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Barbara Biziou
Teacher of Practical Spirituality and Ritual
As the author of The Joy of Ritual, and The Joys of Family Rituals she is a leading expert in integrative wellness, global rituals and work-life harmony. She has had the privilege of lecturing around the world and learning from many different cultures. Barbara has a deep commitment to integrating practical spirituality into people’s lives, both personally and professionally. As an interfaith Minister she believes that ritual is a spiritual technology that strengthens and empowers us to create happy, prosperous and healthy lives. She coaches women and men to create new possibilities and ways of looking at the world- gently stretching you out of your comfort zone into a more enriched focused life. She is on the faculty of the AMA, Creating WE Institute, One Spirit Learning Alliance and the New York Open Center. Barbara is a renowned national TV personality, she was the featured life coach on the hit series 30 Day airing on FX , and appeared regularly as the everyday ritual expert on The Hallmark Channel’s New Morning. Barbara has also been featured in Today in NY, Body& Soul, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Magazine and Parents Magazine. She is passionate about helping people understand their respective selves and live the life of their dreams!
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The Real Meaning of Halloween
Barbara BiziouOctober 29
Halloween to most of us means candy, costumes and trick-or- treating. For New Yorkers it means one of the biggest parades of the year – hundreds of thousands of people congregate in Greenwich Village in elaborate costumes. You can even see it on national television.
Hallows or Hallomas started out as a festival to honor the Crone, -the wise grandmother. Over the years it has been transformed into wicked old witches flying on broomsticks with black cats. Even the cauldron has changed meaning as it represented the womb of the Goddess -a symbol of rebirth. Did you know that the idea of going from door to door to ask for candy and sweets actually comes from a British custom of asking for money for the poor?
When the Christian Church took over the holiday they renamed it Halloween (hallowed eve) The Celtic name is Samhain -summers end – and is the beginning of the Celtic New Year. Hallowed means holy and this is a sacred time for honoring our ancestors. For many cultures this is a time when the ancestors return to visit and communicate with the living. In Latin America, El Dia del las Muertes is celebrated at the cemetery. Families sweep the graves, bring food, create altars and celebrate the ancestors. In Ireland, people believe that the fairy people come out on this special night as the veil is lifted. Christians all over the world celebrate All Souls Day and All Saints Day (November 1 and 2).
In the true spirit of Halloween, let us take some time to honor our ancestors and to share their gifts with our children. Make this Halloween a time to honor our elders- send them a card, take them out to dinner or just say,” I love you”. Collect money, toys and food and give it to those who are more unfortunate as we count our blessings.
Tags: rituals