Dia de Los Muertos / Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead / Dia de Los Muertos

Los Cabos / San Juan

Nov 1,  2011 : The day children sprit return if called upon.

"Become friends with death," I heard a shaman say once, "it's the shaman's way. Like a best friend, death is always there sitting right next to you." I use to have a seductive romance with death. This dark gothic love for the once known now forgotten was romantically cupeled with deep fear. Now, my relationship with death seems friendly and respectful. "I see you," i told the spirit when i say it sitting patently in the corner of my mind. "I recognize you as death. Come forward and stop lurking my my shadow."  A few days later death did come to the forefront with flashing images of skeletons. " I see you," I told the spirit. " I recognize you as death. Stop trying to instill fear around who you are. Come forward and be friendly." 

In befriending death my fear of life has lifted and I feel as if death helps me see reality a bit clearer. With fear of death and fear of life lightened my mind can accurately access situations in a clear elegant way, which adds wisdom to my steps, were before emotion may had been. 

In building this relationship with death I recognize that each one of my beloved friends and family could be taken at each moment and that I could be taken from them at each second. I realize that all things are living and all things can die. I realize that death is only a death of ego, form and personality, but not of energy as a whole. I realize death is only rebirth into something new and what remains is your energy imprint you left on this plane of existence. 

It was so appropriate that in gaining this new insight and friendship, that  I was placed in Cabo San Lucas on Nov 1.  A friend Paulina had hired me to perform as a mermaid in a private event at the Hilton San Juan on Nov 2. So Nov 1 i was traveling with her through her day. It lead us to her children's motesory school at 7pm for a Dia De Los Muertos gathering.  Children ran around the mock grave yard as parents stood around the tombstones talking. Paulina explained that each child had made their own tomb stone. "Here in Mexico we kind of make fun of death," she said. "So each child made a tomb stone and wrote their own obituary."  Candles were lit at each tomb stone, some where created more like alters than tomb stones and a few people were dressed in traditional Dia De Los Muertos outfits with skull faced painted. 

To me it looked like this:

On this day, Nov 1, the spirit of children had a chance to return to the place they once walked upon the earth. Now, centuries later, the graveyard was empty of humans, which left a beautiful area for all the spirits to play with each other again, remembering what it was like to once be in human form and frolic with the senses. 

We left and went to the center of town to see a performance. Traditional Aztec dancers performed their warrior dance. Ballerinas choreographed a beautiful seduction with death. Poetry was written, fire was spun, and they story of Mexico's future, present and past was shared through art. 

To me it looked like this:

Humans gather to be part of the community and watch gladly as artists pour their passion into the moment. The artists dance with the idea that the spirits are watching and that maybe Frida Kahlo will make a appearance at her alter and see how much she was loved. Artists dance to express their need for change knowing that we only have a few breaths on this land and we must make those breaths meaningful. Drums Drum, Music plays, fire spins, dancers leap all in hope that in that moment we all become free of fear and step into a reality filled with life. 

The day was over and we head home. Death in the form of Karma came to me in my  dream. It showed me that in all the possible actions I make, each once creates an imprint in my mind and soul and that imprint guides my next action/reaction. 

I awake hoping I have many more breathes to take with those I love and with nature. "Death i see you. Take this journey of life together with me and at the end we will both be ready to embark on the new journey. But first lets live this adventure of love in this existence fully!" 

So today is Nov 2 . Dia De Los Muertos the day to call upon the adult spirits. I take this day to call upon all those I love, dead and alive, and celebrate YOUR spirit. Your time here on earth is beautifully shared within me. I see your spirit  swirl around my existence daily. Thank you for helping me on the journey of existence and for creating in me love!