A Special Halloween in Salem!

This is a piece I wrote quite a while ago regarding my love of the Halloween Season and how I think Salem carries a very special place regarding this so salubrious season and how much I adore Salem for its positive sense of spirit! I hope you enjoy it!

In the morning I woke up and found myself deciding to take in the air before my eyelids had even begun to lose their sleep allowing me to properly wake up!

As I exited and took a rather leisurely stroll to the waters edge, I noticed that the morning sun had just edged its way over the horizon spreading its welcome all across the bay and the only companions I had at the time was the gulls that no doubt wondered if I had their breakfast in my pocket! One of the good things about waking up at or near an ocean bay is the scent in the air that you get early in the morning! There are usually very few early risers to appreciate the tone being set so it's always been especially enjoyable to me to take in as much as I can when I'm at the ocean.

Salem Bay in Massachusetts has a character all of its own and one that is rare to an ocean bay. It's moderate size and its situated protection from the open Atlantic alone is impressive which no doubt was one of the reasons it was a choice spot in the minds of its founder Roger Conant and the other settlers of that village of Salem at the time. Little did they all know that their little community would one day gain absolute international fame and an ever-lasting reputation preceding any mention of these shores for all time to come!

The autumn mind you is my one single favorite times of the year and has always has been! Not only for its fun and celebration, but also in a spiritual way due to my beliefs. I find myself being recharged and re-centered at this time of the year and the one place that calls to me without any doubt is this marvelous wonder on the northern Massachusetts coastline called, Salem Massachusetts!

The annual Samhain celebration in Salem at the end of October is a celebration of but another season of life coming to pass for us all. Many occupy their attentions at this time in a celebration of life, of the unfortunate passing of some cherished lives, of spirits and many discreet personal deities that enhance the meaning in our lives, but most of all, it is a time to set the tone for yet another year to come. What a place to remind yourself that life is meant to be experienced joyfully and not just an experience to be endured!

Yes, throughout the month of October Salem is always buzzing with people galore! There are vendors throughout its center and attractions to garnish every possible taste of the season from the very youngest of us all to the absolute oldest of every generation! Over the years I've found myself visiting and then re-visiting landmarks and attractions just to re-experience the experience, and of course the opportunity to engage the fun all over again! I also make it a yearly practice to visit and pay my personal respects at the all solemn and very respectable Salem Witch Trials Memorial that incidentally has just recently had a makeover! Once those revered spots have been visited however, most of the remainder of my time is spent walking and wandering the streets and side-streets enjoying the many fine shops all of which are always complemented by their owners who have never once in my experience ever greeted me with a sour attitude! It seems to be par for the course to present oneself with a smile in the City of Salem Massachusetts!

Even amidst the crowds, the events and all of the noise that is present in this place, there is also an unmistakable sense of peace that Salem naturally projects. All you have to do to notice it is to stop and take in the place for awhile! Yes, Salem is a beautiful place and especially so in its autumn best! The foliage that highlights the austere presence of Salem common is a must see for all who come to this place in the month of October but don't forget to head out to visit Winter Island and Salem Willows park for a real hands-on experience of Salem's oceanic heritage!

If good tasting is foremost on your mind, you won't find Salem lacking in exquisitely fine cuisine! There is an across the board plethora of choices that you'll have at your demand when it comes to eating your meals. If Irish pubs are your thing there are a number of fine establishments that serve the finest in Guinness Ale as well as the best in Dingle Bay Seafood Pie or corned beef! If pizza or subs are your command, choose between any numbers of the world-class pizzerias that you'll ever wish for! If elegance is your thing on one of your evenings, take your choice from any number of stars among the city's restaurants. No doubt when you part from Salem it won't be due to hunger!

A trip to Salem certainly doesn't leave anyone with a lacking in quiet thought about how they view their own spiritual lives amidst all of the history and yes, the tragedy that gave Salem its eternal reputation. On and around the Halloween festivities there are certainly representations of many forms of faith and belief making themselves known with some of these a bit more vocal than most others that will no doubt leave you in thought about your own sense of inner peace. Passion of belief is high at this time in Salem and even if you stand and listen for a time to those more verbal of passionate believers, it does give you some perspective regarding your own alignments of belief. Never let the demonstrations get you down however! All that is needed in order to re-center yourself is a visit to some of the more incense scented metaphysical shops in the area. You can usually experience some calm music not to mention a wonderful eye-catching display of crystals and keepsakes that you just might wish to bring home with you to garnish your own special spot!

If you're in the market for a psychic reading or if your flavor is a deck of tarot cards, you won't find yourself wandering about any shortage of fine professionals willing to give you some indication about that future love you've been waiting for, or some idea about when that future successful job will come down the pike. You might want to know that psychics are reputation approved in Salem!

Yes, Salem is one of those places that has so much to offer and even more to leave you with as you depart from it. If you find yourself like me in any way, there is a good chance that you will leave more fulfilled and much more centered in a spiritual way as a result of your visit!

Salem has a way of getting into your soul when you have spent enough time here!

Perhaps this is one of the reasons in the past year that I decided to make Salem the place that I will call my personal home and the center of my spiritual activity!

All good things come in time as they say!

Do yourself a favor and if your looking for one of the most novel and gorgeous of places and not to mention spiritually studious places of any in New England to visit, you just might want to move Salem Massachusetts to the top of your intend to visit list!

Many years ago I'm immensely grateful that I did!

Think about it...

As always,

WD Allan

© Copyright 2014, WD Allan, WDAllan.com