Comments on: Comfort During Fearful Times: Happy Halloween http://www.comfortqueen.com/comfort-during-fearful-times-happy-halloween Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:13:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Helga http://www.comfortqueen.com/comfort-during-fearful-times-happy-halloween/comment-page-1#comment-1697 Helga Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:52:37 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=894#comment-1697 When it comes to dealing fear, living in the Southwest has its distinct advantages. “Halloween” in its various adaptations lasts 3 days or more. Today is Dia de los Muertos, a celebration of those who have gone before (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead). Yesterday was the Dia de los Inocentes or Angelitos, a special remembrance of passed young ones. As I’m working on, or at least actively thinking about, my costume for the upcoming All Souls Procession, an amazing local tradition (http://www.allsoulsprocession.org/history), I am dealing with Fear And/through Creativity. It is another opportunity to find and develop coping skills. For me, fear and Loss are intimately connected because loss creates fear. There’s loss of people, their love, wisdom, and support – at least in their immediate, physical form -, and there’s loss of parts of myself that were connected to those dead and have gone with them. There’s the fear of how to ever re-forge those parts. And, of course, there’s fear of my own death some day, partly that reptilian thing kicking in [see Mona’s comment, 10/27], partly just a profound sense of loss. (Ok, screw healthy comfort – it’s cookie time!). Luckily, there’s also gratitude for all the wonderful folks I did have and still have in my life, and the sweet reminder that the relationship garden needs constant tender tending, including myself. (Yes, I’m putting that second cookie down.) Now, we’re full circle, and Flow is palpable. Looking at my Dia altar, complete with photos of my dead ancestors, sugar skulls, and marigolds, I am part of that ever flowing cycle of life and death/fear and loss, while firmly rooted in my “ancestry”, in a very large sense (you choose what “ancestry” means for you). There is a grounding and peace here, teaching me that fear will come and go all my life and reassuring me that, whether it’s coming or going, I am ok. When it comes to dealing fear, living in the Southwest has its distinct advantages. “Halloween” in its various adaptations lasts 3 days or more. Today is Dia de los Muertos, a celebration of those who have gone before (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead). Yesterday was the Dia de los Inocentes or Angelitos, a special remembrance of passed young ones. As I’m working on, or at least actively thinking about, my costume for the upcoming All Souls Procession, an amazing local tradition (http://www.allsoulsprocession.org/history), I am dealing with Fear And/through Creativity. It is another opportunity to find and develop coping skills.
For me, fear and Loss are intimately connected because loss creates fear. There’s loss of people, their love, wisdom, and support – at least in their immediate, physical form -, and there’s loss of parts of myself that were connected to those dead and have gone with them. There’s the fear of how to ever re-forge those parts. And, of course, there’s fear of my own death some day, partly that reptilian thing kicking in [see Mona’s comment, 10/27], partly just a profound sense of loss. (Ok, screw healthy comfort – it’s cookie time!). Luckily, there’s also gratitude for all the wonderful folks I did have and still have in my life, and the sweet reminder that the relationship garden needs constant tender tending, including myself. (Yes, I’m putting that second cookie down.)
Now, we’re full circle, and Flow is palpable. Looking at my Dia altar, complete with photos of my dead ancestors, sugar skulls, and marigolds, I am part of that ever flowing cycle of life and death/fear and loss, while firmly rooted in my “ancestry”, in a very large sense (you choose what “ancestry” means for you). There is a grounding and peace here, teaching me that fear will come and go all my life and reassuring me that, whether it’s coming or going, I am ok.

]]> By: Tobey http://www.comfortqueen.com/comfort-during-fearful-times-happy-halloween/comment-page-1#comment-1696 Tobey Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:29:06 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=894#comment-1696 there are some wonderful lines in that piece! they would be great to use as prompts... there are some wonderful lines in that piece! they would be great to use as prompts…

]]> By: Maryam Webster http://www.comfortqueen.com/comfort-during-fearful-times-happy-halloween/comment-page-1#comment-1691 Maryam Webster Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:20:13 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=894#comment-1691 Jen, what a beautiful narrative. I love autumn and Halloween is my favorite holiday in addition to Yule. In our home, we honor the ancestors and those who have gone before this night - especially those who have passed over recently. This year we will be honoring the lives and contributions of George Carlin (his humor is timeless), Studs Terkel (just today!) and other precious departed ones with a feast and stories of remembrance. Ancestral foods are bubbling on the stove. The garlic mashed potatoes my mom, dad and my husband's mother would have loved. The fried chicken and Philly cheesesteaks - the only time of the year we have these high calorie treats. Cider mulling at a gentle rolling boil fills the air with the rich scents of cardamom, vanilla beans, cloves and nutmeg. Crisp October apples bake in the oven stuffed with brown sugar and cinnamon. The scents of this time of the year are among some of the most precious of small comforts. We long ago ditched the chemical-filled candles and fresheners for natural burnt or simmered herbs and spices. Thanks for the lovely reminder of other beautiful signs of the turning of the year... Warm Autumn Blessings, Maryam Jen, what a beautiful narrative. I love autumn and Halloween is my favorite holiday in addition to Yule. In our home, we honor the ancestors and those who have gone before this night – especially those who have passed over recently. This year we will be honoring the lives and contributions of George Carlin (his humor is timeless), Studs Terkel (just today!) and other precious departed ones with a feast and stories of remembrance.

Ancestral foods are bubbling on the stove. The garlic mashed potatoes my mom, dad and my husband’s mother would have loved. The fried chicken and Philly cheesesteaks – the only time of the year we have these high calorie treats. Cider mulling at a gentle rolling boil fills the air with the rich scents of cardamom, vanilla beans, cloves and nutmeg. Crisp October apples bake in the oven stuffed with brown sugar and cinnamon.

The scents of this time of the year are among some of the most precious of small comforts. We long ago ditched the chemical-filled candles and fresheners for natural burnt or simmered herbs and spices.

Thanks for the lovely reminder of other beautiful signs of the turning of the year…

Warm Autumn Blessings,
Maryam

]]> By: Eliane http://www.comfortqueen.com/comfort-during-fearful-times-happy-halloween/comment-page-1#comment-1687 Eliane Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:54:39 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=894#comment-1687 So you love Halloween? Well enjoy! I´m from Mexico so we celebrate Halloween the same as you by getting a costume and asking for candy, so I love the be what you want for tonight. Really go burn your house. But we have something extra...!!!! Tatatatan... We celebrate the dead for two more days. We invite our dead to a wonderfull meal (a Altar we fix with their favorite food, tequila and sugar cranes) So we really go full out to laugh at death. To become her allie. So what do I get from this? The simple universal lesson to put some humor into our fears, lighten up and laugh. Enjoy halloween, think about me during the weekend and laugh at your fears, especially the really scary ones. Enjoy! So you love Halloween? Well enjoy! I´m from Mexico so we celebrate Halloween the same as you by getting a costume and asking for candy, so I love the be what you want for tonight. Really go burn your house. But we have something extra…!!!! Tatatatan…
We celebrate the dead for two more days. We invite our dead to a wonderfull meal (a Altar we fix with their favorite food, tequila and sugar cranes) So we really go full out to laugh at death. To become her allie. So what do I get from this? The simple universal lesson to put some humor into our fears, lighten up and laugh.
Enjoy halloween, think about me during the weekend and laugh at your fears, especially the really scary ones.
Enjoy!

]]> By: Scary Halloween » Blog Archive » Comfort During Fearful Times: Happy Halloween » Comfort Queen http://www.comfortqueen.com/comfort-during-fearful-times-happy-halloween/comment-page-1#comment-1686 Scary Halloween » Blog Archive » Comfort During Fearful Times: Happy Halloween » Comfort Queen Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:12:32 +0000 http://www.comfortqueen.com/?p=894#comment-1686 [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onComfort During Fearful Times: Happy Halloween » Comfort QueenHere’s a quick excerptGet some cheap face painting crayons at the drugstore, paw through your clothes or your kid’s dress up clothes, or blow off work right now and hit the thrift store. Heck, why not throw a party tonight with the theme of dressing as your … [...] [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onComfort During Fearful Times: Happy Halloween » Comfort QueenHere’s a quick excerptGet some cheap face painting crayons at the drugstore, paw through your clothes or your kid’s dress up clothes, or blow off work right now and hit the thrift store. Heck, why not throw a party tonight with the theme of dressing as your … [...]

]]>