Mabon
By Melissa Hardy
19
Mabon, which is pronounced “May-bun,” “May-bone,” “Mah-boon,” or “Mah-bawnis,” is the time of the Autumn Equinox, the time when the sun passes the equator on its southbound journey around the world. The name “Equinox” comes from the Latin words aequus which means “equal”, and nox which means “night”. This astronomical event happens between September 21st and September 24th, depending on the year.
When this happens in the Northern Hemisphere on September 23rd this year, the sun will enter the astrological sign of Libra. Libra is represented by the sign of scales and balances and the Glyph for Libra is the sun rising and setting. Interestingly enough, that is exactly what happens on the Autumn Equinox, a balance of the sun’s rise and set.
Up until Mabon, the daylight hours have been longer than the hours from dusk until dawn have been. The days following Mabon will progressively begin the days of the night. We begin to have less hours of daylight and more hours of darkness until the Winter Solstice comes in December.
Mabon also marks the middle of the harvest season and is a time to reap what we may have sown. We call it the Second Harvest, the Fruit Harvest, and the Great Feast of Thanksgiving. It is a time for appreciation and to give thanks to the Goddess for the harvest and the bounty that the earth provides. After the long, hard day of harvesting, Mabon is also a time to rest and celebrate.
The warmed autumn days are followed by cool autumn nights as the Goddess descends into the underworld. Nature starts to decline, and the Gods brings us winter. All things come to an end, but endings are times to celebrate our success. Give thanks to the people that have helped out along your journey, but remember to also thank yourself for, without you, it would never have been done.
Wiccans celebrate the Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone as her consort, the God, prepares for Death and Rebirth.
The Druids referred to Mabon as “Mea'n Fo'mhair,” “Alban Elfed,” and “Harvest.” They offer libations to the trees in honor of the Green Man, the God of the Forest.
However, the name “Mabon” was given to the Autumn Equinox in the 1970’s by Aidan Kelly as part of a religious studies project. Since all of the other Sabbats had names already, the name “Mabon” was given to the Autumn Equinox to have a more authentic-sounding, Celtic feel to it.
Most people seem to believe that the given name “Mabon” comes from the Welsh god, Mabon, which meant “Great Son.” Mabon was a mighty hunter with a swift horse and a great hound. As the story goes, Mabon was stolen from his mother Modron, when he was only three days old. Mabon was dwelling happily as a captive in Modron’s magickal otherworld, “Modron’s womb.” Mabon’s light has been drawn into the earth, gathering strength and wisdom enough to become a new seed. This is the only way that Mabon can be reborn.
But, what is the true spiritual meaning of the Autumn Equinox? The Autumn Equinox marks an essential passage in the process of Enlightenment that we tend to overlook, misunderstand, or mistaken as dark and heretical.
It is a time of balance between day and night, light and darkness. The same dualities exist within all people, animals,