Mabon: The Autumnal Equinox & the Balance of Light and Dark
As the wheel of the year turns, we arrive at Mabon, the autumnal equinox, a sacred pause where day and night stand in perfect balance. This seasonal sabbat marks the second harvest — a time of gratitude, reflection, and preparation for the darker half of the year. Just as the earth begins to tilt toward shadow, we are invited to find harmony within ourselves.
The History of Mabon
The word Mabon comes from Mabon ap Modron, a Welsh god of youth and rebirth. Though the name itself was popularized in modern Pagan traditions, the themes of the equinox — harvest, balance, gratitude, and release — have been honored by cultures across the world. From Greek myths of Persephone’s descent into the Underworld, to Thanksgiving festivals in Europe, to Indigenous harvest ceremonies, humans have long marked this turning point of the seasons as a time to honor the gifts of the Earth.
The Energies of Mabon
Mabon is a threshold — we stand in the balance of light and dark before descending into the long nights of winter. The energies are:
Gratitude for the abundance and blessings we’ve gathered so far.
Balance as day and night are equal, reminding us to honor duality within ourselves.
Release of what no longer serves, clearing space before Samhain’s deeper descent.
Preparation for the cold and inward season to come.
Mabon Correspondences
Colors: Deep reds, gold, burnt orange, brown, dark green
Herbs & Plants: Apples, sage, rosemary, hops, marigold, wheat, grapes
Crystals: Carnelian, citrine, amber, smoky quartz, moss agate
Foods: Apples, bread, corn, pumpkin, squash, cider, wine, nuts
Symbols: Scales, cornucopia, falling leaves, harvested grain, grapes/wine
Deities: Persephone, Demeter, Dionysus, Mabon ap Modron
Ways to Celebrate Mabon
Harvest Feast
Gather seasonal foods — apples, squash, bread, wine — and share a meal in gratitude. Speak aloud what you are thankful for.
Balance Ritual
At sunset, light two candles — one black, one white — and sit in quiet reflection as they burn together, honoring both light and shadow within you.
Offerings of Thanks
Leave apples, corn, or cider at the base of a tree or in your garden as an offering to the Earth and spirits of the land.
Creative Altars
Decorate your altar with autumn leaves, pinecones, corn, wheat, grapes, and symbols of balance (like scales or equal-sided stones).
Acts of Service
Give away what you no longer need. Donate clothes, food, or resources — sharing your “second harvest” with others.
Journaling Questions for Mabon
Take some quiet time to reflect with pen and paper under the autumn skies:
Where in my life do I feel balance — and where do I feel imbalance?
What am I harvesting now (spiritually, emotionally, creatively)?
What have I outgrown that it’s time to release?
How can I honor both the light and the dark within myself?
What am I most grateful for in this season of harvest?
Closing Thoughts
Mabon reminds us that life is always a dance of opposites — light and dark, growth and rest, holding on and letting go. By honoring this balance, we prepare ourselves for the descent into winter with gratitude in our hearts and clarity in our spirit.
As you celebrate the autumnal equinox, may your cup be full, your heart steady, and your soul aligned with the ever-turning wheel of the year.
