Out From Behind This Mask

image by mark sebastian

In preparation for a Wise Women’s healing ceremony, my mentor Mari suggested that I create a mask to help me identify what might be in the way of sharing something I'm ready to bring to life in a much bigger way. I’ve never made a mask, so I decided it would be fun to see what I might create out of this metaphorical teaching.

The mask making experience opened me up to the pleasure of taking my time with the creative process. I used to hurry through creative projects to get them finished. I once loved making mosaic art because I didn’t have to think too much (smash tiles and glue in place). Free form art projects that delivered instant gratification was more my style. With this new mask project I made time for simply painting the mask. A bit more time for applying green and red glitter. Another sitting to apply gold accents. And a couple more sessions to glue on the feathers. I patiently made my way through the process until completion. Did I say patient? Me? Patient? I loved letting this mask unfold.

The significance of the mask is to awaken my true face and express it to the world without fear. Creating the mask and wearing the mask is meant to help me get closer to my Divine feminine wisdom. I plan to wear the mask on occasion and one day expect to ceremonially burn it after learning the Wise Women teachings I am meant to receive. This ceremony will signify that I am ready to be seen as the Wise Woman and Transformation Goddess that I am. When I wear my mask I can embody the Goddess inside of me that is ready to be born with courage and love.

The wonders that lie beyond our masks are endless.

Out From Behind This Mask by Walt Whitman

Out from behind this bending rough-cut mask,
These lights and shades, this drama of the whole,
This common curtain of the face contain’d in me for me, in you for
you, in each for each,
(Tragedies, sorrows, laughter, tears–0 heaven!
The passionate teeming plays this curtain hid!)
This glaze of God’s serenest purest sky,
This film of Satan’s seething pit,
This heart’s geography’s map, this limitless small continent, this
soundless sea;
Out from the convolutions of this globe,
This subtler astronomic orb than sun or moon, than Jupiter, Venus, Mars,
This condensation of the universe, (nay here the only universe,
Here the idea, all in this mystic handful wrapt;)
These burin’d eyes, flashing to you to pass to future time,
To launch and spin through space revolving sideling, from these to emanate,
To you whoe’er you are–a look.

What mask are you wearing to protect yourself from being seen?

What might happen if you shed your mask?

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