Brought to you by little gypsy girls and shadows.
Happy Halloween, My Pretty One!
There is something so mystical about this time of year. The tangible feeling of the veil between the worlds thinning, the permission to own a part of you that is usually keep contained. All the free candy!
My favorite costume as a child was a gypsy.
I draped myself with every piece of my mother's Avon jewelry, wore tons of makeup, scarfs, and a long flowy peasant dress. I was in heaven (alas, I tried to find a picture but could not). I wanted to see into the future, understand secret things, be Mysterious! My mystical leanings started early.
I still check in with my little gypsy girl. She holds magic and wonder for me as well as a certain boho savior faire. Today she tells me I need more sparkle, definitely need a wardrobe update, and red lipstick. She doesn't at all care that red is really hard for me to wear. The lips must be RED! A shopping trip is in order I think.
What was your favorite costume as a child?
Tap into the energy of the you in that costume and what that little one wants for you now. I bet she urges you to give yourself something you have been denying.
If we dig underneath the playful surface of Halloween, what is found is the undeniable power available in visiting the realms of what we typically keep hidden and denied. Our shadow self. The self that often expresses in the costumes we choose.
Our shadow comes to us so we can claim the forgotten, unwanted, inconvenient somethings that hold important pieces of our wholeness.
I am no exception. My shadow world has been down right insistent
with me these last couple of weeks, calling me reveal myself in a two particularly public ways.
Public outing #1
My "being seen at 50" series on the blog. I had just started this 3am inspired project when I last wrote you. The response has been touching, beautiful, vulnerable and powerful! As I work though my process of confronting my feelings about being 50 by posting self portraits, readers (not all of them middle aged,this stuff is not age speicifc) are taking their own brave and tender steps towards seeing themselves with honesty and acceptance.
They are writing, commenting on Facebook, posting pictures themselves, looking at their deeper feelings of age and beauty. But more than that, their visibility. My latest post, "vanity is thy name me?" challenges the idea that we are vain or conceited for craving, even needing to see our own image. (All the post in the series are here if you want to read up.)
It is potent and healing to walk though this snarl of personal and collective shadow with others.
Public outing #2
A guest post that is up now over at Mythic Rhythm. But this is not a typical post, but one written by a shadow part of me called Margo. Let me explain. Kris Oster, head mermaid at Mythic Rhythm does amazing mermaid marketing magic (no really, she is a mermaid!) and I've been lovingly seduced by her siren song. One of her assignments was to write as if your shadow was the CEO of your business.
I discovered mine is named Margo, and boy, oh boy, oh boy! did she come out to deliver quite the cosmic smack down! Give it a read
. Fair warning, she swears- a lot!- and has a thing for absinthe.
Both of these projects have caused more than a few deep breathes and honest check ins with myself, of the "Am I crazy saying this? Am I sure this is what is right for me right now?" variety. Nothing goes public with out inner green light alignment.
You know what it is like. There is that thing that demands honesty and expression even as it pokes at your tender underbelly. That thing you must say but in the saying will reveal something you are scared to have seen. It demands you peel away some of your covering, a bit of your hardened protection.
But each time you and I show up anyway we claim our space, our place, and our power in this world.
This is delicate business, allowing ourselves to be seen in our shadow places. It is no place for saboteurs, inner bullies, or critical judges. It requires we be fierce with our truth and utterly tender with our heart.
The only way shadow reveals empower rather than shame is if they are done in love, acceptance, respect and by free choice. Liberation is the reward.
This is power of All Hallows Eve
, this mysterious place where the veil becomes thin. Our shadow demands we dance even as it steps on our toes and whispers in our ear things that make us cringe.
Look twice at the shadows as they grow longer and listen even harder to the inner one you want to silence as we move into the dark time of year. The flickering light and small whispers are leading you to something you deeply want.
Love,
Sandi
PS. If you are a business owner who wants a bit of mythic and archetypal magic to inspire your marketing I highly recommend checking out Kris Oster's work.
PPS. I may take a hint from Kris and may let shadow CEO Margo write an upcoming letter to you. It could be fun.
