3 Easy Mabon Rituals

Mabon is celebrated at the Autumn Equinox and marks a season of gratitude and balance. Here are 3 easy Mabon rituals to celebrate solo or with your family or coven to help you give thanks for the abundance in your life.

I don't know why it's become a cliche to get excited for Autumn? Especially when you come from a hot place, the relief that this season can bring definitely feels like a gift from the Universe. Just when you thought you couldn't bear it any longer, the weather cools, the sun decreases its intensity, and nature is absolutely on fire with beauty.

Autumn is my favorite season, and I don't care what anyone else thinks. Mabon is also one of my favorite sabbats because its all about food and gratitude. The weather is perfect for being outdoors many days, not too hot but still not so cold that you can't bear that either. It's an ideal time for gathering with the people you love and letting them know how much you appreciate them.

what is mabon

Mabon falls on the Autumn Equinox each year, so that means its date can change. Generally, it's between the 21st and 23rd of September. In 2023, it falls on September 23rd. Of course, as with any sabbat, the energy does linger, so celebrate when it works for you.

The equinoxes mark the day when day and night are of equal length. The Autum Equinox also aligns with the start of Libra season, so this sabbat is heavy on the theme of balance.

Our agrarian ancestors would have been gathering crops at this time of year, often working together to bring in the harvest before the first frost. The full harvest moon would help them work into the evening. And while it was important to store up as much as possible for the winter months, it was also a time to celebrate and give offerings to their gods. And because there was abundance, there was usually feasting.

So how can we celebrate Mabon today as modern witches? Even if you're not out in the fields gathering crops, you've definitely harvested some energy into your life this year, so here's your chance to say thank you.

Create a gratitude jar

This a simple ritual you can do solo or with your family or household. You could also do this with a coven, but each person should have a jar that will live in their home.

You can make your gratitude jar as simple or elaborate as you like. You can decorate the outside if that's fun for you. You can add herbs and crystals that carry the energy of gratitude such as amethyst, frankisence, or sage. Add any objects that symbolize gratitude to you.

The most important part of this ritual though is to have lots of little scraps of paper. Don't be skimpy because we don't want to have to ration our gratitude. Have everyone in your house begin to write things they're grateful for on a piece of paper and add them to the jar. You can say them out loud as you go. Write one thing on each slip of paper.

Write down as many things as you can think of from the most mundane to the most amazing. Fill up your gratitude jar with all that good energy. Then place the jar somewhere in your home where you'll see it often. Every time you look at it, you'll be reminded of all the good in your life.

You can continue to use your gratitude jar throughout the year, either adding to it when you're feeling particularly grateful for something, or using some of its energy on days when you're feeling low. If you're ever having trouble remembering your blessings, just take a slip of paper out of the jar and read what you wrote. Continue pulling notes from the jar until you start to feel better.

Create some balance

In my work as a tarot reader, people tell me all the time that wish they had more balance in their lives. At Mabon, the cosmic energies are perfectly aligned to call in better balance. Not only is it an equinox, it's also the start of Libra season. The sign of Libra is ruled by the scales, and it loves fairness, justice, and balance in all things.

Here's a simple little candle spell for balance that you can try. Get yourself a white candle and a black candle. Carve the word balance or the symbol for Libra in each one. Light both candles, and as they burn, meditate on how you can create more balance in your life.

Get a piece of paper and on one side, write down all the things you want to release and all the things you want to call in to help you create a more balanced life. Burn the list for releasing with the black candle, and the list for calling in with the white candle.

Make a realistic and tangible plan for actions you will take to give you more balance. Doing the thing is how we go from wishing to manifesting, so find what feels good and make it work for you.

Follow the sun

Something that I always love to do at solar sabbats is watch the sunrise and the sunset. Equinoxes are easy because neither one is too early or too late. This practice of setting an alarm to wake up with the sunrise and mindfully observe its rise above the horizon, then doing the opposite at sunset, really helps you to get in touch with the energy of the season.

In between, I think its a lovely idea to go for a walk in nature. You don't have to drive hours to get to the woods. Even a local park would be great. Nature puts on such a fabulous display. Take time to observe the trees and plants. Notice the wildlife that is around. How is it responding to the change in seasons?

You may want to forage some items for your Mabon altar. There is likely plenty lying on the ground waiting to be taken, but remember to forage responsibly. Don't eat anything if you don't know what it is, and don't take more than you need or more than nature can comfortably give.

May your Mabon rituals fill you with gratitude

I hope you have a joyful and delicious Mabon, friends. This is such a special time where we can really slow down and notice everything we have. Even if it's been a tough year, there are blessings to give thanks for, so let your mind linger there.

If you're planning a Mabon feast, be sure to check out my Recipes to Celebrate Mabon. And if you want even more on the history of this sabbat, listen to our Mabon episode of The Coven of Awesomeness Podcast.

And don't forget to reach out on Instagram if you have any questions or want to share your Mabon celebration. I hope you harvest all you desire. Blessed be.