Mabon
The Wheel of the Year holds several purposes, both theological and practical. Theologically, the story of the Wheel often varies depending on the Tradition. The Wheel gives the accounts of the mythological events that repeat throughout the year and a vague "history" of the Gods and Goddesses involved within the pantheon. For those who do not know, by "Tradition," we mean "denomination"; for example, Wiccan, Celtic, Druid, Native American, etc. On the more practical side, the Wheel trains us to deal with death and the inevitability of rebirth that follows. Paganism teaches that death, a natural function of the universe, is a part of life. This dramatic change is the beginning of a new experience and something to be celebrated at the proper time and not feared. Through the ideas of Heaven and Hell, Christianity teaches a deep fear of death, spurring our society's horror of death. We are always trying to find new and improved ways to beat death, but we will never succeed. It is sad our society portrays death as such a terrifying experience; we would certainly have less emotional pain and suffering in the world if death could be seen as what it is: a transformation, nothing more.

In this section, you will find a rendition of the upcoming quarter of the Wheel of the Year. Included will be the mythological lore, some traditional practices for the celebration, and some ideas for activities and decorations.

*Background Information:
Mabon marks the second harvest, the end of the grain harvest (which begun at Lughnasadh), and rests on the Autumn Equinox. The equinox mirrors the dwindling of life (and eventual progression to rebirth), as well as the struggle for balance; day and night are equal for a single day. The pagans of antiquity couldn't determine astrological positions as we do today. Therefore, the European peasantry celebrated this Sabbat on September 25th; actually, the Celts marked their days from sundown to sundown, so the Mabon celebration started on the setting of the sun on our September 24th. Today, with the help of our technology, we can calculate the exact day of the equinox, the date when the sun enters the sign of Libra, the Balanced Scales, which appropriately fits the equinox. September 25th is a medieval holiday which the Church Christianized under the label of "Michaelmas," a feast in honor of the Archangel Michael. It is thought that the Roman Catholic Church at some point considered assigning the quarter dates to the four Archangels since they had assigned the cross quarters to the four gospel-writers. Making the Vernal Equinox a holiday called "Gabrielmas" was considered in honor of the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary on Lady Day. This Sabbat can also be known as the Second Harvest Festival, Feast of Avalon, Cornucopia, Wine Harvest, the Fall Equinox, Harvest Home, the Autumnal (or Autumn) Equinox, Festival of Dionysus, Alban Elfed (Caledonii, Druidic), Winter Finding (Teutonic), or Equinozio di Autunno (Strega). The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is called the Harvest Moon, and farmers would harvest their crops by this moonlight as part of the Second Harvest celebration.

*Meanings:
Mabon is very much like Thanksgiving. Most of the crops have been reaped, and abundance is more noticeable than ever! Mabon is the time when we reap the fruits of our labor and lessons, both crops and experiences. It is a time of joy to celebrate that which is passing (for why should we mourn the beauty of the year or dwindling sunlight?), looking joyously at the experience the year has shared with us. And it is a time to gaze into the bright future. We are reminded once again of the cyclic universe; endings are merely new beginnings.

Since it is the time of the dying sun, an effort is also made to celebrate the dead with joyous remembrance. It is considered taboo to pass a burial site and not honor the dead. Natural energies are aligned towards protection, wealth, prosperity, security, and boosting self-confidence. Any spells or rituals centered around balance and harmony are appropriate.

*History/Mythology -- Celtic/Welsh
The tale of Mabon ap Modron, the Welsh god (the "great son of the great mother", also known as the Son of Light, the Young Son, or Divine Youth, is celebrated. The equinox is also the birth of Mabon, from his mother Modron, the Guardian of the Outerworld, Healer, Protector, the Earth. Mabon was taken after he was a mere three nights old (some variations of the legend say he is taken after three years). Mabon is freed from his mysterious captivity through the wisdom of the living animals, specifically the stag, blackbird, owl, eagle, and salmon. All the while, Mabon had rested within his mother's womb, a place of nurturing and challenge. With strength and lessons gained within the magickal Outerworld (Modron's womb), Mabon is soon reborn as his mother's Champion, the Son of Light, wielding the strength and wisdom acquired during his captivity.

Also, (from a variation in legend), the equinox is the day of the year when the god of light, Lugh, is defeated by the god of darkness, Lugh's twin and alter-ego, Tanist. The night conquers day. The tales state that the equinox is the only day in which Lugh is vulnerable, and the possibility of his defeat exists. Lugh stands on the balance (Autumn Equinox-Libra) with one foot on the goat (Winter Solstice-Capricorn) and the other on the cauldron (Summer Solstice-Cancer). He is betrayed by Blodeuwedd, the Virgin (Virgo), and transformed into an Eagle (Scorpio).

Two events occur rapidly with Lugh's defeat. Tanist, having beaten Lugh, now takes over Lugh's place both as King of our world and lover to the goddess Tailtiu. Although Tanist now sits on Lugh's throne, his official induction does not take place for another six weeks at Samhain, the beginning of Winter, when he becomes the Dark King, the Winter Lord, the Lord of Misrule. He mates with Tailtiu, who conceives, and will give birth nine months later (at the Summer Solstice) to her son, another incarnation of Tanist himself, the Dark Child.

Lugh's sacrifice represents not only the sun's dying power but also the cycle of rebirth, his energy remaining within the corn we have since harvested. An incarnate (of Lugh) corn-spirit was thought to reside within the last stalk (or stock), traditionally dressed in fine clothes and decorations or woven into a wicker man-shaped form. This symbolic decoration was then harvested and carried from the field to be burned, rejoicing for the spirits' release and Lugh's upcoming rebirth.

*Mythology -- Greek:
In Greek mythology, Autumn begins as Persephone returns to the Underworld to live with Hades, her husband. The myth says that Demeter's daughter, Kore, had taken a day to pick flowers in a meadow when the Earth opened up, and Hades pulled the girl into the Underworld to become his bride. Kore's name became Persephone when she married Hades. For nine straight days, Demeter searched for Kore with no success. In misery and desperation, Demeter questioned Helios, the sun god, who informed her that her brother, Zeus, had given the girl to Hades. Furious, Demeter left Olympus to roam the Earth disguised as an older woman, settling in her temple at Eleusis. Soon after, she cursed the Earth so it would yield no crops. Zeus sent her a frantic message inquiring as to why she had prevented growth on the planet. She replied that there would be no vegetation regeneration on the Earth until her daughter, Kore, was safely returned.

Zeus immediately dispatched Hermes into the Underworld to retrieve the girl. Hades, not wanting to relinquish his bride permanently, convinced Persephone to eat some pomegranate seeds before returning to her mother, Demeter. Demeter was yet again distraught when she learned of this trickery! Finally, Zeus declared that Kore-Persephone would live with her mother during one half of the year and return to her husband, Hades, during the other half. In thanks, Demeter lifted the curse on the Earth, creating Spring. Every year hence, during her time of greatest sorrow, Demeter renews the condemnation as her daughter returns to Hades and the Underworld.

*Mythology -- Wiccan:
Day and night are equal, and the god prepares to depart and begin the journey back to the strength and development within his mother's, the Goddess', womb. Both sad and joyful, the goddess lovingly awaits her god's rebirth.

**gathered and compiled from various sources