WELCOME!
Mabon: We Are Seeds
Welcome to the first installment of the Creative Alchemy Cycle celebrating Mabon (pronounced MAY-BON). Known as the pagan Thanksgiving, Mabon is the Autumn Equinox, which marks the first day of fall, when the length of day and night are the same.
This year in the northern hemisphere, the Autumn Equinox falls on Tuesday, September 22nd It is a time to celebrate a moment of solar balance, to go hearth-side, welcome the longer nights, and relish the cooler days. In this bundle, we’ll be exploring seasonal themes and imagery of Harvest, Decay, Regeneration, and Seeds.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Story of the Season: a Homily for Mabon (audio & PDF)
The Great Wide Open (video)
In the Studio (video)
Collaborative Alchemy Podcast: Episode One with Jennifer Atkinson
Fuel for the Fire: Writing prompts, links, reading lists, Spotify playlists, etc.
Invitation for Further Connection: Community Zoom calls (links)
NOTE of ENGAGEMENT:
Please do not share the link to this page with others. This content was created just for you. Thank you for your respect and understanding.
PART ONE: Digital Content
Seasonal Focus: Gratitude Practice
All life is teetering in the balance now. This is a moment to take stock of what we have, give gratitude, and plan for the coming dark. The Autumn Equinox marks a moment of solar harmony as the sun moves north across the celestial equator and we embark on the dark half of the year. A Celtic thanksgiving holiday, Mabon honors the second harvest of the year. It's time to give gratitude!! (Isn't it always?)
Over the past few decades, the self-help industry has co-opted and commodified gratitude as a practice. Gratitude is sold to us in the form of ‘health and wellness,” something to be cultivated as a means for building wealth, longevity, and even a kind of mental fitness. Gratitude has been relegated to the “to-do” list along with skin exfoliation and your morning protein smoothie. Let's reclaim a gratitude practice for ourselves.
I invite you to take some time this season to explore why and how gratitude is the foundation of joy, contentment, and creative flow. The greater your capacity for sincere appreciation, the deeper the connection to your heart, where intuition and unlimited inspiration and possibilities reside.
Calling You Home — A Homily
This is a great place to begin. For each of the eight bundles that make up the Creative Alchemy Cycle, I write a seasonal story to set the container for the bundle. These homilies are my way of practicing alongside you and using the creative alchemy tools to create my own work. You can download a copy using the button below and/or listen to the audio.
The Great Wide Open
Follow me deep into the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Eastern Oregon. Explore waterways and remote mountain meadows. Forage for berries and blossoms. Soak up inspiration from early autumn seed pods and enjoy this meditation on loving the small things.
In the Studio
After viewing The Great Wide Open, let’s head into my studio. We’ll start with some Red Clover blossom tea and a short tour of my space. Then we’ll create a seed pod portrait and explore some color theory inspired by our time outside. Let’s dive in!
Collaborative Alchemy Podcast
Collaborative Alchemy is a series of conversations with artists, thought leaders, activists, farmers, educators, creatives, and other polymaths where we tell our stories, expand our histories, and hold space for new ways of being. Today we’re chatting about the role that storytellers and artists have to play in the fight for climate justice, My guest is Dr. Jennifer Atkinson.
“The story of climate change has been a scientific story from the very beginning. That’s the way we always tell it. But we have known that story now for three decades and longer. We don’t need more scientific research in this moment. What we need now is our storytellers to convince us to act on what the sciences have been telling us. We need the artists to help us imagine a thriving future. What does that look like?” —Dr. Jennifer Atkinson
Fuel for the Fire
Writing prompts and further exploration, links, reading lists, spotify playlists, etc. Click on the images or buttons below to view, visit, or download.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Invitations for Further Connection
CREATIVE ALCHEMY COMMUNITY CALL — October 11
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday, October 11th from 10:00am - 11:00am Pacific Standard Time for our Community Zoom Call. If you were unable to attend, we’ve recorded the call for you below!
About Your Mabon Care Package
For those of you subscribing through Patreon, your care-packages will arrive between September 17-22. These love-filled packages contain natural objects, local Eastern Oregon flavor, and art ephemera to inspire your journey, and adorn your seasonal altars.
CONTENTS of the MABON PACKAGE:
✦ welcome letter in a handmade envelope
✦ Creative Alchemy Oracle Card bookmark
✦ dried Red Clover Blossoms & tea bag (see directions below)
✦ wild sweet pea pods and seeds (yes, you can plant them - full sun)
✦ poppy seed pods (yes, you can plant them - full sun)
✦ dried Alpine Thistle
✦ poem by Brooke McNamara
✦ sketch of poppy seed pod from “In the Studio”
✦ tealight candle
ABOUT the RED CLOVER BLOSSOMS:
You'll find a single serving of red clover blossoms for a sweet and floral tea as well as a single use tea bag in your package. Here's a little information about the tea:
Botanical name: Trifolium pratense
Source: These blossoms were harvested at Eagle Creek Orchard in Eastern Oregon. They are from organic seeds and serve as a nitrogen-rich ground cover for the orchard. No pesticides were used at all.
Directions: To prepare as a tea, pour 8 oz. boiling water over all of the blossoms. You can also use your tea bag or a strainer. Cover and steep 5-10 minutes, strain and serve immediately. Add honey if you like your tea a little sweeter.
Health Benefits: In herbal medicine, red clover is typically used to treat respiratory issues (such as asthma, whooping cough, and bronchitis), skin disorders (such as eczema and psoriasis), inflammatory conditions like arthritis, and women's health issues connected to menopause and menstruation.
Safety Guideline: Not for use during pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner (which I am not).