Halloween: Entering the world of all possibilities

Halloween is many things. It is foremost a time of fun and frivolity. That can take many forms, the most common (in the U. S.) being kids in costumes asking for candy and other treats. It is also parties for them and “spook alleys”.

Adults have fun as well. Many find joy being amidst the costumed children and seeing that they have a safe, exciting time. Others go to their own activities to engage in more grown-up versions of costumed partying.

For the adults in costume, and perhaps to some degree for the children, Halloween is a time to release one of their alter egos. Or, it can be a time to try out a potential new one. This is a time when it is socially acceptable to express ourselves in a way that is very different and “out of character”. It is an opportunity to be bold, to experiment.

We do this naturally as children. It is part of establishing our identity that we will present to ourselves and to the world. In our young years it appears as role-playing. In our teen years, it manifests as rebellion. It parts the curtain slightly again as a “mid-life crisis”. This is when we realize that the identity that we clutched so fervently as a young adult may not have actually represented all we are, and we feel the angst.

For some, another major opportunity comes in the fall and winter of life. Our career has ended, the children are grown and we are alone or with our partner. At last, we seem to have finally reached the point where we can ask “what do I really want to do?”. If we are fortunate, the question is no longer bounded by economic needs, and social requirements are diminishing. We can now look at what is in our hearts.

The shaman, the warrior, takes a different approach. He or she will adopt different “costumes” to accomplish a purpose. This may sound insincere, but it is the opposite. It is being totally true to your heart, perhaps more so than the average person who zealously adheres to a particular philosophy or creed. But, that is a comparison you must resolve.

Consider this in the process: Would you wear the same clothes to work on your car or garden, to play with the kids, to attend a nice dinner with friends, to go to church, and to sleep? For most, the answer is no.

Every great master and spiritual leader that I’m aware of has used different “costumes”. At various times they may be a recluse, a disciplined devotee, a demanding leader, a gentle confident, a compassionate healer, a charismatic speaker, a quiet sufferer of abuse, an aggressive and fearless defender of truth, or any number of other roles.

For the person who is seeking to fulfill their life’s purpose, the requirements are similar. If you wish to be seated in your power, you must learn to step into different roles — to be able to change “costumes” freely and easily.

The keys are:
First, to be able to create and wear the “costume”. Actors learn to do this to some degree. This is an important aspect of shamanic training, and is much more extensive.
Second, to be able to remove it easily. You must create a structure that allows you to stay connected with your heart and truth. This is where most people fail. They adopt a “costume” in their youth because it serves them at the time, but without realizing it’s limitations. At that time they lack the maturity and understanding to be able to create an “exit strategy”, or a way to remove the “costume” when it is no longer viable for them.
Third, they use their “costumes” with integrity and honor, and always in harmony with their heart and truth. This is what separates the shaman, the warrior, the inspired spiritual leader, from the charlatan and the dictatorial tyrant.

Everything we do should be grounded in integrity, honor and truth, and practiced with consciousness.

So, what is your “costume” today?