Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
MABON.
Part of the purpose of Story-day is to bring a little bit of
comparative philosophy into view. Many folk who do not wish to be 'tagged' as
religious, will still admit to a desire for spiritual expression; that is to
say, they wish to acknowledge their place in a larger picture of what
constitutes life. For many, this expression is through a deep and meaningful
connection with Mother Nature. This has given rise to Wiccan and Pagan
cultures. In these, the seasons of the year play a very strong part. Mabon is
the autumn equinox, which this year was 22nd Sept. (Of course, in the Southern
hemisphere, it is Spring equinox, which is technically called 'oestara' (the origin of
the word 'Easter'), but as the origins of these festivals is firmly in the
North, we'll stick with that. Mabon is
the second of three 'harvest festivals' on the Pagan/Wiccan calendar,
Lughnasagh being first in August and Samhain coming up in October.
Technically, an equinox is an astronomical point and, due to the
fact that the earth wobbles on its axis slightly, the date may vary by a few
days depending on the year. The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun crosses
the equator on its apparent journey southward, and we experience a day and a
night that are of equal duration. Up until Mabon, the hours of daylight have
been greater than the hours from dusk to dawn. But from now on, the reverse
holds true.
Mabon marks the middle of harvest, it is a time of equal day and
equal night, and for the moment nature is in balance. It is a time to reap what
you have sown, of giving thanks for the harvest and the bounty the Earth
provides. For finishing up old projects and plans and planting the seeds for
new enterprises or a change in lifestyle. Mabon is a time of celebration and
balance. This is the time to look back not just on the past year, but also your
life, and to plan for the future. In the rhythm of the year, Mabon is a time of
rest and celebration, after the hard work of gathering the crops. Warm autumn
days are followed by chill nights, as the Old Sun God returns to the embrace of
the Goddess.
The passing of Mabon is inevitable and The Sun God should be
mourned. We too, must remember that all things must come to an end. So the Sun
God journeys into the lands of winter and into the Goddess' loving arms, but
endings are a good time to celebrate our successes, thank ourselves and those
who helped us, and take part in the balance of life.
