The Masks We Wear
As autumn deepens and Halloween approaches, we are invited to reflect on the symbolism behind our traditions. Beneath the costumes and festivities lies a deeper spiritual message—one that reminds us to look within, to recognize the masks we wear, and to awaken to the radiant truth of who we are in Spirit.
From Samhain to All Hallows’ Eve
Halloween is believed by many to have originated in the Celtic festival of Samhain, sometimes regarded as the Celtic New Year—a celebration marking the end of the “lighter half” of the year and the beginning of the “darker half.”
The ancient Celts held that during Samhain, the veil between the physical and spiritual realms grew thin, allowing spirits—both benevolent and malevolent—to pass through. To protect themselves, they wore costumes and masks, disguising themselves as evil spirits so as not to be recognized as human.
The Christian Influence
The modern observance of Halloween (or Hallowe’en, a contraction of “All Hallows’ Evening”) was later influenced by the Christian Church. It became the eve of All Saints’ Day, a time to honor all saints and to pray for souls who had recently departed and were believed to be in purgatory—those not yet ready for Heaven.
Prince Sorie Conteh, senior minister at Carleton United Church in St. Catharines, Ontario, and multi-faith chaplain at Niagara College, explains:
“It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities.”
Both the Celtic and Christian traditions share a common thread—souls wandering between realms of light and darkness, good and evil, Heaven and Hell.
Purgatory and the States of Consciousness
In Christian theology, purgatory is understood as a state of purification or temporary preparation for Heaven.
In Unity, however, we understand both heaven and hell not as physical places but as states of consciousness.
Heaven is the awareness of our Oneness with the Divine—a state often referred to as Christ consciousness.
Hell is the experience of separation, a consciousness of duality and fear.
At any moment, we stand at a point of choice: we can choose heaven or hell.
Yet many of us live in a kind of self-created purgatory—not fully in despair, but not yet awakened to joy. Deep down, we may believe we must be tested, punished, or purified to prove our worthiness. In doing so, we condemn ourselves to a perpetual cycle of striving, forgetting that we are already divine.
The Masks We Wear
Just as people once wore masks to protect themselves from spirits, we too wear masks—not to fool the dead, but to hide our true selves from the living.
We disguise ourselves in roles, personas, and identities, believing them to be who we are. These masks may help us “blend in,” but they also keep us from shining our Light and realizing our divine nature.
To awaken to our Truth, we must become aware of the masks we wear and ask whether they conceal our Light or reveal it.
When we are brave enough to remove them, we discover that no suffering or purification is needed for our worthiness. We are already whole.
We release ourselves from purgatory and step fully into the consciousness of Heaven.
A Spiritual Invitation
This Halloween, may we see it as an opportunity to remove the masks that no longer serve us—to remember that we are not souls trapped between worlds, but radiant beings of Light, awakened in Christ consciousness, celebrating Heaven here and now.
Happy Halloween!
Glorious All Saints’ Day!
