Autumnal Equinox (CTD)

The Autumnal Equinox, September 21st, also called Mabon, is a Festival of the Kithain celebrating one of the two "Days of Balance."

Overview

The second of the two “days of balance,” the Autumnal Equinox marks the real beginning of the Unseelie half of the year. As on the first day of spring, day and night stand in equal measure to one another, but this time, darkness is strengthening. Nights will become longer, and the sun’s radiance diminishes as autumn heralds the coming of winter.

For the Unseelie, the Autumnal Equinox is a time of anticipation. Before the Shattering, Unseelie rulers would prepare for their imminent assumption of power at Samhain. Since this no longer takes place, Unseelie Kithain use this festival to assess their resources for the remainder of the year. This is a time of reflection and reevaluation.

The Shadow Court holds a special ceremony which involves the ritual destruction of minor treasures or dross. This release of Glamour signifies a return to the world of some of the hoarded Glamour gathered against the coming of Endless Winter. It is both an act of defiance and of faith; defiance against the Seelie Court which refuses to acknowledge that Glamour’s value lies in its use, and faith in the belief that Glamour is a renewable resource. As human societies once gave back part of their harvest to the earth, the Shadow Court ritually gives back some of the Glamour it has taken.

Rule of Conjunction

On certain days, the Dreamstuff in some materials becomes more potent. It is a good idea to harvest materials according to these dates. The following chimerical Dreamstuffs are most potent when gathered on Mabon.

• Acorns and conifer cones
• Leaves of common trees
• Owl pellets
• Spiderwebs
• All menstrual blood from any animal
• Mushrooms and fungi
• Eyes from all common creatures
• Rusted metal
• Turtle shell
• Insect cocoons
• Uncommon bird-eggs

References

1. CTD. The Shadow Court, p. 48.
2. CTD. Dreams and Nightmares, p. 121.