Mabon Ritual (Witches' Thanksgiving) 9/19/2004

SPIRITWAYS MABON RITUAL (Witches' Thanksgiving) - September 19, 2004

Themes


	* Give thanks for the harvest * Evaluate the past year, identify what to harvest and what to plow under in ourselves * Identify and cut away outworn habits and emotional baggage that wear us down * Work for balance and equilibrium in nature or in human affairs * Give to those less fortunate than ourselves

Purification

Each participant will be smudged with sage and sprinkled with jasmine water as well as anything that they are bringing into the Circle such as a canned good donation, alter decorations, and the requested blindfold for the Mystery.

Smudger: "Better that you should step aside than to enter the Circle with hate or malice in your heart. How do you enter?"

Smudgee: "In perfect love and perfect trust!"

Smudger: "Merry Meet and Blessed Be!"

As each participant enters the circle, they may place their food donations at the bottom of the north altar and decorate the altar itself with their harvest decorations.

Casting the Circle

Person charged with casting the circle proceeds around circle with wand, visualizing a circle of pure blue light forming a closed sphere around the circle and all the participants as they proceed.

Consecrating the Circle

North/Earth and West/Water - North mixes the salt into the water, then West walks clockwise around the Circle saying:

"Where this water and salt fall, let no fear remain. By the power of the earth and water, I consecrate this sacred space."

South/Fire and East/Air – South lights the sage smudge stick from the south altar candle, then East walks clockwise around the Circle saying:

"Where this smudge stick and air waft, let desire enter in. By the power of fire and air, I consecrate this sacred space."

Invoking the God and Goddess

Gods- "Hail to the Green Man, god of the forests. Hail to Janus, god of all beginnings and journeys. Hail to Mabon, for whom this holiday is named. Hail and Welcome, Blessed Be!"

Goddesses- "Hail to Ceres, goddess of grain. Hail to Persephone, goddess of the underworld. Hail to Diana, the triple goddess, Maiden, Mother, Crone, the goddess of all witches. Hail and Welcome, Blessed Be!"

Centering Meditation

Each participant will be blindfolded and asked to close their eyes and visualize an orchard or grove of trees. Carefully monitoring breathing, each participant will be asked to breathe in the tree of their choice and will be guided to become the tree; to feel their feet growing roots, their clothes and skin becoming bark, their slowed heartbeat the sap that runs to their “limbs”. Each participant will be asked to visualize any animals that might be present. A cat or squirrel climbing the trunk or a bird in their leaves (hair). A mole burrowing below, a snake twining around their feet, a deer in the distance. Hear the wind, feel the rain, lightning, thunder, bask in the sun. Be the tree! Now slowly, feel your leaves falling down, the bark is peeling off your body, slowly you are transforming back to your human form, you feel your toes, arms, fingers, but the tree is still with you, in your heart, your mind and soul. You and your tree will go on a journey. When the music starts you will be spun. Try it keep your tree in balance. Prepare for the journey…….(MUSIC)
Each participant is spun as the music plays then stopped and each participant’s hands are placed on the shoulders of the participant next to them and so on to form a circle. Then as the music plays, they journey in another circle counterclockwise. Two drums beat out of sync, out of balance until as the drumbeats slowly become one, equanimity is achieved and the participant’s hands are placed by their sides.

The Mystery

The Wheel is turned,
The Seasons’ spun,
Our journey here
Has just begun.

(Each participant is anointed with a pentagram using cinnamon water)

"Great Spirits, Keep away all negativity, Bring to light this Mystery!"

(The blindfolds are removed and each participant is asked to have a seat)

(A bushel of apples with a blanket covering sits on the floor).

Mabon is the time of year when balance is achieved. Light and Darkness. Day and Night. It is a time to consider which aspects of your life you wish to preserve and which you would prefer to discard. Your leaves are falling; your fruit is dropping. Mabon marks a time of thankfulness, equality and harmony; a time to appreciate and enjoy the fruits of your labors. The dark half of the year brings a greater emphasis on reflection, rest and planning. Mabon is the time at which these influences begin to be felt, the tree begins to go dormant.

Tonight we celebrate the harvest, the abundance. (The blanket is removed, the apples are revealed. Everyone is invited to choose an apple. A knife and cutting board are passed around and each participant is asked to cut their apple in half, crosswise, stating, “The Mystery Is Revealed!”)

Inside every apple is a pentagram. Inside the fruit of the Ancient Gods and Goddesses is a five pointed star. Look at the pentagram. Follow the symbol with your eyes, Trace it with your fingertips. Press it to your lips, to your forehead, your tongue. Visualize yourself spread out against this shape, your head at the top, Your arms and legs aligned with the other four points. A Human Star. Birth, Childhood, Adulthood, Old Age, Death. Reflect on your own mystery.

(Silence, Music)

Mabon is the time of the mysteries. A time of balance, a time to stop, relax, and enjoy The fruits of your personal harvests, Whether they be from toiling in our gardens, Working at our jobs, Raising our families, Or just coping with the hustle-bustle of everyday life.

(Each participant is invited to share anything at this time)

May your Mabon be memorable
And your hearts and spirits
Be filled to overflowing.
So mote it be.

(All stand, hold hands)

Dark is the night, as we ready this turning point. Here is a time of death, yet a time of birth. Endings and beginnings, Ebbing and flowing, A journey done, a journey yet to start.

We honor now Crone Mother divine. We give of our strength and in return, see rebirth.

All: (raise arms) "Maiden, Mother, Crone, We Give Our Thanks!"

Lady of Darkness, Lady of Light Mother, Grandmother, Old, yet ever young.

We honor and give thanks to thee on Mabon and always.
As the Wheel turns, so mote it be
Birth, Death and Rebirth.
Every ending is a beginning,
Every stop a fresh starting point.

All: (raise arms) "Maiden, Mother, Crone, We Give Our Thanks!"

"In the darkest of times,
When there seems no spark to warm us,
And the night seems blackest of all,
You will be there watching over,
In strength and in love,
Whether we journey together or alone."

All: (raise arms) "Maiden , Mother, Crone, We Give our Thanks!"

(Each participant one by one turns to the next, and with a hug states, “Merry Mabon” To which is replied, “Blessed Be” and so forth.)

Cakes and Ale

As we offer the cakes to the person beside us, we say:

"May you never hunger!"

Response: "Nor thee, I give me thanks."

As we offer the "ale" to the person beside us, we say:

"May you never thirst!"

Response: "Nor thee, I give me thanks."

(Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds)

Farewell to the Elements

East - "Farewell Spirits of the East, Thank you for the power to know ourselves on this Mabon and always.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

South - "Farewell Spirits of the South, Thank you for directing our energy and spirit on this Mabon and always.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

West - "Farewell Spirits of the West, Thank you for allowing us to reach our full potential on Mabon and always.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

North - "Farewell Spirits of the North, Thank you for teaching us to listen to ourselves an and others on Mabon and always.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

Farewell to Gods and Goddesses

Gods- "Farewell to the Green Man, god of the forests. Farewell to Janus, god of all beginnings and journeys. Farewell to Mabon, for whom this holiday is named.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

Goddesses- "Farewell to Ceres, goddess of grain. Farewell to Persephone, goddess of the underworld. Farewell to Diana, the triple goddess, Maiden, Mother, Crone, the goddess of all witches.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

Opening of the Circle

AS THE CIRCLE SINKS INTO THE EARTH, MAY IT BE OPEN BUT NEVER BROKEN.
MERRY MEET AND MERRY PART AND MERRY MEET AGAIN!