A “Creepy” Art Therapy Activity for Halloween

Halloween art by Megan Stringfellow.

It’s that time of year when the air and leaves are crisp. It’s a colorful time for most and winter is fast-approaching. Halloween is almost here which means Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it! This Halloween we’re going to try a more festive activity. But first a little refresher on the history of Halloween.

The History and Origin of Halloween

Halloween is on October 31 of every year. It was originally meant to honor the dead and was previously known as All Hallows Eve, dating back over two thousand years ago.

The most consistent origin, and probably the most well-known, refers to Halloween as a way to honor the dead. It also signifies the end of summer and the end of the Celtic year…and the beginnings of a new one.

People were very superstitious back in the day and thus arose the idea that souls of the dead frolicked the streets at night. To keep the bad spirits at bay, treats were left outside to pacify the evil spirits. This led to how it works now, otherwise known as trick or treating

A Halloween Art Therapy Activity

Let’s start by thinking of all the negative energies or influences in your life.

1. Think about any negative people, events (recent or otherwise), or anything else that has had a negative impact on you recently (bare with me!).
2. Take all these negative “pieces” and imagine each of them has a spirit (you see where I’m going with this?).
3. Take a moment to forgive these negative spirits in your life, if only for a short period, and focus on what you would offer these spirits as a peace offering, or a “treat” if you will.
4. Ideally you create something that you can give to each negative spirit, but if you have too many negative spirits to treat, then think of something you can give to all of them.

Still with me? Alright, now feel free to be as creative as you like. I might suggest trying something different and going with a Halloween-ish theme for your creation…maybe using pumpkins, leaves, or construction paper and crafts, or even just incorporating the colors of fall. But if you’d like to draw or paint in pastels, that’s good too! Those are just a few ideas, but whatever fancies you is what you should create.

When you’re done, you can place your “treat” outside on the porch, patio, front door, etc. Or if you’re worried about anyone seeing or taking it, then leave it inside the house.

Good luck forgiving those negative spirits and Happy Halloween from the Art Therapy blog!

PS – If you like this, we’ll come up with some actvities for Thanksgiving and Christmas too

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