Counting your blessings

Today is the Autumn equinox, the point where days and nights equalise again before the darkness properly takes hold on the way to the Winter Solstice. In the Pagan Wheel of the year it is Mabon: a celebration of abundance, of harvest, and of all the blessings in our lives.

Not many people know that I am a practising eclectic Pagan. I dabbled from my teens, but in the last two years I have studied and practised far more seriously. I haven't made it public for a number of reasons. Partly I am private about my beliefs. Partly I wanted to be clearer about them myself before I started answering questions.

I had plans for today. Plans to celebrate and honour Mabon properly for the first time in my life. And I have been scuppered. It would be tempting to feel thoroughly sorry for myself, except that it is the practice of Paganism, and the honouring of Mabon, that means I am not sitting in the depression and self-criticism I would once have sunk into.

For context: I started feeling unwell at the end of last week, and I am now quite unwell with Covid-19. Don't worry. I am at home, in no danger, just fairly poorly. And there, right there, is a blessing. My whole family has Covid, and we are safe. We can look after each other. We have loving extended family and friends around us to support us, and we are here together.

My beliefs are not in external gods, or in good and evil, or in rules. They are in nature, in the universe, in cycles and balance. I honour the cycle of the year, the month, the day, and the balance of many things — including health and illness, and everything that comes with them.

I am grateful for all the people in my life, and for all the privilege I have. For my health, and for the fact that I have been able, and guided, to learn so much over the last decade that supports my mental health. I know this post is gushy and gross. I don't care.

Mabon blessings to you all x

P.s. Thank you to DollyMoo, from whom I borrowed this picture. It is lovely. I hope you don't mind.