Mabon Journal Prompts
Mabon, celebrated around the autumn equinox, is a time of perfect balance between light and dark, day and night. It marks the second harvest in the Wheel of the Year, when ancient communities gave thanks for the fruits of their labor and prepared for the coming winter. Spiritually, Mabon is a turning point—an invitation to honor what we’ve gathered, release what we no longer need, and realign ourselves with the rhythms of nature. As leaves fall and the air cools, the energy shifts inward, encouraging introspection, gratitude, and conscious transition.
Mabon marks the second harvest in the Wheel of the Year, when ancient communities gave thanks for the fruits of their labor and prepared for the coming winter. This festival is often referred to as the pagan thanksgiving, a holiday celebrating abundance and gratitude. Spiritually, Mabon is a turning point—an invitation to honor what we’ve gathered, embracing the symbolism of Mabon found in natural elements such as leaves, mushrooms, and late summer flowers. We are also called to release what we no longer need; in the seasonal cycle, death plays a vital role, making space for new life and transformation. As we become prepared for the coming winter, harvesting becomes both a literal and metaphorical process, gathering what we have sown throughout the year. As leaves fall and the air cools, the beauty of fallen leaves enhances autumn imagery and reminds us of the season’s richness.
These are all excellent themes to journal about!
This seasonal pause of balance at the autumn equinox makes Mabon an ideal time to journal. Just as the Earth begins to slow and shed, journaling allows us to do the same—shedding outdated beliefs, acknowledging personal harvests, and clarifying our inner direction. Take this opportunity to create intentional rituals and practices that honor the season. Setting intended goals and aligning your actions with the themes of balance and gratitude can deepen your experience. Whether reflecting on accomplishments, including projects that have come to fruition over the year, exploring emotional shifts, or considering how you’ve changed since last year, journaling at Mabon helps deepen self-awareness and strengthen spiritual connection. Journaling can also serve as a spiritual practice during Mabon. It’s a ritual of presence, aligning the personal with the cyclical, and anchoring growth in mindful reflection. In acknowledging personal harvests, the garden becomes a symbol of abundance and growth. As you practice gratitude, feel glad for the blessings and growth you’ve experienced. These Mabon journal prompts are a wonderful place to start.
25 Mabon Journal Prompts
25 Mabon Journal Prompts
Let's get started on your autumn equinox journal!
Introduction to the Wheel of the Year: The Cycle from Yule to Samhain
The Wheel of the Year is a beautiful tapestry of seasonal celebrations that honors the ever-turning cycle of life. Beginning at Yule, the winter solstice, and culminating at Samhain, this ancient calendar invites us to pause and reflect at each turning point. You can see it in your garden! Each festival along the Wheel—whether it’s the quiet hope of Yule, the awakening of Imbolc, or the vibrant abundance of Beltane—marks a special time to connect with nature and the rhythms of the earth.
Mabon, the autumn equinox, is a particularly meaningful moment in this cycle. It is a time when the world stands in perfect balance between light and darkness. The air is crisp, the leaves turn golden, and the earth offers up its final fruits before the quiet of winter. This is a season for journaling, reflection, and gratitude—a chance to honor the harvest, celebrate the abundance in our lives, and find balance within ourselves. By attuning to the Wheel of the Year, we deepen our connection to the natural world and the cycles that shape our own journey through life.
Mabon Journal Prompts for Balance and Equilibrium
Where in my life am I experiencing balance right now? Where is balance needed?
What does balance mean to me—not as a perfect state, but as a dynamic process?
How can I honor both light and shadow within myself today?
Mabon Journal Prompts for Gratitude and Harvest
What am I most grateful for as I reflect on this past season?
What personal “harvests” have I gathered—emotionally, spiritually, or creatively?
In what ways have I grown since the start of the year?
What unexpected blessings, lessons, or ideas have I received lately?
Mabon Journal Prompts for Release and Transformation
What am I ready to release as the season changes?
What fears or beliefs are keeping me from moving forward?
How can I honor endings as part of the cycle of growth?
Mabon Journal Prompts for Connection with Nature and Spirit
What signs or lessons has nature shown me recently?
How do the changing colors and falling leaves mirror changes in my own life?
What message might the animals of Mabon (owl, stag, blackbird, fox) hold for me today? How can I deepen my relationship with nature this year?
Mabon Journal Prompts for The Myth of Mabon ap Modron
What aspects of my life feel like “imprisonment” or confinement?
What wisdom have I gained through solitude, hardship, or separation?
What hidden parts of myself am I being called to reclaim or rediscover?
Mabon Journal Prompts for Reflection and Inner Work
What does “the dark half of the year” represent for me?
What inner truths or insights have been quietly growing within me?
What would it mean to preserve my energy like trees pulling sap into their roots?
Mabon Journal Prompts for Ritual and Symbolism
If I created a harvest altar, what symbols would I place on it and why?
What traditional or personal rituals can help me mark this seasonal transition?
If I were to make a metaphorical “preserve jar,” what moments or lessons would I store from this year?
Mabon Journal Prompts for Community and Sharing
Who or what has supported me in recent months, and how can I show gratitude?
What can I offer my community or loved ones during this season of sharing?
How can I use my gifts or wisdom to uplift others as we head into the darker months?
Mabon Celebrations
The autumn equinox is a cherished time for celebration and reflection. As the days grow shorter and the air turns cooler, many people honor the harvest with rituals that celebrate the balance of light and darkness. Whether you gather with friends for a festive meal, embark on a nature walk to admire the changing leaves, or simply take a quiet moment to reflect, the autumn equinox offers countless ways to connect with the cycles of nature.
This season is about more than just the harvest—it’s a time to honor the journey of the past year, to celebrate the abundance in our lives, and to get ready for the months ahead. By embracing the traditions of the autumn equinox, we cultivate a deeper sense of balance, gratitude, and connection to nature. Whether through ritual, reflection, or simply enjoying the beauty of autumn, celebrating Mabon is a meaningful way to align with the rhythms of the earth and the turning of the seasons.
More Self-Reflection Journal Prompts
The autumn equinox is the perfect time to deepen your journaling practice and explore new avenues of self-discovery. As the world around you shifts, use these journaling prompts to reflect on your life, your dreams, and your connection to nature. Consider questions like: What are you most grateful for right now? How can you invite more balance into your daily life? What hopes and intentions do you want to carry into the future? In what ways do you feel connected to the changing seasons and the cycles of the earth?
Journaling with these prompts can help you gain clarity, foster personal growth, and cultivate a greater sense of harmony with the Earth. Let the energy of the autumn equinox inspire your creative work and guide you toward new ideas and insights. This is a time for reflection, preparation, and embracing the present moment—so grab your journal, find your favorite place, and let your thoughts flow. Happy journaling!
Introduction to The Wheel of the Year, the Cycle from Yule to Samhain
The Wheel of the Year is a spiritual calendar that underscores the cycle of the seasons. It details a web of holidays, or sabbats. By honoring this calendar, we can reflect on how nature around us changes, and we can think deeply about the same changes in ourselves.
The season of Yule, or the winter solstice, marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. The Wheel then turns to Imbolc (February in the northern hemisphere; August in the southern hemisphere), when the ground begins to awaken from its slumber and the sun begins to provide more light to the winter months. Next is Ostara, the spring equinox, when light and darkness are balanced and the Earth officially greets spring.
The fire festival Beltane marks the start of summer. The sun is strong, and the earth is full of life. The Wheel then turns to Litha, also called Midsummer (the summer solstice), the longest day of the year. The sun is at its strongest and the bright summer season is in full swing. Fire rituals and community celebrations of hard work and abundance fill the air! Celebrate Litha by leaning into your power (and by using the above Litha journal prompts of course.)
The first harvest festival, Lammas, arrives at the end of summer. Lammas marks the start of the harvest season, a great time for giving thanks and recognizing the yield of our hard work. The shadows are starting to stretch longer. At a harvest festival, Mabon, the autumn equinox brings balance to the earth once again, as day and night equalize.
Finally, the Wheel's end and beginning is at Samhain, the final community harvest festival. The veil between worlds is thinnest, the land is in shadows, and it is the perfect time for reflection on the past, letting go, death, and looking to the future with wisdom. The sun is appearing less every day, and we must make a fire to perform our harvest rituals and get ready for winter.
More About Mabon
Now that you have plenty of Mabon journal prompts, would you be glad to learn more about Mabon? Or check out winter solstice journal prompts for Yule, journal prompts for Ostara, and plenty of other options. Here are some places to start.
About Mabon. Mabon, the autumn equinox, is a sacred moment of balance when day and night stand equal, marking the Earth's graceful shift from light to dark.
Mabon Associations. Crystals, herbs, other symbolism Mabon, and Mabon correspondences.
How to Celebrate Mabon. Make a donation, preserve your harvest, and have a feast.
Mabon Meditation. Mabon is a wonderful time to enjoy a meditation.
Mabon ap Modron. Meet the Welsh god after whom the festival is named.
The Mabon Companion: Check out our new book!
Understanding the Autumn Equinox
The autumn equinox, also known as Mabon, is a sacred pause in the Wheel of the Year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the official start of autumn—a time when day and night are perfectly balanced, and the energy of the season shifts from outward activity to inward reflection. The harvest season is in full swing, and the earth is rich with abundance, offering us a chance to celebrate the fruits of our labor and the blessings in our lives.
This is an ideal moment to slow down, reflect on the past year, and get ready for the future. The energy of the autumn equinox encourages us to seek balance and harmony, both within ourselves and in our connection to the world around us. Through journaling, meditation, and mindful presence, we can embrace the sense of gratitude and completion that comes with the harvest, while also setting intentions for the months ahead. Mabon invites us to honor the cycles of nature, celebrate our achievements, and prepare our hearts and homes for the quieter, more introspective season to come.
Why Should You Keep a Journal?
Journaling is surprisingly beneficial for writers! Writing down your thoughts, projects, and experiences can help you process emotions, track personal growth, and even spark creativity. Writing prompts, like these Mabon journal prompts, are a good way to get started.
You can Journal for Writing Practice
Like anything, practice matters when it comes to writing. That means choosing each word as you are writing your Mabon journal prompts can help your writing shine in other areas of your life! And these journal prompts are a great place to start your practice.
You can Journal to Reflect on Your Goals
Depending on what you journal about, writing can be an opportunity to focus on your personal growth, dreams, goals, and in-the-moment progress. Set intentions and write about why you want to achieve the goals you've set and brainstorm ways to achieve them. Write about what you are letting go of and the lessons you learn along the way, too. And don't forget to track your progress in your journal!
Similarly, you can use your journaling time to think through a situation in your life to sort out how you want to address it. In addition to using the autumn equinox journal prompts above, consider writing in your journal about your plans, new dreams, ideas, and goals.
You can Journal to Improve Your Health
Studies are showing that writing in your journal may also reduce stress, improve your immune system response, and even boost your memory. Here's an article from Intermountain Healthcare about how writing in your journal can improve your life.
Preparing for Mabon Rituals
As the fall equinox approaches, preparing for Mabon rituals is a wonderful way to align with the energy of pagan thanksgiving. Begin by spending time in nature—take a mindful walk among the autumn leaves, gather fallen branches, or simply breathe in the crisp air. Let the sights and sounds of autumn inspire your journaling and creative process, helping you reflect on the abundance and balance in your life.
Decorate your home or sacred space with symbols of the harvest: vibrant leaves, acorns, apples, and other gifts from the earth. Consider creating a simple altar to honor the season’s energy, or plan a small feast or other project to celebrate the harvest with loved ones. Journaling before or after your Mabon rituals can help you clarify your intentions, express gratitude, and release what no longer serves you. By preparing in these ways, you invite more balance, gratitude, and connection into your life, making the most of this special time in the Wheel of the Year.
More Self Reflection Journal Prompts for You
If you have set intentions about journaling and are looking for more writing prompts after your Mabon journal prompts, here is the perfect opportunity to keep writing in your Mabon journal. You can find plenty of options here, including higher self journal prompts and other creative writing prompts.
