The Equinox is here, the day of perfect balance between light and dark; the time when Mother becomes Crone. It's Harvest Home, the second of the three great harvest festivals: time to press the grapes and dry the herbs! Medieval Christians called it Michaelmas, the feast day of the Archangel Michael. Teutonic lore calls this day Winter Finding. Light dwindles; darkness grows.
My little altar is crowded with all sorts of objects that remind me of my blessings. A small statue of the Virgin Mary in her little wooden shrine; a porcelain figurine of Kwan Yin, goddess of Mercy; a stone Buddha with his hand in the abhaya mudra of protection, benevolence, peace, and the dispelling of fear; my little gold offering bowl where I write my prayers and affirmations; sandalwood incense for good chi; a feather for Air; canyon pebbles for Earth; shells for Water; candles for Fire. A Celtic cross to remind me of the solemnity of sacrifice. A pewter Welsh knot pendant to honor my ancestors. A bit of snakeskin to remind me of the struggle and necessity of change and transformation. A moonstone pebble for womanhood. An arrowhead for the male lifeforce. A little card with a picture of Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, love and beauty.
Today I'll light my gold and brown candles and celebrate the start of another Autumn. Happy Mabon everyone!
Forest in Autumn, c. 1896, Lucien Levy-Dhurmer (French, 1865-1953)
6 comments:
Beautiful painting, Mary. My Mabon observance is interrupted by work, unfortunately, but tonight I'll do my usual ritual in observance of the grief of Demeter and Persephone's descent. Modern complication: no pomegranates in the stores this year, so I am making do with local pecans. :-)
Have a wonderful day.
I love the depth of this picture.
Oh my.
How lovely.
Thank you- and may your observances nourish you...
I would love to see your altar, Mary. Sounds like you have a combination of everything needed, things I would also choose.
Late, but happy Mabon!
Autumn is my favourite season. So beautiful...
Beautiful Beautiful painting!
I did not know this artist, thank you for bringing this out for us...
Post a Comment