September 21st in the north and March 21st in the south.

As each one enters they light their red candle from the temple candle & go to their places in circle.

Narrator: "Mabon, the autumnal is a time of balance. We give thanks this night for the second harvest which has been safely gathered home and say goodbye to the strength of the sun. It is also a time of looking forward, as once again day and night are equal, poised as the God prepares to leave his physical body and begins the great adventure into the unseen, towards renewal and rebirth of the spring maiden.

Nature declines, draws back its bounty, autumn leaves cascade to the ground, colouring our world in autumn shades.

All creatures are readying for winter and its time of rest.

The Goddess nods in the weakening sun, though fire burns within her womb & she feels the blessed presence of the God as he wanes."

Water rings bell 3 times.

Priest casts circle: " I consecrate this circle of power to the old ones.

Here may they manifest & bless their children."

Priestess blesses altar, holds basket of leaves aloft, blesses them & scatters them on the altar forming a circle, then says: "Welcome & merry meet at Mabon rite "

All: "Merry meet."

Music starts all dance around circle.

Elder: "Leaves fall, the days grow cold. The Goddess pulls her mantle of earth around her, as you O great sun sails towards the west, to the lands of eternal enchantment. Blessed be our Lord & Lady."

All: "Blessed be our Lord & Lady."

Air lights incense, blesses it, makes pentacle & carries incense around the circle, then says: "I call upon Paralda & the powers of air to witness & guard this quarter & our circle, so mote it be."

All: "So mote it be."

Air does silent call.

All chant Paralda until the silent gesture is given, then say "Welcome Paralda. So mote it be "

Fire lights elemental candles & blesses them, then carries fire's candle around circle, then says: "I call upon Djinn & the powers of fire to witness & guard this quarter & our circle, so mote it be."

All: "So mote it be."

Fire does silent call.

All chant Djinn until the silent gesture is given, then say " Welcome Djinn, So mote it be."

Water blesses the water & sprinkles it around the circle then says:

"I call upon Nixa & the powers of water to witness & guard this quarter & our circle, so mote it be."

Water does silent call.

All chant Nixa until the silent gesture is given, then say: "Welcome Nixa, So mote it be."

Earth blesses salt & sprinkles it around the circle then says:

"I call upon Ghob & the powers of earth to witness & guard this quarter & our circle, so mote it be."

Earth does silent call.

All chant Ghob until the silent gesture is given, then say: " Welcome Ghob, So mote it be."

Earth: "Silently falls each leaf to feed the earth, like the Goddess's tears they fall, there is a sadness in the air, but without their presence no life will be reborn in spring. So morn not, for this is part of the cycle of life."

Air: "Rapped in the coolness of night, fruits ripen, seeds drop to the earth, the hours of day and night are balanced. Chill winds blow in from the north wailing laments."

Fire: "In this seemingly extinction of nature's power. O blessed Lord & Lady

We know that life continues, for spring is impossible without the second harvest, as surely as life is impossible without death."

Water: "Blessed be the wheel of life, for it spirals ever upwards & onwards, for this is the dance of life & death that we seek to know & experience, & with each round our wisdom grows."

2nd Guardian: Puts coven sword or knife through the incense smoke & says:

"Great father, bless these creatures of air to your service, may we always listen to the spirit winds that bring us the voices of the ancient ones."

1st guardian puts coven knife / sword into fires candle flames & says:

"Great father, bless these creatures of fire to your service, may we always remember the sacred fire that dances within the form of every creation."

2nd guardian sprinkles water onto the coven knife / sword & says:

"Great mother, bless these creatures of water to your service, may we always remember the cauldron waters of rebirth."

1st guardian sprinkes knife or sword with salt & says:

"Great mother, bless these creatures of earth to your service, may we always remember the blessed earth, its many forms and beings."

Water rings bell 3 times.

Priest & priestess light God & Goddess candles.

Priest: "Blessings upon you o fallen God as you journey into the lands of winter and into the Goddess's loving arms. In the spring we will await the pipes of pan, the call of our "green one"

That will herald the awakening of all nature & the fertility of life."

Priestess: " O gracious Goddess of all fertility, we have sown and reaped the fruits of our actions, good and bane.

Grant that we send out thoughts of joy and love in the coming year, banishing misery and hate.

Teach us old ones the secrets of wise existence upon this planet."

Elder: "May the old ones bless Africa, our home"

All: "So mote it be "

Water: rings bell 3 times & hands out tarot cards.

Meditate on tarot card, the hermit.

Water rings bell again after the meditation.

Water passes bowl of herb water & each one washes their hands in it.

Earth passes around a small towel to dry the hands.

Earth now passes around the fruit dish each one takes a portion & eats.

Fire fills glasses & passes around the wine / ale to all present.

When all have eaten & drunk their harvest wine / ale the priestsays:

"Lord, Lady we give thanks for this sign of a fruitful harvest."

All: We give thanks to the Gods for this sign of a fruitful harvest.

Water rings bell 3 times for cakes and ale.

Priest blesses ale & says:

"Gracious Goddess of abundance and great God of all, bless this ale and infuse it with love."

Priestess blesses cakes & says:

"Lord of the harvest and great mother of all, bless these cakes and infuse them with love."

Water rings bell 3 times.

Elder: "We give thanks to the Lord & Lady, in perfect love in perfect trust."

All: "In perfect love in perfect trust, so mote it be."

Air: "Depart in peace o powers of air, farewell Paralda our thanks & blessings."

Fire: "Depart in peace O powers of fire, farewell Djinn our thanks & blessings."

Water: "Depart in peace O powers of water, farewell Nixa our thanks & blessings."

Earth: "Depart in peace O powers of earth, farewell Ghob our thanks & blessings."

1st guardian: "To all beings visible & invisible, depart in peace, may there always be peace between us, our thanks & blessings."

2nd guardian: "Merry meet, merry part & merry meet again, this rite is done."

All: "So mote it be."

All dance widdershins around circle & then follow priest & priestess outside.

Spokespersons for the elements take offerings outside & await the priest & Priestess.

Feast begins after the hanging of the cob on the tree, the fire being lit & the toast. Priestess hangs cob in a tree, while the priest says: "Let us welcome home the fallen, to the Goddess all return. Children of the Lord & Lady the feasting now begins, blessed be one & all."

(the offering is now made by the spokespersons for the elements. )

Fire is now lit by the spokesperson for fire.

Each one present places a pine cone on the fire.

When each one has a glass in hand the priest does the toast:

"The wheel turns onto autumn time,

The Gods are strong and in their prime.

We give our love and thanks anew,

O God and Goddess praise to you.

O power bring the balance in

As the wheel retains its spin."

Those who attend should bring their tarot cards, a red candle, & as many pine-cones as possible, red flowers, some ivy, & a red apple. They should wear red, black or white, karmic headband may be worn. They must also bring something to eat & drink to share with coven.

Festival foods are: Curried dishes of meat , vegetable or fish. Pickles & salads. Venison or pork may also be roasted on the fire.

Vegetables are : Corn, beetroot, potatoes, beans, carrots, peas, squash, & soup. Puddings : Apple or berry puds, fruit & nut trifle.

Fruit: Apples, berries & grapes. Breads : whole-wheat, nut, seed, & corn breads.

Drinks: Cider, beer, ale, red or sweet wine, elder wine, whiskey, berry punch, fruit juice & cinnamon or herb tea.

The traditional harvest game of killing the bright Lord is played in some wild place after ritual & before the feast.

A rock is chosen as home base, it is decorated with flowers, greenery & red ribbons. This is guarded by the women.

Next a harvest tree is chosen & the tree has a red ribbon tied around it.

Then a place is cleared for the feast table or blankets.

Mulled wine or ale is then served to the ladies. At this point the men take the cob which is decorated with red ribbons & represents the fallen God & as much ale as they can carry plus the jug, sickle or stout stick, & tape deck. They then search out a spot & the cob is planted up right in the ground. Each man takes 5 paces from the cob & sits down forming a circle around the cob. The ale is then poured into the jug, & it is then passed around until the ale is finished. Ballads such as john barley corn are sung, until the last drop of ale is consumed. They then take turns throwing the sickle or stick at the corn cob until one of them knocks it over, he then becomes the king of the feast, the men then split up & they return to where the women are guarding the base. They move silently at first, then rush up with war cries, the idea being, that corn cob represents the fertilising of the Goddess who is represented by the home base /the womb.( The great rite.)

The woman that are guarding the Goddess / home base, pelt the men with water bombs to prevent this, the cob is thrown from one man to the other until it is placed on the home base. The woman who scores the first hit becomes the Queen of the feast. The king & Queen of the feast are crowned with willow crowns & flowers & they then hang the cob on the tree. A toast is drunk & the fire is lit, then the feast & dancing begins. It is recommended that dry clothes are taken with as most people end up getting wet.

Let us welcome home the fallen,
To the Goddess all return.
The seed shall fertilise the womb so that life shall be reborn.
Pine cones are offered to the God by each one present.