Halloween reflection: Giving a body to those human fears

Happy Halloween! Shall we get deep and philosophical?

What do we fear? What makes us go pale in the face and weak in the knees?

Fear is largely contextual and historical. Like everything humankind creates, it responds to a particular period in time and reflects the society of the moment. Witches, vampires, mummies, a man brought back to life by electricity and stitched together like a collage of different body parts, werewolves, the Yeti, Sasquatch, clowns, aliens, atomic bombs, ageing... All of these reflect particular fears of particular times.

Let's get into it...

Weekly Thoughts

 October is full of surprises, emotions that surpass the words available to describe them and a bit of anxiety bubbling up for what's to come.

Let's get into it.

Random Halloween Recs

I can never decide when it comes to Halloween movies. There are so many, and I'm quite the cultural consumer, but there are a few classics that are non-negotiable for me during the wicked season. 

The '90s were witches' territory. I've talked about this in this post, so of course The Craft, Hocus Pocus, and Practical Magic are here. Dracula is a fever dream, and it's ridiculous, but also 100% vibes. The '80s were great for spooky movies. Beetlejuice, The Lost Boys, and The Shining are some of my forever classics in October. And I'm a lover of oldies, but I also recognize that there have been some great films since the 2010s. If you liked del Toro's Frankenstein, definitely check out Crimson Peak. And The Conjuring movies are perfect to watch with friends in October.

Rebirth, Rebreak, Recharge, Retake

So while I enjoy the temporary freedom of post-midterms mania, I'm writing this and watching the first episode of season 4 of Dawson's Creek. There are truly no Paceys in this world. Sad.

I wanted to make a small update post before I get back to the usual stuff.

Whoever thought it was a good idea to start a whole degree a year shy of turning 30+? It was me, yes, but somewhere between studying and taking exams, that firm conviction that gets me to class every day starts to waver, and I start questioning whether it's really worth the stress (it is... I have to believe it is).

Something we've been studying lately is desire, that thing that keeps us moving forward. I was talking to my friend about it over a video call today, about what it means to understand that we're never truly complete, that no object of desire can ever fully satisfy that lack we experience in life.

So when I think about things I consider worth it, I tend to ask myself whether they fall into the category of things I desire. I know I desire so much, and yet I know that once I get those things, I'll only want more. And beyond the idea that we'll never find something that makes us feel entirely whole, there's something about recognizing that desire for something unknown and unnamed, something that will always be there. Even after I finish this degree, even after wherever life might take me.

A bit overwhelming.

I'll leave these thoughts hanging for the moment. I'm happy to be writing here again. I'll definitely be desiring to write some more :)

P.S. I'm in the Southern Hemisphere, so we're supposed to be in spring, but it feels more like fall than ever...