Halloween and Samhain

You know....The cycle of life, death and re-birth is one of those topics that few people like to think about let alone discuss. During this "Halloween" season, we glorify and delight in witches and ghosts and costumes but few (with the exception of Wiccans/Pagans or true Theologians) understand the meaning of all of this hoopla. And that is the cycle I just mentioned... Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Samhain, Dia De Las Muertas are all synonymous with generally the same things but for VERY different reasons. Halloween is what I refer to as a "Corporate" holiday - another trumped up event to sell truckloads of candy, costumes, facepaint, cards, decorations and other "notions". The latter 3 names I mentioned refer to a centuries, milleniums-old tradition of honoring those spirits who have Crossed - a day when the veil between our world and the next is thinned so that the Spirits of those we have lost may walk amongst us and communicate with us. It is traditional to set up an altar (be at a "true Altar" where your routine Magick is practiced or a card table that you have stored in the shed for non Wiccans or practicioners of Erath based religions...) with pictures and small mementos of the Crossed in an effort to entice them to come to you and communicate. It is very powerful and very beautiful! But...leave it to "Corporate America" and Fascist - I mean Christians and other Mainstream religions (non fascist) - to take the beauty of a Soul communticating with a loved one and turn it into a $30 ghost costume. Take the beautiful image of the Goddess, the Mother, Gaia, and her Believers and turn us into ugly old hags.....and you have your idealistic corporate crap! I wonder if anyone purchasing or wearing a costume understands WHY they do...for those who do not, it is to "disguise" yourself from "death" comming to take your soul or those "old, ugly hags" comming to get you and hex you........Well, at least you know know. So, I cannot in good consious say Happy Halloween....but I will wish you a Merry Samhain and may you be openminded enough to feel your Crossed loved ones who are speaking to you and are closer to you than at any other time. So mote it be......