Okay, maybe if we didn't watch Nickelodeon so much we wouldn't see the advertisements for "13 Days of Horror" that's coming up, or another channel's "Best Horror Movies" with clips from "Halloween" and "Hellraiser." I'm tired of putting my hand over Bill's eyes, and I wonder what's so different about this year than any of the other years for me. I walk into KMart and see the ghoul with his bloody head in his hand, moaning, and I get slightly sick to my stomach. What IS the fascinatioin with horror, fright, gore, screams? Don't we have enough of that in the REAL world? Isn't there some other way to celebrate this sacred time of year, the time of changes, autumn solstices, becoming more introspective? I don't know if Day of the Dead or All Saint's Day would be "better," but I'm intrigued with the HONORING of our dead, rather than a groutesque glorification of the natural process of dying.
I would be lying if I didn't say that I hope Bill doesn't want to watch horror movies when he's older. I know Kari has watched a few, and Jordan and Erik both told me they saw "Hostel" and even THEY got too freaked out at one point in the movie and had to turn it off. I admit, I watched horror movies when I was younger, but when I watched "The Island" and had a nightmare, then came into Mom and Dad's room (I was 19), they didn't have much pity for me, and that was pretty much the end of scary movies for me. But I admit, I like the Blade movies (there's something about vampires...), but I can't tell you the difference in my mind, other than I've heard it said that your brain can't tell what's REAL and what's NOT. So if I tell you to picture a yellow rose, your brain impulse would look the same as if you were looking at a REAL rose. So what we see on TV or in the movies is real to us whether it really IS real or not.
I know I can't fight City Hall (or KMart), so I'm giving Tochi sunflower seeds out for Halloween, continue researching Day of the Dead festivities, continue celebrating the autumn solstice, and continue holding a sacred space for love and gentleness and light. I wonder what it would take to change it all around, then I know that it can only change inside myself, so that is where I look (again) today - peace and love for myself, for my loved ones, for my dear friends, for my acquaintances, for those who hurt me, for all world leaders, for those who are hurting or scared or hungry, and peace and love for those who are in pain and hurt others. I want to be as holy (whole) and healed (whole) as possible, and if that is where I keep my concentration, that is what I'll keep creating, and when it's beautiful on the inside, it's beautiful on the outside, as well.
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3 comments:
The bloody masks are there for a few reasons. Very rarely do we get to celebrate the darkness or "shadow" side of ourselves. But mainly because most people just want to make money any way they can. I guess more people who shop at Kmart want to buy bloody masks then budest monk masks.
casey.
;)
I don't see the connection either Susie. I do however like to see children excited to "play dress up" for Halloween. My favorite costume was one that I wore at age 6... my Mom made me a Little Mermaid costume! (Thank you Mom.) If we focus on the positive aspects of this "holiday" I think we'll be able to see past the gore that we both dislike so much. I agree that it is harmful to instill fear in others, so this Halloween lets shine a little brighter to balance this negativity.
Good point, Casey - but I'd LOVE to see some Buddhist masks at KMart, wouldn't you? We could have a mannequin sitting on our front porch in the lotus position with their hands in mudras, and a bag of candy in their laps... but I'll think about what you said about celebrating our shadow side - that makes good sense.
Karen - I DO love the dressing up part, as well, but just not the violence and fear/gore factor. Should we make up some new traditions to counterbalance it?
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