Mabon Sabbat
September 21
Preparing Your Altar
• Altar candles should be brown or cinnamon.
• Incense may be pine, sage, sweetgrass, or myrrh.
• Circle may be decorated with autumn flowers, acorns, gourds, corn sheaves, and fall leaves.
• Donate canned goods for those in need.
• Have nutbread in a dish on the altar.
• Circle candles remain the usual colors for the elementals (green, yellow, red, and blue).
Instructions for the Ceremony
Sweep circle area; lay out circle and altar items; bathe and robe. Light incense and altar candles. Ring bell three times and say:
The circle is about to be cast and I freely stand within to greet my Lady and my Lord.
Take center candle from altar and light each candle of the circle moving north, then east, south, and west, and say:
(N) I call upon light and earth at the north to illuminate and strengthen the circle.
(E) I call upon light and air at the east to illuminate and enliven the circle.
(S) I call upon light and fire at the south to illuminate and warm the circle.
(W) I call upon light and water at the west to illuminate and cleanse the circle.
Take athame in upraised hand, begin circle at north and move around the circle north to east to south to west, and say:
I draw this circle in the presence of the Goddess and the God where they may come and bless their child, (name).
Lower the athame at the north, and as you walk around the circle envision a blue light shooting out from the point and forming the circle boundary, and say:
This is the boundary of the circle. Only love shall enter and leave.
Return to altar and ring bell three times. Place point of athame in the salt and say:
Salt is life and purifying. I bless this salt to be used in this sacred circle in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names).
Pick up salt bowl and use tip of athame to drop three portions of salt into the water bowl and set salt bowl back in its place. Stir three times with athame and say:
Let the blessed salt purify this water that it may be blessed to use in this sacred circle. In the names of the Goddess and the God, (names), I consecrate and cleanse this water.
Take the salted water bowl in hand and sprinkle water from it as you move deosil around the circle (N-E-S-W-N) and say:
I consecrate this circle in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names). The circle is conjured a circle of power that is purified and sealed. So mote it be!
Return the water bowl to the altar and pick up censer; take it around the circle to cense it; return censer to altar. Take anointing oil, make a Solar Cross ringed by a circle on your forehead, and say:
I, (name) am consecrated in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names), in this their circle.
If working with family members or a Green-focused Coven, open a door in the circle with the athame now for all to enter. Use anointing oil to trace a Solar Cross in a circle on their foreheads as each person enters, having said some kind of greeting, such as the Wiccan, “I come in perfect love and perfect trust.” Then close the door with the athame. The text is for solitary use but may be thus altered for family or coven participation. The envisionings are suggestions only.
Take the wand and hold it aloft with both arms open and upraised at the north of the circle (envision a powerful bull arriving) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have body and strength, we are kith and kin!
Lower wand and move to the east, raise up wand (see devas, fairies, or an eagle in flight) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breathe and think, we are kith and kin!
Lower wand and move to the south, raise up wand (see a dragon) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Fire, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I consume life to live, we are kith and kin!
Lower wand and move to the west, hold wand aloft (see an undine, a sea serpent, or a dolphin) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Water, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I feel and my heart beats, we are kith and kin!
Return to altar and use wand to draw in the air the symbol of infinity (an 8 lying on its side) above the altar, the sign of working between the worlds. Set wand on altar, raise up athame in both hands overhead and say:
Hail to the elementals at the four quarters! Welcome Lady and Lord to this rite! I stand between the worlds with love and power all around!
Set down athame and pick up goblet of wine. Pour a little into the cauldron. This is a libation to the Divine in which they are honored by offering to them the first draught, then you take a sip. You may prefer to have a bowl specifically for the libation. Ring bell three times and say:
This day I celebrate the Second Harvest, that of fruits, nuts and the vines, and I remember those who struggle without. As I accept the gifts of the Lord and the Lady so do I pass along what I may to those who have need.
Ring bell three times and say:
The wheel of the year is ever turning, through sun tides and moon tides, through seasons and harvests, for plants and for people; for all life moves within the wheel of the year from life to death to life again. The balance and the harmony of the dance of life is the spiral dance of energy eternal.
Hold up the dish of nutbread and a cup of wine and say:
I ask the blessing of the Lady and the Lord, (names), upon this food that the harvest be bountiful.
Ring bell three times and say:
The Lord of Shadows rules in his Shadowland, yet his love holds true, and with him my own dance will one day move the Other Way. As this harvest moves onward to the last harvest, I call upon the Lady and the Lord to bless this beautiful season and my life within it.
Take up wand and move to the north of the circle. Raise wand and say:
Hail to thee, Elemental Earth! Your steadfastness helps me to maintain the things of my home, my health, and my comfort. I honor you!
Lower wand and move to the east. Raise wand and say:
Hail to thee, Elemental Air! Your inspiration helps me to learn and understand. I honor you!
Lower wand and move to the south. Raise wand and say:
Hail to thee, Elemental Fire! Your energy helps me with the drive to accomplish my goals. I honor you!
Lower wand and move to the west. Raise wand and say:
Hail to thee, Elemental Water! Your gentle flow helps me maintain calm and balance in my relationships with others. I honor you!
Return to altar. Touch canned goods with wand and say:
In the names of the Lord and the Lady, and with the aid of the elementals, I bless these fruits of the harvest for those who are in need. I offer aid and comfort to those whose needs arise throughout the turning of the wheel. May the Goddess and the God (names) bless these offerings, the one who gives and the one who receives. So mote it be!
Ring bell three times.
Cakes and Wine—Ring bell three times. Feet spread and arms upraised, say:
I acknowledge my needs and offer my appreciation to that which sustains me! May I ever remember the blessings of my Lady and my Lord.
Feet together, take up goblet in left hand and athame in right. Slowly lower the point of the athame into the wine and say:
As male joins female for the benefit of both, let the fruits of their union promote life. Let the earth be fruitful and let her wealth be spread throughout all lands.
Lay down the athame and drink from the goblet. Replace the goblet on the altar and pick up the athame. Touch the point of the athame to the cake in the offering dish and say:
This food is the blessing of the Lady and the Lord given freely to me. As freely as I have received, may I also give food for the body, mind, and spirit to those who seek such of me.
Eat the cake, finish the wine, and say:
As I enjoy these gifts of the Goddess and the God, (names), may I remember that without them I would have nothing. So mote it be!
When all is finished, hold athame in your power hand level over the altar and say:
Lord and Lady, I am blessed by your sharing this time with me; watching and guarding me, and guiding me here and in all things. I came in love and I depart in love.
Raise up athame in a salute and say:
Love is the law and love is the bond. Merry did I meet, merry do I part, and merry will I meet again. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again! The circle is now cleared. So mote it be!
Kiss the flat of the blade and set the athame on the altar. Take up the snuffer and go to the north quarter, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Earth. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Go to the east, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Air. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Go to the south, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Fire. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Go to the west, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Water. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Return to altar and set down snuffer. Raise up arms and say:
Beings and powers of the visible and invisible, depart in peace! You aid in my work, whisper in my mind, and bless me from the Otherworld, and there is harmony between us. My blessings take with you. The circle is cleared.
Take up athame, go to the north quarter, point athame down and move widdershins around circle (N-W-S-E-N). Envision the blue light drawing back into the athame and say:
The circle is open yet the circle remains as its magical power is drawn back into me.
When you return to the north, having walked the circle, raise up the athame so the blade touches your forehead, and envision the blue light swirling around back into you. Return to altar and say:
The ceremony is ended. Blessings have been given and blessings have been received, may the peace of the Goddess and the God remain in my heart. So mote it be!
Set down the athame. Put away all magical tools and clear the altar except for candles or any objects that need to burn out or work for a stated time (such as candle magic). The cauldron or libation bowl contents are poured onto the earth (if not out in the yard, then into a flowerpot containing soil and perhaps a hardy, leafy green plant).
Traditional foods for Mabon include squash pies, nutbread, smoked meats, smoked or roasted poultry, bean soup, and wine made of grapes or currants. I like to use a small amount of Cassias (currant) liqueur instead of wine.
Mabon Activities
Here are a few suggestions for Mabon activities that can be incorporated into the Sabbat or done during the day.
• Make a protection charm of hazelnuts (filberts) strung on red thread.
• Hang dried ears of corn on the front door, doorposts, or outside light fixture (hang the corn so it does not come in contact with the heat of the lightbulb).
• Serve a Mabon meal of wine from the God and beans and squashes from the Goddess. I like a hearty multi-bean soup with smoked meats included, such as cut-up mild sausage like mild Italian or Polish.
• Collect milkweed pods to decorate at Yuletide and attract the fairies.
• Call upon the elementals and honor them for their help with (N—earth) the home and finances, (E—air) school and knowledge, (S—fire) careers and accomplishments, (W—water) emotional balance and fruitful relationships.