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EXCERPT (with links): “Houdini’s Last Month (and Allhallowtide)” October 31, 2023

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Wisdom, Yoga.
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Peace and treats for all, especially those observing or celebrating Samhain, Halloween, and/or Allhallowtide.

“My chief task has been to conquer fear. The public sees only the thrill of the accomplished trick; they have no conception of the tortuous preliminary self-training that was necessary to conquer fear.”

— Harry Houdini

The following excerpt is from a 2020 and 2021 post:

“Given his background and his beliefs, I find it very interesting that Harry Houdini died on Halloween, which is the beginning of the Western Christian feast of Allhollowtide and connected to the pagan celebrations of Samhain.

Samhain, ‘summer’s end,’ was a time when the Celts believed that the door between ‘this world and the next’ was opened just enough for the dearly departed to step back for a visit. Some of those visitors were welcomed… some not so much. Either way, people developed rituals to pay respect to the dead and also to ward off evil. Those customs included guising or mumming (also souling), where people would dress in disguises and go door-to-door offering prayers and songs in exchange for alms and treats (like soul cakes). Fire is a big element in the celebrations as it is an element of purification. Additionally, it was believed that passing cattle around a bonfire would reveal any spiritual possession. Pope Gregory IV moved the Christian feast All Hallows’ Day, or All Souls’ Day, to November 1st in 835 – thereby making October 31st All Hallows’ Day Eve. In Scottish, the word ‘eve’ is ‘even’ and contracted to ‘e’en’ or ‘een,’ making today Halloween – the scariest day of the year!”

This year’s annual séance is in Charleston, South Carolina, but you can click here to read my post.

Please join me today (Tuesday, October 31st) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10312020 All Hallows’ Eve”]

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.)

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