Halloween: A Season of Masks
Hi spooky souls! This weekend I noticed so many fun costumes and masks out there. I love Halloween and this year I'm headed to the Deschutes River to watch the annual Bend Witches Paddle. Dressed up as witches, a bunch of brave souls trade their broomsticks for paddleboards and cackle down the chilly river - pointy hats, black capes, and all. I can't wait!
Part of the Halloween fun is using it as a 'classroom' for awareness and expansion. Because, in one way or another, we all wear masks every day. We're terrified of our inner gremlins and even more scared of letting others (and ourselves) see the light of our truest selves.
Ideas for reflection
You could reflect on these prompts through stillness, prayer, writing, or by talking with others.
🖤 Find a scary music playlist, light a candle, and listen.
How does it reflect the inner spooky movie that plays in your mind (and projects onto the world)? Here's a playlist to get you started.
🖤 Reflect on the masks you wear on a regular basis.
They might not be obvious at first. The “I’m fine” person. The “I-have-my-life-together” person. The “I’m-not-hurt” person.
What parts of yourself do you hide, and why?
How do your masks protect you? Do they shield you from judgments, expectations, or vulnerabilities?
Who do your masks really protect you from? Others? Or from your own scary thoughts about others?
🖤 How would it feel to embrace your 'monster under the bed'? Think about zombies, werewolves, vampires: they're unapologetically themselves! A werewolf doesn’t give a crap about being hairy. A zombie isn’t insecure about its decaying flesh or even that it wants to eat your brains.
What fears arise at the thought of doing this?
What freedoms might this offer?
Remember, you are uniquely you... gremlins and all! Instead of masking your fears, judgments and insecurities, own them. Dance with them. Howl at the moon with them. The more you say BRING - IT - ON!, the less serious and more fun life becomes.
Stay spooky!
Susie