Gratitude Picnic Ritual
Mabon is by far my favorite holiday, it’s the same month as my birthday so I may be a bit biased! Each year we go apple picking and spend a lot of time in the kitchen baking goodies. On or near the equinox we have a little picnic in our yard to celebrate the season. This year we are going to jazz it up a bit with some elements of ritual and focus on the themes of balance and gratitude. I’ve put together a picnic ritual that is family friendly and easily adjustable to your child age. I did not add a casting or closing of a circle but it can be easily added in, if that is part of your practice.
Gratitude Picnic Ritual
Materials Needed:
A picnic blanket or tablecloth
A basket filled with a seasonal foods and drinks (fruits, nuts, cheese, bread, apples, cider, tea etc.)
Plates, utensils, and napkins
A small bouquet of autumn flowers or leaves
A small bowl of salt
A small bowl of honey
Small black and white candles (safely secured in a holder)
A lighter or matches
A small fire safe container
Paper and pens
A comfortable and quiet outdoor spot (a park, a garden, or your own backyard)
Instructions:
Choosing the Location: Find a peaceful outdoor spot for your picnic. Lay out the picnic blanket or tablecloth, and set up the picnic items. Place the bouquet of autumn flowers or leaves, and candles as a centerpiece.
Lighting the Candles: Light the white candle, saying, "With this white candle, we invoke the energies of balance and harmony into our family."
Light the black candle, saying, "With this black candle, we acknowledge the energies of introspection and balance within ourselves."
Balancing Salt and Honey(optional): Place the small bowls of salt and honey in the center of the picnic. Salt represents purification and grounding, while honey represents sweetness and blessings. Each participant can take a small pinch of salt and a drop of honey, placing them on their tongue.
Toast and Feasting: Raise your cups and make a toast to the balance and harmony of Mabon. You can say something like, "To the equinox, to balance, and to the gratitude we carry in our hearts." Enjoy the picnic feast together, savoring the seasonal flavors and the company of your family.
Sharing Gratitudes: Go around the picnic circle, each sharing something they are grateful for. This can be a memory, an accomplishment, or simply the beauty of nature.
Release and Offering (Optional): write on a piece of paper your wishes or intentions and safely burn it , in a fire sage container, and watch it transform into smoke, releasing them into the universe.
I hope you enjoy this fun little ritual, feel free to add to or remove any elements that don’t resonate with your family. Let me know if you tried this ritual with your family and how it went!
