Autumn is my favorite time of the year. The smell of autumn
moving in always seems to come wafting in through the open window on the early
morning breeze just about a week or so before the Autumn equinox. I begin to feel the
excitement of knowing the fall harvest will be starting and the smells of the
season will fill the air.
I grew up in Wisconsin and fall was when we really began
finishing up our canning, drying and freezing for the winter. The garden was
just about done producing for the season and it was now time to make sure we
had the last of her bounty preserved for the winter. This was also the time of
year the apples were full in the orchards. As a kid I remember climbing the
trees in search of the perfect McIntosh apple, for an after school snack.
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| Autumn Squirrel |
Now that I live in Arizona and often bemoan the heat throughout
the summer, I find that autumn still comes in like a magick whisper on the
crisp morning air. Somehow the fog resting on the ground near the river makes
me feel as if the earth herself was hiding behind a gossamer veil so she could begin
changing the leave of the trees along the river and in the mountains.
This year Jolene and I set our Mabon or Autumn Equinox altar
in on the hope chest on the family room. It is adorned with leaves, sprigs and gourds
of the season. These are silk renditions and look great without losing their
luster as the season moves on.
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| Autumn Equinox 2012 |
We even used red
apples as candle holders this year. After scooping out a piece at the top of
the apple (just the right size for a tea candle) we gave those pieces of apple
to the earth and animal spirits that reside in our yard.
Once our altar was set Jolene and I enjoyed several cups of
hot spiced apple cider. The first serving
always goes in a small tea cup and saucer set and is placed on the fireplace
mantel for the Brownies. I set the cider to simmer on the stove top with
cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, ground allspice, nutmeg, and pinch ginger. I
didn’t have fresh oranges so instead of using slices of orange or cups of orange
juice I added dried orange peel. I never
strain the cider after its simmered. I enjoy drinking around the added spices.
I hope your Mabon was a blessed as ours!
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| The Good Witches Farm House |
Have a Wicked Good Day!
Molly
Magick Shop