Category: spiritual

Fall Equinox – Mabon
By Tara Sutphen 

Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 20/21/22 September 22, 2024 (Almanac) Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. 

Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth. Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. 

The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter’s Night, which is the Norse New Year. At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection. 

Symbolism of Mabon: – Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance. 

Symbols of Mabon: – Wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty. 

Herbs of Mabon: – Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon’s seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables. 

Foods of Mabon: – Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions. 

Incense of Mabon: – Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage. 

Colors of Mabon: – Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold. 

Stones of Mabon: – Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates. 

Activities of Mabon: – Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering a ritual pouring to loved ones —Flowers and trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over. 

Spellworkings of Mabon: – Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance. 

Deities of Mabon: – Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man. Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing! 

Recipes: Salad Fixings—-Lettuce: any kind Add:

• Sliced radishes
• Shelled edamame
• Cucumbers
• Onions
• Mushroom
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Sliced fruit, like pears, apples, and mangoes
• Berries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
• Grilled salmon
• Roasted garlic, Wild rice, quinoa, or other whole grain
• Beans, like pinto, garbanzo
• White beans
• Celery
• Italian Parsley
• Wheat berries
• Fresh basil (especially nice with a deep balsamic vinegar)
• Nonfat ricotta cheese (a little goes a long way)
• Scallions
• cabbage
• Grilled chicken breast
• tofu
• Roasted beets
• bell peppers, thinly sliced
• Dill

Any Dressing of your choice. Autumn Apple Cider Chicken or Vegan Soup

• Chicken (optional) cooked using pam spray, browned in cast iron skillet (preferably)
• cut into cubes for soup pot

In big soup pot or crockpot

• 3 cups apple cider or juice
• 1 carton reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons himalayan salt (optional)
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 medium carrots, cut into pieces
• 3 celery ribs, cut into pieces
• 2 medium onions, cut

Sweet Potatoes & Ground Turkey or Vegan Casserole

• 5 sweet potatoes or yams, cooked-peeled-cubed

Saute’

• 1 or more pounds ground turkey (optional)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 5 Green Onions, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup low sodium tomato paste
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
• 1/4 teaspoon peppe

Add the sweet potatoes or yams, cooked-peeled-cubed

• Dash crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• Minced fresh mint (optional)

South of the Border Casserole

• 4 cups uncooked pasta shapes (whole wheat/ gluten-free)
• 4 cups vegetable broth or water
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14-1/2 oz) diced low sodium tomatoes, undrained
• 1 yellow pepper, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
• 1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce

Add –

• 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Combine in pot, bring pasta and ingredients to al dente and sauce has thickened slightly, 12-15 minutes. Add cheese, melt in the oven and serve Apple-Cranberry Pie

Dough for 2 – pies with lattice tops

• 2-1/4 cups sugar or Monk sugar (same evalent)
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour or rice flour

pie filling –

• tart apples, peeled-sliced (about 8 cups)
• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 2 tsp grated orange zest
• 1-1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 6 cups frozen or fresh raspberries

Bake 375* 45-50 minutes Hot apple cider — In a medium-size bowl mix sugar or honey, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, mace, and nutmeg. Heat the apple cider until hot, add 1 to 2 teaspoons to the apple cider Repost Enquire: Sessions & Seminars +1-310-303-8188 Taraappointment@gmail.com