Kate Freuler
Mabon, or the autumn equinox, is the date when day and night are of equal length. In the northern hemisphere, this marks the beginning of the dark season when much of nature falls into a dormant state. The equinox heralds the withering of leaves, the shrivelling of the last flowers, and the collection of the final harvests. The earth becomes barren and dark as the remnants of summer are laid to rest. Sometimes autumn can feel melancholy, like endings and death surround us as we say goodbye to the sun, but it’s important to notice the beauty and purpose of this part of the great cycle.
Dormancy is often confused with death—many times you’ll hear people say that trees and plants “die” in fall—but the state of dormancy is better compared to sleep. It’s a restorative time for the earth, a period of hidden growth, repose, regeneration, cleansing, and deep inner renewal. The earth’s cycles are reflected in our life experiences, including periods of dormancy. We ourselves are made of the earth, the sky, the rivers, and the air so it only makes sense that we also have the seasons within us. Examining the purpose of darkness and inactivity in nature and all the good it eventually brings forth can help us navigate the empty times of our own existence. These times may not always directly correspond with the earth’s seasons, but rather take the form of endings in our inner and outer lives. Some examples are severing relationships, moving homes, switching jobs, going through a phase of introspection, or naturally receding from social doings to think and reflect. These experiences almost always lead to personal growth and positive change just as winter eventually leads to spring.
Spiritual Dormancy
A dormant phase in life can occur during a waiting period in between projects, when dealing with change or loss, or while doing shadow work. Shadow work is the act of looking inward at ourselves and confronting our deeply ingrained behaviours, feelings, and needs. This can be taxing emotionally and spiritually, which only further proves the importance of rest during transformation. Rest and inactivity are often frowned upon in our society; we’re under constant pressure to appear productive, to perform, and to be on the go. When we compare this unrelenting, hyper-industrious mindset to the natural world around us, the stark contrast highlights just how unhealthy and harmful it really is. Around Mabon, animals answer the instinctive call to rest and regenerate by preparing for hibernation, which ensures their future survival. Trees shake their expired leaves off with relief, releasing that which is no longer useful. Plants drop the heavy seed pods they worked so hard to create and recede into themselves for the season. The entire natural world accepts this time of rest in stride. Why is it so hard for people to do the same?
Taking a lesson from the earth by observing seasonal changes around Mabon, we can appreciate our own dormant times for what they are: a chance to build strength, take stock, and repair. It’s a time to look gently down inside ourselves and see what needs attention, which is what shadow work is all about. It’s a good time to rethink what it means to “rest” and unlearn some toxic beliefs. Reframing the idea of rest means removing its associations with laziness and shame and replacing them with an appreciation for creativity, strength building, and cleansing. It can be tough to recondition our thinking regarding dormancy, but nature makes it clear to us every winter just how important and natural it is.
Growth in the Shadows
While dormant trees and plants may look “dead,” they’re actually very much alive, their cells conserving energy for future growth. The parts that appear “dead” are simply no longer needed and have served their purpose, so the trees and plants let them go. This shedding action is something we need to do in our own personal lives every so often too; clinging to that which is over, obsolete, or has otherwise served its purpose is an exercise in futility and only holds us back from reaching our potential. Sometimes this is a personal trait that needs to be cast off, and other times it’s an outside circumstance or person with whom we need to cut ties.
Dormancy isn’t always easy. It can feel like we’re just hanging in there conserving energy while the things we’ve outgrown fall away. At best, this can feel boring, at worst depressing or frightening. To get through change, it’s normal to move away from the herd, withdraw socially, and spend more time alone. Many people even naturally sync up with the rhythm of the Wheel of the Year, becoming introspective and isolated as the nights lengthen.
Although it’s sometimes unsettling, this experience is also an opportunity to really look inward while nourishing the newest emerging parts of ourselves based on the lessons of the past season.
As the dark season rolls onward, you’ll begin to see flashes of hope. You’ll notice signs of growth and creation stirring deep within your spirit, giving you glimpses of what’s to come and who you are growing into. This is all part of your spiritual development and, in the end, it will make perfect sense.
Let the Seasons Guide You
Nature’s relationship with the dark and cold is a metaphor for how shadow work and spiritual dormancy play out within our lives. Here are some of the ways that the dark months interact with the earth and how those interactions can be applied to our personal experiences as we grow and change.
Strength: Wild plants that survive fall and winter dormancy tend to be very strong. This same concept can be applied to our own personal issues. A period of hardship is often necessary in order to reach our full potential. No successful or well-rounded person will tell you that they achieved all their goals easily; there is always failure, doubt, and times of regrouping along the path. After that, they came back stronger and smarter and tried again. This builds resilience, determination, and wisdom. Just as the cold months make for stronger plants, our own periods of dormancy can provide us with the energy and resources to reemerge stronger and more determined than ever.
Productivity: Trees need to have a period of rest, which is brought on by shortened days and low temperatures, in order to build up the energy to grow new leaves. Without the dark months, they wouldn’t have a chance to do this and would simply die. If a fruit tree doesn’t get a long enough dormant season, it will produce less fruit the following year. The same can be said of you: if you don’t get enough rest, you won’t be as productive in any area of your life. This can, of course, be seen in terms of getting enough sleep at night (which is also important!) but also in the larger picture of your own achievements. You need time to turn inward, to work on yourself in order to better interact with your outer life. This rest period, while it may feel unproductive, is in fact a wonderful breeding ground of creativity that will result in a flourish of action when the time is right.
Protection: Cold and darkness kill diseases and infestations on plants and trees. This means that dormancy is part of the healing process. You may experience something similar when you enter your state of spiritual dormancy and shed toxic or unnecessary connections to people or things. Letting go of familiar things can be painful, just like the winter’s frozen touch, but absolutely necessary. Parasitic relationships and negativity that have been dragging you down can be stamped out during your shadow work, just like when the cold kills mold and pests in a garden.
Cleansing: Snow is useful to the health of ecosystems in many ways. It provides insulation for the earth, much like a warm blanket while nature sleeps. A heavy snowfall will also ensure the replenishment of lakes, streams, and wetlands. When the snow melts away in spring, it takes with it all kinds of debris and waste to allow room for new life. As you rest and withdraw during your soul-winter, you will also experience the very-much-needed cleansing of the things that no longer have a purpose in your life.
A Frost Ritual for Strength
This simple working draws upon the strengthening aspects of the cold. It also helps dismantle the idea that cold, darkness, and death are “bad,” focusing instead on the positive aspects of an icy frost. Around Mabon, you may start to notice frost forming on the ground overnight and that the strongest plants survive it. This is a perfect opportunity to identify a project, idea, or quality of yourself you’d like to strengthen and incorporate it into a ritual. Some areas of focus for this working can be your self-confidence, resilience, health, or any aspect of your life that needs reinforcements.
On a night that you know there will be frost, write a word or design a symbol for your concern. Draw the symbol or write the word on a small piece of paper. After dark, place the paper outdoors on the grass. If it’s windy, secure it with a stone or heavy object. As you place the paper on the ground, spend a moment visualizing yourself demonstrating the traits you wish to strengthen in perfect confidence. Leave the paper there overnight. First thing in the morning, go retrieve your frosty paper. Take the paper indoors and let the frost melt, imagining the dampness infusing your symbol with strength and resilience. Stash the paper somewhere private for the winter and allow the strength you need to manifest over the dark months of rest.
Growth in Darkness
Mabon marks the beginning of the dormant phase in nature, which mirrors the dark seasons in your own life. The equinox is a liminal time where one thing ends and another begins. Understanding that dormancy is perfectly natural and healthy may help you find peace and rhythm within the cycles of nature and within your spirit. You might even learn to enjoy these quiet times, knowing that they’re supporting the wonderful things that are to come from within you.