What Color is Your Mask?

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR MASK?

My mask is green today. Do you believe in coincidence? Or, what some call ‘synchronicity’?

A few days ago I had the misfortune of dropping my curling iron. On my face. If this sounds like TMI, let me start with I am fine. Nothing serious.

However, I am now sporting a large dark burn across my cheek the size of a 4” ruler. And I have ‘masked’ that area on my cheek with 4” of a healing green clay.

Why on earth would I choose to write a blog post on this?

First, the synchronicity. Last night I heard a talk by David Sanders, a psychotherapist/Kabbalah teacher, about ‘masks’. About what is between us and the world. He referred all the way back to the Garden of Eden story, where, according to some, Adam and Eve were pure Souls/Beings of Light before they ate from the Tree of Knowledge. They were then ‘clothed’ by God. Clothed metaphorically, he suggested, first with the human skin that covers our Spirit self and makes us human. Then they were clothed with fig leaves/pelts so that they could go into the world of matter and creation. Adam and Eve were ‘masked’. Their inner spirits, their unique selves were covered. I, too, sat there ‘masked’. I began the evening with only a transparent mask of essential healing oils. During intermission, however, I was whisked away by a friend to don another mask, of gooey green aloe vera this time. And this morning an out of town friend emailed me her suggestion of using healing green bentonite clay. I just happened to have some, and so concocted my current ‘mask’, which I shall un-self-consciously wear out to dinner tonight.

Let me describe the love and caring I received when verbally ‘baring’ my soul (my face, anyway) on social media. In response to my request for remedies to add to the MD’s medical model solutions, I received dozens of suggestions, some from people I have not yet met in person. I was touched, and reminded that I am not alone. In times of distress, if we reach out, baring our vulnerabilities, we can find solace from unexpected places.

So, what does it mean to be masked? Some masks actually may draw attention to ourselves. I am not unaware that simply going to the grocery store, out to dinner, or to work, I am baring my (temporary) mask, and what is underneath it.

But what is really underneath it? The human (and clumsy) soul that I am. We all wear masks from time to time. Superficially, I’ve heard women describe their make-up as ‘war paint’. They are, in effect, girding themselves up to battle the day, to arm themselves against feared criticism, to look ‘professional’, or prettier, or more acceptable.

Masks are also our ego, our persona. The self we put out into the world. I know a man who feels he has to put on a fierce, macho self mask at work to defend against perceived threats. I know several women who feel they have to smile their way through trying times. These are all masks of protection.

Some masks cause injury to our souls. When we feel we aren’t good enough without a mask we consciously or unconsciously put ourselves down. Some masks are worn to protect us from an earlier injury. Just yesterday at a restaurant, in fact, I passed a woman angrily guarding her space, complaining that the store manager (purposely) put the recycle bins too close to the coffee dispenser. She was wearing a victim mask, which may have served a purpose earlier in her life, but certainly was no longer needed by her adult self in a grocery store.

Masks have been used throughout human history for spiritual reasons, tribal identification, cultural celebrations, and life stage rituals. Our masks may change with our various roles throughout the day. At work one may wear a mask of being calm and collected, while at home we can ‘take off that mask’ and relax. Or we can be a soothing and patient parent/spouse, and at another time ask for comfort, ourselves. In relationships, we want to feel safe enough to lower our masks, and to provide that same acceptance to our partner and friends.

 Sometimes journaling helps us to recognize our masks. Of course, as an art therapist, my ‘go to’ is my art journal. In my office, I often ask clients to paint a mask on the outside to show how the world sees them, and on the inside to express how they see themselves. There are many variations of that exercise. I would love to hear about some of your masks, and how they serve you. And when you feel safe enough to take them off!