Happy Magestic, Magickal, Miraculous, Mischevious, Magnificent Mabon Monday!!! Whoot! Whoot! Fall Equinox (Mabon) is here! I am wiggly, piggly, jiggly like a labrador puppy as I love this time of year and most certainly this celebration and the energy that comes with it. Yummers! For those of you who don’t know anything about Mabon, you can find out here. Mabon is often referred to as “Witches Thanksgiving” (no, it doesn’t mean you have to be a witch). It means it’s the second harvest festival on the wheel of the year, a time to give thanks for the bounty in your life, to release the things that you may have outgrown and to be grateful and count your blessings! Yes? Counting our Blessings is a powerful practice and something I do every morning on the beach.
Thank you to so many of you who messaged and emailed over the weekend sharing how much you enjoyed the Mabon Magick Manual and telling me about the rituals that you are choosing to do today – so very cool. One lovely woman asked for ideas to help her young granddaughters mark the day with ritual – I was thrilled to share some of the things I did with my kiddlies when they were little as ritual taught when young is so empowering and connecting. I also want to say a huge thank you for all the birthday wishes and love, I was so touched and feel incredibly blessed!
The weekend was glorious fun! As one of my son’s birthday is two days before mine, we had a joint family/friend gathering on Saturday where we rolled sushi and ate the most amazing Black Forest Cake made by my lovely friend Marja. (The best Black Forest Cake I have ever had). We laughed, danced in the kitchen, told bad jokes and snarfled a shed ton of sushi that we had made, it was great fun.
First thing on my birthday I took Danu for a quick jaunt around the neighbourhood bright and early and I nearly wet myself laughing at one point! A couple of days ago I was thinking to myself – gosh I would like a HUGE planter (I mean like a good 2.5 feet tall), that’s interesting etc. Lo and behold as we turned a corner – there on the boulevard was the perfect huge gorgeous planter! Quickly finished our jaunt, grabbed the truck and with lots of “oofs, aahhs” and brawn loaded it into the truck. Fabulous gift from the Universe to start my birthday morning! I then bundled up and headed out with Danu in the rain to the woods. It was glorious! The smells, the colours, the soothing green that wraps itself around you like a rejuvenating hug – ahhhhh. Now, if you have never walked with a doggo I highly suggest it (go borrow one if you have to). They a pure joy in motion. Danu was up in the bush, dashing to the lake, shooting back along the trail, trying to chase the frog, sniffing at the gorgeous gnarled roots – pure joy in motion.
In the evening, like a fall leaf I changed hair colour (thank goodness). Now if you know me, I have been rocking super short blonde hair with a darker undercut, all summer. Well with Mabon here it is time to be like a leaf and change colour, so now I am rocking the colour that I love a super, super, super (did I say super) bright red – positively perfect for fall me thinkst.
Today I am taking a day to hang out with Mother Nature, garden, plant, harvest and practice ritual. I have already done my fall cleaning and cleansing and am looking forward to some play time with the plants, nature, the random animals that appear in my garden (there was a peacock in the rainbow chard yesterday when I got home!), and doing some releasing and intention setting. How are you going to mark today?
We have a New Moon in Libra happening this Saturday on the 28th. What does this mean for you? Remember New Moon’s set the energy for the month, and are a fabulous time to write your New Moon wishes – so think about the Libra energy. Libra is about balance and harmony, so this New Moon is inviting you to to look at if you might have a strong need for balance and harmony. You probably desire to keep things “nice” rather than venturing into fundamental questions in order not to disturb the peace. You must learn to share your good and bad feelings. Do not be afraid to be who you really are, despite what is expected of you. Hell yes! The more we own and embrace who we are and how we feel, the better the world is (trust me).
Okay, we are doing something a tad different this week. When I was at the Mind, Body, Spirit Expo the other weekend a deck called to me so strongly that I didn’t even open it and look (which I normally always do), I just paid for her and brought her home. Well she insisted on being the guides to work with today and for this week and I have to say I think that’s quite delicious. This is a different type of deck, there aren’t guides per se, but there are – if that makes sense. Please let me introduce you to Blessed Be as these guides are new to you and relatively new to me, allow me to introduce them. “May these cards and guides offer you ways to enter into deeper appreciation of your life and its manifold blessings. May you have hope, understanding and kindness. And most of all, may you know deep within your soul, that thou art blessed.”
The crystals that were wiggling are:- Black Moonstone – for “feeling”, and understanding via intuition and emotional “thoughts”, rather than via intellectual reasoning. Smoky Quartz – is amazing for balancing and grounding as well as helping you to vibrate at your fullest potential as it releases negative emotions, and last but not least – Carnelian – stabilising, it restores vitality and motivation, and stimulates creativity. It gives courage, promotes positive life choices, dispels apathy and motivates for success.
And of course from our jaunts in the woods there are leaves that are just beginning to turn and some lovely juicy rose hips! (Don’t worry they then got used in a glorious Mabon centre piece).
Okay so let’s get centred shall we. Just gently breathe yourself back into your body, be here now, just at this moment. I invite you to see in your mind’s eye the Divine Mother (whatever she looks like to you), breathe. Then imagine her putting one hand on your feet and one hand on your head and saying “Everything between my two hands is beloved and blessed by the Goddess.”Breathe that blessing in, allow it to swirl through you and know how loved you are. Then when you’re ready; pick the card or cards that wish to bless you this week.
Did you pick?
Shall we go see?
A BLESSING ON A BATTLE THAT CANNOT BE AVOIDED
“A blessing to help you through a conflict that must be faced with courage and compassion for all involved.”
Battles in our lives are not always the way we have seen them depicted. They may not be a fight, or a confrontation, or the clash of swords swinging. Most of us do not want the battle, we want the peace, and to talk and parlay our way through the differences and the difficulties within our lives. Many times we may walk away, knowing that the battle will bring more damage than we can face. And at other times, we must walk through the fires of confrontation and go into a battle we did not want, but which can no longer be avoided.
So, this is a blessing on those who are to face a battle they wished was not theirs to fight, but it has become clear that they have no choice but to confront, to bring out their arms, and to fight. It may be with the law, it may with wits. It may be through speaking your truth, and it may be by refusing to accept what another has determined is enough for you. It may be with a challenge, or a condition, or an injustice or a cruelty.
Whatever the nature and form of the battle before you, accept now this blessing upon you, for your courage. For your reluctance to bring aggression into the world. For your refusal to run. For your determination to see this story through, and for the belief you now have in yourself and whatever cause it is that you now stand up for. For your warrior’s heart, which is blessed with courage, and strength, of the feeling of fear, yet the ability to stand your ground. For the swinging of the sword, and the raising of the shield, For the quiet in the chaos that you will find, and for the sacrifice you will make, in order to see this through. You are blessed, and your warrior spirit is rising, and it is blessed, for you are no aggressor or foolish conqueror. You are a soul who will no longer run from what stands between you, and the rest of your beautiful life.
BLESSED BE
A BLESSING FOR UNITY WHERE ONCE THERE WAS DIVISION
“A blessing to help accept the difference between you, so that they inspire conversation and exploration, interest and discovery, rather than separation and rejection.”
May the division between you be left behind as you both begin to build a bridge of light formed from the willingness within your hearts to find your way back to a common vision. May the differences be worked through with the highest good of all concerned the foremost goal. May the differences that remain be ones that bring spice and change and agility to your ways and thinking, and may the bridge that is built between you all be strong and sturdy, lasting through the ages.
May the newfound unity recognise that there is not sameness, but a oneness of vision and a weaving together of dissimilar threads to create a glorious picture of paradox and complementary opposites. Let the antagonism and focused-upon rejection give way to humility – a willingness to listen, and may those who are unquiet and bellicose in their rumblings and threats be stilled by the knowledge that all will gain when peace is found.
May the love that can be born between people find its way through the fear. May the sense that when together, more can be achieved than when stubbornly apart, melt away the fences and walls that hold us from each other. Let us live and let live, give and take, share and receive, and come to an understanding. And let none of us involved in the bringing together of separate parties set alight that bridge.
Instead, let us quietly, surely and with intentions matching actions build the way to reach each other once again. United, so much can be done. We can raise each other up, and as you do, each of you who brings your heart to this task of healing will stand firm upon the solid ground you are now building. Unity is yours, friend.
BLESSED BE
A BLESSING ON YOUR DAY
“A blessing to bring awareness, to shape and set the energy of the day, and to frame it with light and the possibilities of healing, adventure and gratitude. “
May your soul feel called by the song of the day. May this day be gentle and good, clear and sure, filled with grace and gentle reminders of your own divinity. May the people you meet this day show generosity of spirit, be hospitable and welcoming, and open and candid in all their dealings. May the sky be filled with blue and white, may the green beneath your feet be solid and soft to walk upon. May the rain fall soft and nourishing, and trees whisper to you the secrets that you need to know.
May any challenges you encounter find an answering strength and courage within you, and when you come to your rest this night, may you remember the many blessings this day held, and account for them with the Gods, and be thankful for each of them, no matter how small.
BLESSED BE
So my delicious lovely, I wish you an amazing day, an incredible week. I invite you to give yourself time, even if it’s only 10 minutes to tap into the energy of Mabon and really embrace the blessings in your life and celebrate them. Wishing you crisp, crunchy apples, cool mornings, brilliant sunshine and the awareness to notice the leaves changing. Huge hugs and squeezes and see you next week.
Thank you for this reading
Sherri,
Most welcome honey.