For most, this weekend is about dressing up as your favorite actress, superhero or ghoul and dancing the night away. For the little ones, it is about going door-to-door gathering as much candy as their plastic pumpkin or pillowcase will allow before curfew. It is about decorations, costumes, candles and candy.

For some, the thought of attempting to contact the Spirit World is heightened, thanks to lore and Hollywood. Despite the truth that the curtain from this world and the other side is pulled back during the next three days so that the worlds can meet and greet, this can be quite a temptation for those who are not aware of what havoc can be created if not taking the right precautions. People who have been influenced by the media and/or books will attempt to host séances and parties where the Ouija board and other methods of spiritual communication will be used. If not in the proper hands, you may be asking for more than you bargained for during these social gathering. There are countless documentations of spirit possession and exorcisms that have to be performed on individuals that have been overcome by the entity.

Despite being Halloween party props, there are negative aspects to using the Ouija board, Tarot Cards and other means of communication with the spirits and it is those negative aspects that will literally haunt you for the rest of your life, if you do not take certain precautions as these:

How to Stay Spiritually Safe during Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day

DON’T:

Do not conduct anything of the spiritual nature while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics of any kind, including prescription medicines. They can alter your perception of what is going on and you can become easily influenced and possessed if you do. If imbibing, smoking or taking medicine, beg off and sit out the session.

Don’t do anything connected with spirit communication alone. Always have at least one person near you when you begin and through the session.

Do not ask for any evil or negative influence to enter your space. Set parameters for only good spirits to enter.

Do not participate if you are fearful of the unknown. Fear can be a tool for entry of negative spirits or influences that can cause havoc because of wild imaginations. Remove yourself from the session if fearful.

Do not invite anything into your body to possess you or use you as a ‘mouthpiece’ or ‘horse’, meaning to be able to work through you for communication or actual work.

Do not ask for the Devil, Satan or any of the Legions to manifest. Do not use any names of Angels that you do not personally understand who they are or if you have heard any names in any horror movies. Some Angels of Darkness have ‘cutsie’ or benevolent sounding names, but in reality they are some of the higher ranking servants of Evil.

Do not enter abandoned building or places reputed to be haunted without the owner’s permission and without a professional paranormal investigator.

DO:

Maintain a high level of liquids (water, juice, herbal teas) in your body as you might find that you are losing more than normal as the body is in a heightened state of the spiritual.

Do get assistance and guidance from a paranormal investigator, professional ghost hunter or a credible psychic or medium.

Do investigate with an open mind and light heart. Make sure your intentions are good.

Do have fun and don’t be afraid because whether you know it or not, the spirits are around us 24/7, we sometimes just choose not to realize this.

The coming week will host three holidays that involve the Spirit world – Halloween on October 31st, All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd. These three historically connected dates involve doing for those who have departed and remembering or honoring them in some way. For some of the younger generations, the only idea that comes to mind for them is ghosts and goblins and trick-or-treating. There is a much more spiritual meaning of the three feast days.

First we start with Halloween, or as it was known before,  All Hallows Eve. This day is the traditional day before All Saints Day, or as it is also known, All Hallows Day. All Hallows Day, the day in which we honor the lives of the holiest of devoted Christians, those  who were named as Saints. It has been said that the origins of Halloween had children dressed as these virgins and martyrs of Christianity go door to door, reminding those faithful to  venerate them ‘on the morrow’ (the next day). Sweets were given to these little ambassadors of the departed Saints, thus the giving of treats to those who know on our doors on October 31st.

All Souls Day, on November 2nd, is for us to remember the departed humans who left us and were the ordinary Jane or Jack who was a Christian. In our town, we have the Aztec dancers and Native Peoples makes burnt offerings to the directions with white sage and to blow their conch shell horns. The processional around the Saint Mary’s Cemetery on 65th Street is quite a sight with the pageantry and dedication of the various groups of people who choose to join this ceremony. The procession, taking several hours, ends with a Mass with an outdoor altar covered with images of departed loved ones, candles, flowers, sugar skulls, pumpkins and corn.

I have recently renewed my indoor Ancestor Altar upon the reemergence of my long-forgotten spirituality. I wrote an article about it called “Your Ancestor Altar and Eguns”. Click on the blue title to go to my other site to read further.

The Full Moon occurs on Friday, October 22, 2010 at 8:38 pm E.S.T. The Moon in the astrological sign of Aries, is consider to be “Cardinal” in Nature. The energy of the Aries Moon is spirited, innovative, fiery, and energetic. It is considered a good lunation if you want to get things done, as the energy of the planet Mars, which rules Aries, is all about action.

The energy of this Moon is somewhat frustrating as there is the knowledge that things have to change yet as the days progress, you may find obstacles thwarting your progress. Do not lose your head over these matters, as the feeling of urgency drives you to your goal, but take the as a “weeding our” of the unnecessary situations and things for you to complete this goal. Cool heads prevail during this time. The Moon will be considerably absent on October 31st, making for a spookier atmosphere on Halloween.

The Full Moon is considered optimum time for doing “Reversible” candle work to send negative things and thoughts back to the sender. Burning black candles for “Revenge” work is done at this time. Reversible candles can be anointed with “Reversible ” Oil to boost it’s negative -releasing properties. Black candles can be anointed with“Run, Devil, Run”, “Crossing” or “Jinxing” Oils.

Be careful with your candles, making sure that you consider ways to keep your sacred place safe with fire safety measures. I have written an article regarding how to keep candle spells safe in the past, Ideas for Keeping Your Home Fire Safe During Candle Burning Spells. I suggest you read and brush up on fire safety.

The next New Moon occurs on November 6, 2010.