Halloween is
a European tradition that was most likely brought to the US from the Scottish and
Irish immigrants. It is believed to have its origin in the Celtic world and
later in the Christian world. It is a time to celebrate the soul. In the tradition
the wealthy would give small cakes to the poor who would beg from door to door
on All Hallows Eve. In return for being chartable souls would be released from
hell or purgatory and transcend to heaven. This was called souling and the cakes given to the poor were called soul cakes.
Yoga makes
it very clear that we should all be charitable not just with our money, but
with our time, our thoughts, our words and our deeds. It also means we should give without attachment
or the desire to receive something in return. Give for the sake of giving. Here
is where the ego comes in…it always wants to get something in return. When we expect joy from outside things we are
never satisfied. So remember to give so that
a soul may find peace and in this you will always be rewarded with a sense of peace
within yourself.
Everyone wants
to be happy. Attachment brings pain. Detachment brings peace. In life things
come and things go. It is like the ancient fable about the musk deer. The musk
deer loves the scent of musk. In the fable the musk deer has a musk spot on its
forehead. It runs from place to place seeking out the origin of the scent not realizing
that the scent is on its own forehead. Happiness is like that- it’s not out there
it’s within you.
Happy Halloween
Doctor Lynn
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