Our Relationship With Death

It's almost Halloween!

…and it isn't part of my culture. It's only recently started to become a "novelty thing" in Greece, and we totally don't quite get it the way people who actually celebrate it likely do. So I don't want to talk about Halloween per se, but rather what I've considered it to be as an outsider looking in. And for me, Halloween is not about death. But it is all about fear of death.

In social sciences it's generally known that a visceral, primal way of coping with some kind of fear is to become it- put on a mask representing it. Create a ritual appeasing it while wearing its symbols. Make it happen in a controlled, safe environment so it doesn't happen in the real world. Diffuse its power by giving it attention in its "tamer" form, so it doesn't come at you full force.

We disguise ourselves with images of horror, of death, of terror, of situations we normally fear and wish we never encounter. And while there is that narrow group of people who put on the costume of a serial killer because they would love to be associated or even BE them, but most people do it in that other function I mentioned.

It's all within our relationship with death which, again, is really our relationship with the great unknown. The dark void for which we're unable to get answers since it's beyond the scope of our existence. The threat of nothingness and the threat of somethingness.

And it's not just death. Death is just the extreme version of change. Any event that completely changes our lives (for the better or the worse, it doesn't matter) carries the same level of emotional charge, intimidation, even fear, despite any excitement and dire wishing for it that we may be harboring.

Of course, for kids it's just dressup day! All of this goes for the adults that observe Halloween even by putting on Hocus Pocus every year.

Bottom line, psychology says that there is no person that doesn't fear death, even if they think they don't. And that's perfect, because it helps survival, creativity, and adrenaline to rush. What people can do regarding their relationship with death is develop a healthy approach to it. By that I mean an understanding that it's all right not to know. It's alright to have beliefs and ascribe to them, and it's alright to make your peace with it so that the threat and fear it brings about are on a manageable level.

Halloween is a huge death and horror party from what I have garnered, and it's a great way to celebrate life and be okay with death. Step out of your skin if you want, and be larger than life and larger than death, or don't, and have fun watching others do it. All of it works!

Happy Halloween!

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