Mabon (Autumnal Equinox, Alben Elved)
September 21

Mabon is the Pagan Thanksgiving. The major crops were harvested at Lughnassad so any smaller crops (or crops that were not ready yet) are taken care of at Mabon. The remainder of the food stuff is stored for winter. The completion of the work is celebrated with a great feast.

Mabon represents old age. The God is now preparing to enter Summerland. He rejoices at the prospect of being born again at Yule. The night and day are equal, but following the equinox, light will fall away to precious few hours a day. It is during this time that the God is thankful for his life and all of the abundant blessings He has been given. A great feast is prepared and the God and Goddess partake, spending their last time together before death.

Mabon festivals are similar to those of Lughnassad. Feast of wine, grains, breads, and cheeses are prepared and consumed at dusk (the threshold). Corn dollies (dolls made of corn husks) are crafted by children. These dolls represent the God and Goddess. Winter canning is an important event, more so now than at Lughnassad. There will be no more chances to store fresh fruits and vegetables, as the flora of the Earth is dying.

Mabon decorations are in abundance. By this time, the leaves have started to turn awesome shades of red, brown, yellow, and orange. They have replaced the normal flower decorations of the spring and summer seasons. Natural leaf wreaths can be constructed and placed on a door or window for good luck. Fall leaves can also be used to decorate your altar for a festive look. Candle colors mimic those of the leaves. Deep red, mustard, and orange candles should adorn you altar or dinner table.

Mabon Incenses:
Myrrh, sage, Balm of Giliad, iris, chamomile, almond leaves, dried apples or apple seeds, rosemary.

Samhain (Halloween, Feast of the Dead, All Hallow's Eve)
October 31

Samhain, without a doubt, is the biggest and most widely celebrated sabbat of the year. It is the only Sabbat that is recognized on virtually all modern and westernized calendars. Some of the new calendars may have a solstice or two, but Halloween is usually always listed. Samhain is the new year for Pagan and the first of the four fire festivals.

The harvests are reaped and stored for the cruel winter months that lay ahead. The God has passed from a physical form to spirit, preparing for rebirth. The sun has died out and shines only precious few hours a day. Samhain represents death and transformation. So, of course, the dead are honored.

Samhain can be celebrate any number of ways. There are far too many traditions to be named and examined. However, no matter which way you choose to celebrate, one thing should be consistent, the honoring of the dead. The easiest, and the loveliest way is to leave an offering plate somewhere outside. The offering usually consists of animal, vegetable, milk, and grain substances. There is no way to account for what the spirits prefer. Stay on the safe side and offer a bit of everything. Realize that the offering is made symbolically. It should be understood that ghost or spirits cannot consume physical sustenance. What they can consume, however, is the energy and vibrations that accompany the food stuffs. Both what you put into the offering by way of blessing it and the natural energy already encompassed in it.

The offering can be made during a ritual or separately. If you choose to do a ritual for Samhain, the offering should be made before the closing of your circle. Leave the offering outside (whether on your porch if you live in an urban area or in a remote, secluded section of a natural park or forest if you live in a country setting). If you choose to leave your offering in a park or forest, be aware of any laws concerning access to such areas.

Samhain is the one night of the year when the veil between this world (our physical reality) and the netherworld (the spirit world or Summerland) is the thinnest. The specific threshold time for all magickal workings is termed the witching hour"(between midnight and 1AM). If you need an extra energy boost for a magickal endeavor, Samhain is the night to do it. If you perform a ritual on Samhain, you may choose to encompass specific non-Samhain related projects. You may have a friend in need of healing or extra energy to get you through a business meeting. Because the veil is so very thin, the separate energies in the physical and spiritual world mingle, producing higher success rates.

Make sure that during any Samhain ritual, you have your spiritual or physical guardians present. Since the veil is so thin, spirits may be in the mood to play (after all, they only get out once a year). Protect yourself by possession or harm by putting up your white light barrier and calling your guardians to your side.

You may also call upon specific guardians called Watchtowers. Watchtowers are usually elemental spirits, so it is best if you call four (one for each element). If you subscribe to the idea of five elements, call upon five. The best way to represent your Watchtowers during any Samhain ritual is to give them a place to sit in your circle. Jack-O-Lanterns are ideal for this purpose. In fact, that is part of the history behind Jack-O-Lanterns. Horrific faces were carved in pumpkins to scare away the evil spirits of the night and to house the friendly spirits that were invited.

Place four pumpkins inside your circle at the four cardinal compass points. If you use five, place the fifth on your altar. The elemental spirits, or Watchtowers, will manifest inside the Jack-O-Lanterns and protect you throughout your ritual.

Jack-O-Lanterns were also used for practical reasons. More often than not, they were the only light source during the dark midnight rituals. Since most rituals were performed in forests, the light of the pumpkins warded off any wild animals. Most animals fear fire, so the Jack-O-Lanterns' uses could be a combination of all three mentioned.

NOTE- Don't forget to dispel the Watchtowers at the close of your ritual.

Since this is the festival of the dead, part of your ritual can be focused around contacting the departed souls for knowledge. Many Wiccans use this thin veil to appeal to spirits for answers to questions, predictions of the future, or simply to spend time with a dear friend or relative that has left this plane. Since the events may call upon channelling, Samhain is an ideal time to break in your new Ouija board, tarot cards, Runes, or test your skills at automatic writing. Again, make sure you have your guardians present to protect you from possession or psychic harm.

Again, Samhain is a fire festival, (The other three being Imbolc, Lughnassad, and Beltane) therefore fire is an important representation. Although it is probably illegal in most areas to have and open balefire (bonfire), your ritual should have some sort of fire representation if performed outside. It is possible to use an old grill, filled with wood, to display a makeshift bonfire. If you are performing indoors, candles work just as well.

Apples should adorn your holiday altar and be present during any Samhain rituals. Apples, aside from being in season during the fall, are the Goddess's fruit. For your altar, cut an apple horizontally across and you will see a pentacle in the center. Apples are also ideal for the fruit representation of your offering.

No matter what festivals or activities you plan for Samhain, keep in mind that it is the New Year Celebration. Don't forget those resolutions.

TIP- If you happen to own a black cat or any black animal, for that matter, keep it under your thumb on Samhain. Halloween has been misinterpreted as an evil holiday, so this is the one night of the year that people look to vanquish all evil by eradicating things that have evil associations. This is also the night that cults in the name of Satan do their bidding, sacrificing animals and such. Many animal shelters refuse to sell black cats during the month of October (for good reason). This is also the night that statistically speaking, the most black cats are purposely hit by cars. Some fundamentalists will go out of their way to hit them. Do yourself a favor. If you own a free roaming animal such as a cat, make him- her stay in for the night. You'll be doing yourself and your pet or familiar a favor.

Also keep an eye on your Halloween decorations. Everyone has had a pumpkin smashed once in their lives. Make sure to display any precious or religious items inside your home or inside your window. A hand woven pentacle is not easily replaced if someone decides to mutilate it on mischief night.

Halloween is the time for decorations and parties. There are, of course, more than enough decorations at dime stores. However, not many Christians know the meaning behind Halloween symbols and decorations. Here is a list to help you prepare your home for the holiday that is not only fun, but very symbolic.

Jack-O-Lanterns As discussed earlier, Jack-O-Lanterns were used to house Watchtowers. Horrific faces were carved into the pumpkins to ward off evil spirits.

Black Cats In England where much of Wicca originated, black cats are a sign of luck (White cats are considered unlucky in the British Isles). Coupled with the fact that cats are used as familiars, black cats have become symbols of Halloween.

Ghosts Ghosts and spirits run free on Halloween night. By using ghosts as your symbolism, you are honoring the dead.

Samhain Incenses:
Wormwood, dried apples, dried pumpkin, hazel, nightshade (poisonous), ghost flower (datura), hemp (illegal to possess, but can be substituted with fibers from hemp twine).