Schedule
This year’s Haustblót Mabon/Autumnal Equinox High Rite will be held on 20 September 2025
12 September@7pm: Journey to meet the Deities at CedarLight Grove; Doors open@6:30pm and Close @7pm
20 September High Rite:
Doors Open: 2pm
Feast: 3:30pm
Pre-Ritual: 5pm
Ritual Start: 6pm
Deities of the Occasion (Freyr and Sif)
Earth Mother (Jord)
Mothers of Waters (Daughters of Ran and Aegir)
Gatekeeper (Idunn)
Bardic Inspiration (Bragi)
Grove Protector (Thor)
Key Offerings: Poems, letters, art extolling the joy of life
Waters of Life: Juniper & ginger mead or soft cider
Feast: Favorite dishes potluck
Charity: Healthcare for the Homeless, 501(c)3, https://www.hchmd.org/
Cost: $20.00 suggested donation
Times are subject to change, please check our website blog, our Event Calendar or our Harvest Home Facebook event for the most up-to-date information on the ritual. All High Rites are open to the public, so feel free to bring a friend
Times are subject to change, please check before you leave.
Zoom Info
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 468 067 1478
Lore of the Season & Ritual Information
Prayer: Haustblot-literally “autumn sacrifice”—is the harvest-season feast, also called Winter Finding. It’s a time to give thanks for what the land has yielded, to ask for a peaceful, well-provisioned winter, and to strengthen bonds with gods, ancestors, and landwights.
Deities of the Occasion: Freyr and Sif
Seasonal Lore
In the spirit of the festival the idea came of combining these old traditions with new ones. Focusing on what good we have and what we have been given emboldens us for the dark times. Sharing that spreads this warmth throughout the community and knits stronger bonds. In such my idea is a festival of people sharing their joys and good memories, feasting on our favorite dishes (don’t have to be seasonal) and sending those thanks to the gods.
What to Bring
There will be a feast before ritual that will start in the afternoon and participants are encouraged to write poetry, prayers, and invocations for the things that they love in life. These do not have to be shared during the feast but are welcome. These written notes will be tied to a sacrificial straw animal and sacrificed during the rite as the vessel for the main offering. Family recipes are encouraged! ** Please label dishes with ingredients out of respect for those with dietary restrictions. Index cards are provided.**
Cans of sodas and bottled water are available at the Grove for $1.00 each. Feel free to contribute beverages to the Grove!
The ritual will take place outdoors in the sanctuary, weather permitting. Garb is welcome and encouraged!
Children and Pets
Children are welcome to all CedarLight events. CedarLight Center is not child proof, and small children must be attended at all times. Service animals are welcome, however, pets are not allowed. Thank you for understanding.
Suggested Offerings
- Seasonal foods, such as homemade bread, baked goods, apples, corn, and grain
- Flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables from your garden
- Incense, especially juniper, mugwort, and amber
- Libations of mead, beer, etc.
- Crafts, especially of the fiber arts
- Bardic works, poetry, songs (please see the Senior Druid or Chief Liturgists prior to the ritual if you will be performing a bardic offering)
Fundraisers: Charity: Healthcare for the Homeless, 501(c)3, https://www.hchmd.org/
PLEASE NOTE: We take oaths very seriously. Please do not make any oaths during the rite or offer pledges for future service.
Ritual Etiquette
- Do not honor deities of different pantheons than those being honored at this rite.
- PLEASE KEEP YOURSELF MUTED ON ZOOM Zoom attendees may make offerings at their home but will not be broadcast into the ritual space. Attendees who continually disrupt the ritual with background noise because they are unmuted will be removed from the Zoom room.
- No cell phone or earbud use in the sanctuary. Smartphones and tablets may be used for reciting offerings only. Please keep all devices muted.
- If you have a bardic offering, please tell the Chief Liturgist prior to the rite.
- Do not declare any oaths during the rite.
After Ritual
If participants wish to hang out after the rite, the Zoom room will remain open for socializing. Feel free to bring dinner and make it a virtual potluck! We won’t even nag you about washing the dishes!
Cost/Donations
All CedarLight events have a suggested donation of $20 per person. This can be contributed to Dagda’s Cauldron either at the Grove, or online via paypal to cedarlightgrove@gmail.com. All donations go towards CedarLight Center bills and upkeep.
