I have noticed an interesting phenomenon surrounding Halloween. 364.25 days a year, cobwebs are no good and eyesores. For some of us, they are downright scary (because where there’s a web, there’s a spider). Yet on October 31st, cobwebs are considered decoration and ‘cool’, as opposed to a sign that we’ve gotten lax in our domestic duties.

In fact, Halloween is sort of a get-out-of-jail-free card for many people. The one day a year where women (and men) can get away with cavorting around in their undergarments without getting arrested, when toilet papering houses, throwing eggs, vandalism and violence is almost acceptable. Police are out in force to deter any criminal mischief-making, and often shrug off otherwise reprehensible behavior as ‘Halloween always brings out the crazies’.

Add to this, haunted houses, conducting seances or use of ouija boards in fun and jest, to (pun intended) “get into the spirit of things”.

Just a few days ago, a massive earthquake of 7.2 magnitude shook Turkey, in which hundreds of people lost their lives or suffered injuries. Like in many rescue efforts after an earthquake, in the Turkey earthquake too, the rescue workers found survivors – a baby and adults, alive in the rubble after being buried for as many as 4 or 5 days.

It is very heartening that they survived, and while reading such news one cannot but ponder – what makes or breaks the odds of people’s survival beyond the life expectancy of humans when left without food or water? Generally, when something is beyond the limits of being easily explainable by modern science, it has its root cause in the spiritual realm.

‘You can win the world with love’, this is not true. Only one who has won the mind can rule the world (Māyā – Great Illusion). – H. H. Dr. Jayant Athavale

People have been talking about ‘climate change’ for a while now, from the record-breaking droughts in Texas, to the alarming intensity of typhoons and hurricanes all across the globe, to the overwhelming precipitation the world over.

However, another type of climate change seems to be taking place. It became more pronounced in early 2011 with the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, but has gained momentum and strength in the last couple of months elsewhere. I speak of course, about the “Occupy” movements and “World Revolution Day” spanning the globe.

I know when I see the people around me, there does seem to be a general sense of malaise and unhappiness. This got me wondering–if the protesters on Wall Street and all over got what they asked for, would that be it? Would everyone go home and live happily ever after?

Spiritual Science Research Foundation is planning to submit a documentary video to the European Spiritual Film Festival. The European Spiritual Film Festival (ESFF) showcases films and screenplays that explore the life of one’s mind. It encourages filmmakers whose films treat different aspects of spirituality and the human experience. The 5th edition of ESFF will be held from February 15th till March 15th 2012 on the festival website, and will be concluded in Paris on March 31st till April 1st 2012. Find out how you can contribute.

Through its videos, SSRF brings snippets from our library of almost 10,000 hours of video footage on various spiritual phenomena. SSRF makes efforts to reach people with its videos and spiritual research. Would you like to contribute?