Paganism can be traced back to every indigenous culture in the world, each of which has a celebration honoring their dead. Yes, there are pagan traditions in Africa, especially shamanism and animism. I'm Irish-American, so I resonate with some pagan ancestral traditions, but my partner is Mexican-American and we are preparing on Nov. 2 to celebrate Dia del los muertos, or the Day of the Dead. His culture has similar traditions to mine.

Of all the spiritual traditions in the history of humankind, Christianity has by far, enacted the most damage in terms of killings. wars and colonialism in the name of God and forcing others to reject their natural beliefs to be 'converted and saved'.

I don't fear the darkness, it's present inside every one of us. Whether we face it and heal it, or try to pretend it's not there, is the bigger question here.