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Saturday, October 3, 2020

How do we celebrate the holiday of the macabre in a year such as 2020?


All Hallows’ Eve, and its affiliated holidays, are celebrations of those that have passed beyond the realm of living consciousness.  From the ancient Druids, who believed they could commune with their beloved departed during the Sabbath of Samhain, to the modern Christian celebration of All Souls’ Day this is a season reserved for the remembrance of those that we have lost. 

You’ll often read in this blog that the modern American Halloween, latex masks, Zombie movies et al., is the embracing of our fears.  A night for us to dress to suit ourselves, hold our fears up to ridicule and scare off our demons with the knowledge that—at least for this one night-we can take control of the things that frighten us.  The most innate and endemic of those is the fear of death.

In the Northern hemisphere we see nature shut down during the fall to prepare for the prolonged cold and dark of winter—an act necessary for survival.  While we are cognizant of the renewal we will see in spring, it is difficult to visualize that renewal in the midpoint between the end of summer and the beginning of winter.  It is in this moment that our faith is most tested.

However it is in this moment we need to remind ourselves even more that we do not have to be prisoners of fear and we can take positive steps to take control over our situation.  This does not mean acting out in righteous rage, rebelling against sensible safety precautions or harming others.  It is a moment in which we need to steady ourselves and realize that the demons have no more power than that which we give them.  It is internally that we regain ourselves and subsequently the world around us.

It is still okay to celebrate Halloween, just put on your mask, wash your hands and save hanging out in large groups for next year.  Then remember to vote on November 3rd.