Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon

Another great work by Ellen! This is one of the installments of Llewellyn's sabbat series, not all of which are created equal. However, this installment by Dugan is a jewel. She provides many ways to celebrate the holiday and season with your family. Great recipes and simple rituals let you honor the Equinox in a simple effective way. I always look forward to fall, and all the cozy days ahead and lovely Autumn weather. This book helps you make the most of those times.

Wow! Another absolute WOW! Ellen Dugan had done it again. If you are a fan of this witty and wonderfully charming author, "Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon" is a must have for your Craft collection. Inofrmation, ideas, spells, recipes, traditions...it's all in this easy,accessible, 208 page package. As a practicing Wiccan for 7 years, I thought that I had always had a handle on the Sabbats. You know...cast a cirlce there, whip out the athame here, say your stuff and move right along, right? Sure...for a beginner. I've always wanted to move on to the history, the ideas and the knowledge behind these absolutley fascinating holidays. What better way to learn than from one of Llewellyn's hottest up-and-coming authors with my favorite Wiccan holiday of the year? As always, Mrs. Dugan breaks it down clear and simple, beginning with her own personal stories of this bewitching time of the season, continuing with the mythological backbones to autumn through the tales of Persephone, Demeter,Elen, Pomona, Dionysus, the Green Man and Herene the Hunter. However, Ellen only does this after humoursly deciphering the meaning of the word "maize" (you have to read and find out for yourself now, won't you?). And just what else would this Garden Witch include as a chapter in her book? You guessed it! A chapter completley dedicated to "The Garden in Autumn: Fall Flower and Foliage Fascinations"--with an included Cold Hardiness Zone Map to easily pick out whether an Oakleaf Hydrangea or a Sweet Autumn Clematis would be better to plant in your backyard. All I have to say is that with spell after spell, charm after charm, tid-bit after tid-bit, you come to wonder how the Autumn Equinox became known as the "forgotten sabbat" as Mrs. Dugan dutifully points out. I mean this season deals out the most recognizable changes of any other Sabbat. Just look at the leaves in your own neighborhood! If you want to come and fully experience such a wonderful holiday and time of year, I strongly suggest for you to pick up this fabulous book, get readin' and prepare to experience Mabon in a whole new "changed" way.

Autumn Equinox, is by far the best and most beautiful in the Sabbat series by Llewellyn. This fabulous book is filled with over 40 spells and rituals. Not to mention all the great mythology, and craft projects. The author focuses on the folklore of the Fall season and theme of the Harvest, and that is exactly what you'd expect for this "forgotten" Wiccan Sabbat. If you are into gardening you will find many ideas for fall gardens as well as information on seasonal color and foliage of the trees. However, what I enjoyed the most about Dugan's book is that it can be used for the entire Autumn season. Not just for a few days around the Sabbat. In fact with Halloween fast approaching I am going to use her seasonal suggestions to decorate up my house. If you love the Autumn, you will be enchanted with this book!

I *LOVE* this book. A lot. The way it's written is very user-friendly, and it's like your favorite aunt or a friend of the family telling you all about this celebration. I emerged from it more educated, happier, psyched about samhain (like I needed any help!) and with apple muffins and a big jar of from-scratch homemade grape jelly thanks to some fantastic recipes. The only teensy complaint I'd have about this is my usual with books of this type - pleasepleasePLEASE no more with the oversimplified or off-meter couplets that sound straight out of a stereotyped movie/television show. Maybe I'm a priss about it, but they just gnaw at my brain and I don't like it :-p I'd rather have visualization exercises and encourage people to write their own. But, other than that, I love this gal. You ROCK.

"In recent years, some folks began to refer to this holiday as the `forgotten sabbat', which mystifies me. How can it be forgotten when the change in the air, the turning of the leaves, and the shortening days are doing everything possible to catch your attention?" - From the book The Autumn Equinox is an enchanting time of year. As the days get shorter, the clime turns cooler and leaves burst with color-their last hurrah before withering. Hues of orange, russet, gold, and auburn adorn the landscape, hearth, and home. Folks gather the fall crops, celebrate the harvest, and offer thanks for family, friends, health, and bounty. Mabon, Feast of Avalon, Festival of the Vine, Harvest Home-there are many names for the magickal holiday that celebrates the Autumn Equinox. Ellen Dugan, commonly known as the "Garden Witch", has written an engaging new book examining this "forgotten" Sabbat. Autumn Equinox - The Enchantment of Mabon shows you how you can make the most of this time of year - imbuing sacredness, fun and creativity in both solitary and group celebrations. Taking a fresh look at the fall season, Dugan shares personal anecdotes of family celebrations, provides tips on garden and moon magick, discusses the autumnal correlations for crystals, Tarot cards, planets and candles, and shares tempting recipes using seasonal fruits and vegetables. Autumn Equinox - The Enchantment of Mabon also features easy, inventive craft projects, over 40 holiday charms, spells and rituals, and several Pagan prayers. I especially enjoyed the sections on harvest goddesses, gods of vegetation and vine, harvest legends, and the astrological energies of September. The author's description of Demeter and Persephone are especially engaging, especially as she offers her original take on just what Persephone may have really been thinking! After all, she asserts, Persephone was a goddess. Would she have *really* been a damsel in distress? Or was she actually pining for an exciting "bad boy" to take her away from her "ordinary" life? And could it be that she made Hades *work* (and work *hard*) for her affection? Some of the fascinating discoveries that await you in Autumn Equinox include: * Scarecrow folklore and magic * Michaelmas, Oktoberfest, Holy Rood Day, and other harvest celebrations from around the world * Autumn faery meditation * Tarot and candle spells for Libra and Virgo * Full moon solitary ritual: The Wine Moon * Persephone, Pomona, Dionysus, Green Man, John Barleycorn, Herne the Stag King and other legendary figures and harvest deities * Autumn in the garden (including 13 magickal fall plants, fall foliage enchantments, bulb planting charm, U.S. cold hardiness zone map, color magick with various trees, and much more) * Herbal soap recipes * Leafy luminaries, lighted fall garlands, grape wreaths and other easy crafts * Harvest Deities correspondence charts for Autumn enchantments * Recipes for harvest goodies like Rosemary Garlic Potatoes, Shoepeg Corn Cas