MABON AND THE AUTUMN EQINOX

September 22, 2017 / The Coastal Crone / 29 Comments

Mabon is a harvest festival, the second of three, that encourages pagans to “reap what they sow,” both literally and figuratively. It is the time when night and day stand equal in duration; thus is it a time to express gratitude, complete projects and honor a moment of balance.

Celebrating the Autumn Equinox with Honeymoon Mead

September 22, 2016December 27, 2016 / The Coastal Crone / 37 Comments

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The word “honeymoon” originated from the tradition of giving newly weds a moon’s supply (month’s) of mead on their wedding night. This sweet mead is balanced by a delicate oaking in bourbon. Complex & rich in taste. – From the website of Rohan Meadery

MEAD: An alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 8% to more than 20%. The defining characteristic of mead is that the majority of the beverages’s fermentable sugar is derived from honey. It may be still, carbonated, or naturally sparkling; dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Mead was produced in ancient history thoughout Europe, Africa and Asia. (Wikipedia)

A few weeks ago Husband and I took a day trip to Rohan Meadery, a small meadery situated between the south central Texas towns of La Grange, Round Top and Fayetteville. We enjoy visiting wineries but had never been to a meadery and did not know that Texas has seven meaderies of which Rohan Meadery is the oldest. There is a modest tasting room where we sampled five each. We found most to be too sweet for us, but we did find that the Honeymoon mead was quite good – smoothly semi-sweet yet dry but with a hint of something stronger. The meadery has its own bee hives and chickens range freely.

Our alter set to celebrate the Autumn Equinox this evening.

While in the area we also visited the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center and the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites Just outside of La Grange is where the Chicken Ranch, made famous by the movie “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds, was located. Apparently the descendants of the Germans and Czechs that settled in the area in the mid-1800s were fairly tolerant of prostitution at the time.

May you find peace and light as we begin another season and embrace the beauty and possibilities of each day. Cheers!

equinox

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX

September 22, 2013 / The Coastal Crone / 37 Comments

It is the summer’s great last heat,
It is the fall’s first chill: They meet.
– Sarah Morgan Bryan Platt

“The word equinox comes from the Latin words for ‘equal night.’ The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator. From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop and the days start to get shorter than the nights.” – Old Farmer’s Almanac

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We shall celebrate the autumnal equinox by lighting a candle to bring light into the coming darkness and to honor the light. Then we will open a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah Texas from GrapeCreek Vineyards. We will not feel the chill of autumn in South Texas for some time, but we have had glorious rain lately that has cooled down the summer heat. It is a hint of fall.

ENJOY THE FALL WHEREVER YOU ARE!