Mabon/Autumnal Equinox Celebration 2009
September 19, 2009

The Mabon celebration was a lot of fun, even though most of the coven was at the stone circle consecration at Sherwood Forest Faire. Catherine and Jon lead the mroe traditional Mabon ritual which included a story of how the seasons came to be. There were actually a few tears shed during the story.

We had all new people at this ritual with 15 in attendance. More than one third of those who attended drove for an hour or more to take part in the ritual. There were a lot of wonderful conversations and even a few well thought-out debates.

Blackberry Circle thanks each and everyone of those who did show and hope you all return for Samhain.

Original Notice

Join us to turn the wheel another click and celebrate the second harvest festival of the year. Dagda Springer has unfortunately cancelled so this will be a more traditional harvest ritual.

This will be a celebration of the Autumn Equinox, Mabon, Harvest Home. This is the second harvest of the year and a thanksgiving for all the Earth has provided us.

Join Catherine and Jon as they celebrate this second harvest.

Festivities begin at 19:30. Bring a dish for the feast to follow.

If you have a drum or some noise maker, bring that as well. We like noise...

IN THE ORCHARD

The autumn leaves are whirled away,
The sober skies look down
On faded fields and woodlands gray,
And dun-coloured town.

Through the brown orchard's gusty aisle,
In sad-hued gown and hood,
Slow passes, with a peaceful smile,
A maiden pure and good.

Her deep, serene and dove-like eyes
Are downward bent, her face
Whereon the day's pale shadow lies,
Is sweet with nameless grace.

The frolic wind beside her blows,
The sear leaves dance and leap;
With hands before her clasped, she goes
As in a waking sleep.

To her the ashen skies are bright,
The russet earth is fair;
And never shone a clearer light,
Nor breathed a softer air.

O wizard love! whose magic art
Transmutes to sum the shade,
Thine are the beams that fill the heart
Of this meek Pagan  maid.

From The harvest home: collected poems of James B. Kenyon; James T. White & Co.; New York; 1920

(Only one word was changed in this poem. See if you can figure out which one it was.)