The Hidden Magic of Halloween
Me (on the left) and my childhood best friend dressed up as gypsies
Halloween is fast approaching! For me, Halloween has always been a sign of fall, cooler weather, and the beginning of the holiday season.
It seems you either love or hate Halloween, and I love it! Although I rarely get a chance to do so anymore, I love dressing in costume and enjoying sweet treats!
Dressing up, wearing costumes, play acting, and improvising give us a chance to try on and inhabit the different parts of ourselves that we might feel uncomfortable exploring in our everyday life.
I recognize that costumes can be a way of poking fun, or demeaning and belittling others through stereotypes. That is not my intention here. I think we can thoughtfully explore our parts in many ways, with one of them being through trying out costumes or playacting.
As I was writing this blog, I was thinking about my past Halloween celebrations and what it was like to dress up in costume for fun. Vivid images came to mind and I felt deep somatic (body) memories.
Here are some of the memories and parts of me that showed up:
As a youngster: We dressed up for fashion shows for our extended family using my grandmother’s old clothes and costumes. During the shows, I felt grown up and enjoyed getting lots of attention.
In elementary school: I dressed as a homeless person, or bum, as we called it back then. I loved the idea of putting on men’s clothes and make-up that looked like a scruffy beard.
In middle school: I was a gypsy. Wearing heavy eye make-up and colorful feminine clothes with lots of dangly jewelry made me feel beautiful and a little daring.
As a high schooler: I dressed up as a late-‘70s hipster with platform shoes, sparkly knee socks, rolled up jeans and a purple velvet top. I loved sparkles and soft textures, and I felt excited to be able to wear them together!
As a college student: I played a sexy woman of the night, with a glamorous dress and jewelry. I felt beautiful and able to embrace my feminine, sexual side when I was struggling with how to feel comfortable in it.
As a 40-something: I was a hippie with a long red wig, peasant top, granny glasses and peace signs bleached into my bell bottoms. The costume felt freeing, and was fun to wear as I was channeled my teen self that came of age in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
What I notice most when remembering the costumes was how it felt at that time, as I explored a different part of me that I’d kept hidden or left unspoken. The costumes allowed me to embrace different parts of myself and gave me permission to inhabit those parts for one day or night.
All of these Halloween memories got me wondering; What parts would I like to explore in costume if given the chance today?
A wise sage?
A psychiatrist with beard and monocle?
A nature lover with binoculars, a camera and a multi-pocketed vest?
They all sound like fun parts of me I’d like to explore further.
Are there parts you’d like to explore more fully?
I’d love to work with you if you’d like some guidance in discovering, re-discovering and setting free some of your parts!
Elizabeth Cush is a women’s life coach, a therapist, and the creator and host of the Woman Worriers and Awaken Your Wise Woman podcasts. She’s also the founder of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md and has been featured in these major publications. Elizabeth helps women bring forth their inner gifts and live with more authenticity, ease and purpose. Click here if you'd like to know more about working with Elizabeth.
Photo by Yuliya Ginzburg—Unsplash