They’re fascinating, aren’t they?
Decadent Venetian carnival masks, eerie African death masks, elegant eye masks on wands, and let’s not forget the superheroes and their disguises. Masks can be beautiful, frightening, plain, ornate, but all of them have that strange draw.
They seem to tap into something quite primal in us, eliciting an emotional response even before we’ve even fully processed the image. It’s not fear exactly but a combination of unease and awe. Continue reading
Hurray! It’s Halloween! Today is a day when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest and magic is all around, so keep your eyes open and you may just luck into some. Although its modern celebration is with dressing up and trick-or-treating, traditionally it’s a day to honour ancestors and those we love who have passed on. In Mexico they celebrate the Days of the Dead, when loved ones can come back to spend time with their living relatives. In pagan traditions it’s called Samhain and is widely regarded as the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.
So after you’ve carved a scary face on the pumpkin, and the trick-or-treaters have emptied your cupboard of sweeties and apples, take a quiet moment to light a candle and remember those who have gone before. Wishing you all a lovely Halloween.