabon Energy +
Practicing gratitude through offerings, journaling, or feasting.
Balancing work and rest, activity and reflection.
Sharing abundance (food, time, or resources) with others.
Preparing your home or altar with autumn colors and symbols.
Honoring ancestors and the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.
Harvesting fruits, herbs, or seeds and preserving them.
- What Doesn’t Flow with Mabon Energy -
Clinging to what needs to be released or finished.
Over consumption or ignoring balance.
Neglecting gratitude or failing to honor your progress.
Isolation from community or refusal to share abundance.
Forcing growth instead of accepting seasonal rest.
Gifts from The Academy
To help you celebrate the season, the Academy has included a free downloadable ritual and recipe for Mabon below. These practices will guide you in aligning with the energy of balance, gratitude, and preparation during this turning of the year.
