November is traditionally a time in which many communities remember those who have died.
It starts with Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve) on October 31st, All Saints’ Day on November 1st, then All Souls’ Day for us normal folk on November 2nd, or el Día de los Muertos, as it is celebrated in Mexico, and then Veterans’ Day on the 11th to remember soldiers who died protecting our values and freedom.
In North America, we tend to avoid speaking about death, seeing it as sad, dark, depressing, as it reminds us of what has been lost, loved ones never to return, and all the grief that comes with that. But shouldn’t the dead be celebrated for bringing us, the alive, to where we are today? For we would not be here right now, if it were not for the sacrifices, gifts or risks our ancestors made.
We owe them everything.
Our lives, our lifestyles, our laws, our knowledge, our spirit. We owe them so much, that doesn’t celebrating, singing, dancing make more sense?
On el Día de los Muertos, Mexicans remember their departed ones with love and respect by setting up beautiful altars with pictures, flowers and food, lighting candles, hanging up colorful paper flags in the streets, dressing up and partying in a way that celebrates their own lives and their loved ones’ lives, too.
This week’s story, The Calling, is inspired from the life cycle of dragonflies, and the metamorphosis they undergo from Egg to Water Nymph to Dragonfly.
What adventures await them outside the pond where they were born? What wonders are they genetically programmed to become? How do they face the unknown and new beginnings with curiosity, courage and a sense of humor?
This story depicts beautifully how changes arise spontaneously in life in a way that we neither should fight nor fear. Celebrating change, following our calling, letting things go in order to embrace new ones, are all analogies for embracing death, pursuing our purpose and accepting all of life’s big changes with grace.
Celebrating death or change allows us to tame our own death.
How do you speak of death and transformation to your children? What celebrations do you practice to remember your departed loved ones?
We hope these reflections will bring light where there was none, and that this story’s uplifting, joyful tone will inspire you and your kids today!
