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Mabon Crafts *~*Mabon Incense*~*
Recipe by Scott Cunningham Burn during Wiccan ceremonies on Mabon (the Autumnal
Equinox, circa September 21st), or at that time to attune
with the change of the seasons. (This 'Mabon Incense' recipe is from "The Complete Book of
Incense, Oils & Brews" by Scott Cunningham, Llewellyn
Publications, 1989) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* *~*Autumn Equinox Ritual Potpourri*~*
Recipe by Gerina Dunwich -
45 drops Honeysuckle Oil -
1 cup Oak Moss -
6 small Acorns -
2 cups dried Oak Leaves -
2 cups dried Honeysuckle -
1 cup dried Passionflower -
1 cup dried Rosebuds and Petals -
1/2 cup dried Pine Needles -
1 tablespoon Sage Mix the honeysuckle oil with the oak moss and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpourri well and store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container. (This 'Autumn Equinox Ritual Potpourri' recipe is from "The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch's Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions and Recipes" by Gerina Dunwich, a Citadel Press Book, Carol Publishing Group, 1994) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Decorating items: Hazel, Corn, Acorns, Oak, Wheat Stalks, Cypress cones, Pine cones Myrrh, Sage, Pine Orange, Dark red, Yellow, Brown Acorns, Pomegranates, Pine Cones, Baskets of fallen leaves Breads, Corn, Cornbread, Beans, Squash, Apples, Roots (carrots, potatoes, onions), Cider Mabon is the time to honor the Ancient Ones and the Spirit World. Traditional Pagan activities at this time include fermenting grapes to make wine and the decorating of graves. Also traditional is to wander wild places and forests, gathering seed pods and dried plants. Some of these can be used to decorate the home or altar. Make a Indian Corn bundle to hang on your front door Make a rattle from an empty gourd and some seeds. Make a dried leaf mobile How about a pine cone pyramid? Weave some wheat into fun shapes Tradition sees the Mabon Wreath as the primary symbol of this time of year, the remembrance of the wheel of the year, the wheel of life, and the promise of rebirth, both in the spring and in our next lives. Or make a pretty fall bouquet of leaves, pine cones, corn and grapes to leave on a grave as a gift to the ancestors. Grapes Gourds Dried Leaves Wine Pine Cones Rattles Vines Acorns Indian Corn Garland Wheat Sun Wheels Horns of Plenty (Cornicopia) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Celebrating Mabon
By Jill C. Yarnall Altar and Home: It is appropriate to decorate your altar and home with traditional Autumn colors of gold, orange, red, and brown. Decorations might include pumpkins grouped on the doorstep, dried flowers and wheat attractively arranged in a stone vase, Indian corn hung from the front door, fall leaves scattered across the altar, and baskets of apples. Fresh Apple Candle Holders: Apples can be easily made into clever candle holders by making a circular cut into the stem area and hollowing out a space big enough to hold a votive candle. Place the candle snugly in the hole and light. This decoration is especially appropriate because apples are sacred to Pagans for the pentacle shaped arrangement of the seeds inside. To see this for yourself, slice an apple in half from side to side rather than from top to bottom. Mabon Thanksgiving Dinner: To remember and honor the harvest, Mabon is designated as the Witches' Thanksgiving. Gather friends and family on the Equinox for a harvest celebrations in grand proportions. Serve roasted squash or turkey; mashed potatoes; fresh whole grain bread; vegetables; corn bread stuffing; cranberry sauce; pumpkin pie; hot spiced cider; and wine. Gourd Rattle: It is easy and fun to make a dried gourd rattle. Follow these easy instructions: allow the gourd to dry completely; drill a hole in the area opposite the stem; pull out the fiberous material inside with tweezers; fill with a few dried beans; glue in a stick that fits the hole for a handle; and decorate if desired. This instrument can then beused for ritual, private meditation, or drumming circles. Gourd Dipper: To make a gourd dipper, take a fresh gourd; slice off an area to be left open for dipping; scrape the insides clean; and allow to dry in a place protected from insects and high humidity. The dipper can then be used for scooping grain, herbs, seeds, incense, or other magickal items. Hayrides: Organize or attend an old-fashioned hayride to honor and celebrate the harvest. Harvest Platter: Choose a large platter on which to form this centerpiece. Arrange dried or silk leaves, pieces of wheat, nuts, small Indian corn, small gourds, sugar pumpkins, and candles together on the platter. This centerpiece can be lit before each meal to remind all those gathered around the table that the final harvest is near. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Depending on when the leaves turn in your area, beautiful multi-colored leaves can be dipped in paraffin, to be used for decoration. Quickly dip the leaves in melted paraffin, and put them on wax paper. When the leaves are dry, you can put them in a huge decorative jar with a sigil of protection carved lightly on some or all of the leaves. |
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Harvest Necklaces - Indian corn (assorted colors make the prettiest necklaces)
- assorted beads
- feathers
- bead wire or equivilent
- large blunt needle (to pierce kernels)
- boiling water
- large container (able to hold boilin water)
- any pliers or wire cutters neccesary
Remove all the corn kernels from a few ears of indian corn and put into container. Boil 2-4 C. water and pour over corn kernels. This kills any bugs and eggs living in the corn (DO NOT SKIP!! Speaking for experience you do NOT want your closet infested with moths after storing your necklaces in closet) Soak kernels overnight (at least 8hrs). Cut stringing wire to appropriate length. Thread onto blunt needle (younger children need help stringing) and gently push through the center of corn kernels. You can string on beads, kernels, feathers, and anythign else that you can attatch. Tie off the ends when finished. You can make garlands or beautiful necklaces or bracelets. Have fun!
~ submitted by: Rhia. 
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Quilted Happy Harvest
Quilters are always looking for new ways to express themselves or the things around them in quilts. Autumn is one of those special times of the year, when nature and the holidays conjure up many ideas. Learn how to make this harvest quilt with guest Debbie Mumm. It's the perfect reminder of what the autumn season brings. Pumpkin Block Instructions 1. You'll need a 4-1/2" square of fabric for the pumpkin and two 1-1/2" squares of a background fabric (pumpkin block figure A). 2. Take a ruler and divide the background squares diagonally with a pencil (pumpkin block figure B). Place right sides together on the top two corners of the pumpkin square and sew a seam on the pencil line that you've drawn (pumpkin block figure C). Trim off excess fabric and press back corners. 3. Next, cut a 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" strip and place right sides together on top of the corners of the pumpkin square and sew together (pumpkin block figure D). Press seam. You now have your larger pumpkin. 4. Make a smaller pumpkin the same way, but use a 3-1/2" square. Next, place the two pumpkins right sides together and stitch (pumpkin block figure E). Leaf Block Instructions 1, You'll need six 1-1/2" squares of background fabric. Two 1-1/2" squares of the leaf fabric and a 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" strip of the leaf fabric. 2. Place fabric pieces as shown in leaf block figure A. Position the background squares on top of the leaf pieces and draw a diagonal line. Sew on this line as shown (leaf block figure B). And cut off excess on the squares. 3. Next sew the squares together to form rows, then sew the rows together to form the 3" leaf block (leaf block figure C). Other Embellishments: You'll need a piece of 4-1/2" x 7-1/2" fabric for the "Happy Harvest" logo. The top of the quilt may need some filler, and three 1-1/2" squares sewn together will work. Assembly 1. See the overview of all pieces (assembly figure A). Sew the two pumpkins to the happy harvest piece, then sew three leaf blocks to the left side of it. Next sew one leaf block to the filler, then two more blocks to that. Place this piece to the top of the quilt. Sew all together to form your quilt top. 2. The pumpkin stems were made with fusible webbing. Simply pick your fabric and follow the manufacturer's directions for fusing. 3. The quilt will also need an inner and outer border and binding (assembly figure B). 4. For the "Happy Harvest" logo, simply use 6 strands of black embroidery floss. Use 3-ply embroidery floss for the leaf stems too |
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Mabon Mask Projects
The Wheel has turned once more to Mabon. The last of the summer days has passed and the leaves start to change. There's a nip in the air and children are back in school.
While Lammas was a harvest of grains, I see Mabon as more of a harvest of fruits. Suddenly the produce aisle at the supermarket is brimming with pumpkins, squash and apples. Jugs of cider are crammed next to the orange juice and milk. It is the season of the hay ride, the bonfire, and "bring a sweater." As you may have guessed, I really like Fall.
The first craft I am offering, a Foliage Mask, gives you the opportunity to talk to your children about the changing seasons and the mythology of the Green Man. It also allows the children to use their imagination and integrate their craft with their regular play time, as well as ritual. The second, the Bacchus Wall Hanging, can be used as a seasonal decoration to honor the God of wine, who is also associated with the fruit harvest. Click on the link at the bottom for the printable template.
Foliage Mask
You Will Need:
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Felt in various fall colors -
Silk or real leaves (optional) -
A plastic or fabric half-mask -
Scissors -
Glue -
Yarn or Thread (to keep it on) -
Pen
As the Halloween/Samhain season approaches, more art stores and dollar shops offer cheap plastic or fabric half masks, which only cover the eyes and nose. Use this as the base for your mask.
Using felt of various fall foliage colors, cut out a variety of leaf shapes. Oak, Maple, and Laurel are three distinct choices. You don't need to worry about the leaves looking perfect, as they will be layered for the overall effect. You can trace a pattern onto the felt lightly with marker as it will not bleed through to the other side. (It will, however, rub off on your hands!)
Before gluing, arrange the leaves on your mask to determine placement. The leaves can and should hang slightly off of the mask base. Felt is generally sturdy enough for this. For the eyes, hold the leaf you want in that area where it will be placed, turn the mask over, and lightly trace the eye opening from the back of the mask. You can then cut the opening out of the felt piece.
When you are ready, glue the pieces onto the mask, starting with the bottom-most layer. Allow the glue to dry, and then use the yarn to wear your mask. Enjoy!
Bacchus Wall Hanging
You Will Need:
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Cardboard -
Light Green felt -
Dark Green felt -
Purple felt -
Artificial ivy strand -
Yarn or twine -
Scissors -
Glue
For this project, you'll need a piece of cardboard (I used the side of a discarded box). Leave the top edge straight, but cut a gentle curve into the bottom edge. Using your scissors, cut a rough mouth shape, as well as two eye holes. Then cut two small holes in the top third of the mask, one on each side, near the edges. String your yarn or twine through the holes, knotting them on the outside, to create a string to hang the mask on.
Using full sheets of the dark green felt, glue and cover the entire surface of the hanging. Cut a slit in the mouth area, but do not cut out the hole. This will make the mask appear to have rough lips. Also cut out the eye holes. Cut a small triangle of the lighter green felt, and glue it to the mask for a nose. Then, cut out several small circles of purple felt, and glue them in a grape-cluster formation around one of the eyes.
Finally, take the strand of artificial ivy and press the exposed wire through one of the small twine holes. Then wrap the ivy around the perimeter of the mask, ending at the top of the mask. Wrap the ivy around the top several times; this will both imitate hair and secure the ivy. Any excess can be run down the back of the mask and a loop pushed out of the mouth slit to resemble a Green Man. Allow the glue to dry, hang, and enjoy!
I hope that you and your children have a lot of fun with these crafts and have a safe and happy Mabon season!
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Pentacle Wheat Weaving | Materials needed for this beginner's project: - 5 straws of wheat or grass (I used local grasses as I can't get wheat)
- 6' of waxed string (dental floss works great)
- scissors and ruler.
- cardboard ( about 20" x 20" or large enough to put your pentacle on) and at least 13 pins. These items are not necessary but can be useful.
Preparing the wheat for weaving: - Prepare straws by trimming bottom of the straws just above the first joint (node)and slip off the leaves.
- Select 5 similar straws that are a least 13" long (not counting the seed heads). I made mine longer so it was easier but you can make your straws as long as you like depending on how big you want your pentacle to be. My straws were about 18 inches long.
- Cut off the seed heads about 1/2" below their bases.
- Soak these 5 straws in hot tap water for about an hour.
- If big end of straws crack when you try to bend them, let them soak longer
Steps: - After soaking the five straws, cut each straw into two 6" pieces (I used 18inch straws for this so my pentacle is quite large)
- Set aside one set of 5 straws for a second figure.
- Line up the remaining set of 5 straws side by side, placing a tie string under them at their centers. I found that wrapping the dental floss around the straws several times and then tying a knot made it much easier.
- Hold the straws side-by-side on a flat surface and tighten the tie letting the straws fan out as you tighten the knot (see Figure 5-1).
- Tie the straws together in pairs, making all 5 ties exactly 5/8" from the center (see Figures 5-2). I just decided mine should be tied 2inches from the middle because my pentacle is much bigger. Decide where you want your straws to bend to make the arms of the pentacle.
- Tie the end of each straw to the end of the nearest straw in the adjacent pair (see Figure 5-3).
- You've made a star - it should look something like the one in Figure 5-4.
- If your star won't lay flat you can pin it to the cardboard and let it dry for a day or two. I didn't need to do this step but it may be helpful if you want a perfectly shaped pentacle to use the cardboard and pins to hold the straws in place as you tie them. I didn't do it this way but some may find it easier.
| Once you have finished your pentacle you can add decorations like strings, beads, feathers or whatever you like. You can glue something over the ties to hide them, maybe some shells or beads? If you want to hang your pentacle make sure to tie some more dental floss to the top arm. You can use your pentacle for your altar or pin it up on the wall. Whatever you do please post a picture of how your pentacle turned out. We'd all love to see them. ~ Blessings ~
Lady Majyk Whispering-Owl |
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Corn Dollies The last sheaf of the harvest, dressed in a woman's dress or woven into an intricate shape and decked with ribbons, is regarded as the embodiment of the spirit of the crop, the spirit of the growing grain itself. The safe-keeping of this corn dolly over the winter insures fertility for the following harvest, provided that some portion of it is given to cattle and horses to eat, and some portion of it strewn in the field or mixed with the seeds for the next crop. This practice of saving the spirit of the harvest is extensive throughout Europe. In Northumberland, the corn dolly is attached to a long pole and carried home to be set up in the barn. In some communities it goes home on the lastload. Sometimes it is fairly small. In parts of Germany, the heavier it is, the better. On the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, the corn dolly's apron is filled with bread, cheese and a sickle. In other parts of Scotland, the reapers hold races. The man who finishes reaping first designates his last sheaf the corn maiden; the one who finishes last makes his last sheaf into a hag. In some localities, the corn dolly is made by the first farmer who finishes his harvest and then passed from farm to farm as each farmer finishes his harvest, ending up with the farmer who finishes last. In this case, no one wants the dolly as it is a sign of procrastination. In Wales, others try to snatch the dolly from the reaper who carries it from the field. If he gets home safe, he gets to keep it on his farm for the rest of the year. French, Slavonic, and some Germanic regions use the last sheaf to create a Kornwolf, believed to hold a wolf-like spirit that resides in the last sheaf and provides the same life force for the next season. This is a fiercer version of the corn dolly and is sometimes used to scare children. Today, corn dollies are seen as emblems of abundance. why corn? Historically the word corn was applied to the the small hard grain or fruit of a plant. It was used generically to refer to the leading crop of the district. In England, corn was wheat; in Scotland, oats; in the U.S., maize. How to make a Corn Dolly The best part of the stem is the top length from the ear (the seed head) down to where the last leaf leaves the stem. Leaving the ear intact, strip off the dead leaves and sort the stems according to size: thick, medium, and fine. Dry straw must be soaked flat in cold water for about 15 minutes and then stood upright to drain before plaiting. The Five-Straw Plait is the easiest to work with for a beginner: 1. Tie 5 straws together close to the ears. 2-5. Each time the straw being folded passes over two corners, it is then left and the one at the last corner is picked up and used in its place until the round is completed. The attractive spiral pattern grows as round succeeds round. 6. When completed, the ends are tied to the starting point below the ears, making a decorative circle. To feed in new straws, cut the old straw off after it has passed the second straw. The thin end of the new straw is inserted in the hole, making sure of a firm fit which is hidden under the fold of the straw of the next round. Simple corn dollies can also be made with the standard three-straw plait. More complex corn dollies involve multiple straws, intricate braids, and sometimes the creation of a straw core shape around which the outer straw is plaited. A Corn Dolly by any other name |
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Apple Head, Gourd Head and Handkerchief Dolls
| DRIED APPLE HEAD DOLLS To make dried apple head dolls, start with a large, firm apple. Peel it and drop it into salt water to sit for about a half hour. This keeps the apple from turning so dark. Then, with a paring knife, cut away the apple to make a head shape. (Round in back and sides a little flat.) Carve out areas under eyes so a portion is left in the middle for the nose. Cut a slit out for the mouth and chin. Even carve ears if you wish. You can carve hands out of pieces of apple too. Press apple onto a stick from the bottom of the apple and sit it somewhere it will not touch anything and air can circulate around it until it is good and dry. Each apple dries to have its own personality. The mouth might turn up or down, smile or frown. When dry, you can make a body for the head out of a wire structure covered with cloth or a small bleach bottle has a woman's figure and makes a good body. You can fill the bottle with sand or something to give it weight. Make clothes for it as you would do any doll. The apples will dry wrinkled and look "elderly." A good hair is made from the fluffy stuffing you can buy for pillows and stuffed toys. A small tuff of lamb's wool makes nice hair, too. Use your imagination and there is no end to the possibilities for your doll. You might want to sit it in a tiny chair, put a small cane in its hand, or bend little wire "spectacles" to place on the doll. The choice is up to you. Try it. I think you'll find it really isn't very hard and if you make a mistake and cut away a nose, you can eat your mistake and start on another one! | 
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