Anyone do anything to mark the changing of the seasons? Go out on a group hunt or sacrifice anything?

My birthday is the Autumnal Equinox. I was born on Sep 22, 3 hours into the sign of Libra, and the moon was also full on that day. The night and day are equal on the Autumnal Equinox, and the sign of Libra begins, which is also a sign of balance and equality. The moon being full the year that I was born, is another symbol of balance. When the moon is full, the sun and moon are at opposite points of the zodiac, causing some tension, but also the opportunity to balance.

Every year when I celebrate my birthday, I think about all these things.

A little edumacation for ya

http://www.starcraftsob.c...lore.shtml

Mabon (Autumn Equinox) Lore
from Kathryn Campbell

Mabon (mah-bon) is the Autumn Equinox named for the Welsh god whom the Druids called "the divine child of promise." Although the Celts recognized the autumn equinox as a day of Balance between light and dark, it was not celebrated as a Sabbat until the Norse invaders brought it to prominence in England.

Mabon is the second of the three harvest festivals and is widely referred to as the "Witches' Thanksgiving". The second harvest marks the gathering of the fruits of the vine. Jams and Jellies were made as well as wine. In many traditions there is a taboo against eating autumn berries after Mabon unless they were made into wine. In the West of England, folk-tradition insists that blackberries should not be eaten after the end of September. In Scotland and Wales, Mabon wines were poured onto the ground to honor the aging goddess in her Crone aspect. Wine is also a symbolic sacrifice representing the blood of the God.

As a day of balance between light and dark, the time has come to begin looking inward as the darkness gains dominance over the light with each passing day.

In some traditions, this is the Sabbat when the Goddess descends to the underworld to seek the Harvest Lord who has been sacrificed for the good of the land. In other traditions, the Sun God dies at Mabon and makes his transition to the Dark Lord.

Traditionally, Mabon is a time for thanksgiving, a time to appreciate and give thanks to the Goddess for her bounty. Sharing food with others in a sacred meal is not only good for the body but it also nourishes the soul.

And if I was to truly celebrate the Autumnal Equinox, it would go a lil' sumthin' like this:

http://www.starcraftsob.c...tual.shtml

Personal Mabon Ritual
from Kathryn Campbell

Decorate your altar with autumn fruits and berries. Have a chalice of Blackberry Wine, a yellow candle and a black candle on your altar.

Sit or stand before your altar and focus on this time of Balance. Feel the Sun's energy waning. Know that, from this day forward, the darkness will dominate the light.

Pick up the yellow candle and hold it between your palms. Take three deep breaths. Visualize the Sun God in all his glory. When you have a clear visualization, light the candle and say:


Lord of Light
Thank you for your bright energy
Thank you for lighting my way,
opening my heart and filling
me with life.
I honor you now and always.


Pick up the chalice of wine. Hold it high above you and say:


Holy Mother
Bless this wine with love
Infuse it with the power
to see within myself so
I may accept the season
of change.


Bring the chalice down to heart level. Feel the blessings of the Goddess upon you. Take a long, slow drink from the chalice feeling yourself saturated with Her blessing. Return the chalice to the altar.

Pick up the black candle and hold it between your palms. Take three deep breaths. Visualize the Dark Lord, the Master Hunter whose time to walk the Earth has come. When you have a clear visualization, light the candle from the yellow candle and say:


Lord of the Underworld
I welcome you as teacher
of the mysteries.
Open my heart to the
blessings of darkness so I
may understand my purpose.


Allow the candles to burn together as you feel the balance of light and dark within you. Know that life is filled with purpose and welcome the darkness which is the great teacher that allows you to appreciate the light. Say farewell to the light, knowing that it shines in the darkness where you will find your true self.

Go outside and pour the wine out on the Earth in honor of the aging Goddess in her crone aspect and also as a symbolic sacrifice representing the blood of the God.









I think that is so beautiful