BOOOO, BOOOO: WHAT HAUNTS YOU?

On Hollowe’en, children play at being ghosts, pirates, witches, ghouls, clowns to play out all kinds of fearful to ridiculous aspects of the human psyche.

Some adults love to dress up too on that occasion, most often than not, expressing repressed aspects of themselves in some way or other to experience them and laugh at them. Others won’t even consider wearing a costume, so tight in their repression, fear or disdain. The dynamic of Hollowe’en is great to reveal aspects of what haunts us, what we judge, what we fear.

THYME AND THYME AGAIN

Sylvianne Latus, left, learned from her mother,
who learned from her mother, to use thyme
for herself and her family when they get colds.

Five years ago, all I knew about thyme was that it grows in Europe and here in Ottawa's gardens to spice up salad dressings and other dishes. That was until a colleague recommended it for coughs and colds. Since then, I keep finding more about its benefits. Healers of the past have counted daily on this mult-purpose herb and today’s researchers keep adding to the body of knowledge.

Thymus vulgaris

Like oregano, wild thyme is a member of the