What's Your Favorite Scary Movie?

After watching "Scream 4" (among many other horror movies this past weekend), I heard that line way too many times. But it was part of the scary fun....well, for the audience at least.

I have always loved Halloween and more specifically, horror movies. I was watching the scariest, goriest films out there by the time I was six. I have no idea why it fascinated me so much, but it did and never bothered me or gave me nightmares. I remember when I was twelve a neighbor had the Z Channel (anyone remember when there was only ONE cable movie channel?) so I went over and watched “The Exorcist” three nights in a row. I know - what's wrong with that 12 year old?

Later on I was more into the slasher movies because I wanted to be a make-up artist specializing in gore. I loved to see all the different scenarios and wondered how they made it look so real. I didn’t become a professional make-up artist, but I lived out that fantasy every Halloween, coming up with the grossest and scariest costumes I could think of – dead school girl, dead prom queen, dead saloon girl, (dead was a big theme, always the result of violence with lots of blood) vampire, victim of vampire, bad knife-thrower’s assistant…etc. I also brought all my make-up to work to give anyone who wanted a little gore a bullet wound, a slashed throat, a black eye or a spike in the head. So much fun!

My boss at that time, Adam, always let me do his costume and make-up. One year he went into his boss’ office for a meeting, forgetting about the make-up and nearly gave the guy a heart attack – he thought Adam had really been in a bloody accident. I love it!

I also used to frequent Knott’s Scary Farm with my friends – we went every year for 15 years. We always had a blast being scared out of our wits. But eventually I began to think, “Aaaah - too many teenagers everywhere!” Yikes – I used to be one of those teenagers! I knew my time with that tradition was done, but it was scary fun while it lasted.

Why do we love the creepiness of Halloween? Probably for the same reason we love rollercoasters – it’s a thrill, it scares us, but ultimately we know we are safe. It’s fun to explore our dark sides with no lasting effects – just finish watching the movie or take off the costume and wash off the make-up.

Or are there lasting effects?

A while ago I began noticing that these horrific images began lingering in my consciousness. I found myself dreaming about the most recent horror movie I had just watched. I began having dreams about the unearthly face from “The Exorcist” – silently watching me, menacing. That freaked me out.

So began the habit of the happy movie after the horror movie to even out my brain. Even this past weekend of having a horror movie marathon with my husband really messed up my energy and put me in a dark place emotionally. Thank goodness for Tivo'd episodes of Oprah's Lifeclass to significantly raise my vibration back up where it belongs. I've detoxed in the last few years so much from scary, disturbing movies that they greatly affect me now more than ever. I think next year I'll stick to "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!".

This negative eeriness all came to a head a few years ago one Halloween when I was going to attempt my greatest feat make-up wise – Regan of the unearthly face. My eye doctor does special effect contact lenses for movies and actually made the ones that Linda Blair wore in the movie. Since then he’s done just about every vampire movie and anything else requiring special effects with the eyes. So I got a pair of scary, yellow, red-rimmed contacts from him, (in the photo here) and began studying photos of the face online. I needed to know all the little details that you wouldn’t be aware of unless you really looked.

I began feeling uneasy and creeped out at night in my apartment – had I invited dark forces into my energy field with the planning of this costume? I couldn’t wait for Halloween to be over so I could take my attention off of the scary face.

Then one night I had a dream that shook me to my core. Now, I am a Christian, but not hard-core – I believe Jesus was one of the greatest spiritual teachers who ever lived and I aim to live a good life and follow his teachings. So when I had a dream where Jesus came to me and asked, “Why do you want to emulate something so evil?” I was so freaked out that I immediately abandoned the idea. When Jesus speaks to you so directly and clearly, you listen.

A friend at work then requested that I do it on her since she was an atheist. I did do the make-up on her and she won the costume contest at the office Halloween party. So mission accomplished, ultimately.

My point is, even when you're just having fun, always be aware of what energy you are inviting into your experience and what images you are putting into your subconscious. Limit the safe scares to what is fun but will not leave a negative, lasting impression on your psyche. On a regular basis, make sure to fill your heart, mind and spirit with uplifting, happy, positive, inspirational images, information and people. You don’t want any underlying negativity to attract people or situations that you don’t want to invite into your experience.

That said, have a safe (in every aspect) and Happy Halloween!

With love,

Tanna

Living Peacefully ™ is written by Tanna Marshall, Author, Holistic Consultant and Personal Coach. If you have any questions or would like more information about Living Peacefully, please contact:
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