Mabon

At Mabon, the power of the Sun King is waning, and the harvest is in full swing. On September 23rd, the energies are fire and air, and the Moon is Full. Allow for some mixups caused by retrograde Mercury when making your plans. Celebrate this Sabbat the night before, as Harvest Moon begins to rise. Cover your altar with fall leaves and sumac berries. Bake nut bread as a symbol of the season.

To make a fall chaplet, measure floral wire around your head and wrap the oval with the brown floral tape. Using fall leaves and tape, carefully secure tshort stems or single leaves closely around the taped wire. Use leaves that you have dried or preserved. The hips of wild roses can add color. Tie a ribbon to drape down your back.

To preserve leaves, choose those at the height of autumn's color. Mix well one part glycerin with two parts very hot water. Make a vertical cut in woody stems and let them stand in the mixture. After a couple of days, lay leaves flat in a container and pour the mixture over them. The leaves will shortly become pliable.

-K.D. Spitzer