I don’t think I have looked forward to Halloween since I was a child. It was never a big holiday in my house, but my siblings and I did go trick-or-treating with our parents. Our neighbors and family members really made us earn our candy because we had to sing a song in order to collect our stash. It wasn’t until I moved to Philadelphia in 1992 that I discovered Halloween was a bigger holiday than Christmas! For several years, I attended the Philadelphia Orchestra Halloween concerts where the musicians and patrons all dressed in costume, and prizes were awarded. It was entertaining to see the elaborate costumes worn by the musicians on the stage. I was always drawn to the timpanist who had the most creative and original ideas from year to year. Being the shy person that I am, I only dressed up once and have not worn a costume since! Halloween has become much quieter for me, as I prefer to stay in and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! It is heartbreaking to see Charlie Brown go trick-or-treating with his friends and collect a bag of rocks when all the other kids receive candy. The rocks serve to solidify his image as a “blockhead,” but Charlie Brown gracefully accepts his stash without complaining and does not envy the good fortune of his friends. Snoopy really rocks as the flying ace, while Linus waits patiently in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin. Linus never does receive a visit from the Great Pumpkin, but his childlike faith in the best possible outcome is unwavering!

I have been a huge fan of Charles Schulz and his Peanuts for decades. I own several volumes of his comic strips and all the animated holiday specials on DVD. Snoopy and Woodstock were the first characters I learned how to sketch as a child. I can remember making giant Snoopy posters for my dad’s staff party, which was held at our lake house when he worked at MH/MR. Once I graduated from crayons and magic markers to acrylic paint, I painted the Peanuts characters on canvas. Charles Schulz had a remarkable understanding of human nature. He was a genius who died only two hours before his final comic strip appeared in the newspaper. His life’s work was done! I look forward to the premier of the new Peanuts movie next week.

In certain ways, Charlie Brown mirrored Charles Schulz in much the same way Kermit the Frog mirrored Jim Henson. In my new book, Mirror of the Soul, I extensively analyze the genius of Jim Henson. Chapter one discusses his experimental short film Time Piece, an eight and a half minute segment highlighting the rhythms of life as chronological time ticks away. Chapter two examines his 1969 teleplay The Cube, a fifty-four minute piece that brilliantly demonstrates the manner in which thoughts create reality. Chapter seven highlights the antics of his beloved Muppets. Kermit the Frog, in the words of Christopher Finch, was the “glue that held the Muppets together.” Kermit’s simple design allowed Henson’s hand to enjoy great freedom and flexibility. Henson remarked that the Kermit the Frog character literally was his hand. His voice and his hand gave Kermit life, and the puppet resonated with him so much that nobody else could “work Kermit.” Henson was Kermit. Brian Jay Jones, in his biography on Jim Henson, quotes Henson, “Puppets are a lot like masks. Children – and adults – can perform without inhibitions and without being seen. That sort of helps to foster true expression.” As a musician, I can identify with Henson’s ability to use his puppets to express the inexpressible. My flute has been able to communicate truths that I, as a shy person, would never be able to verbalize.

On Friday morning (30 Oct.) I arrived at work approximately forty-five minutes before my scheduled Music Theory I class. To my surprise, I was not the first person on the seventh floor. A penguin was sitting in my classroom on the day before Halloween! It was a fun way to greet the morning! Several minutes later a “balloon boy” walked through the door. In my eleven years at the Art Institute, it was the first time students showed up to class in costume. I was happy I had Halloween candy on hand! As I was trying to convey the mathematics of music to students who were eagerly anticipating the evening’s talent show and Halloween party, I couldn’t help but think about the masks in front of me. Halloween offers a single opportunity to disguise our faces with masks and assume a role or persona, but on a daily basis, we play roles for everyone we encounter. I am a daughter, sister, best friend, musician, professor, Reiki master, animal lover, and the list goes on…Although each role requires me to accentuate particular personality traits, my essence remains constant in each role I assume. I live by the Golden Rule or “do unto others” (Luke 6:31). While studying Reiki years ago, I was introduced to the term Namaste, which means, “The divinity in me greets the divinity in you.” I am constantly aware of this divine spark present in all whenever I interact with people. As a teacher, I try to impart as much knowledge as possible, but I am humble enough to realize that I don’t have all the answers. When I am not teaching, I am a student of life – a perpetual learner.

This past week, I have been watching a special online video series produced by Hay House – Dr. Wayne Dyer’s final videos. Dr. Dyer emphasizes the need to be of service when one walks the spiritual path. His recurrent mantra is, “How may I serve?” It is a simple idea but not always easy to put into practice. I grew up as the daughter of a deacon who gracefully and humbly served and continues to serve others. Service is synonymous with the diaconate. A few years ago, my father published an article in Deacon Digest, in which he stated, “Love woven with humility and expressed in service is not only the source of union with Jesus and others but is the building of community and modeling of Jesus himself. Service is given to us as one of the fundamental concepts of diaconate. We truly model and are Jesus when we serve.” I have always had a wonderful model who demonstrated the manner in which it is possible to abandon self in order to be of service to others. For me, my fears oftentimes get the best of me, but writing my book has helped to strengthen my faith muscles.

I just completed reading a book, The Impersonal Life, which Wayne Dyer endorsed in his video series. It focuses on the power of I AM, and states, “I AM the Tree of Life within you.” In other words, the book addresses the divinity within. It really resonated with me because I, too, discuss the power of “I AM” in Mirror of the Soul, chapters one, two and five. I even mention a set of “I AM” tuning forks that have been developed by Jonathan Goldman, which serve to tune the human body like a piano or harp and thus promote perfect health. Science is beginning to validate what many have known intuitively. With practice, the divine spark within can burn brighter than a bonfire. The “I AM” presence within is present in every role we assume or every mask we wear. It validates our truth.

As I enjoy the antics of Charlie Brown and his friends in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and the beloved Jim Henson Muppets, I am reminded that I can identify with every character created by these two geniuses. I can be the blockhead Charlie Brown, the carefree Snoopy, or the contemplative Linus. I can be the “glue that holds everyone together” like Kermit the Frog or the self-absorbed Miss Piggy or the wild Animal, but, when all is said and done, my essence is the divinity within – the “I AM.” Namaste and Happy Halloween!