Honoring Harvest Time and Departed Loved Ones
By Ischa Lea
Entering the sanctuary grounds in childlike secrecy, Sean and I sneaked into the children’s meditation room where we quickly donned our individual costumes. And, like little kids, we excitedly peeked through the window trying to guess who the wonderfully costumed individual walking down the pathway might be. What an immense, gorgeous Mexican hat and mask he wore! Turns out, it was none other than our dear Andy, whose beautiful antique car became the culprit that gave its owner’s identity away!
Greeting us as we walked through the kitchen door at the Lodge and dressed in full regalia stood a lovely Native American, Sharon Ray, busily tending to several warmers to ensure that all food would be at the right temperature and delicious throughout the evening.
“Wow!” she exclaimed. “Ischa, you look so beautiful I want to take you dancing!” And a pretty good dancer she was, breaking loose on the floor later in spontaneous reverie as Peter Schaefer, Guardian Tree Spirit, played his haunting flute melody.
Barbara’s Garden Fairy
Gracing our assemblage, resplendent with iridescent wings and carrying her magical wand was Barbara McCaughey. Little did our garden fairy suspect that I had whispered a small wish as she glided by, that the garden fairies in the sanctuary grounds outside would have much fun playing through her in our midst. And which party would ever be complete without a fortune-teller also? Smiling, all decked in perfect attire and carrying a crystal ball in her hands, Sunburst’s Vedic astrologer, Valerie King, with subdued voice and eyes softly peering at our auras, stood ready to declare her mystical insights.
Alas! We couldn’t have a party without good food, right? Delicious finger foods and treats graced our buffet table as everyone indulged themselves while being entertained by several “Falloweeners” exhibiting their great talents through the performance of several heart-warming, hilarious skits:
- As pretend stressed-out new parents, Heiko and Emily Wirtz, with newborn (a butternut squash with a drawn-on face), pacifier in her mouth, swaddled in warm blankets and sleeping peacefully in her carriage, made their grand entrance, inviting all to help cuddle their lovely “baby girl.”
- Mr. Compost, Sean Fennell, was a comical sight to behold as he sauntered onto the floor adorned in “mud,” composting vegetables, fruits and every imaginable bug—worms, spiders, centipedes—as well as mice, butterflies and birds. Thankfully, none were real and the mud was dark chocolate frosting with edible gummy worms on his face and arms!
“Mr. Compost”
- And what major event on Earth could ever go unnoticed by our inter-galactic friends? Beaming down in the midst of our celebration were none other than our cosmic buddies Spock (Craig Hanson) and Lt. Uhura (Miriam Lamb) from the USS Enterprise, as well as Lt. Lukara, wife of the great Klingon warrior Kahless, who proceeded to narrate a most intriguing story of how she met her husband.
The Star Trek crew
Music, dancing, musical chairs and fun prizes completed an amazing event; but also gracing the room with their unseen presence and energy all evening were many departed ones, whose photographs adorned a beautiful altar honoring the Day of the Dead, stood guard over the Lodge and the evening’s numerous events.
It has been said that our divine Parents created their divine children through whom they might enjoy the countless worlds and all things therein. Falloween proved to be an awesome forum for them to do just that! Laughter and fun filled the air that night, expressed in joy unbounded. It was a true celebration of SAMHAIN, the Gaelic festive night marking the beginning of the darkest part of the year whereby the veil between realities becomes increasingly subtle. A time to revel in the harvest, rejoice in the light (bonfires) that will illuminate the long nights and invite the faeries and loved ones past and present to an awesome celebration!