A Creative Halloween
August 22nd, 2009 by John Wolfe
I know many of you are either currently creating things for your Halloween parties and yard haunts or else you will be very soon. And as a group, I also know most of us Halloween enthusiasts tend to be a little hard on ourselves if our projects don’t go exactly as planned. Here’s a very short video from Deepak Chopra, the well known spiritual teacher and author, discussing the joy or the agony (depending on our perspective) of the creative process.
While this vid may not seem all that related to Halloween, the valuable tips can definitely be applied toward the creation of spooky props and creepy party decor. Do your best to enjoy the fruits of your creative labor without judgment and attachment (as much as possible), and make the most of your journey towards Halloween this fall.
The photo in this post comes from 2007 and features a work in progress shot of my scarecrow prop. Boy, I could have used the advice in this video as a reminder during that project. 
Video source: You Tube user IntentVideo
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 am
Love Deepak Chopra! Thanks for the find!
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
My assumption when I go out into my yard at night and think about the Halloween setup I’ll have, is that it’s nighttime, people are drinking from a keg, they’re dressed in costumes–usually the women very distracting in sexy outfits. My “mood and atmosphere” is just that. It’s not like an amusement park where you’re on a ride and stuck in a room waiting to see the “thing” happen. Props for a party are just setting a feeling. I was agonizing over the headstones, whether the moss was bright enough, then I thought — who the hell can see it when I have a lightning flashing light on the graveyard? Get real! Now, I’m focusing on inviting the right mix instead of fussing over the doo-dads that’ll be ignored in the dark.
August 24th, 2009 at 8:02 am
ShellHawk,
Great to see you! It was my pleasure. I try and keep up with Deepak in a number of places. Lately, I’ve been enjoying his series on XM radio.
autumnforest,
I know what you mean. I’ve done the same thing. I’ll worry about small details on a prop and whether or not it looks “right,” then, once it’s in the haunt and the fog and lighting are set, the detail doesn’t really show anyway! You do have an advantage, however, because most of the people attending your party are enjoying “the spirits.” My guests are all sober, since it’s primarily kids and their parents trick-or-treating.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
yeah, i’m ocd on halloween decorating details, and even when i plan all year, i have to remind myself that no matter what i do, it’s going to surpass the imagination of the folks i’ve invited to my party…it ends up all good…thanks for the reminder to not be so hard on self in this process!
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
rmolsen,
Glad you enjoyed it. And, I know a little about being OCD, okay, I know a lot about it.
But, you’re absolutely right and just as autumnforest mentioned, once everything is in place and the mood is set i.e. lighting, music, fog etc., it will look awesome!