Electricity and Halloween
A lot has happened since I last wrote, not least that it was Halloween on Monday. Halloween, All Hallows, Samhain. Whatever name you choose to give it, it is my favourite day of the year. I adore the sacred beliefs and I adore the commercialised holiday of trick or treaters. For me they blend perfectly, dark magic and ancient spirits running wild as small witches and ghouls are given treats on warm and friendly doorsteps lit with carved pumpkins.
Pumpkin carving is something I look forward to with glee. This year I had the pleasure of carving two, one the traditional orange and one white. Autumn leaves and a howling wolf seemed not only seasonal but powerful. I spend hours carving my pumpkins and it has become something ceremonial, something sacred. I carve with intent and hope, and I light the candles inside praying they will carry my wishes out to the powers of the world. After all, the veil is particularly thin on Halloween.
Over the years I have resisted any event that wasn’t on Halloween night, but this year I succumbed to the spreading of my favourite celebration. We took our Aussie visitors to Rogue Theatres Dead of Night Dance, where once again I found myself transported to Faerie only to laugh until my sides hurt. Rogue has the most wonderful sense of humour, and it seems to come out with glee at Halloween. I could have stayed dancing the spooky woodland and laughing at their dark tales forever. I can’t wait for the Christmas show.
I followed Rogue up with Boom Circus whose tumbling, gymnastics, and aerial trapeze under a proper circus tent filled me with wonder. I am in awe of trapeze, the strength, power, and grace of the art form is incredible, and incredibly sexy. Coupled with Halloween stories and a hilarious sad clown I had the most wonderful night.
Amongst all that Stuart, who is helping me with bits in the van that I don’t know how to do, came, and began the process of putting in my electric system together. He is a fantastic guy and a great teacher, and although I still don’t fully understand what all the component parts do I feel far more comfortable and confident already. There isn’t any power yet, or anything to power, but simply have the parts in place is an incredible feeling. My tiny home will have electricity, and so it will have light, and running water, and a fridge filled with chilled food.
I was raining as Stuart and I began installing my electric system and so we had to close the doors. Until the solar panels are in place and actually powering something it is dark in my van with the doors closed. We needed light, and so I got out my Little Sun Diamond by artist Olafur Elliasson. A little solar courtesy of one of my favourite artists. Nothing could be better to build by.
It seems perfect to me that the journey towards electric solar power in my tiny home began around the long nights of Halloween. After all, I have been drawing power from this darkly charged celebration most of my life. Between it and sun I know my van will always have light.
More next week as I return to stud frames and hopefully buy an oven. See you then…