Mabon 2019

THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR

Mabon

Altar-ing apples & spice
your space
(and everything nice)
clear, cleanse and
refresh a sacred nook recipes, folklore and magickal properties
for your spiritual practice

&Tarot Thyme
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3 MABON BASICS
7
Common symbolism,
and associations
surrounding the second
harvest festival

5 EVERYTHING APPLE

The apple is a favourite
Mabon treat - learn
about its lore,and how to
use it in your practice

BELLY BLISS

A collection of favourite
apple recipes to warm
your heart and bless
your tummy

10 UPDATE YOUR SPACE

Join Jechanovia as she
clears and resets her
altar space for Mabon
celebrations and magick

1

12 TAROT SPREAD

A special layout for a
Mabon Tarot or oracle
card reading

14 STORYTIME

A traditional tale, perfect
to read while curled up
beneath a warm blanket
and a mug of hot cuppa

18 WASSAIL

A classic wassail,
blessing the generous
Apple tree - Drinc hail!

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2

3

Mabon Basics

ABUNDANCE, BALANCE & GRATITUDE

Mabon, pronounced as both MAY-bon, or MA-bon, is the that each morsel of food we eat, each stitch in our
modern name given to the celebration of the second clothing, and every drop of clean water from our faucet is
harvest in the Pagan Wheel of the Year. It occurs at the only available because of someone's dedication and hard
Autumn Equinox, known as Alban Elfed to those on the work. There are living, breathing people who we rely
Druid path. Others refer to this time as Harvest Home. greatly upon for our basic needs, but whose faces and
names will remain unknown to us. Take time to give
This is the time when fruits and vegetables are harvested gratitude and speak a blessing for them because,
and stored away for winter. Feasts and festivals remain to although they are hidden from your gaze, they are an
be popular during this season, with agricultural shows, fall important member of your community.
fairs and other community gatherings. These events are a
nod to our ancestral tradition of coming together to enjoy A period of balance between light and dark, day and night,
and share the fruits of the year's hard labour. Mabon offers an opportunity for you to seek balance in all
areas of your life. Complete projects, clean and declutter
It is also an excellent time to pause and consider the effort your home and work area, re-evaluate your schedule and
and sacrifice that is required to provide abundance and obligations, and seek to simplify your days and weeks,
security. In our privileged society, we have albeit forgotten allowing more time to slow down and take in the moments

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and experiences that enrich your world. Look upon
everyday blessings with a renewed perspective of
gratitude, and reawaken the natural wonder and sense of
magick that is so easily silenced in the daily grind.

To welcome in the energies of this season of transition,
there are many symbols, colours, and associations we can
integrate into our practice. Consider adding touches of
them in your home decor, your wardrobe or even the
foods you enjoy. If you have an altar or sacred space, you
may like to include those that resonate with you.
Remember, your practice is yours and yours alone - only
draw in the things that feel right, and leave the rest. There
is no wrong way to celebrate Mabon, or any other Holy
Day.

ASSOCIATIONS AND SYMBOLISM

Deities Colours & Decor

• Cerridwen • Cernunnos • Freya • Mabon ap Modron • • red • orange • brown • indigo •
• Hathor • Epona • Green Man • Demeter • Persephone • • pine cones • acorns • autumn leaves • branches •
• Pomona • Dagda • Morrigan • Thoth • Isis • Dionysus • • stones • dried seed pods • apples • pomegranate •

Crystals Incense & Oils

• clear quartz • citrine • carnelian • gold • aventurine • • apple blossom • pine • frankincense • sage • cinnamon •
• cat's eye • amber • tiger's eye • diamond • peridot • clove • black pepper • sweetgrass • jasmine •

Herbs Foods

• yarrow • rosemary • sage • rose hips • chamomile • • cornbread • hazelnuts • walnuts • squash • grapes •
• sunflower • rue • saffron • passionflower • bittersweet • • apples • pumpkin • carrots • potatoes • onions •
• ale • wine • beans • corn • cider • beets •
• raspberry leaves • marigold • thistle • hops •
Elements & Energies
Animals
• water • the sun • balance • harmony • protection •
• wolf • stag • swan • dog • butterfly • hawk • blackbird • • abundance • stability • hardiness • preparation • change •
• goat • salmon • owl • eagle •

everything
apple

give a nod of
gratitude and show

some love for the
humble Apple.

6

Apples may be one of the most beloved and cherished In the context of our spiritual practice, the apple is a
fruits in all of history. Not only does it hold incredible prominent symbol of Mabon, carrying symbology,
magickal power, it is packed with natural ingredients to mythology, and powerful energies within. Our ancestors
help our physical bodies thrive. held the apple as one of the three most sacred trees.

Containing fiber, vitamin-C, B-complex vitamins, The Celtic Tree month of the Apple reaches through most
phosphorus, calcium, flavanoids, antioxidents and of September, during the apple harvest season. The apple
phytonutrients, apples can help to improve your mind and tree teaches us about gratitude, generosity, and trust. It
body in countless ways. They also are noted as a asks us to open our hearts and minds to the abundance
preventative of cancer, stroke, diabetes, and even that flows freely around us, and to not measure it by the
neurological conditions like Dementia and Alzheimer's. contents of our wallet. We must always be conscious of
greedy tendencies, as it can easily taint our heart with an
If that weren't enough, they're absolutely delicious, too. icy cold bitterness.

APPLE ASSOCIATIONS & USES Apple wood makes excellent wands
Helps to open communication with the Faerie realm
Deities: Use as a symbol for abundance in altar space
The fruit is a traditional offering for passed loved ones
• Pomona • Idunn • Morgan le Fay • Cerridwen • Freya • Offers insight and intuition during divination
• Aphrodite • Athena • Dionysus • Olwen • Ishtar • Diana • Use in abundance spells
Facilitates deeper learning and focus in studies
• Venus • Hera • Gaia • Astarte • Zeus • Jupiter • Helps to learn new skills quickly when eaten
Used in many love and fertility spells
Elements & Energies: An offering to call upon associated deities
Alleviate feelings of sadness, worry, and self-doubt
• water • Venus • Autumn • protection • abundance • Used in spells for good fortune, and attracting joy
• security • bodily health • intuition • knowledge • love •
• trust • wisdom • generosity • luck • balance • peace •

7

Simple
Applesauce

Applesauce is really easy, and really
delicious. It can be eaten straight from the
jar, as a topping on ice cream, in a number
of baking recipes, or as a dressing for
some main dishes. Whatever you use it
for, this is an excellent recipe to start from.

Ingredients:

12 medium apples - peeled and cored
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground clove
1 cup water
1 tbsp lemon juice

In a large pot, add apples, sugar,
cinnamon, clove and water.

Heat over medium setting, stirring
occasionally, until apples are soft.

Mash into a pulpy consistency, and add
lemon juice.

Mix well and serve hot, pour into a
container to store in the refrigerator,
freeze or can as per current food safety
guidelines.

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Applesauce
Muffins
Preheat oven to 375° F

On a chilly fall morning, there's nothing In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, eggs, All-giving Nerthus
more cozy than slipping into a warm salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and as you share your crops
sweater, sipping a hot cuppa, and baking powder. seeds sown full blown
biting into a warm applesauce muffin.
They have one of the most Autumn-ish Add the oil and applesauce, and mix to grain,
flavours you can imagine, and they are well. to fruit
a wonderful way to make use of the to honey
yummy applesauce in the previous Gradually add in the flour, 1/2 cup at a so we honour thee in
recipe. time. fulfilling thy holy work
through this gathering
Ingredients: Once the batter is completely blended, of feast and frith
pour into greased or lined muffin tin, hail thee Nerthus
1/4 cup per cup.
Teutonic Prayer, Ari Odhinssen
& Slfta Svanni Lothursdottir

1 1/2 cups applesauce Bake approximately 15 minutes, but
2/3 cup brown sugar watch them closely, because every
2 eggs oven is different - once the tops of the
1/2 tsp salt muffins crack, they're finished.
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda Remove from oven and (if desired)
1 tsp baking powder sprinkle with a mixture of granulated
1 1/2 cups flour sugar and ground cinnamon.
3 tbsp oil
Allow to cool 5 - 10 minutes, then
remove from muffin tin.

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Hot Apple Cider

1 gallon pure apple juice
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 cinnamon sticks
2 tsp whole cloves
1 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp ground black pepper
orange slices if desired
brown sugar if desired

Place all ingredients except orange slices and
brown sugar into a slow cooker. Heat on low 2 to 3
hours.

Ladle into mug, add brown sugar to sweeten, if
desired. Add orange slice, if desired.

Imagine taking a bath in a tub Update Your
that hasn't been cleaned in
months. Gross, right? Of course, Space
most people wouldn't dream of
soaking in such a cesspool of CLEAR, CLEANSE & RESET
yuck. Layers of grime and dirt YOUR ALTAR TO REFRESH YOUR PRACTICE
would need to be scrubbed off in
order for it to be a healthy and
hygienic place to get bare and
find comfort.

This analogy is pretty irky, but it
illuminates the importance of
clearing our sacred space
regularly. Just like a bath, when
we come to our altar, grove,
circle or any other special
Nematon, our spirit opens itself
up for comfort, healing, and
deep work.

When we allow energies from
our practice to build up in a
space, it can cause the
metaphysical equivalent to soap
scum and mildew to form, which
can taint any workings we may
be focused on.

With this in mind, let's take some
time this season to energetically
scrub our sacred space clean.

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STEP BY STEP

1. Completely clear
the space. Remove
all tools, decor,
and sacred items
to start with a
blank canvas

2. Cleanse and purify 3. Decide what items
all surfaces and tools need to be returned
to sacred space, and
with charged salt what has completed
water. Use incense or it's purpose, either for

herbal smoke to now, or for good.
cleanse anything that

isn't water safe

4. Set up the sacred
space. This is the time
to set intentions and
themes (abundance,
health, a season, etc.)
and arrange idols and

tools accordingly.

Bonus hint: Allow yourself to perform this clearing without being rushed.
Though seemingly a mundane task, it is an opportunity to make powerful
manifestation magick. Draw a Tarot or oracle card to contemplate, listen
to calming music, and sip a hot cuppa as you transform the energy of this
physical place, and set the stage for future workings.

12

Mabon Tarot Spread

The themes of this season speak to Thankfully, most people aren't under the
transition, change, release, and immense stress of those times, but many
introspection. We are pulled to clean do feel called to turn inward, cozy their
house, both literally and figuratively, and homes, reorganize their schedule, and
find ways to simplify and get ourselves consider making positive changes.
feeling more balanced.
It is in this spirit that we can call upon
Perhaps this is an echo of instinct from the Tarot to give us insights to consider
our ancestors, who found themselves this Mabon, as we stand at the threshold
working to prepare for winter, storing of the dark months. What changes can
food, ensuring family and livestock were we initiate in order to bring about
in good health, making repairs, and balance, abundance, and happiness?
planning ahead. The pressure was real. What awaits us in the chill of winter?

The cards should be shuffled and laid 13
out, face down, in a clockwise manner,
beginning with the top card and ending Once each individual card has been
with a card lying horizontally in the contemplated, proceed to turn over all of
center (as shown). It is important that the cards, this time considering each
the cards are not placed face up, as each card as it relates to the others. Resist the
one is to be first explored independently. temptation to rush, because it is crucial
to find the deep connection from one
Turn over the cards, one by one, in the card to the next.
order in which they were laid out. Once
finished with a card, turn it back over, This spread is intended to take quite
face down, before moving on to the next. some time, as it offers much to think
about. Consider keeping a notebook
nearby to record messages and insights.

Interpreting Position 3:
the Spread How can I blend my current resources
with these new blessings to best reach
Position 1: my vision for the future?
What abundance do I currently have, but
may not recognize? Position 4:
In what areas do I need to find balance?

Position 2: Position 5:
What new blessings or opportunities are What is preventing me from finding that
before me at this time? balance? How do I overcome this block?

Storytime

In the pages of the beloved Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll spun one of the most

profoundly absurd scenes that offers a cup of

absurd profundity to the mystical seeker. "It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being
invited," said the March Hare.
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1866)
Chapter VII: A Mad Tea-Party "I didn't know it was your table," said Alice; "it's laid for a
great many more than three."
There was a table set out under a tree in front of the
house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having "Your hair wants cutting," said the Hatter. He had been
tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and
asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, this was his first speech.
resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head.
"You should learn not to make personal remarks," Alice
"Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse," thought Alice; said with some severity: "it's very rude."
"only, as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind."
The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this;
The table was a large one, but the three were all but all he said was, "Why is a raven like a writing-desk?"
crowded together at one corner of it: "No room! No
room!" they cried out when they saw Alice coming. "Come, we shall have some fun now!" thought Alice.
"There's plenty of room!" said Alice indignantly, and she "I'm glad they've begun asking riddles.—I believe I can
sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table. guess that," she added aloud.

"Have some wine," the March Hare said in an "Do you mean that you think you can find out the
encouraging tone. answer to it?" said the March Hare.

Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing "Exactly so," said Alice.
on it but tea. "I don't see any wine," she remarked.
"Then you should say what you mean," the March Hare
"There isn't any," said the March Hare. went on.

"Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it," said Alice "I do," Alice hastily replied; "at least—at least I mean
angrily. what I say—that's the same thing, you know."

"Not the same thing a bit!" said the Hatter. "Why, you 15
might just as well say that 'I see what I eat' is the same
thing as 'I eat what I see'!" Alice felt dreadfully puzzled. The Hatter's remark seemed
to her to have no sort of meaning in it, and yet it was
"You might just as well say," added the March Hare, "that certainly English. "I don't quite understand you," she
'I like what I get' is the same thing as 'I get what I like'!" said, as politely as she could.

"You might just as well say," added the Dormouse, who "The Dormouse is asleep again," said the Hatter, and he
seemed to be talking in his sleep, "that 'I breathe when I poured a little hot tea on its nose.The Dormouse shook
sleep' is the same thing as 'I sleep when I breathe'!" its head impatiently, and said, without opening its eyes,
"Of course, of course; just what I was going to remark
"It is the same thing with you," said the Hatter, and here myself."
the conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a
minute, while Alice thought over all she could remember "Have you guessed the riddle yet?" the Hatter said,
about ravens and writing-desks, which wasn't much. turning to Alice again.

The Hatter was the first to break the silence. "What day of "No, I give it up," Alice replied: "what's the answer?"
the month is it?" he said, turning to Alice: he had taken
his watch out of his pocket, and was looking at it "I haven't the slightest idea," said the Hatter.
uneasily, shaking it every now and then, and holding it to
his ear. "Nor I," said the March Hare.

Alice considered a little, and said, "The fourth." Alice sighed wearily. "I think you might do something
better with the time," she said, "than wasting it in asking
"Two days wrong!" sighed the Hatter. "I told you butter riddles that have no answers."
wouldn't suit the works!" he added, looking angrily at the
March Hare. "If you knew Time as well as I do," said the Hatter, "you

"It was the best butter," the March Hare meekly replied. wouldn't talk about wasting it. It's him."

"Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well," the "I don't know what you mean," said Alice.
Hatter grumbled: "you shouldn't have put it in with the
bread-knife." "Of course you don't!" the Hatter said, tossing his head
contemptuously. "I dare say you never even spoke to
The March Hare took the watch and looked at it Time!"
gloomily: then he dipped it into his cup of tea, and
looked at it again: but he could think of nothing better to "Perhaps not," Alice cautiously replied: "but I know I have
say than his first remark, "It was the best butter, you to beat time when I learn music."
know."
"Ah! that accounts for it," said the Hatter. "He won't stand
Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some beating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him,
curiosity. "What a funny watch!" she remarked. "It tells he'd do almost anything you liked with the clock. For
the day of the month, and doesn't tell what o'clock it is!" instance, suppose it were nine o'clock in the morning,
just time to begin lessons: you'd only have to whisper a
"Why should it?" muttered the Hatter. "Does your watch hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling!
tell you what year it is?" Half-past one, time for dinner!"

"Of course not," Alice replied very readily: "but that's ("I only wish it was," the March Hare said to itself in a
because it stays the same year for such a long time whisper.)
together."
"That would be grand, certainly," said Alice thoughtfully:
"Which is just the case with mine," said the Hatter. "but then—I shouldn't be hungry for it, you know."

"Not at first, perhaps," said the Hatter: "but you could
keep it to half-past one as long as you liked."

16

"Is that the way you manage?" Alice asked. "I'm afraid I don't know one," said Alice, rather alarmed at

the proposal.

The Hatter shook his head mournfully. "Not I!" he replied.

"We quarrelled last March——just before he went mad, "Then the Dormouse shall!" they both cried. "Wake up,

you know——" (pointing with his teaspoon at the March Dormouse!" And they pinched it on both sides at once.

Hare,) "——it was at the great concert given by the

Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. "I wasn't asleep,"

he said in a hoarse, feeble voice: "I heard every word you

'Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! fellows were saying."

How I wonder what you're at!'

"Tell us a story!" said the March Hare.

You know the song, perhaps?"

"Yes, please do!" pleaded Alice.

"I've heard something like it," said Alice.

LAKESIDE "I DO'S""It goes on, you know," the Hatter continued, "in this way:
"And be quick about it," added the Hatter, "or you'll be
asleep again before it's done."

—'Up above the world you fly, "Once upon a time there were three little sisters," the
Like a teatray in the sky. Dormouse began in a great hurry; "and their names were
Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a
Twinkle, twinkle————'" well——"

Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its "What did they live on?" said Alice, who always took a
sleep "Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle——" and went great interest in questions of eating and drinking.
on so long that they had to pinch it to make it stop.

"Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse," said the Hatter, "They lived on treacle," said the Dormouse, after thinking
"when the Queen bawled out, 'He's murdering the time! a minute or two.
Off with his head!'"
"They couldn't have done that, you know," Alice gently
"How dreadfully savage!" exclaimed Alice. remarked: "they'd have been ill."

"And ever since that," the Hatter went on in a mournful "So they were," said the Dormouse; "very ill."
tone, "he won't do a thing I ask! It's always six o'clock
now." Alice tried a little to fancy to herself what such an
extraordinary way of living would be like, but it puzzled
A bright idea came into Alice's head. "Is that the reason her too much, so she went on: "But why did they live at
so many tea-things are put out here?" she asked. the bottom of a well?"

"Yes, that's it," said the Hatter with a sigh: "it's always tea- "Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice, very
time, and we've no time to wash the things between earnestly.
whiles."
"I've had nothing yet," Alice replied in an offended tone,
"Then you keep moving round, I suppose?" said Alice. "so I can't take more."

"Exactly so," said the Hatter: "as the things get used up." "You mean you can't take less," said the Hatter: "it's very
easy to take more than nothing."
"But when do you come to the beginning again?" Alice
ventured to ask. "Nobody asked your opinion," said Alice.

"Suppose we change the subject," the March Hare "Who's making personal remarks now?" the Hatter asked
interrupted, yawning. "I'm getting tired of this. I vote the triumphantly.
young lady tells us a story."

Alice did not quite know what to say to this: so she 17
helped herself to some tea and bread-and-butter, and
then turned to the Dormouse, and repeated her yawning and rubbing its eyes, for it was getting very
question. "Why did they live at the bottom of a well?" sleepy; "and they drew all manner of things—everything
that begins with an M——"
The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about
it, and then said, "It was a treacle-well." "Why with an M?" said Alice.

"There's no such thing!" Alice was beginning very "Why not?" said the March Hare.
angrily, but the Hatter and the March Hare went "Sh! sh!"
and the Dormouse sulkily remarked, "If you can't be civil, Alice was silent.
you'd better finish the story for yourself."
The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time, and was
"No, please go on!" Alice said very humbly: "I won't going off into a doze; but, on being pinched by the
interrupt you again. I dare say there may be one." Hatter, it woke up again with a little shriek, and went on:
"——that begins with an M, such as mouse-traps, and the
"One, indeed!" said the Dormouse indignantly. However, moon, and memory, and muchness—you know you say
he consented to go on. "And so these three little sisters— things are 'much of a muchness'—did you ever see such
they were learning to draw, you know——" a thing as a drawing of a muchness?"

"What did they draw?" said Alice, quite forgetting her "Really, now you ask me," said Alice, very much
promise. confused, "I don't think——"

"Treacle," said the Dormouse, without considering at all "Then you shouldn't talk," said the Hatter.
this time.
This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear:
"I want a clean cup," interrupted the Hatter: "let's all move she got up in great disgust, and walked off; the
one place on." Dormouse fell asleep instantly, and neither of the others
took the least notice of her going, though she looked
He moved on as he spoke, and the Dormouse followed back once or twice, half hoping that they would call after
him: the March Hare moved into the Dormouse's place, her: the last time she saw them, they were trying to put
and Alice rather unwillingly took the place of the March the Dormouse into the teapot.
Hare. The Hatter was the only one who got any
advantage from the change: and Alice was a good deal "At any rate I'll never go there again!" said Alice as she
worse off than before, as the March Hare had just upset
the milk-jug into his plate. picked her way through the wood. "It's the stupidest tea-
party I ever was at in all my life!"
Alice did not wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she
began very cautiously: "But I don't understand. Where
did they draw the treacle from?"

"You can draw water out of a water-well," said the Hatter;
"so I should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle-
well—eh, stupid?"

"But they were in the well," Alice said to the Dormouse,
not choosing to notice this last remark."Of course they
were," said the Dormouse,—"well in."

This answer so confused poor Alice, that she let the
Dormouse go on for some time without interrupting it.

"They were learning to draw," the Dormouse went on,

Wassail

Here's to thee, old apple tree,
Whence thou mayst bud

And whence thou
mayst blow!

And whence thou
mayst bear apples enow!

Hats full! Caps full!
Bushel—bushel—sacks full!

And my pockets full too!
Huzza!

— South Hams of Devon, 1871