A child standing atop a dolmen

Between the Fires: verses of earth and moon

poems by Zephyra

Mabon

the second balance, gathering in

Poems written between Mabon and Samhain (22 September – 30 October)

Background

Mabon (Autumn Equinox): September 21-24.

Mabon (Autumn Equinox, pronounced May bon ) is the second point of balance in the year, mirroring Ostara in the spring. Day and night stand equal – but from here, the light begins to wane. The sun’s strength fades, the nights grow longer, and the turning leaves remind us that the cycle of growth is drawing to a close.

This is the Second Harvest – the fruit harvest, following Lammas’ grain and leading toward Samhain’s final gathering. The fields, orchards, and gardens are heavy with abundance, and it is a time of gratitude and celebration. Yet Mabon also invites reflection. As the earth begins to rest, we too can pause, look back at what we’ve sown and reaped, and gently let go of what no longer serves us.

Ways to Celebrate Mabon

  • Prepare and share a feast of seasonal fruits, vegetables, grains, and wine or juice in gratitude for the harvest.
  • Give thanks — write down what you’ve harvested in your own life this year, both outwardly and inwardly.
  • Decorate your home or altar with autumn leaves, apples, grapes, nuts, and symbols of balance.
  • Spend time in nature, walking among trees and noticing the colours shifting as the season turns.
  • Complete or release projects, making space for rest and renewal in the darker months ahead.
  • Plant seeds or bury intentions, trusting they will rest in the dark until spring’s return.

Mabon reminds us that endings and beginnings are part of the same rhythm. It is a time to celebrate abundance, honour balance, and welcome the descent into the quiet, fertile dark.

Poems