Halloween in HP Lovecraft's hometown

Halloween in HP Lovecraft's hometown

Ahh…Halloween month  again.
Tis the season to revel in all things ghoulish and otherworldy.  For myself, I come from a family of Scorpios, my Dad being born on All Hallow’s Eve over a century ago, my Mother born 10/29 and myself on November 15.  So on Halloween, when the veil between the worlds becomes thin, I send my Dad (now deceased) a special birthday wish.  

As my roots are Celtic, I have always been fascinated by the Pagan rites of Samhain, the Fire Festival. It is said  that the veil between this world and the World of the Ancestors was drawn aside on these nights, and for those who were prepared, journeys could be made in safety to the ’other side’. The Druid rites, therefore, were concerned with making contact with the spirits of the departed, who were seen as sources of guidance and inspiration rather than as sources of dread. The dark moon, the time when no moon can be seen in the sky, was the phase of the moon which ruled this time, because it represents a time in which our mortal sight needs to be obscured in order for us to see into the other worlds.

Samhain was (and is) considered a very magical time, when the dead walk among the living and the veils between past, present and future may be lifted in prophecy and divination. So it’s my time to light a bonfire in the center of my stone circle, summon the spirit guides and ask for guidance on my journey. It is a time of reflection, and time of meditation, and feeling connected with all things both of the material and spiritual world, the physical and non-physical.

As to all those Haunted Houses and Fields of Screams, Trails of Terror, and other local attractions so popular around here, I just don’t find them remotely scary.  I went to a new one tonight, hoping for a real scare…but sadly, no.  And those “cute” Halloween decorations, fake blood, inflatable headless horsemen, and the like?  Sad, really. Just NOT SCARY at all.  I think I’ll take a walk through Swan Point Cemetary (Providence, RI)(final resting place of HP Lovecraft) and watch Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp again.  Now Christopher Walken?  He’s my idea of a guy I wouldn’t want to see in the woods at night.  Johnny Depp? he’s just divine, in any movie. Time to dig out the old Midnight Syndicate CDs and decorate the castle.

What do you think about Halloween these days? Does any of it really scare you? Is it all getting just too commercial?  What or who will you be this Halloween?  I just took a trip tonight to a couple of Halloween superstores in our area…absolutely none of it was scary, a lot of it was in REALLY bad taste…I mean, bar boobs (?)  You know a guy had to think that one up.  Imagine the store detective guy that has to watch the dressing room cams for shoplifting…that MUST be scary

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On a totally unrelated and random note, I found a fun new app for your website or blog. It's a free social media toolbar by Wibiya that sits discreetly on the bottom of your page and is totally customizeable. Check out the FREE beta here: (www.wibiya.com)

You sign up for a free account and customize what you want on your toolbar, and they provide you with a small line of code you add to your page. I installed it on my website www.cynthiablair.com so you can see it in action.  I love seeing my pages translated into Chinese, even though I haven't a clue what it says

Join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/artistCynthia…