Old Michaelmas Day Customs

There is evidence that Michaelmas was once celebrated later in the year, on the 10th or 11th of October, this is now referred to as 'Old Michaelmas Day'. There may also have been a time when both dates for Michaelmas were acknowledged.

I like the legend of teenage girls collecting crab apples at the beginning of September, and arranging them in the initials of boys they fancied. If they could still discern the initials on Old Michaelmas Day...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website The Pagan Calendar, it can be found here: Michaelmas - The Christianized Mabon

The Purpose of Mabon

As a holiday, Mabon represents the time of honoring the dead, visiting burial sites, giving thankfulness for the end of the harvest season and the bounty it provides. These are the themes of closing, letting go and remembering. For the year, the harvest and for those who were lost to land of Avalon during the year.

Although many view the Harvest season as a celebration of life, it is also a celebration of death. The bounty you gather from your garden provides nourishment for you, family and friends. But it is also the death of those plants and vegetables which have been harvested from that garden. Thus Mabon is a celebration of the cycle of life....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found here: Mabon - The Second Harvest

Decorations and Activities for Mabon

Activities vary with region and tradition, as well as personal preference. Some ideas include making a Sun Wheel or wreath. Also, one could mirror the Celtic tradition of dressing a corn stalk in cloths and burning it in celebration of the harvest and upcoming rebirth.

Simple altar decorations can be obtained by taking a calm “pilgrimage” through your local woods and collecting leaves, acorns, berries, and other things symbolic of nature’s bounty...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found here: Mabon - The Second Harvest

Lady Autumn

Lady Autumn, Queen of the Harvest,
I have seen You in the setting Sun
with Your long auburn tresses
blowing in the cool air that surrounds You....

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September Magick

Lakshmi, white as the inside of a lotus flower,
you smile at us with tender care.
We sing your praises, hour upon hour,
and twine white blossoms
in your midnight hair.

September gets its name from the Latin word septum, meaning "seven," because it was originally the seventh month in the old calendar system. While the early portion of this month has many summery-feeling festivals, slowly we see a change in focus toward the fall and harvest celebrations....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar and can be found in its entirety here: September Magick and Lore

More Michaelmas Customs

Blackberries:
The one Michaelmas custom that survives to this day is that you should not eat blackberries after the 29th of September. There is a very good reason for this custom, namely that by this time of year blackberries are tasteless and watery.

Other fruits, particularly nuts and rose-hips also have customs associated with Michaelmas. For example, 'Hipping Day' in Yorkshire, or Michaelmas pie in Ireland (Made of apples)...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to The Pagan Calendar, it can be found here: Michaelmas - The Christianized Mabon

The Feast of the Divine Life

The feast of the Divine Life honors the great goddess in her three-fold aspect as mother (creator), daughter (renewer), and dark mother (the absolute).

More info can be found on my new website, The Pagan Calendar.

The Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox refers to a time of the year when day and night are equally balanced. The sun is in the process of crossing the equator and in astrological terms is entering the sign of Libra. The sun is the focal point of energy (along with the moon) and such; its life force pushes us to discover more about ourselves. This movement into the Libra puts a congenial, cooperative outlook on that time of year, just what was needed by the communities, as they all worked together to complete the harvest.

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: The Autumn Equinox

Mabon History

Mabon (May-bawn) is also known as the Feast of Avalon and the festival of the Wine Harvest. To the Celts, Avalon is the mysterious place for the land of the dead. and literally means the “land of apples”. Thus this is a holiday for celebrating the bounty of the harvest and the desire for the living to be reunited with their deceased loved ones.

But the holiday is also named for the Welsh God Mabon. Mabon means the “great son”. He was the son of Modred, kidnapped at the age of 3 and later rescued by King Arthur. His life represents the innocence of youth, the strength of survival and the growing wisdom of the elderly....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found here: Mabon - The Second Harvest

Libra Begins

Themes: Balance; Justice; Peace

Symbols: Scales; Balanced Items

Presiding Goddess: Tula

To Do Today:

People born under the sign of Libra seem to integrate Tula's characteristics of harmony and balance, especially in aesthetic sense. They cultivate relationships carefully and enjoy fighting for just causes....

... I am so sorry to do this, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Libra Begins

The Story behind Anant Chaturdashi

Ganesha Chaturthi also known as Ganeshotsav is a ten day festival which ends on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period). The dates of the festival vary from year to year, in 2013 Ganesh Chaturthi will fall on 9th September and Anant Chaturdashi will fall on 18th September. The story behind this festival goes like this...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another, and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found in its entirety here: Festival of Anant Chaturdashi

Festival of Anant Chaturdasi

The festival of Anant Chaturdasi is a festival of purification. Because this festival falls on the fourteenth day of the waxing moon period, the dates of the festival vary from year to year. In 2013, the Anant Chaturdashi will fall on 18th September....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Festival of Anant Chaturdashi

Correspondences and Symbols for Mabon

Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance. Day and night are equal and the God prepares to leave His physical body and begin the great adventure into the unseen.

Symbols of Mabon:
Acorns; Apples; Autumn flowers; Corn; Cornucopia; Dried seeds; Gourds; Grains; Harvested crops; Horns of plenty; Leaves; Marigolds; Nuts; Oak sprigs; Pine and cypress cones; Pomegranates; Red poppies; Wine, Wreaths....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Correspondences for Mabon

Michaelmas Lore

• If you eat goose on Michaelmas Day, you will not be short of money all year round.
• A Michaelmas rot comes ne’er in the pot.
• If St Michael brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to The Pagan Calendar, it can be found here: Michaelmas - The Christianized Mabon

September Moon Names

What follows is a list (in alphabetical order) of the names given to the September moon. Also listed is the tradition and/or origin of that moon name:

Acorns Moon ~Wishram
Autumn Moon ~Passamaquoddy
Barley Moon ~Mediaeval English, Algonquin
Black Butterfly Moon ~Cherokee
Black Calf Moon ~Sioux
Blood Moon ~other
Calves Hair Growth Moon ~Dakota
Corn Moon, ~Algonquin, Pueblo...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar and can be found in its entirety here: September Moons

Festival of Ganesha

It is believed that Lord Ganesha bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this festival. It is the day Shiva declared his son Ganesha as superior to all the gods, barring Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati. Ganesha is widely worshiped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel. 

The festival, also known as Ganeshotsav ("festival of Ganesha") is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shuklachaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 19 August and 20 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period)....

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The Sign of the Olive Tree

Birth date:

• Sept 23

 Key word: Wisdom

Persons born on this date are said to be born in the sign of the Olive tree and tend to possess the following qualities: loves sun, warmth and kind feelings...

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Poplar and Aspen Tree Lore

The Poplar or Aspen is the sacred Tree of the Fall Equinox - (Aprox. September 22)

Magical History and Associations:

In Gaelic tongue the tree was called Peble and Pophuil in the celtic way. Poplar is generally a plant of Jupiter, Saturn and the Sun and is associated with the element of water. Its color is rufous (red) and the bird associated with Poplar is the Whistling Swan. The stones associated with Poplar are Amber, Citrine Quartz, Sapphire and Swan Fluorite. The Anglo-Saxon rune poem seems to refer to the Poplar as being associated with the rune "berkano"...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Poplar Tree Magick and Lore

Autumn Equinox in Celtic Mythology

In this variation of the legend of the Autumn Equinox, this is the day of the year when the god of light, Lugh, is defeated by the god of darkness, Lugh’s twin and alter-ego, Tanist. The night conquers day. The tales state that the Equinox is the only day which Lugh is vulnerable and the possibility of his defeat exists. Lugh stands on the balance...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another, and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found here: The Autumn Equinox

Fall Sabbat Incense

• 3 parts Frankincense
• 2 parts Myrrh
• 1 part Rosemary
• 1 part Cedar...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Fall Sabbat Incense