mabon solitary ritual
Welcoming Persephone
to the Underworld
Persephone has long been one of my favorite goddesses, and she’s been a part of my ritual life as a Witch for the last twenty years. She’s the goddess we most associate with death and Samhain in my house, and she’s a frequent visitor in our spring revels too, returning life to the land at the conclusion of winter. In addition to Persephone, my wife and I have attachments to several other Greek deities, and two of them, Demeter and Dionysus, also show up in this ritual.
This rite features a “burning away” of the things that trouble us (via flash paper), along with the reminder that without death, there can be no new life. Persephone provides the magick to help ease our burdens, burning away the things that no longer serve us so that we may transition to something better. The gifts of Dionysus (wine or grape juice) and Demeter (grain) are both joyous but also require death. Mabon is a time of balance and an opportunity to honor both sides of the realities we face in this world.
This ritual does require a few extra tools, most notably flash paper, which burns quickly and with much less smoke than regular paper.82 It also requires something to put that burning paper in. My recommendation is a small iron cauldron, which can be purchased relatively inexpensively at most metaphysical stores and online. I like using a cauldron here for its symbolism: cauldrons are vessels of rebirth and transformation, two things that are a part of this ritual.
Because Mabon is a harvest ritual, wine (or grape juice) and bread feature prominently. For those with gluten sensitivities, any type of food will work. Demeter is not just a goddess of the grain, she’s also a goddess of abundance. I like to ceremonially pour my wine and break my bread during the ritual itself, which is how the rite is written, but if that’s not possible, it’s nothing to worry about.
Many Witches once marked out their circles with physical substances such as chalk, flour, and salt. Those who do so tend to make sure their salt (or other substance) forms a perfect, easy-to-see circle. For me, it’s more about the ceremony than a perfect circle (and I don’t want to sprinkle that much salt on my flour), but do what feels best to you. If you want to create a near-perfect circle, this can easily be done by securing a cord in the center of your circle and holding it taut as you sprinkle or pour your salt.
Materials Needed
• Regular altar setup
• Dish of salt (You’ll need a lot if you want to create a visible circle.)
• Bottle of wine or grape juice
• Bread (or other seasonal food)
• Flash paper
• Pen or pencil
• A candle to light for Persephone
The Ritual: Welcoming Persephone
to the Underworld
The best time for this ritual would be sunset, where night and day meet, and where the night once more overtakes the day in length. If you’re outdoors, great. If you’re indoors, start the ritual by looking up at the sky. Notice the sun and moon (if applicable) and the orange glow that kisses the horizon at sunset. Reflect for a moment on the balance between day and night, and how from now until Ostara there will be more darkness than light.
Take a deep breath and imagine the powers of the sun and the nighttime sky both entering your body. Feel the power of the sun within you, the power that ripens the grain, gives life to fruit and vegetables, and warms the skin. Now feel the cool power of the nighttime world within you. Notice the maternal energies of the moon, the timelessness of starshine, and the promises of new tomorrows that come with every sunset. As you breathe out, let go of any mundane problems that might disrupt you in your work. When you feel settled and in touch with the world around you, return to your altar and begin the evening’s work.
Casting the Circle/Calling the Quarters
Pick up your bowl of salt and starting in the east, sprinkle salt around the entire perimeter of your circle. As you let it fall from your hand, imagine its magickal energy shielding you from all harm and any negative entities. I generally picture the salt forming a sphere of blue fire around me as each crystal hits the ground. Words aren’t necessary here, but they can be said if you choose.
Salt of the circle, salt of earth,
Magickal space of death and birth.
By my hand this circle is cast,
Place beyond time, future and past.
By my will and power, this be done.
My circle is cast, the ritual begun!
So mote it be!
After you return the salt to your altar, take one last pinch and place it upon your tongue. Before eating the salt, I usually state my intention behind this act, which is simply “to cleanse the self.” Salt is one of the simplest and most powerful tools that a Witch can keep in their toolbox or upon their altar. Once you’ve had a pinch of salt, begin calling the quarters, starting in the east. If you have a candle for each of the quarters, they can be lit at this time.
Hail thee spirits of the east, caretakers of the air. Be present in this circle.
Hail thee spirits of the south, caretakers of fire. Be present in this circle.
Hail thee spirits of the west, caretakers of water. Be present in this circle.
Hail thee spirits of the north, caretakers of earth. Be present in this circle.
After each call, blow a kiss to the elements to honor them for being in your ritual. I like to put the flat part of my athame’s blade to my lips, kiss it, and then salute the elements.
Calls to Persephone, Demeter, and Dionysus
Start by lighting a candle for Persephone and saying, “To light your way,” acknowledging her journey from this realm to the land of the dead. Once your candle is lit, call to her to be a part of your ritual.
Great Persephone, Queen of the Dead and Goddess of the Living, join me in my Mabon rite. May your magick be a part of my circle, filling it with endings, beginnings, death, and life anew. Though I mourn your journey from this realm to that of the Summerlands, I take solace in knowing all who die shall be reborn through your love and grace.83 As we transition to the dark half of the year, I honor you and ask that you will help me in my wish to change myself this night. Hail Persephone!
Take your loaf of bread and break it in half. Remove a generous chunk of bread and place it in your libation bowl in honor of Demeter.
Mighty Demeter, Earth Mother, Goddess of the Grain, to you I give thanks this night. You are she who tends the fields and watches over the children of this world. Be a part of my magick this night as I celebrate the blessings of the harvest. Hail Demeter!
Place a generous pour of wine in your libation bowl in honor of Dionysus, then call the wine god into your circle.
Great Dionysus, God of the Vine, Cultivator of Madness and Ecstasy, join me in my rite this evening. Let me see the powers of life, death, and rebirth as reflected in your gifts, and may your magick and power fill this circle and stay with me this turn of the wheel. Hail Dionysus!
The Working: Into Persephone’s Cauldron
Take a moment to think about the things you wish to remove from your life. This could be an unhealthy relationship, a bad habit, or a problem that’s been vexing you. Once you’ve decided on what you’d like to be rid of, write that trouble down on a piece of the flash paper.
Great Persephone, it is you who transforms the dead back into the living. As you journey this night to the Summerlands, take these my burdens with you and transform them into something that no longer causes me suffering or pain. Energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed, and you have forever been an agent of change! Hear my pleas this autumn night! So mote it be!
Using your candle lit in honor of Persephone, light your first written-upon piece of flash paper and then place it (quickly and carefully) into your cauldron or bowl. As you do so, say, “Persephone, take this (name of problem) from me! So mote it be!” and imagine her transforming your problematic thing into something healthy and whole. Imagine your pain being turned into the energy that ripens the grain and gives life to the grape on the vine. Repeat this process until you’ve gone through all the written-upon pieces of flash paper you set aside for this task.
Pick up your bread and break off a piece to eat. Before eating it, thank Demeter and remember what had to die for your bread to be made. There was the grain that was harvested and all the nutrients in the soil, much of which came from the energy of decomposition. From life to death to life once more.
Demeter, Lady of the Earth, I eat this bread thanks to your love and grace. From death you have given birth to this bread. What was once unwanted and unneeded found new purpose through your power and magick. To new journeys for me in this life! So mote it be!
As you eat the bread, think of Demeter and the gifts of the harvest. Envision the endless wheat fields that shine in the autumn and our ability to store that wheat in the dark of winter. In honor of Dionysus, pour some wine into your chalice. Think of the vineyards where he rules, and the annual journey of the grapevines and their fruit, contemplating how the natural world moves from life to death to life again. Raise a toast to Dionysus and thank him for the gift of the grape and the transformative power of the earth.
Dionysus, Lord of the Field, I drink this wine thanks to your magick and might. What dies has been transformed into wine, and I thank you for your gift. May that which was taken from me this night be reborn and serve this world anew. Here’s to life!
Before closing up your circle, eat and drink for a while, thinking about the balance of life and death and the changes that grip the world every autumn. Reflect on the abundance of the gods and how they provide even in the coldest and darkest of times. Be sure to pour some wine and leave some bread for Persephone in your libation bowl as a thanks to her.
Goodbyes to the Gods
Now say:
My cares now transformed from anguish to wine. For this gift I thank you, great Dionysus. May I feel your presence in the months to come and know joy, peace, and contentment. I honor you within and without this circle. Hail and farewell!
Through the power of Demeter, that which is unwanted is turned into the bread that nourishes us. Great Mother, thank you for your gifts this night and this Mabon season. And thank you most of all for your daughter Persephone. May your abundance flow long after the final grains are gathered. I honor you within and without this circle. Hail and farewell!
Lady Persephone, Queen of the Dead, thank you for being a part of my rite as you have journeyed this night. Cast out that which no longer serves me and let that energy be reborn in your cauldron. As the veil thins in the autumn, I know you will be watching over me and my fellow Witches. I honor you both within and without the circle. Hail and farewell!
End your goodbyes by blowing out the candle lit for Persephone.
Dismissing the Quarters/Releasing the Circle
Starting in the north, move widdershins around the circle, dismissing the quarters. At the conclusion of each quarter dismissal, blow out any candles you may have lit.
Hail thee, spirits of the north, caretakers of earth! I salute your presence in my rite and now wish you hail and farewell!
Hail thee, spirits of the west, caretakers of water! I salute your presence in my rite and now wish you hail and farewell!
Hail thee, spirits of the south, caretakers of fire! I salute your presence in my rite and now wish you hail and farewell!
Hail thee, spirits of the east, caretakers of air! I salute your presence in my rite and now wish you hail and farewell!
At the conclusion of each call, blow the quarters a kiss as a sign of respect, using the flat of your athame blade or your index and middle fingers. To clear the circle, start in the east and begin walking widdershins. As you walk, break up the circle of salt with your foot (if outside or on carpet) or sweep it away using your besom (ideal for wood or tile floors). As you break up the circle, imagine the blue flame that surrounded you during your rite extinguishing and your ritual space transitioning back to its normal state.
Salt of the circle, salt of earth,
Magickal space of death and birth.
By my hand this circle was cast,
A place beyond time, future and past.
Power raised, spells woven and spun,
The circle is now open, my ritual done.
So mote it be!
At the conclusion of your rite, be sure to leave your offerings to Persephone, Demeter, and Dionysus and thank them one last time for being a part of your ritual.
FIN
82. Flash paper can easily be found online and in many discount stores. Some Witch shops carry it as well.
83. This is not a traditional understanding of Persephone, but as a believer in reincarnation, I feel like someone has to open the gates that let the dead return to the land of the living. At our house, we look toward Persephone to fill that role.