Mabon 2002
by Starchild & Bird, with some slight plagiarisms from Janet & Stewart Farrar’s “Witches’ Bible”

Props
Flour
Paper mache rocks
Litha cord (binding a bunch of sunflowers)
Mabon cord
Black curtain
White veil
Large bowl of earth
Flying ointment
Anointing ointment (sandalwood, clary sage)

Setup
A large clockwise spiral is drawn with the flour on the grass within the perimeters of the circle.
Place a pile of paper mache rocks and a bowl of earth in the centre of spiral.
A black curtain is hung at the outer entrance to spiral
The altar is placed outside the circle, near the curtain.
The bunch of sunflowers and flying ointment  placed on the altar.

Circle cast
Before the others arrive, the King and Queen should cast a circle outside the spiral with a gateway opened at the black curtain.

The Queen & Death stand in centre of spiral.

Death holds the Mabon cord.

The King Stag stands outside the spiral with the other participants.

King:	Now is the time of balance, when Day & Night face each other as equals. Yet at this season, the Night is waxing & the Day is waning, for nothing ever remains without change in the realms of Earth & Sky. 

Whatever rises must also set & what sets must also rise.

I present each of you with a sunflower, symbolic of the completion of harvest. We are thankful for the abundance it has provided, but in order to ensure the return of next year’s harvest, we must journey into the Underworld & face our heart’s darkest fears. There we will be greeted by the Queen of the Underworld & face Death himself. Will you take up this challenge ?

King anoints their 3rd Eyes with flying ointment then draws the bind rune with athame or finger over their heart chakra to protect.

King opens the gates to the Underworld, both energetically & physically, by opening the black curtain.

Using the Litha cord, he leads the participants, holding hands, into the widdershins (clockwise ) spiral.

The King uses the last of his power in this act. He trails the Litha cord about the Queen & kisses her goodbye before dying.

The Queen covers the King with a white shroud, then they build a cairn of  rocks over him to mourn his death. 

The Queen keens.

Queen: 	Welcome to my domain. Here you will be faced with the fear of an endless winter without respite, but if your hearts remain true to each other & to your belief that the sun will reclaim its place in the sky, you may find your way out of the Underworld & back into your pleasant land of sunshine.

Before you face Death himself, I shall anoint you for protection
 
She anoints with the sandalwood/ clary sage mix.

	Beware, for he shall try to disorientate you, to encumber your escape from the Underworld.

Death silently approaches in a black hooded robe & holding the bowl of earth, stands before each person in turn.

Queen helps each person bury their sunflower in the bowl, symbolising the death of the summer/sun.

Death places the bowl on the ground & produces the Mabon cord. He then wraps the cord around each person in turn & spins them on the spot with it, attempting to disorientate them.

The Queen takes the Mabon cord from Death, then silently leads the group with it, holding hands deosil (anti-clockwise) out of the spiral, until they re-emerge through the black curtain.

When everyone is outside the circle, they look back to see Death disrobing to reveal  a young Horned God.

Queen:	Behold the changing of the seasons. If winter comes, can spring be far behind?

Close the circle

The dead King may now leave his cairn & rejoin the group for cakes & ale.