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News  Ravenhawks Academy of Magick & Mysticism is proud to announce that it is now enrolling students for the fall session. Once enrolled the student may proceed throught the courses at his/her own pace. The school offers one on one instruction opportunities for students who desire it. The courses material is designed to be completed in a 6 to 9 month period This will constituting a year of Magickal studies at the end of which the student will be given a certificate of completion. Take a peek into our classroom.
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Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon Mabon (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon or MAH-bawn) is also called Alban Elfed, Harvest Home, 2nd Harvest, Fruit Harvest, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Cornucopia, or Autumn Eauinox this holiday is a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and God during the winter months. The name may derive from Mabon ap Modron,
Among the sabbats, it is the second of the three harvest festivals, preceded by Lammas and followed by Samhain.
Mabon was not an authentic ancient festival either in name or date. The autumn equinox was not celebrated in Celtic countries, while all that is known about Anglo-Saxon customs of that time was that September was known as haleg-monath or 'holy month'.
The name Mabon has only been applied to the neopagan festival of the autumn equinox very recently; the term was invented by Aidan Kelly in the 1970s as part of a religious studies project. Previously, in Gardnerian Wicca the festival was simply known as the 'Autumnal Equinox', and many neopagans still refer to it as such, or use alternative titles such as the neo-Druidical Aban Efed, a term invented by Iolo Morgannwg. The use of the name Mabon is much more prevalent in America than Britain.
Autumnal or Fall Equinox, also known as Mabon is the time when day and night are equal. Here the land is full of the gifts of nature and the effort of humankind. The night air has a tang about it, the darkness of winter is coming and it's time for the earth to sleep until the sun is again brought forth from the dark.
The Second Harvest
In the ancient cycle of the year, this was actually the second harvest; the first harvest festival occurs on August 1st and is known as Lammas. As methods of agriculture became more uniform and sophisticated, the autumn harvest was moved back until the last possible growing time was completed to maximize its size. As such, the Autumnal Equinox became synonymous with not only the completion of the harvest, but also the end of summer.
This final gathering of the crops and the beginning of preparations for the long winter that lay ahead marked a time of thanksgiving for all that Nature had given her children and for the completion of another turn of the Great Wheel. It
was a time for feasting, celebrating the good fortune of the previous year and preparing for the long months of winter that were ahead.
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Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon Customs and Practices The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.
Fall is the time to harvest what was planted and to begin preparations for the next season of crops or activities. In ancient times, fall celebrations were common, with the harvest of fruits, grains, and vegetables critical for survival in the coming winter.
It is no surprise that celebration began in ancient times and continues to this day. Harvest festivals of many types still occur today in farming country, and Thanksgiving is an echo of these. Many of the festivals coincide with Jewish and Christian holidays, by no accident. These points in the year were important community celebrations and the Pagan practices were kept largely intact although they were rededicated to the Christian God or a saint.
As a holiday, Mabon represents a time for honoring the dead, visiting burial sites, giving thankfulness for the end of the harvest season and the bounty it provides. These are the themes of closing, letting go, and remembering the year, the harvest, and those who were lost during the year.
Mabon marks a time to harvest fruits, nuts, vegetables, and herbs for the coming winter, along with completion of the grain harvest begun during Lammas. As such, it is often known as the Pagan Thanksgiving. Although many view the harvest season as a celebration of life, it is also a celebration of death. The bounty gathered from the garden provides nourishment for family and friends, but also results in the death of those plants and vegetables harvested. Thus, Mabon is a celebration of the cycle of life. A traditional practice is to walk through wild places and forests, gathering seed pods and dried plants to use in decorating the home and for future herbal magick.
In most Pagan lore, the fall equinox is also a day of symbolic sacrifice, represented in the story of John Barleycorn, designed to manifest sustenance that will last through the winter. It has been identified as the "assumption of the Crone," when the dark face of the Goddess assumes the sway over the world which she will hold until the return of the Maiden at Imbolc. It also symbolizes the day of the year when the god of light is defeated by his twin and alter-ego, the god of darkness or, in other words, when night conquers day. For modern Pagans, the last sheaf of grain harvested is commonly tied to the sacrificed god of light.
In ancient times, though, the last sheaf of the harvest was more commonly referred to as female, with English names like "shorn maiden," "ivy bride," or "wheat girl." This association may have originated with the ancient Greeks' Eleusynian rites, which honored the goddess' disappearance at the waning year and her return in the spring. In Germany, the last sheaf was made into a female figure, dressed, and carried home with ceremony to preside over the threshing. Among North African Berbers, a straw figure was set up in the fields while the women were reaping and then carried off by mounted warriors in a mock marriage by abduction.
In Ireland, the Fall Equinox is the time of the goose harvest and is associated with the ancient custom of giving gifts of newly-butchered goose and mutton to the poor. Perhaps this tradition is the root of our modern practice of contributing food to charitable organizations during the harvest season. The Norse celebrated the Equinox by making bread dough images of Freyr and Freyja and sacrificing to the Elves. The fall equinox also occurs during deer mating and, in many places, hunting season. In British folklore, this time of year is associated with Herne the Hunter, who leads a wild phantom chase through the forest, heralding confusion and change.
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Correspondence of Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon The plants & herbs associated with Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon : Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, marigold, mums, passion flower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle, oak leaves and vegetables
Colors associated with Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon :
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, violet and gold.
Stones associated with Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon :
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, yellow agates, yellow topaz, carnelian
Incense and oils you can use any of the following scents, either blended together or alone: Pine, Sweetgrass, Sage, Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin aloe wood, jasmine, cinnamon, musk, and cloves.
Animals and mythical beasts: dogs, wolves, birds of prey, gnomes, minotaurs, sphinx, cyclopes, andamans and gulons.
Gods and Goddess Associated with Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon: Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona, the Muses. Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man
Symbols for Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon:wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty
Foods of Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon: Corn bread, nuts, apples, berries, cider, fruits, vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions and wines.
Activities of Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon :Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees
Spell Work of Autumn Equinox, Mea'n Fo'mhair, Mabon
protection, wealth and prosperity, security, spells to bring a feeling of self-confidence and spells for balance and harmony.
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Notions Potions and Spells Herb: Benzoin--Botanical Name: Styrax benzoin Family: Styacaceae--Benzoin is a balsamic resin. Normally the trees do not produce it or any substance analogous to it, but the infliction of a wound sufficiently severe to injure the cambium results in the formation of numerous oleoresin ducts in which the secretion is produced, it is, therefore, a pathological product. The trunk of the tree is hacked with an axe, and after a time the liquid Benzoin either accumulates beneath the bark or exudes from the incisions. When it has sufficiently hardened it is collected and exported, either in the form of loose pieces (tears) or in masses packed in oblong boxes or in tins; several varieties are known, but Siam and Sumatra Benzoins are the most important.
Benzoin Oil Uses - Benzoin Styrax essential oil is helpful for treating asthma, bronchitis, colds & flu, soothing sore throats & treating arthritis, & rheumatism. Not strictly an essential oil but a Resinoid, produced from the resin using solvents like alcohol and benzene, which are removed and the result is dissolved in ethyl glycol or similar. The antiseptic properties are good for cuts, chapped, inflamed or irritated skin conditions. It acts as a carminative when taken internally is rapidly absorbed, and mildly expectorant diuretic and antiseptic to the urinary passages. In the form of Compound Tincture of Benzoin, it is used as an inhalant with steam in laryngitis and bronchitis. It is a preservative of fats, and is often used for that purpose.
Benzoin Oil Properties - antiflamatory, antioxident, antiseptic, astringent, expectorant.
Benzoin Magickal Properties:Air, Sun, Mars Aphrodite, Ares, Freya, Hathor, Khephera, Mut, Venus, Purification, prosperity, concentration.
Stone: Carnelian--Carnelian is a form of Quartz (Silicon Dioxide-SiO2), the most common form of rock in the Earth’s crust. Specifically, geologists classify Carnelian as a Chalcedony, a member of the crypto-crystalline or micro-crystalline group within the Quartz. Crypto-crystalline crystals are too small to be seen, even with a microscope.
Physical Properties
Carnelian ranges in color from a clear orange red to a dark orange brown and has been known throughout history as Sadoine, Mecca Stone and Pigeon’s Blood Agate. The name Carnelian, which is derived from Carne, Latin for flesh, may be related to its color, which is similar the color of flesh. It is translucent.
To many Carnelian is a powerful motivation stone and some have called it the "Self-Esteem Stone."
Mental Healing
Carnelian’s mental grounding power is the source of its greatest mental effects. It is said tot teaches one to focus on the present for the moments in life when all one’s mental powers are necessary for success at a single, important task and is a source of confidence, eloquence and inspiration. For instances when you need a boost to creativity for problem-solving, Carnelian can assist in getting the mind out of mental ruts and back on track for success. In the long-term, it bolsters ambition and drive and reminds the wearer of the future’s goals, hence becoming a powerful tool in major decision-making. Overall, many hold Carnelian dear as a stone with the ability to protect the individual, bolster confidence and generally enhance and expand the experiences of life.
Carnelian and the Chakras
Chakra healers regard Carnelian for its connection to the 2nd Chakra or the Spleen Chakra. This area is the body’s center for creative and sexual, pure emotional energies, but healers also associate it with the five physical senses. The six petaled Lotus, deep orange colors and Aries are all connected to this region. When these energies are unblocked by Carnelian and the energy flows freely, one feels a deeper appreciation of his or her body, a greater connection with friends and lovers and a reduction of guilty feelings. These effects result in a more spontaneous, energetic and giving individual.
Physical Healing
Because of its connection to the 2nd Chakra, healers believe Carnelian to be instrumental in maintaining health in the lower abdomen. They use it to treat impotence, menstrual cramps, infertility associated with this region. However, they have also turned to its power for healing neuralgia, rheumatism, asthma, skin and blood conditions and insomnia. It is considered so effective in healing dermatological ailments such as acne and psoriasis, that some even recommend Carnelian for the treatment of skin disorders of pets.
Magickal Properties
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Powers: Protection, peace, eloquence, healing, sexual energy, courage Love, compassion, energy, mental ability, intuition, protection from fear, envy and anger, banishes negativity.
It is useful in work on the first, second, third and fourth chakras and can help to increase physical energy, personal power, creativity and compassion
Magical Uses: Worn to still anger, jealousy, envy and hatred.
Used to promote harmony and peace, and to dispell depression.
Used by the shy and timid to bolster courage and self-esteem.
Great for public speaking.
Strengthens voice, provides self-confidence, and fosters eloquence on the speaker.
Used to counteract negative thoughts and doubt.
Used to guard against others knowing what your thinking.
Used to protect against lightning and thunder.
Carried as a protection from enchantments.
Worn to prevent skin diseases, nose bleeds, blood diseases, and promotes general good health.
Strengthens astral vision, and halts nightmares.
Worn to stimulate sexual impulses.
Profession: Athletes
Use ir to stimulate power
Color: Violet: Healing, Meditation, Tranquility, Stops arguments, Tension, Power, Saddness, Piety, Sentimentality
For: spirituality - intuition - insight - clarity - the astral plane - the Akashic Principle, associated with the third eye or Brow Chakra.
In Theosophy, the colour violet represents the "flame of transmutation" that burns negativity and makes new growth possible. Individualism. To "bring to earth." To serve. Healing. Closure. To recognize and realize the reason for living. Mental Meaning: To contemplate (too much).
Healing--It is good for mental and nervous problems. Helps with pain, is used in deep tissue work and helps heal the bones.
Incense
numbers = part= teaspoon, tablespoon or cup measure
Peace and Protection Incense
Lavender 4
Thyme 3,
Vervain 2
Basil 3
Frankincense 1
Rue 1 pinch
Gum Benzoin 1 pinch
Bergamot Oil 5 drops
Jasmine Oil 5 drops
Mabon Incense (Scott Cunningham)
2 parts Frankincense
1 part Sandalwood
1 part Cypress
1 part Juniper
1 part Pine
1/2 part Oak moss (or a few drops Oak moss bouquet)
1 pinch pulverized Oak leaf
Aurumn Equinox Incense
3 parts frankincense
2 parts sandalwood
1 part Benzoin
1 part cinnamon
1 part clove
few drops patchouli
Protection Potion:
Ingredients
1 pinch of Basil
1/2 bay leaf
1 pinch of Cinnamon
1 pinch of Rosemary
1 pinch of Clove
1 pinch of Sea Salt/table salt
Grind all ingredients together until it creates a fine powder. While you are grinding the ingredients focus on a protective shield of light or what ever makes you feel protected. When you have finished sprinkle the powder whereever you feel you need it. Across threshhold if you are using it to protect your house. put in a small container that does not leak and carry in your purse or pocket. If you need to feel protected.
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Foods of Mabon, Autumn Equinox BLACKBERRY WINE
3 pounds of blackberries
3 pounds of sugar
1 gallon of boiling water
Wash berries, put in large bowl and pour over them the boiling water. Stir well, then cover the bowl and leave for ten days. Strain liquid through muslin, add the three pounds of sugar and stir well. Cover the bowl and leave for three days, but stir daily. Put into bottles and cork, loosely at first. The wine will be ready to drink in six months
OLD-FASHIONED GINGER BEER
For The Starter:
1/2 Ounce Yeast
2 Teaspoons Sugar
To Feed The "Plant":
7 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
7 Teaspoons Sugar
To Flavour:
1 1/2 Pounds Sugar
Juice Of 2 Lemons
Mix starter ingredients with 3/4 pint of warm water in a glass jar. Stir, cover and leave in a warm place for 24 hours. This is your starter "plant". Feed the "plant" with 1 teaspoon each of ground ginger and sugar each day. After 7 days strain through a fine sieve. Dissolve the sugar in 2 pints of water. Add the lemon juice and the liquid from the "plant". Dilute with 5 pints of water, mix well and store in corked bottles for at least 7 days.
Use strong bottles as pressure may build up which will cause thin bottles to explode. For the same reason use corked bottles rather than those with a more secure closure that will not 'give' under pressure.
The amount of sugar in the final stage can be varied according to taste
Texas-Style Pecan Pie
Recipe Edain McCoy
This recipe makes two pies.
2 deep-dish unbaked pie shells
6 beaten eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted (The real thing is best. If you use
margarine,
add 1/8 teaspoon salt to the recipe.)
2 cups brown sugar, packed
1-3/4 cups corn syrup
2-1/4 teaspoons vanilla
2-1/2 cups chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slowly and thoroughly mix
together the eggs, butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and
vanilla. Pour the mixture into the two pie shells. As this
mixture will not "rise" like some pies, you can fill the
shells higher than usual, but not so high that they boil over
and leave a sticky, burned mess in your oven. Cover the pie
with the pecans. Bake for about an hour.
Acorn Squash with Cinnamon and Honey
4 acorn squash
8 tablespoons honey
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 teaspoons cinnamon
8 pinches of brown sugar
Halve each squash remove seeds. Add 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon butter and 1 reaspoon cinnamon and 1 pinch of brown sugar to each half. Cover each with aluminum foil and place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hour.
Apple Bread
3-4 shredded apples, with peels
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar or 1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon each salt, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda
1 handful chopped walnuts (reserve some for topping)
1/2 handful raisins
2 cups flour
2 handfuls (palmfuls) oats
Mix apples and all ingredients except flour and oats. Beat well. Gently add flour and oats to mixture. Stir just until blended. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan. Sprinkle top with leftover walnuts, patting them down. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour
Corn Pudding
Ingredients:
20 ounces of frozen corn, thawed and drained
3 eggs, well-beaten
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
dash of ground nutmeg
2 cups milk or light cream
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 325º F. Grease a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Combine corn and eggs in a bowl. Add in flour, sugar, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Mix it all together. Mix together the milk and butter, and mix into the larger mixture. Pour the whole thing into the dish and bake uncovered for an hour and fifteen minutes. Cool and store in the refrigerator. |
Crafts for Mabon, Autumn Equinox
1.
Matches Picture 1.
Acorn Wreath
What you'll need:
Acorns
Wicker wreath
Hot glue gun
Glue sticks
Newspaper
Flowers or other decoration
How to make it:
First, spread the newspaper on a flat surface.
Lay your wreath down flat.
Heat your glue gun.
Next, starting in the middle of the wreath, begin gluing the bottom of the acorn. Place the glued part of the acorn in the middle of the wreath and stand the acorn straight up.
Make one row in a straight line going all the way around the
wreath. Repeat the process from top to bottom with the
wreath still laying flat.
Then decorate with flowers, bows,
or even holiday ornaments. Be sure not to leave any open
spaces except in the back. The back of the wreath shouldn't
have any acorns on it so when you lay it down it is flat.
Tips:
A wreath hanger is recommended because it is very heavy
2. Picture 2.
Fall Bouquet
What you'll need:
Fall leaves, pinecones, etc.
Popsicle sticks
Hot glue gun or craft glue
Styrofoam ball or clay
Flower pot
Fall colored ribbon (optional)
How to make it:
Bake it all for 45 minutes at 200 degrees to kill any insects and eggs.
Use the hot glue gun or craft glue to attach the leaves, seeds, pinecones, etc., to the ends of Popsicle sticks. If you use craft glue, let them dry.
Put the styrofoam ball or large lump of clay in the bottom of the flower pot.
Stick the ends of the Popsicle sticks into the styrofoam or clay to make your autumn leaves bouquet.
Tie the ribbon around the pot with a big bow, optional.
3 Picture 3.
Leaves Wreath
What You Need:
Purchased glycerine-preserved leaves
Newspaper
Optional floral paint spray in red, purple, and yellow
9-inch straw circular wreath
Thick white crafts glue
T-pins
Natural raffia
Gold spray paint
Plastic grapes
Instructions:
1. If desired, paint leaves. If you wish to enhance or intensify the color of the leaves, you can apply floral paint in a well-ventilated area. Spread out the leaves on newspaper and spray spots of color using a random motion. Spray only edges and small portions of leaves. Spray the purple lightly over the red. Overlay the yellow onto the red. Let the leaves dry.
2. Add leaves to wreath. Coat the wreath well with glue. Beginning at the bottom of the wreath, arrange leaves onto wreath base overlapping each other. Pin the leaves in place as you go. Insert the pin in an inconspicuous place, such as near the stem. When the leaves begin to set firmly into the glue, you may remove the pins. Let the glue dry.
3. Paint raffia. Cut a small bundle of raffia approximately 36 inches long. Lay the raffia on newspaper and spread apart. Spray with gold spray paint. Let the paint dry. Turn the raffia over and spray again. Let dry.
4. Tie the painted raffia into a bow and glue onto the top of the wreath. Pin the bow in place, hiding the pin in the raffia. Trim the tails of the raffia as desired.
5. Add grapes. Use pins to attach the cluster of grapes underneath the bow
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Childrens World
Dough Leaf Magnets
What you'll need:
Leaf shaped cookie cutters
Acrylic paint in red, yellow, green, orange and brown
Paint brush
Toothpick
Acrylic spray sealer, matte
½” round magnets
Hot glue gun
How to make it:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
Mix together, salt, flour, and water until a dough is formed.
Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour, this will dry out the dough and will cause it to crack before you get a chance to bake it.
Roll out the dough to about ¼” thick with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.
Use different sized cookie cutters to create as many shapes and sizes of leaves that you want.
For smaller children, use a single shape to make it easier at painting time. For older children, you can double up and even triple some of the leaves for a 3D affect as we did (see photo).
If desired, use the toothpick to draw lines in the leaves.
Place all leaves onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
Bake for two hours.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Paint with acrylic paints and spray finished leaves with acrylic sealer.
Hot glue a round magnet to the back of each leaf and hang on the fridge!
Tips:
Food coloring can be subsututed for acrylic paint. divide your mixture ingredients then add desired color by drops to your water until you reach the desired color then mix with dry ingredients.
Parents should not allow small children to handle a glue gun as burns can occur. Older children should be closely supervised if allowed to handle a glue gun .
Instead of a toothpick you can use the sharp edge and point of a small kitchen paring knife, but again, only parents should handle these types of utensils.
Salt dough will not keep for a later project, it will get hard and crack. Depending on how many ornaments you plan to make, you can either halve the recipe or double it.
Book Review [Ages--Age: toddler, preschool, kindergarten, elementary]
The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson
The book provides a definition of the autumn equinox and shares historical perspectives as well as current celebrations from around the globe. The book includes crafts, recipes, and games for the season.
Ellis's folk-art illustrations portrays different cultures and how they share similarities of their observances.
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Poetry Corner Author Biography
Deborah Kellett
I have been writing for some 41 + years now. I started in the 7th grade, while i was on punishment from my father. i wrote a three chapter book on the monkeys, getting the idea from the tv show. i have been scribbling ever since.
words come to me from life itself. the smallest thing can trigger a writing. i hope you like what you read and want to see more. my 1st book will be available through "author house" in a week or two. the second one is in process of being published. for more information, you can e-mail me at: debsword@verizon.net.
LOST WITHIN
CATCH YOURSELF STARING AT YOU…
WONDERING WHERE YOU WENT TO …
CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN YOU ELSEWHERE…
COULD IT BE YOU DIDN’T FAIR?
TRYING TO FIND A WAY BACK TO THE PERSON
YOU FORGOT ABOUT…
COULD IT BE YOU NEED NOT BE THERE, WANT OUT…
WHY, YES INDEED, YOUR REFLECTION REPLIED
11/09/06
LATE WINTER
I HAD FORGOTTEN WHERE WE WERE GOING…
HOW WE GOT THERE…
WHEN I AM HERE…
SITTING ON A BENCH, WITH IDOL CONVERSATION…
NOT CARING ABOUT THE GREY CHILLY DAY…
OR THE COLD BREEZE THAT BLEW THIS WAY…
IT FELT COMFORTABLE…
IS ALL I CAN SAY…
LIKE THE BEST PAIR OF SHOES YOU CAN’T THROW AWAY…
2/8/2005
Under the harvest moon,
When the soft silver
Drips shimmering
Over the garden nights,
Death, the gray mocker,
Comes and whispers to you
As a beautiful friend
Who remembers.
- Carl Sandburg, Under the Harvest Moon
The morrow was a bright September morn;
The earth was beautiful as if newborn;
There was nameless splendor everywhere,
That wild exhilaration in the air,
Which makes the passers in the city street
Congratulate each other as they meet.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The golden-rod is yellow;
The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
With fruit are bending down.
The gentian's bluest fringes
Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.
The sedges flaunt their harvest,
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
Make asters in the brook,
From dewy lanes at morning
The grapes' sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterflies.
By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather,
And autumn's best of cheer.
But none of all this beauty
Which floods the earth and air
Is unto me the secret
Which makes September fair.
'T is a thing which I remember;
To name it thrills me yet:
One day of one September
I never can forget.
- Helen Hunt Jackson, September
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Sincerely,
--The Team at (Ravenhawks')
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