For many people, this last week of October brings parties, festivals, and preparations around the theme of Halloween. Halloween evolved from All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Hallows' Day, or as we term it now, All Saints' Day, celebrated in Catholicism as well as several other Christian denominations. I always find it an interesting cultural twist that Halloween is counterbalanced with All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day, November 2, first reverently giving honor to all Saints, known and unknown. Then the following day, is given to remembering and praying for faithful Souls who have passed on (depending on different traditions that may include those who attain heaven, or those who are in purgatory, still fulfilling penance). These two celebrations overlap with Day of the Dead, a more social, family recognition of friends and family members who have died, now celebrated throughout many countries, but with deep roots in Mexico. Here, we also have the belief that there is a space in time when those who have died can intersect with the living, briefly returning for a reunion. So the end of October and the beginning of November brings an energy of meeting, past and present, life and death, the terrifying forms and the sweet treats of life, daily human life co-mingling, touching transcendent spirituality, and love that is lost, then cyclically returned--in a magical, mystical dance.
As we all plow through these times we live in, the transition from October to November also brings the national and state elections to another kind of co-mingling of opposing politics. As yet, we are moving toward unknown outcome. Yesterday in meditation, I found myself wandering in thought. My wandering went to wondering: what comes next? I know many are not just wondering, but are are worrying--with all sorts of frightening possibilities popping up in their minds--many triggered by social media from the thoughts and images of others, created for the sole purpose of stirring fear and conflict. In my meditation, I unexpectedly saw a link between worry and wonder. Wondering what might happen can take a turn to worry, Worry turns to fear. Fear feeds itself. Can we shift our worry back to wonder? And then, consider wonder not as a verb, but wonder as a noun: Wonder. This is word play, yes, but it led my thoughts back to stillness, peace and the Wonder of it All. That Wonder supersedes the fears of the unknown and clarifies your own personal path.
So let today, and the week ahead bring you Wonder, not worry. Even if you choose not to join in the revelry of Halloween, the sanctity of All Saints Day and prayers of All Souls Day, or none of the often intense emotions and liveliness of Day of the Dead, know that millions of people do, in this transition to November. That in itself is Wondrous. Rituals are their own form of the Wondrous. You can find your Wonder to lift you past election intensity, and remind you of your Larger Life. Meditation can open that door. (Susan Nettleton)
For poetry: https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=475&op=audio https://kundalinisplendor.blogspot.com/.../deeper... https://www.bartleby.com/.../249-the-mystic-trumpeter/