For the modern Earth-centered person, the American Thanksgiving holiday on the fourth Thursday of November can feel complicated. Historically, it carries painful baggage related to colonization and a whitewashed narrative. Spiritually, it falls nearly two months after Mabon (the Witch’s Thanksgiving/Autumn Equinox) and three weeks after Samhain (the final harvest/New Year).
So, how can we approach this day with integrity? The answer lies in stripping the holiday back to its oldest, most universal themes: gratitude, abundance, and the cycles of the land.
This is an opportunity to reclaim the day as a powerful, non-dogmatic festival of thanks, focusing our intent on the blessings we have received throughout the year.
1. Reclaiming the Ritual of Gratitude
Thanksgiving is, at its heart, an act of conscious gratitude… a powerful practice in any spiritual path.
- The Gratitude Jar/Altar: Create a temporary altar or center piece focused solely on thankfulness. Decorate it with things you are genuinely grateful for: photos, tokens from nature (acorns, dried leaves), small representations of your craft (crystals, favorite herbs), or notes written throughout the year. Before the meal, invite everyone to write down one thing they are thankful for and add it to the jar or altar.
- The Libation and Land Blessing: Before the first person sits down to eat, take a moment to acknowledge the source of the food. Pour a small offering (water, cider, or wine) onto the Earth outside or into a dedicated indoor plant. As you do, offer silent or spoken thanks to the land, the spirits of the place, and the unseen forces that allowed the harvest to thrive.
2. Re-Centering the Feast
The Thanksgiving meal is a profound act of community and abundance, mirroring harvest festivals across all cultures, from the Roman Cerealia to the Celtic Harvest Home.
- Honoring the Ingredients: Focus on foods that are genuinely in season during late November: squashes, root vegetables, late apples, and cranberries. As you cook, be mindful of the energy you are putting into the food. See the preparation as a loving magical act of nourishment for your loved ones.
- The Cornucopia as Centerpiece: The cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty, is a powerful, ancient Pagan symbol of divine abundance. Fill yours, or your table, with overflowing bounty: gourds, pomegranates, dried herbs, and grains. This is an offering to the Goddess of Abundance, reminding all who gather that true wealth is found in sharing.
- The Dinner Bell/Chalice: Use a special object to call everyone to the table. Ring a small bell, light a central candle, or raise a chalice to welcome the abundance and formally begin the gathering.
3. Acknowledging the Wheel’s Turn
While Mabon (the official Autumn Equinox) is past, American Thanksgiving arrives on the cusp of deep winter, shortly before the Winter Solstice (Yule). Use the day to transition into the darker, reflective half of the year.
- Feast of Reflection: The time between Samhain and Yule is one for introspection. Invite guests to share not only what they are thankful for, but perhaps one lesson learned or burden shed in the past year. This honors the Samhain tradition of letting go.
- Ancestor Plate: A tradition from many paths is to pour a glass of water or set aside a small, symbolic plate of food for the Ancestors or for those who are no longer with us. Place it in a quiet spot, on the mantel or a separate table, to acknowledge the continuing presence of those who came before.
By focusing on the universal magic of gratitude, the sacred act of feasting, and the unwavering rhythm of the Earth, you can transform the secular American holiday into a meaningful, powerful, and deeply personal Cobbled Witch Thanksgiving.
The Cobbled Witch 