Tricks, Treats & the Fears We Carry
Stephen King, ancestral wisdom, and the fears we carry in our bodies.
Every Halloween, we dress up as monsters, ghosts, and creatures of the night. We enter haunted houses knowing we can walk away.
But what about the fears we carry long after Halloween?
The ones that show up as a clenched jaw, tight shoulders, a restless stomach, or a body that never quite relaxes?
As a massage and fascia therapist, I’ve spent years exploring the fascinating relationship between our experiences, emotions, and physical bodies.
What Stephen King Taught Me About Fear
In his book Danse Macabre, Stephen King explores why we are drawn to horror and the different ways fear affects us.
The vampire, the werewolf, the ghost, the unknown creature. Each can represent something deeply human.
To me, the vampire raises questions about boundaries. The werewolf represents losing control. And the ghost? Perhaps something from our past we haven’t fully made peace with.
Sometimes the scariest things aren’t monsters. They’re the experiences we haven’t learned how to face.
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Fascia Science
Between 2000 and 2004, I had the honor of learning within the Dr. Hauschka company, where I was introduced to philosophies connecting rhythm, nature, touch, and the human experience.
Later, my great-grandmother taught me something that stayed with me forever.
She described fascia as the living memory of the body, connecting our physical existence with our emotional and spiritual lives.
Long before I formally studied fascia, she taught me to look beyond the place where someone feels pain.
Years later, studying Thomas Myers’ Anatomy Trains gave me another way to understand the body’s interconnected structure.
Today, science recognizes fascia as living, responsive connective tissue. Whether personal memories are actually stored in fascia remains unproven, but the relationship between our nervous system, emotions, and physical tension is worth exploring.
My working hypothesis is simple: our experiences can influence how we protect, move, and hold ourselves.
And sometimes, through touch, movement, awareness, and care, we discover new ways of feeling in our bodies.
What If Fear Is Trying to Tell Us Something?
Rudolf Steiner explored the symbolic encounter with our own hidden fears. Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged us to meet difficult emotions with awareness rather than resistance.
My great-grandmother taught me something similar.
Instead of immediately fighting discomfort, become curious about it.
What am I feeling? What do I need? What am I protecting myself from?
Not every ache has an emotional origin. Not every tension hides a trauma. But our bodies deserve attention, not just correction.
A Little Halloween Experiment
Tonight, give yourself two minutes.
Place a hand gently on your body. Breathe naturally. If it feels comfortable, make a soft humming sound.
Notice what changes.
Don’t force anything. Don’t search for hidden memories. Simply give yourself permission to be present.
Ask yourself one question:
What would support me right now?
Maybe it’s rest. Maybe movement. Maybe a conversation you’ve been avoiding.
Or perhaps it’s finally giving yourself a little kindness.
Halloween reminds us that we can face frightening things and still find joy.
And sometimes the greatest transformation isn’t defeating the monster.
It’s discovering that we no longer have to be afraid of our own shadow.
Happy Halloween. May your costumes be playful, your boundaries strong, and your body treated with kindness.
— Carlos Om Hercules
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