The Wheel of the Year - Mabon

We are turning the Wheel of the Year to Mabon on Sunday 22rd September. Mabon is pagan holiday for the Autumn Equinox. This means Summer is now definitely gone and after Saturday we have more night hours than daylight hours..

Autumn is coming in with a cool breeze after the heatwave, and as the trees are ready to let go of their leaves, we will get an abundance of those warm colours of yellow, orange and brown around us. To me, Autumn is the season to start getting cozy with pumpkin spiced lattes, cinnamon rolls and hot chocolates. I see Autumn as a preparation for Winter, with mulled cider and open fires and family gatherings.

But we're not there quite yet. During the Equinox the world pauses in complete balance. The Sun shines directly onto the equator and all over the world we get the same amount of day and night. Equinox literally means 'equal night'. After Mabon, here on the northern hemisphere, we are turning the wheel towards Yule, or the Winter Solstice, when we will see the shortest day (or the longest night).

That perfect balance of day and night is accompanied with the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Libra, the scales. Now is the time of balancing opposites and seeing them as parts of the whole - the Yin and the Yang; the old and the new. Everything co-exists together and like it or not, we need both.

During Mabon we celebrate and feel gratitude for all that was given to us during the Summer harvest season. The harvest could be in any shape or form. The food that nourishes us, that what feeds our hopes and dreams, and our personal and spiritual growth. Make a gratitude list of all the things you have accomplished this year (your personal harvest). No matter how small, every little thing counts!

We also say thanks for everything that will now come to an end. Plants will throw their seeds into the ground, to start new life, while they slowly die. Trees are shedding their leaves to preserve their essence through the harsh winter months.

As the leaves flutter to the ground, follow their example by letting go of worries and doubts. Take a walk through the woods, utilising all your senses to become completed rooted and aligned to Mabon. Feel the crisp air on your skin. Hear the wind rustling through the trees. Smell the decay of the fallen leaves and the moist soil. See the colours of Autumn and if you can taste the dampness in the air. Once you're completely at one with nature, with every step you take, release and say goodbye to things that are no longer serving you or helping you on your own spiritual or personal journey.

Mabon is the signal to transform and prepare of a new season. Use this time to set actionable steps towards your goals. Break them into manageable tasks and celebrate every little accomplishment that gets you closer to success!