New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
The aurora australis is the southern lights found in the Southern Hemisphere, similar to the aurora borealis of the Northern Hemisphere. And just like their Nordic cousins, the southern lights look like multicoloured angel wings streaking across the sky. The aurora australis is best seen in August and September, around the time of the spring equinox, which in the north would be Mabon or the autumnal equinox. These amazing lights bring the potential for creativity and signify individuality. They ...
It is the season of the harvest. We are between the harvest festivals of Lammas and Mabon, surrounded by the bounty of the fruitful earth. But as Witches, we know there are many kinds of abundance and many ways to reap the seeds we planted earlier in the year. Don’t forget to take the time to celebrate all the things in your life that have brought you joy—the people, the animals, the successes, and even the failures that taught you something important. Celebrate the enduring ...
The autumn equinox is a powerful time to cultivate balance, and as it is the second harvest before the fallow period of winter, it is an especially potent time to balance what we take in or harvest versus what we release. Slice an apple in half (not through the stem end) to reveal the five-pointed star inside, a powerful symbol of balance among the elements. Choose one half to represent what you wish to harvest; the other half will represent what you wish to release. Hold the releasing half of ...
We are fully into the fall season n ow, between the second and third harvest festivals (Mabon and Samhain). Those of us who grow gardens are putting them to bed for the winter. It can be bittersweet to pull up the final harvest and mark the end of the growing season, but it is also a relief to slow down and rest for a bit. This is true for people as well. The end of the growing season reminds us that all things have their time, and the cycle of growth and death means that resting is a part of ...
Mabon is observed on an equinox, a time when there are equal parts of light and day. It is the perfect time to reassess and work toward balance in all parts of your life. Set up your altar to reflect the harvest. Place a black and a white candle on opposite sides of the altar, and place a piece of parchment in between them. On this paper, write down the aspects of your life that you feel need to be brought into balance. As you contemplate those aspects, light the candles and say: "As day and ...
Even though the harvest season is starting to wind down, now is the time to give thanks for everything that has come in so far. Mabon is just around the corner and is known as the second harvest. Be sure to pick offerings for your Mabon celebration from your garden. Even if you don't garden, you do benefit from the garden and agricultural trades of others, so be sure to pick up some type of offering. Take inventory of the other "harvests" in your life as well. Give thanks for the prosperity ...
Persephone is the ancient Greek goddess of spring. She spends six months of the year with the god Hades as goddess of the underworld and six months on Earth with her mother, Demeter. Her arrival on Earth is marked by the beginning of spring. You can use this spell to achieve growth in any area of your life, such as career, finances, or your personal life. To begin, write your wish with metallic gold ink on paper, then say: "Persephone, goddess of spring, thank you For the green earth and for ...
We're between Lammas and Mabon. It's easy to think in black-and-white, absolute terms: Summer's over. The sun's gone. Only darkness lies ahead. Let's pause today and find our balance. Find a bench in a public place and sit for a while. Be fully present and attentive. Notice the details of what is happening around you; see what has been taken for granted or overlooked. Slow down the turn of the seasons with complete awareness and appreciation of the beauty that surrounds you. Enjoy the flowers ...
Mabon is the major harvest festival on the seasonal Wheel of the Year. It's also known as the fall or autumnal equinox and, in folk terms, as "harvest home." Astrologically, Mabon occurs when the Sun enters Libra, balancing night and day equally. It is the halfway point between summer and winter and a time of joy, sorrow, and change as days grow shorter and winter advances. Plants wither and die, trees drop their leaves, and the first frosts arrive. We mourn the passing of light but ...
Mabon honors the dual nature of life and death-darkness and light. It is a sabbat that combines sadness and celebration. We mourn the passing of the Great Son (Mabon), but also celebrate the bounty of the harvest. Just as nature enters the season of rest, Mabon returns to Mother Earth for regeneration and eventual rebirth. To honor this sabbat, place one white and one black candle on your altar. In the center, place one red apple to represent Avalon, the Land of Apples where some traditions ...
