Haunted Haus: Part 1 - Nostalgia
Welcome to the Haunted Haus!
It is October, spooky season, and soon crunchy leaves and early nights will be upon us! This is a liminal time, when the veil between our reality and the Otherworld is thin. If this season allows spirits and other energies to boundary-hop, perhaps we too can use this time to take ourselves through a portal and into another land.
Part 1 of this Haunted Haus zine will serve as a portal into childhood. The theme is nostalgia, and our primary goal will be to reawaken the magic of childhood. Read on to get ideas for connecting with your inner child, engaging in ritual and symbolic work, and healing parts of you that were wounded a long time ago.
But first, let’s pick a soundtrack to get you in the spirit of a childhood Halloween!
*these playful Nintendo tunes to bring out the candy fiend and game loving child in you. if you’re looking for a way to connect to the fun and lighthearted aspects of a childhood autumn, this is your soundtrack.
*spooky, haunting, and atmospheric, this Haunted Mansion music is good for when you’re accomplishing daunting tasks. with this music on in the background, whatever you’re doing feels like an important and dangerous mission.
*the eerie but tranquil vibes here transport you to a cozy scene with a crackling fire. there’s a serene element but also a sense that you’re piecing together the details of a sinister plot (which you will inevitably foil because you’re the hero of a Disney Channel Original Movie.)
a playdate with your inner child
Do you remember how easy it was to believe in magic as a kid? And how enriched our lives were because of it? We made clouds move with our minds, we traded teeth for coins with a nocturnal fairy, and we accepted that the world was mysterious, that adventure was waiting.
A theme I’m noticing both personally and professionally, is an intense increase in nostalgia, a desire to relive elements from our childhood. I wonder if part of that desire comes from a longing for that belief in magic. The belief that we are powerful. The belief that we can significantly impact the world around us, and that the universe cares about our tiny lives.
I think a part of you might still believe in magic.
We all have an inner child; a part that holds on to feelings, interests, and also wounds from our early lives. For some of us, our belief in magic may be located in this part. Let’s find it and nurture it. Let’s lean in to the nostalgia, reminisce about Halloweens-past, reconnect with and heal our inner child. Let’s believe in magic again.
Here are some ideas for getting started:
ritual and magic
You know that special blanket or stuffed animal you had as a kid? The one you took everywhere with you because it made you feel safe?
That was magic right?
How else do you explain the power of that object? It comforted you when you were sad, it protected you from whatever lived in your closet, and it had that very specific smell that, when tucked right under your nose, could get you to fall asleep within seconds.
You made it magic, because you believed in it.
Maybe you had other magic objects as you got older. A lucky pen that helped you feel confident about tests? A favorite sweatshirt that you had a great day in every time you wore it?
What kind of magic object would you benefit from now? Let’s create one! Here’s a ritual for creating a new magical object for yourself:
*pretend you found these instructions written on a piece of thin, yellowing paper, tucked between some pages in a Nancy Drew book that you’re reading with a flashlight because you’re up past your bedtime…
STEP ONE: IDENTIFY A DESIRED FEELING
What would you benefit from feeling more of? Do you want to feel safe? Joyful? Are you longing for a sense of peace? Are you seeking creative inspiration? Think about what emotional state sounds best at this moment and specify a word that encapsulates that feeling.
STEP TWO: CHOOSE A REPRESENTATIVE OBJECT
When you think about this word and this feeling that you have identified, what memories come to mind? Try to think of a time when you strongly felt this emotion. Are there images that rise to your awareness? Is there a color, a shape, a symbol, etc. that seems to represent this emotion? If nothing comes to mind from your memory, simply daydream about this feeling and see what comes up.
Jot down some notes about the kinds of images that come to mind and spend some time with this list. What stands out? Pick the item you’re most interested in and find a way to bring it into the physical world. If it’s a color, find a crayon, paint sample, shirt, etc. of the same color. If it’s a shape, find something of the same shape you can hold in your hand. If it’s an animal, find a small figurine of this animal, or make one out of clay. If it’s an abstract symbol, draw or paint this symbol yourself.
STEP THREE: ENCHANT THE OBJECT
Once you have your object, it’s time to power it up. Hold your object in your hand and clear your mind. Recall times when you have felt your desired emotion, and let the feeling rise in you now. Where in your body do you notice this feeling? Pay close attention to the specifics of how it feels, then allow this feeling to be absorbed into your object. Visualize your object soaking up this feeling like a sponge, and allow it to be the container for this feeling.
STEP FOUR: USE AS NEEDED
When you’re longing to experience this emotional state, find your object and visualize some of its stored up energy seeping into your body. Recall what it feels like to hold this feeling inside you and allow it to rise up once again.
affirmations to heal your inner child
The world can be a harsh place for children. Sometimes we may mirror that harshness internally with our self talk. Can you think of times that you were impatient with yourself, expected yourself to be perfect, or simply ignored your own needs entirely? The part that carries the burden when we fail to be gentle with ourselves is often the inner child. Let’s practice being kinder to that little version of ourselves.
direct these messages to a younger version of yourself:
-You made a mistake and I don’t love you any less
-Your voice mattered then and your voice matters now
-I see you trying the best you can
-It’s okay to feel lonely. I am here for you
-You are loved just as you are. There is no need to change
-You no longer have to hide yourself
-Your parents mistakes were a reflection of their journey, not your self worth
Thanks for reading!! We hope you’ll check back next week for more. Haunted Haus Part 2 will explore an entirely different topic, while continuing to play with themes that connect mental health to magic and the paranormal. Stay spooky!
