Mabon, known also as the autumn equinox, occurs on Monday, September 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM Mountain Time (MDT). At this exact balance point the Earth’s axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun, so day and night are nearly equal worldwide. The word equinox comes from Latin aequus (“equal”) + nox (“night”). Depending on the year, Mabon falls on the 22nd or 23rd (occasionally the 21st or 24th due to leap-year drift) and it happens simultaneously across the globe, reminding us that no matter where we are on the planet, that the universe is speaking to everyone at the same time.
The Wheel of the Year, commonly called the pagan calendar, Mabon is the Second Harvest Festival, a celebration of gratitude, food, and survival. We’ve already enjoyed the first harvest festival, Lughnasadh, when we honored the first cuttings of the grain, the first fresh loaves of bread, and the brewing of the first ales & beers of the season. Mabon, the second harvest festival, celebrates the survival crops: pumpkins, squash, potatoes, apples, onions, pears, carrots, and the bounty of fruit and root vegetables needed to sustain us through the long winter. The third harvest, Samhain, will follow in late October, marking summer’s end and the gathering of the last fruits, herbs, and forage from the forests as well as the drying of meat and fish for winter storage.
Our ancestors honored Mabon with great feasts, but also with a deep awareness of the shifting season. Joy and gratitude were tempered with the sober knowledge that the dark half of the year had arrived. In that spirit, we too gather tonight — to feast, to give thanks, and to prepare our spirits for the path into winter.
What You’ll Need for This Mabon Ritual
Quarter Candles (yellow for East, red for South, blue for West, green for North)
Athame or wand
Large White Candle (for center altar)
A generous altar decorated with fruits, vegetables, seeds, bulbs, and autumn leaves
Sacred cup filled with wine or ale for a sacrificial libation
Food and drink prepared for sharing
Fire pit or bonfire (if conditions permit — always check local restrictions)
Throughout this ritual, any text surrounded by these symbols < > is instructional and not to be spoken aloud.
Opening Our 2025 Mabon Circle
“Look up above, and down below, across the ground and all around! The darkened night and equal light,
The balance weighed, conjured now, this circle made!”
<The ritual leader points their athame or wand in each direction as they speak, with participants turning accordingly.>
East
Together, let us turn to the East, the direction of the rising sun. Here begins the new day, the fresh thought, the spark of clarity. As we honor the Second Harvest, let us give thanks for wisdom, for inspiration, and for the breath of life itself. Each dawn promises a new opportunity to grow, to learn, and to be thankful. May the winds of change move through us with grace. <Light the yellow candle in the East>
South
Now turn to the South, where fires burn and passion ignites something deep inside of each of us. The balance of the universe teaches us that nothing is gained without labor, sacrifice, and intent. The heat of the summer sun has ripened the fields, and our own efforts have ripened our lives. For all that we have worked toward, and all that we now gather, we give thanks. Let fire burn in our hearts and courage guide our steps. <Light the red candle in the South>
West
Look now to the West, the place of water, of sunset, and of endings. The harvest is gathered, and the tools are soon to be at rest. Yet endings are never final, for as the sun descends, it promises to rise again. We honor the cycles of closure and renewal, grief and joy, knowing each gives meaning to the other. May the sacred waters cleanse our hearts and remind us of continuity. <Light the blue candle in the West>
North
Finally, to the North, the direction of earth, stone, and root. Winter comes soon, bringing darkness and cold. But we are reminded that darkness is not emptiness — it is potential, the unseen awaiting light. Let the soil of our spirit hold steady, keeping us grounded and resilient. May we carry the strength of the earth into the season ahead. <Light the green candle in the North>
Gods and Goddesses
We lift our gaze skyward and offer praise to the Gods and Goddesses of all lands and all traditions. For blessings received and blessings yet to come, we give thanks. On this sacred night of balance, we honor You with gratitude, reverence, and joy. <Light the white altar candle>
“Hail! and welcome to all who gather!”
Introduction to the Celebration
Tonight, under the waning crescent Corn Moon, we celebrate Mabon, the Second Harvest. Day and night are equal; light and dark are in harmony. Masculine and feminine energies are balanced. This is a night for thought, for reflection, for gratitude. It is a night to let go of division and to embrace unity. It is a night to understand that our unstable world is in need of this balance more than ever. May this circle be filled with joy, laughter, and the warmth of kinship.
Musical Interlude
The Second Harvest
<As the ritual leader speaks about the meaning of Mabon, describing the harvest of roots, fruits, and herbs; the gathering of animal feed; the digging of healing roots at their peak potency. Ask participants to reflect on gratitude, both for the land and for the people in their lives.>
To many, the term “Second Harvest” dredges up thoughts of their local food pantry. But to us, Mabon is a sacred day of celebration. We know that our ancestors followed both the sun and the seasons for their survival. They would plant grain early in the spring, when the ground was still hard and the nights cold. At the beginning of August, fueled by the warm summer sun, they reaped the grain, taking great care to gather enough seed to replant again the following year. The first bread and freshly brewed beers and ales were shared by all in a wonderful event we call Lughnasadh. In early May, as the grain was just beginning to peek from the topsoil and the land was getting warmer, potatoes, onions, turnips, carrots, and other root vegetables were planted. These crops had a much longer growing period and would mature near the end of September.
Simultaneously, while the vegetables were growing, the native fruit trees would erupt with tiny apples, pears, and persimmons. As the months passed, the fruit would grow heavier while the row crops began to bulk up. As the summer started to wane, those ancestors would begin to dig, and pick the bounty of the land, putting most into storage for the winter, and using the rest to make wine, spirits, and cider. This great cycle of the wheel has turned for centuries, and we still see it all around us. In addition to the planted crops, they would comb the forests for berries and other forage items. Also feed corn, hay, and straw were gathered for taking care of the animals throughout the winter months. Those who knew the ways of natural medicine would dig the healing roots necessary for fighting off illness and malady during the times of cold.
Everything had a use, and everything had a meaning. Today most of us are not dependent on the land, yet, we do still have a firm connection to it. Whether it be through herbs, our gardens, flowers, or other plants and trees, the connection with the natural world is critical to help us understand true appreciation. Now let us go around the circle. Speak aloud something for which you are thankful this year?
<Take time to allow each person to share>
Feast and Offering
<Hold up a sacred cup filled with ale or wine for all to see>
Giving back to the land which gives so much to us has become a regular part of our ceremonies. Tonight is no different. With this cup we give a collective thanks to Mother Earth for all she provides and the Gods and Goddesses that bless us with good weather, rich soil, and the skills to plant and harvest.
<Pass the cup so that each person may individually add their blessing to the offering of ale or wine>
To the Gods, the Goddesses, the ancestors, and those who find commerce with the land, we ask for blessings, safety, and prosperity on this night of the Second Harvest and balance
<Pour out the libation onto to the earth>
<Share whatever food and drink you have brought within the group, staying in the circle>
Spiritual Review and Reflection
<you may say this while people are eating/drinking or after>
As the harvest is gathered and the light wanes, so too must we take stock of our lives. Self-reflection is an important part of preparation for the long cold months ahead when the weather forces us all inside. What have we achieved this year? What remains undone? Where has our spirit grown strong, and where do we still need tending? In what ways have you contributed to the overall spiritual growth of our community? Will you choose to make a solemn vow to dig deeper into your chosen path?
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Energy, balance, and harmony
Such are the ways of the land and the meaning of Mabon.
The lesson of equality sharpens our sight.
Sharing builds respect; togetherness brings unity.
We give thanks for blessings great and small:
For sun and rain, for the fruits of labor,
For family, for friends, for the turning of the Wheel.
We remember our ancestors and honor those yet to come.
Blessed are we who keep the old ways alive.
Thankful are we who share in one another’s company.
On this Mabon night, and all nights hereafter.
Closing the 2025 Mabon Circle
North
As we prepare to close this Mabon circle, I ask you to turn once more to the North. Tonight, we must remember that the Wheel turns eternally. Summer fades, autumn deepens, winter approaches. And yet always, always, spring returns. The cycle is unbroken. Trust in the elements to bring you prosperity and return that prosperity with gratitude. <Extinguish green candle>
West
Now turn to the West. The Mabon sun has set, and finally the pleasant coolness of darkness has arrived. Yet we rest tonight with gratitude in our hearts and the promise of renewal on the horizon. Life gives us challenges, but also companionship — and together we endure. <Extinguish blue candle>
South
To the South we turn once more. Here we remember the balance of all things: giving and receiving, light and dark, labor and rest. Everything we do should be focused on balance. Energy flows through the cycle, never ending, always renewing. <Extinguish red candle>
East
Finally, to the East – we return to where we began. Even as we close, we all know that the circle is endless, without corners or divisions. Here we are equals and will always be equals — all gifts are honored, all burdens shared. So may it be, now and always. <Extinguish yellow candle>
Gods and Goddesses
We give thanks to the divine for blessings received, for guidance given, and for bounty shared. May we walk in gratitude and balance until we gather again. <Extinguish white altar candle>
The circle is open but never broken. The Wheel turns, and we turn with it. Blessed Mabon!
Additional Information
Our ritual archive can be found here
Our 2025 Pagan Calendar can be found here
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