Kristin Barton's Blog: Shadowy Brightness...Musings of a Wiccan Coven Leader - Posts Tagged "mabon"

While the entire Wheel of the Year is magical and wondrous, I admit a soft spot for Autumn and its Sabbats. Here at the covenstead, things are buzzing, and we're preparing for both Mabon, the Autumnal Equinox, or "Witch's Thanksgiving," and Samhain, the celebration of the Ancestors. This year at Mabon (Sept 21) we are triple-blessed, as we will celebrate not only the harvest and the abundance of our lives, but also the wedding of a covener and the initiation of another covener.

On our Mabon feast table, our group places every food we wish to enjoy in the coming year. That's right...everything! Fin and hoof and feather, all manner of veggies and fruits, grains, cheeses, chocolates, nuts, water and wine...the works. The feast is not to be missed! And this year, it is my joy to watch a new Neophyte, preparing for her initiation about a year from now, conducting her first minor Sabbat in the priestess role. She has studied hard for over a year to get here, and now she's ready to show her stuff! Looking so forward to this ritual!

After the Sabbat, we initiate our first "home grown" Priestess since we hived our coven almost 5 years ago. "S" has completed her first two non-initiatory elevations and will be brought into the inner court as a full-fledged Initiate. What an honor it is to watch her grow into this role.

The covenstead sings with life, teems with the scent of fresh-baked goodies, and tingles with anticipation of the Mabon Rites. Let the celebration begin!