By Lacee Steigerwald
It’s that time again and I've been thinking. I know, it's terrifying. On this very deeply rooted event called Halloween, we have this one day to be as spirited as a ghost, as sultry and mysterious as a witch, as light as an angel and as super as well, Superman, but let's be real. Many of us grown-ups don't want to pay any attention to this day referring to it as well, for children. And the rest, they just don't see the point in it. Won't even put a bowl of candy out, leavin' the porch light off even though they're home... you know the kind of people. (I don't know what they call the Halloween version of Scrooge but they exist.) Even the laziest of all Hallow's Eve goers still don a mask for the cheapest of thrill. (Covid masks don't count, people.) Think about it, the mask alone has often been a symbol of power as if it gives the wearer ultimate freedom to do whatever they truly want to do. Most of us, (bank robbers not included), would say we only wear a mask or disguise once a year- if that- on Halloween. How come? When masks are so cool, right? If you think about it like you were an ancient warrior or King Tut, you can see how masks don't necessarily hide your identity but could reveal at the same time the symbolic spirit of yourself.
Coincidently, in our local cultures' tradition, we only celebrate the spirit world (dead or alive) during this season. I have found a particularly interesting connection between the unique energy of this day and wearing a fun disguise or costume. I don’t know if you have realized it as well, but whether it's a costume some wear every single year, or it’s a totally new freaky scene they've got going on, some find they have an uncontrollable urge to let the spirit out of themselves a little more than usual while wearing it. Sometimes the spirit takes the form of putting a little bit more effort into entertaining the children. But really, it’s about feeling more like a child yourself. I'll be totally honest. One of the main reasons I had kids was so I could go trick or treating again. When I was a kid, every block had those people that went to crazy levels to freak all the kids out. Dressing up, preparing the tricks as well as the treats beyond the extremes of years previous. I remember the guy who would dress up like a huge scarecrow and stand motionless for hours waiting for an innocent child to approach. He’d leap to life and scare the crap out of the parents. One of my friend’s moms peeled dozens of grapes just to make us all believe we were putting our hands in a bowl of real eyeballs. We were blindfolded. We were willing to touch and feel all kinds of gross questionable things. It was awesome. Maybe it's not just the dead peoples’ spirits that are welcomed on this day, but live people’s spirits are being beckoned to come out and play as well. But here’s the thing, you should be allowing your spirit to be worn on the outside every day. What you choose to wear every day makes that ethereal connection with others or it doesn't.
For example, (and this is just an example, geez) …a really fun tradition around this spirited holiday involves those who really enjoy dressing up in a costume that makes them feel sexy. They choose this one day to wear the most daring thing that they can, as if this day is the one day a year that they're licensed to do that. Naturally, I find that very amusing, but not surprising at the same time. If they are a tiger on Halloween, they're probably a tiger like that on the inside, at least a little bit, every day of their life. Am I not right? I’m not criticizing this seemingly deceptive act at all. I’m saying that it doesn’t happen quite enough! I don’t know about you but it’s like Halloween every day for me… and I’m not doing it for the candy apples. Let me explain.
There is book written by a man named Robert Green where he discusses certain qualities and behaviors of those who we might consider powerful people. In this list of The 48 Laws of Power, surprisingly, one of them is “taking on another mask”. Our ability to imagine ourselves as another person is not quite innocent but it's not by any means ugly or immoral. In fact, our ability to do such a thing is the one adaptation that apparently separates us from the mental capabilities of animals. I'm guessing that means it must be survival based, in which case we should practice it more than once a year.
To have the ability to use deception or disguising yourself a little, being flexible with your appearance and personality; and use it for good is a well-developed, cultivated art of civilization and it's one of the “most potent weapons in the game of power” according to the book by Mr. Green. The book further says, mastering this art is among the most important aesthetic pleasures of life and also happens to be one of the key components in the acquisition of power... if you’re interested in such a thing.
Certainly, the power to change your relationships, power to make more wealth, the power to do anything you want sounds way sweeter than all the Snickers and Nerds in the world, doesn’t it? Did you know that the best salespeople in the world have the ability to be welcomed on anyone’s level. No matter how they feel waking up that morning they go to work and put on a personality mask that doesn't judge, doesn't fear and understands what a person wants simply by identifying that person’s motivation for being there. It's putting yourself in their shoes and then making their lives better because that's what you'd want someone to do for you. I’d say it’s the highest form of empathy. After all, a dog can sense you are sad and maybe be sad itself, but only a human can truly understand and help you find a solution to a problem. Do you see what I mean by saying it's okay to wear a mask every once and a while? That it might actually be healthy for you? It’s our human spirit. But what does this have to do with actually wearing a mask? Well have you ever thought of expanding your wardrobe to include things you don't normally think of yourself wearing. Maybe dressing more exotically than your typical self?
Well let's go back to Halloween. Isn't being the mysterious unknown of the masquerade ball experiencing the aesthetic pleasures of life through disguise … Could you do this spontaneously? Can you be many different people; wearing the subtle mask that the day and moment requires? I can especially when I feel like I look the part and with just a hint of sexiness. Having style is hard, so go easy...on yourself. My methodology of style goes like this: #1 go unique, #2 go affordable whenever you can, #3 only buy it if it speaks to your inner self, and #4 only buy things that look good on your butt. This all adds up to straight killer confidence.
I like that these experts of wealth and power like Robert Green (48 Laws of Power) and Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) are validating this, impressing upon us that having a flexible approach to appearances, including your own, allows you to lose that inner heaviness that holds most people down. Quite the contrary belief of most people given how much people build up the reasons not to be a little more bold with their spirit and how they show that to others. Only dressing up if absolutely necessary to please the kids once a year. Release your charisma or inner charm by wearing something a little out of your comfort zone at least once a week if not every day.
Don't you want to see what happens if we start to wear the spirit within us on the outside; you know, instead of cooped up inside with the porch lights off. We should be able to dress up every day in clothes that attract just enough attention from whomever we choose and have fun with it. Imagine, a beautiful and unusual coat, or a cute t-shirt that makes someone look twice, a lingerie set we can’t believe we look so good in, a set of shorts we love to wear every day of the summer or a killer dress no one knew you owned. All these simple things can attract wonderful things because it is so simple.
You can experience love and attraction every day as long as you give it out. Get something from Nundo Merch and create smiles; always feeling less guilty about saying “this old thing?” Go ahead and wow them with you! Be Naked and Unafraid! Don’t wait once a year to do this hugely beneficial yet easy a change. For the benefit of a great state of mind! Release your inner spirit, your NUNDO @ www.nundomerch.com whenever you damn well feel like it! Shop NUNDO Merch. It's unique, affordable, speaks to everyone and looks good on your butt!