photo taken by Crystal Blanton

On September 22, 2012 many will be celebrating the Mabon Sabbat, or the fall equinox, as the second harvest of the year. The fall equinox is one of the two times a year when the light of day and the dark of night are exactly even, the complete balance between the two. In addition to the acknowledgement of balance at this time of year, this holiday is often associated with giving thanks and celebrating the manifestation of a year worth of work.

The fall leaves, cooler weather and progression into the last half of the year have always held significance for many practitioners and Pagans. Pagan Newswire Collective took some time to ask the Pagans of the Bay Area what this particular holiday meant to them. The following are answers from those who responded to the call from PNC Bay Area.

T Thorn Coyle -

Fall Equinox is a time to pause and make adjustments to that which may need it, and to give thanks for the gifts and blessings of my life. It is a time to enjoy the glorious weather the Bay Area is gifted with in autumn, to heed the gathering crows, and to hope for winter rains and greening hills to come.

Jade Oakroot -

Mabon. We’re well into September now, and it’s definitely fall. There’s a morning chill to the air, the days are noticeably shorter and the leaves are starting to turn. The bounty at the Farmer’s market is overwhelming. The apples are beautiful, the last of the summer fruits still scent the air, and the first gourds are making their appearances.

My birthday has just passed; another turn of the wheel complete. I have a baby son now, just 4 months old. All is so new to him, but I know that someday all too soon this time of year will mean back to school.

There’s a grounded feeling to Mabon that I don’t ever feel at the other Sabbats. A remnant of time past, perhaps, where the reality of the next winter is close and very real. What still needs doing while there’s time? Before the quiet introspection of winter sets in, what would be the best use of the last of the strong energies of summer? What parts of my own life are ready for the harvest?

Yeshe Rabbit -

Autumnal Equinox is a time for re-calibrating ourselves for the next round of transformation. The hot sun yields once again to the fertile darkness, and gentleness takes the lead from ferocity in the eternal dance of change. http://www.wayoftherabbit.com

Nadirah -

The arrival of the Autumn Equinox, for me, reminds me of living all over the country as a child and the fact that, no matter where we lived- California, the Midwest, the South East or the North West, the Earth always us that She is changing and life continues moving forward. It represents the familiar comfort and reliability of change. nadirahadeye.com

Irisanya -

A time of reflection, a time of considering what you have harvested and what did not grow as you intended. I also think about this as a time for remembering what it means to be balanced, which is often a part of looking at your growing/harvesting results.

Luna P. -

Mabon is the time as we go from the celebration and joy of spring and summer and prepare for the darkness and introspection of winter.  It’s a time to enjoy the final feast of the summer harvest.  A time to come together and share our bounty with our community.

Jelen VanderYacht -

Mabon for me is a time to show gratitude for the good in our lives, as well as acceptance of the bad (and that which helps us grow and get stronger, even through pain and grief). Mabon is also a balance between the sun and the moon, the light and the dark — whether that is literal or figurative depends on who you ask. I typically give thanks to those forces that both provide and take away, and spread my abundance — no matter how meager (depending on the year) through donations to the food bank.

Maria S. -

Mabon or Autumn equinox to my family and I is a time of giving thanks to the Goddess for the bounty that she had provided us and giving thanks to each other… I try to spend the day outside surrounded by nature, we leave food and water out for the animals. I light a candle on my altar as a offering and them I cook a big dinner

Fanny-

Days grow shorter, The nights get colder, and longer, and ghosts come out to play. Harvest time for the farmer, but a trace of summer still lingers in the air.

Mary G. -

The birthing of intentions, desires, and hopes sown during seasons past and the celebration of community. Deep gratitude to the Goddess for the abundance of blessings she’s bestowed throughout the year.

A special thank you to all who participated and added your Mabon reflections to this article.  Blessed Mabon and Equinox to all from the staff at the Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area. 

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area