According to a piece by Douglas Todd in Saturday's Vancouver Sun, this is the season when it's easy to find 'thin places' -- places where the membrane between the physical world and the spiritual one is thin enough to allow spirits (or ghosts, if you prefer) to pass through. But he's not the only one to recognize the 'differentness' apparent during this time of year. Diwali, the Indian festival of light, also occurs during this auspicious time. Celebrations in Vancouver begin today and run through the weekend.
Today's the day Mexicans celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. It's also the day Roman Catholics observe All Souls' Day, a day when prayers are believed to release those who might have been trapped in purgatory.
It's hard not to think there must be something special about this time of year. With so many different belief systems observing important rituals involving the dead during this time, I can't help but suspect there's something to it.
I've got a candle burning in the kitchen, and who knows -- someone on the other side may well decide to come by and say hello.
2 comments:
Loved the link for Dwali. Very nice post. This is a mystical time of year.
Thank you, Mindie. I like the idea of a festival that uses light as such an important part of its rituals. In the cycle of Diwali, today is apparently the day to abolish laziness, so I guess the sunlight is my reminder to get out into the light and get something done!
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