by Rebecca Farrar of Wild Witch of the West
Image, Sanctuary, by Anne Brigman, c. 1921
Mabon, or Autumn Equinox, officially marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. This holiday occurs typically around September 21st - 23rd, as the Sun moves into the tropical zodiac Libra, a sign associated with harmony and balance, and lasts for about one week. Mabon suggests a moment of balance with equal hours of daylight and darkness as we move between seasons.
“Mabon” comes from the Welsh word meaning “Great Son,” and refers to the son of Modron, the Great Goddess of the Earth. In the myth, Mabon disappears shortly after his birth, a metaphor for the light going into darkness. Though his whereabouts are a mystery, he is reborn at Winter Solstice and reminds us of the natural death and rebirth associated with this season.
Perhaps the most famous myth about the reason for the shift in seasons is the Greek story of Persephone. Her yearly descent into the Underworld to be with Hades signals her mother Demeter’s, Goddess of Grain, sadness by stopping growth on Earth. When Persephone returns in Spring, the curse of Demeter is lifted, and things come back to life.
However, the first myth about the underworld and entering darkness from 5000 years ago is about the Sumerian goddess Inanna. In the story she descends for many reasons, though most often to meet the Underworld Queen or darker parts of herself. In Sumeria, the autumn equinox was also a time of sacred marriage rites between Inanna and her husband Dumuzi after she returns from the underworld.
For thousands of years fall has been a time to connect with the mysteries of life as well as a time of gratitude for Earth’s offerings. Often called the Witches Thanksgiving, Mabon, was the second harvest festival of three each year, the first being Lammas. Traditionally during this time, Pagans and other nature-based faiths would celebrate crops and prepare for the colder months ahead. In fact, Thanksgiving in the United States, used to be celebrated near the first week of October, which made much more sense agriculturally. Then later the date was changed by Abraham Lincoln, and then Roosevelt. Obviously neither of them understood there wasn’t much left to harvest by late November.
While many of us don’t have a literal harvest to honor, we can still take time to be grateful about things in our lives that have yielded metaphorical crops. Perhaps a day to slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Mabon is a palpable time to consider the mysteries and cycles of nature itself. Historically Mabon included making wine, gathering seeds and plants, and communing with nature. Pagans and Wiccans would often pay homage to Earth by walking in the woods or offering libations to trees.
Welcome Mabon and the Equinox:
As the Sun dips into the fiery heart of summer, July emerges—golden, long, and lazy. And right alongside it, the zodiac’s watery guardian, Cancer, takes the helm. July is one of the few month’s of the year (next to March or April, depending on the date of Ostara) where a pagan holiday or fire festival is not observed, yet the middle of summer seems almost ritualistic in how entrenched we become with the richness of the season. Looking further, it only makes sense as to why Cancer, summer’s sweetest star sign, is the mascot to the start of summer. Here’s why the vibrancy of July and the nurturing essence of Cancer are cosmic twins—bound by symbolism, season, and soul.
A celebration of identity, liberation, and self-expression— Pride Month is an annual honoring of the LGBTQIA+ community’s history, resilience, and ongoing pursuit of equality. While astrologically Pride Month falls within Gemini and Cancer seasons, the bold and untamed spirit of the Sagittarius full moon each June aligns strikingly with the energy that fuels Pride’s essence: truth-seeking, radical authenticity, and freedom from oppression.
As we navigate the celestial currents of 2025, a unique astrological event awaits: both Venus and Mercury will be retrograde simultaneously. Venus will transition from Aries to Pisces during its retrograde, while Mercury will retrograde in Aries. This rare cosmic alignment offers a profound opportunity for introspection, reassessment, and personal growth. When these two influential planets appear to move backward in the sky, their retrograde energies prompt us to slow down and reevaluate critical aspects of our lives. While the experience may seem challenging, it ultimately serves as a chance to heal, reset, and reconnect with our true desires and intentions.
