Merry Meet! It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Ohio. While last week we had very HOT weather for September, this week we are having lovely days of seasonal, Autumn-like weather. Today the Sun is bright, there is a light breeze and we have some leaves starting to change color. The garden beds are pretty well done, except for the Fall plants like sedum, hydrangeas, mums and such. The birds are still content at the feeders, I’m still seeing hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, but the squirrels and chipmunks are busy collecting now. Autumn is on the Air for sure.
I have been busy in my garden beds, cutting back the spent flowers, harvesting the last of my herbs, and planning to plant my Spring bulbs next month. Cutting back what was once so beautiful and gave me such pleasure, is a little bit sad. However, I know that Spring always returns and I just enjoy the process, the scents, my hands again in the dirt. My herbs hang happily drying, and scenting my kitchen with the amazing scents of spice and mint and the green outdoors. Sigh..I just love it! They will continue to give me joy throughout the Winter as I make my tinctures and teas and incenses. The abundant harvest gives me great pleasure and pride in the work I did over the Summer.
My last herb harvest happily in place!
Mabon is upon us, the Autumn Equinox, on Wednesday the 23rd. It promises to be a beautiful day here. There will be equal day and night and then our days start shortening, our nights lenthening. We come into the dark season of the year. This is a good thing for many who love this time of year. Many of you mourn the loss of the warmth of the Sun, being outdoors constantly and the long days. I feel for you if you are one of them. Way deep down I do lol, but I’m very happy for those like me! For me, Autumn, Winter and the dark time of the year is the best time of year. As Mother Earth ages into her beauty of the season with the brilliant color of her foliage, as her green grass turns gold then brown, as her trees grow alive with color then down to bare, stark trees, it reminds me that is time for me to enjoy the lovely, last days outside, and prepare to come indoors for the long, dark, cold nights. I love the comfort of home, a fire in the hearth, the feel of warm, cozy, dark nights. Winter will be here soon and there is much to do to prepare for it.
A bit of color!
But first, we have beautiful Autumn! Most of my witchy friends will tell you it’s their very favorite time of year! Of course it is! We are heading to Samhain, the very best Sabbat! The adjectives to describe this season are some of my favorite words in the dictionary…..cool, crisp, woodsmoke, fires, colorful leaves, pumpkins, apples, sweaters, boots, scarves, jackets, crunch under feet, black inky nights, harvest, Harvest Moon, stars, simmering soups, apple cider, cinnamon and spice, blankets, hayrides, haunted houses, Mabon, Samhain, thinning veil, ancestors, and on and on the joys of the Season go. What are some of your favorite words to describe this time of year? I know there are so many more! I find myself as I take a walk or take a drive, looking for signs…a bit of leaves turning on some of the trees, some trees and bushes are forming berries, burning bushes are turning red, farm stands are changing from corn and tomatoes, over to apples, pumpkins and gourds. The stores are filled with Autumn and Halloween decorations (next to Yule decorations ugh) . The apple picking farms are bustling. Shops have their summer clothes on sale and racks filled with cold weather clothes. Hobby shops are selling yarn like crazy as needle-workers start making new scarves, mittens, hats and such. You know that song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? yep…..that songs fits this wonderful time of year! 🙂 🙂
I spent some time setting up my altar the last couple of days…I plan to go out tomorrow to my beautiful park/pond to look for a few items from nature such as leaves, greenery, seeds and nuts etc. But I’m happy with the altar I created to represent this Autumn Equinox. Here is a peek 🙂
My Mabon Altar, 2015
My coven has decided not to meet for Mabon this year. Instead, we are going to attend our local Pagan festival together. I think it’s so important to support our community by attending. Some of us have been before and report a good time had by all. Those of us who are attending for the first time, are really looking forward to it. I haven’t attended yet because I’m usually out of town that weekend. This year, I made sure I’m in town to go. I look forward to communing with those who walk the same Path as I. Do you attend your local events? If you haven’t, perhaps this is a good year to do so!
I’ve been perusing my recipe books and will be back, maybe tomorrow with some Mabon recipes. In the meantime, you can search Mabon or Autumn Equinox in the search box on the right to get previous years recipes. There are some excellent ones. You can also find Mabon recipes on the Sunday Stew…see the link on the top right to go there.
I have to add a note here as I haven’t said anything in my blog about this. This time of year was the favorite for a dear Witch sister of mine. However, she isn’t here to celebrate it this year. Snow Moon (Susan Herman) passed away unexpectedly in her sleep a few months ago. She was a fellow writer for the Sunday Stew and Samhain’s Sirens. As Samhain’s Sirens is about to launch again on October 1, and Mabon brings our favorite time of year, I can’t help but think of her with great sadness. She was a bright star that went out too soon. One of the most thoughtful, selfless people I had ever meant. She made everyone feel they were her best friend..including me. She is very much missed. Snowy..I love you and miss you very much. ❤ ❤ ❤
For my readers, if you want to see what Samhain’s Sirens is all about, just click on the link on the right for a month of Samhain fun..from my recipes to some wonderful crafts, blog posts, music, great give-aways and so much more. It’s a gift to the Pagan community from some very dedicated witchy writers. You will love it!
So I’ll be back in the next day or two with a recipe or three. In the meantime, enjoy these last couple of days of Summer, and prepare for another wonderful harvest celebration! May the Goddess bless you on this day and always.
Love and Blessings, Autumn
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My Moonlit Path..... 