Open, honest communication is important today. You’re a bottomless well of ideas. Money matters are likely to improve, and it’s a great day to conduct business. Romantic relationships may be a bit shaky.
About the Number 8
Theme: Power, Responsibility, Good Judgment, Financial Rewards
Astro Association: Leo
Tarot Association: StrengthEmotions begin to stir coupled with recognizing that the new beginnings you are making must also increase personal security to be worthwhile over the long haul. This is a time when it’s appropriate to get in touch with your gut instincts and begin to guide your life more deliberately, with an awareness of using your “sixth sense” as well as your enthusiasm. Obstacles may emerge that require you to reevaluate how to better integrate yourself into your immediate environment.
PURPOSE To advance spiritual development and attain wisdom
BACKGROUND At Mabon, the hours of daylight and darkness are balanced before darkness prevails. Around this time, many trees shed leaves, fruits, and seed, and nature prepare for the deep cold of winter. There are numerous world myths to explain this seasonal change, many involving a descent into the underworld, to the land of the dead.
HOW TO CAST THE SPELL
TIMING Cast this spell at Mabon
CASTING THE SPELL
As part of your Mabon celebrations, and in a properly prepared circle, work as follows:
1. Light the charcoal disk, then the candle saying:
“I call upon Inanna, Queen of Heaven
Earth, and the land of the dead.
Wise beyond reckoning
To bless my spirit quest
and guide my footsteps
through the darkness.”
2. Sprinkle the dittany onto the charcoal.
3. Slice open the pomegranate, then extract six stones and eat them.
4. Close your eyes. Imagine yourself sinking into the darkness behind your eyelids, going deep into the dark, where there is nothing but silence. Remain there for as long as possible; then slowly return to the circle
5. Blow out the candle, and burn it for an hour at each sunset until it is gone.
Bury the pomegranate deep in your garden, and keep a dream diary throughout the winter.
YOU WILL NEED
One charcoal disk in a fireproof dish
One purple candle
Matches
Two tablespoons of dried dittany of Crete
One whole pomegranate
One sharp knife
Reference:
“The Spells Bible” Ann-Marie Gallagher22 Halegmonath
MABON
Colors: Brown and orange
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of brown and orange, set the fruits of the harvest in many baskets, surrounding the altar if need be. Lay on it also a sickle, a pitchfork, a winnowing basket, and a flail. Have also pots of the four sacred preservation foods: salt, vinegar, wine, and honey.
Offerings: Give food to the hungry.
Daily Meal: Made from the fruits of the harvest.
Ritual Note: Like all the eight high holidays, this day should ideally be spent not enclosed and isolated, but in common with the larger pagan community. This can be done a number of ways, including spending the day elsewhere, at the Mabon ritual of another group or tradition, or by inviting in those pagans who would otherwise not be able to attend a ritual. Either way, the eight holidays should be a time of remembering the place of the house in the greater community. If the choice is made to go elsewhere, then no liturgy is needed for the day. If the choice is made to bring the greater community into the lesser one, the following ritual can be used:
(First four who have been chosen to do the work of the ritual cast the quarters with sickle, pitchfork, winnowing basket, and flail.)
East Caller: Spirits of the East, Powers of Air!
You who are the cold steel of the scythe,
You who are the blade that separates
One from another,
Life from death,
You who are smoke on the wind
And the bringer of the new dawn,
Be with us today!
South Caller: Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire!
You who are the Sun who moves towards the west,
You who are the gentle rays feeding the harvest
As summer moves into autumn,
Pulling the crops toward the sky
And drying them to golden as your rays,
Be with us today!
West Caller: Spirits of the West, Powers of Water!
You who are the sweat we have given to this land,
The blood that this land will feed,
The tears of joy that we shed to see
All your bounty brought to harvest
And know that our bellies shall be full of your bounty,
Be with us today!
North Caller: Spirits of the North, Power of Earth!
You who are the ground beneath our feet,
You who sustains and nourishes us,
You who brought us forth,
You to whom we shall all one day return,
We honor you especially today.
Be with us now!
Mabon Invocation
Today the Night and Day stand in balance!
Today the work of the year measures itself
Against the coming of the winter.
The Virgin with her sickle gives way
To the Scales that weigh our harvest,
Our hearts, our deeds, our worth.
On this day, our ancestors could look at their work
And look forward, and know whether they would be
Fat or thin, sharing or lending or borrowing,
Worrying or content. This is the Reckoning Day.
And what have we to reckon?
Bring forth the four sacred foods of Mabon,
Each sacred because they preserve the harvest
And allow what is done now to feed us later.
(The salt is passed around.)
Salt of the earth is wealth.
What wealth have you made or lost?
Have you shared it with others, or kept it to yourself?
(All speak of this in turn, then the vinegar is passed around.)
Vinegar, sour as a bad year,
Yet it is the symbol of hard work.
What work have you done that was a struggle
But that you are proud of?
(All speak of this in turn, then the wine is passed around.)
Wine, joy of Dionysos,
The symbol of gaiety, of bonding,
Of happiness and song. What happiness
Has come to you this year, like a gift unlooked for?
(All speak of this in turn, then the honey is passed around.)
Honey, blood of Aphrodite,
You are love in all its many forms.
What love have you brought to this table?
What has Love given you, and what have you given in turn?
(All speak of this, then a basket of harvest fruit is passed around.)
These are the fruits of our reckoning,
These are the embodiments of our toil,
These are the manifestation of our springtime hopes.
May all partake, in hope for the next year.
But save the seeds, for these too will be our hopes.
Hail to our ancestors, who stood where we stand!
Hail to those who will come after us,
And whose mouths our labors will feed!
Hail!
(A cup is passed around for the seeds, which should be dried and saved. Dismiss the quarters. After the song, all will spend the day in preserving the sacred harvest.)
Song: Reckoning Day
Emotions begin to stir coupled with recognizing that the new beginnings you are making must also increase personal security to be worthwhile over the long haul. This is a time when it’s appropriate to get in touch with your gut instincts and begin to guide your life more deliberately, with an awareness of using your “sixth sense” as well as your enthusiasm. Obstacles may emerge that require you to reevaluate how to better integrate yourself into your immediate environment.
On the Autumnal Equinox, which generally occurs on September 22 – give or take a day – Wiccans celebrate the (lesser) Sabbat that they may call Mabon. With the fruits of the earth safely gathered in, there is at last time for a harvest festival, and for thanksgiving. Yet while day and night may be of equal length, the balance will imminently shift in favor of darkness, and everything associated with it, including death. And it is now that the Horned God, having conquered the demons of the underworld, returns to Earth to claim the Goddess, so that together they descend to their dark realm.
Mabon heralds a time of turning inward. This is a good occasion on which to give thanks to the Goddess and Horned God for their fruitfulness and for all that you have metaphorically reaped this year. You may also want to plan your spiritual development for the coming months.
~Magickal Graphics~
Items You Need:
Blood Root
The Spell:
On a night when the Moon is in a Waning phase, take a blood root (a favorite Voodoo root used for breaking all evil spells and hexes) and throw it onto the doorstop of the person who has placed the curse upon you. You will then be released from his or her magickal power and the imprecation will immediately be turned back to the sender of the curse.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day – September 21
“Everything is laid out for you. Your path is straight ahead of you. Sometimes it’s invisible but it’s there. You may not know where it’s going, but still you have to follow that path. It’s the path to the Creator. That’s the only path there is.”
–Leon Shenandoah, ONONDAGA
Everything on the earth has a purpose and a reason for its existence. Every human being is a warrior and every warrior has a song written in his/her heart and that song must be sung or the soul forever remains restless. This song is always about serving the Great Spirit and helping the people. This song is always sung for the people. Many times I need to learn much about the difficulties of life. I need to know this, so I must experience it. Then I can be of use to the people. Because I am experiencing difficulty does not mean I have left the path or that I have done something wrong. It means I’m doing the will of the Great Spirit during these times of testing. I need to pray constantly to keep a good attitude.
Great Spirit, this I know – You will never leave me, only my doubting makes it seem like You do. This I know – Your love is always dependable, only my doubting makes it seem like You do. Today remove the doubts from my belief system and allow me to stand straight and see You with straight eyes.
21 Muin/Boedromion
Greater Mysteries Day 7: Plemokhoai
Colors: Gold and black
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of black and gold set a single white candle to burn, with incense of myrrh, and two round-bottomed jugs of water. Before the altar lay the Kistai, the round box of holy objects.
Offerings: Pork and grains.
Daily Meal: Pork and grains.
Mysteries Invocation VII: Plemokhoai Invocation
Hail to those who have come through the dark!
Blessed art thou on Earth who have seen
These mysteries with their own eyes!
Hail to those who have come forth with wisdom
And who no longer fear death and losses!
Let us return the sacred objects to their hiding place,
As Persephone is hidden underground for the next year,
But will always return!
Hail to that which falls, and rises again.
Hail to that which will always give us hope.
Hail to that which is the proof of sacredness.
Hail to the Gods;
May we see them in all things!
(All respond, “Hail to the Gods! May we see them in all things!” At least one new sacred item is added to the box, and it is held high and its story told. Then all seal up the Kistae again, process out of the room, and return it to its hiding place. Two carry the jugs of water, and they are taken outside and placed on the earth, and let fall so that one falls to the east and one to the west, and the flowing out of the water is read as an omen of the coming year and the losses to be had. Then other divination may be done, by any method, for the rest of Hesperis.)
During this Moon phase, there is a slight slowing down of enthusiasm due to an emerging desire to produce tangible results from the energy being expended. The issue of values enters into the equation and an urge to tie together the data available so that you can utilize current opportunities. There is still plenty of forward motion, and this is a great time to continue initiating and progressing forward. This Moon phase favors gaining more information and the input of others to further your plans.
*Friday (Venus): Love, friendship, reconciliation, and beauty.
Moon Sign: *Sagittarius
*Sagittarius: Encourages flights of imagination and confidence. This is an adventurous, philosophical, and athletic Moon sign. Favors expansion and growth.
*Waxing Moon
*The Waxing Moon (from the New Moon to the Full): is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.
Incense: Vanilla
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Color: Pink
Celebrate the autumn full moon outdoors!
In addition to — or instead of — holding a monthly Esbat rite, some Wiccan and Pagan groups prefer to have a season-specific full moon ceremony. During the autumn months, the harvest season begins with the Corn Moon in late August, and continues through September’s Harvest Moon and the Blood Moon of October. If you’d like to celebrate one or more of these moon phases with a ritual specific to the harvest, it’s not hard. This rite is written for a group of four people or more, but if you needed to, you could easily adapt it for a solitary practitioner.
You’ll want to include quarter candles, as well as a cup of wine or cider. If you’re including Cakes and Ale as part of your celebration, place your cakes on the altar as well.
Some traditions choose to begin rites facing east, while others prefer the north. This ritual begins with the calling of the north quarter, but you can adjust or adapt it based on the needs of your own tradition.
We call upon the powers of Earth, and welcome you to this circle. May the fertile soil of the land bring us prosperity, abundance, and the bounty of the land, in this time of harvest.
Place the candle on the altar.
We call upon the powers of Air, and welcome you to this circle. May the winds of change bring us wisdom and knowledge in this season of abundance and bounty.
Place the candle on the altar.
We call upon the powers of Fire, and welcome you to this circle. May the shining light of this season’s moon illuminate our way through the coming winter.
Place the candle on the altar.
We call upon the powers of Water, and welcome you to this circle. May the cool autumn rains wash away the last comforts of summer, and prepare us for the chill that is to come.
Place the candle on the altar.
We gather tonight by the light of the moon, to celebrate the season, and rejoice. May the next turn of the Wheel bring us love and compassion, abundance and prosperity, fertility and life. As the moon above, so the earth below.
Go around the circle, passing the wine or cider. As each person takes a sip, they should share one thing they are looking forward to in the coming month. Do you hope to manifest financial independence? Develop your intuitive powers? Or are you perhaps hoping to grow your relationships? Now is the time to state your intent.
By Patti Wigington
Mabon is a time of balance, and it is the time to celebrate the stability of the hearth and home. This ritual is a simple one designed to place a barrier of harmony and security around your property. You can do this as a family group, as a coven, or even as a solitary. If you live in an apartment, feel free to adapt the rite as necessary. The key here is to focus on the perimeter of your personal space, whether you have a half-acre yard, a big rural spread, or a downtown condo.
There is no need to cast a circle before beginning this rite, because you will be casting a magical perimeter as part of the working.
Earth, symbol of security and stability, bring peace and harmony into my home at this season of thanksgiving. May my family be well, my house be a haven, and my table be one of hospitality. May the earth, the soil, the land, ground me and protect me and those whom I love, and that which I call mine. My property shall be a safe place, a secure place, a harmonious place for all those who enter. As I will, so it shall be.
Iron spike, in the ground, protect my home, my family and me. Keep out that which would cause us harm.
Dark and light, equal parts at the time of Mabon. Fire and earth, together. Balance, harmony, security, these things shall be mine.
During this Moon phase, there is a slight slowing down of enthusiasm due to an emerging desire to produce tangible results from the energy being expended. The issue of values enters into the equation and an urge to tie together the data available so that you can utilize current opportunities. There is still plenty of forward motion, and this is a great time to continue initiating and progressing forward. This Moon phase favors gaining more information and the input of others to further your plans.
Feralia: Day of Purification
Color: White
Element: Air
Altar: On a white cloth put a lit candle, incense, a cup of water, and a bowl of salt.
Offering: Although this day is not a day of total silence, it is a solemn day and talking should be done only when necessary and in quiet tones. Bodies should be thoroughly cleaned during the bathing hour, and then the altar area should be cleaned and purified with all four elements. Each person, upon entering the altar space at the beginning of Sponde should remove their clothing and be naked, and each body should be purified with the four elements and marked with water and salt, at which point they may enrobe again. Chores of the day should concentrate on cleaning and repair.
Daily Meal: Vegan and extremely simple and plain.
Feralia Invocation
Breathe the air into your body
And breathe out again,
And as you breathe out,
Let all grime and corruption
Depart on that breath
(All breathe together for twelve breaths.)
Feel the blood coursing through your body
And imagine it clean
Of anything but what should be there.
Feel the energy coursing through your body
And wash it clean
Of anything that does not belong.
Feel the Earth beneath you,
Remember that She can absorb all
Remember that all rot is her provenance
Draw her energy up into you
And give it back again.
(After this grounding, all breathe together again in a yogic breathing pattern for the next half an hour, after which all will go with water and salt and incense and fire to all rooms in the house and cleanse them. Great care should be taken for the rest of the day not to disturb the energy of the freshly cleaned house.)
During this Moon phase, there is a slight slowing down of enthusiasm due to an emerging desire to produce tangible results from the energy being expended. The issue of values enters into the equation and an urge to tie together the data available so that you can utilize current opportunities. There is still plenty of forward motion, and this is a great time to continue initiating and progressing forward. This Moon phase favors gaining more information and the input of others to further your plans.
*Wednesday (Mercury): The conscious mind, study, travel, divination and wisdom.
Moon Sign: *Scorpio
*Scorpio: Increases awareness of psychic power. Precipitates psychic crises and ends connections thoroughly. People tend to brood and become secretive.
*Waxing Moon
*The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.
Incense: Honeysuckle
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Color: White
This Tarot Deck: Winged Spirit Tarot
General Meaning: Traditionally, the Magus is one who can demonstrate hands-on magic — as in healing, transformative rituals, alchemical transmutations, charging of talismans and the like. A modern Magus is any person who completes the circuit between heaven and Earth, one who seeks to bring forth the divine ‘gold’ within her or himself.
At the birth of Tarot, even a gifted healer who was not an ordained clergyman was considered to be in league with the Devil! For obvious reasons, the line between fooling the eye with sleight of hand, and charging the world with magical will was not clearly differentiated in the early Tarot cards.
Waite’s image of the Magus as the solitary ritualist communing with the spirits of the elements — with its formal arrangement of symbols and postures — is a token of the freedom we have in modern times to declare our spiritual politics without fear of reprisal. The older cards were never so explicit about what the Magus was doing. It’s best to keep your imagination open with this card. Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by evolutionary forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul.
18 Halegmonath
Vanaheim Day
Colors: Green and Gold
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of green and gold set sheaves of grain, many woven corn dollies and straw ornaments, three green candles, a chalice of beer, harvest fruits, and a knife.
Offerings: Fruits of the harvest.
Daily Meal: Vegetarian
Vanaheim Invocation
Hail to the Green World of the Vanir!
Hail to the Realm of Growth, of Earth
Sacred and fed with blood, springing forth
Abundance and plenty to feed many worlds!
Hail to the spring flowers that bloom,
Hail to the summer fruits that globe on tree and vine,
Hail to the golden grain ripening in the fields,
Hail to the winter of peaceful slumber
And preparation for the next perfect spring!
Hail to the devouring earth that is Nerthus,
Lady of the blood-soaked soil!
Hail to the teeming seas that wash the shore,
Sailed by fine Njord of the salt winds,
Domain of Aegir and Ran of the great waves
And their nine sharp-nailed daughters!
Hail to the spring fields where flowers
Bloom in Freyja’s bare footsteps!
Hail to the grain that is cut with the sickle
As Frey’s blood nourishes the soil!
Hail to the Gods of Abundance, of green,
Of lust and death, of the mysteries of the cycle,
And may they bless us with joy and understanding
In equal measure.
(All cry out, “Hail Vanaheim!” The beer is poured out as a libation, and the grain and fruits are set outside as an offering.)
The New Moon is a time best suited for new beginnings! For the first 48 hours following the exact time of the New Moon each month, a window of opportunity opens for making wishes that, if noted, come true in the days and months ahead. There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm in the atmosphere, making it a great time to go forward and begin projects that you feel instinctively attracted to initiating. Follow your impulses and let yourself make new starts in areas that are important to you.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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