Tides and Cycles

This year, the Autumnal Equinox will ball on 22 September, according to Astronomers. If we are to practice the ways of our ancestors, we are told to worship "when the day and night are of equal length". Interestingly enough, these do not happen on the same day, even though astronomers calculate the data necessary to determine the dates of the two. When Astronomers talk about the equinox, they are discussing "The point at which the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward. It occurs around September 22 and marks the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere" (http://www.cascaeducation.ca/files/glossary.html). The day that there are equal periods of light and dark occurs three days later on 25 September. Pagan House uses this difference to our advantage. We celebrate the span of time between the cultural occurrence, and the astronomical occurrence. You can see this for yourself for any year by going to the U.S. Naval Observatory's Data Services site (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/). Compare the Duration of Daylight table to the Earth's Seasons table.

The first date, on 22 September, is the Opening Ritual. It is celebrated in a group (preferably, but not necessarily) and is a lavish, joyful affair open to anyone who wishes to attend. 23 and 24 are the dates for the Personal Observances. This is the time when we encourage people to take some time to examine themselves from a different perspective. As this is the Corn harvest, look within yourself to see what you have harvested in the last year. Did you intentionally plant seeds of your self-improvement at Imbolgc, or did you just hope for the best? Did you weed and water your goals? If you were neglectful, did you strive to do better, day by day? If your harvest was not what you expected, now is the time to formulate a change! Every farmer, during the harvest, is plotting next year's planting, tending and harvesting. You are the farmer and your life is the field of opportunity. The last day of Mabon is the time when day and night are of equal length. It is a simple, and mostly silent group observance. Worshipers are encouraged to seek out the highest point they can get to, and watch the transition from dark to light, and from dawn to sunrise. The closing ritual is at sunset that same evening. People return to where they watched the sunrise to toast the sunset . After the sun has set and dusk begins, fires are stoked and the drumming and dancing begins.

The circle is adorned with autumn leaves, seed pods and fall fruits. Witches prepare to bid farewell to the Maiden of Spring and the Mother of Summer, and as nature prepares for the death-like sleep of winter, Witches welcome the Crone and honor the God in his aspect as God of the dying Vegetation and/or Sun, the God of sacrifice, death and eventual rebirth.

Solitary Practice

Decorate the altar with acorns, oak sprigs, pine and cypress cones, ears of corn, wheat stalks and other fruits and nuts. Also place there a small rustic basket filled with dried leaves of various colors and kinds.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and incense, cast the Circle and invoke the God/dess.

Stand before the altar, holding aloaf the basket of leaves, and slowly scatter them so that they cascade to the ground within the Circle. Say such words as these:

"Leaves fall
as days grow cold.
Mother Earth pulls her mantle of the land around Her
as You, O Great Father Sky, sail toward the West
to the lands of eternal enchantment,
wrapped in the coolness of night.
Fruits ripen,
seeds drop,
the hours of day and night are balanced.
Chill winds blow in from the North wailing their song.
In this seemingly extinction of natures power,
O Blessed Mother Earth,
I know that life continues.
For spring is impossible without the second harvest,
as surely as life is impossible without death.
Blessings upon you, Father Sky
As you journey into the lands of winter
and into Mother Earth's loving arms."

Place a basket down and say:

"Gracious Mother Earth of all fertility,
I have sown and reaped the fruits of my actions,
good and bane.
Grant me the courage to plant seeds of joy
and love in the coming year,
banishing misery and hate.
Teach me the secrets of wise existence upon this planet,
O luminous Mother Earth!"

Celebrate the Simple Feast and release the Circle.

* Adapted from the book "Witchcraft Today", an article by Pauline Campanelli, & "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham, and some of the Spoken Words were Personalized by Ambrosia Knight.