Went out of popularity…
for many years, and suddenly they are back, but not for the reasons we might have hoped.
The Greeks used masks in their theatatrical productions around 500-300 BC. Masks served several important purposes in Ancient Greek theatre: their exaggerated expressions helped define the characters the actors were playing; they allowed actors to play more than one role (or gender); they helped audience members in the distant seats see and, by projecting sound somewhat like a small megaphone, even hear the characters better. In a tragedy, masks were more life-like; in a comedy or satyr play, masks were ugly and grotesque. They often worked in pairs; sad and happy, tragedy and comedy.
Masks were often worn over the eyes to add an air of mystery and, alledgedly, anonymity. Think of a cartoon of a burglar. Or, I’d prefer The Lone Ranger – “Who was that masked man?” they would ask at the end of each television show as he gallopped away on his white horse, Silver. Even as a child, I was mystified how that simple eye covering assured the secrecy of his identity. I thought it was pretty obvious who he was. So much for the willing suspension of disbelief!
However, recently, they are back in demand, if not in fashion or vogue, as a form of protection not of identity but from the very life force of our body, the breath we exhale. Rightly or wrongly, and I am not going to debate either here, enough hot air has been vented elsewhere, people either feel safe and comforted by their use or restricted and coralled by the mandate to wear them. As their use has become commonplace, we have become inventive with the designs to make them more cheerful than a basic surgical plain blue. Humans have always found a way to bring humour into crisis. Sometimes it is black humour, but humour none the less.
As I was meditating on masks this morning, I was drawn into musing over the way we have used a mask most of our lives. Probably from early childhood. The masks I have in mind are our social masks. As soon as we are taught that it is not OK to express our primal emotions, our tantrums, our tempers, our shrieks of joy, our howls, tears and frank opinions, we start to learn the process of masking. I was interested to ponder on how far we take this. I suspect we are all individual in this regard. For example, is a white lie a mask? I think it is. I decided, as an experiment in living authentically and integrity, to monitor a couple of very ordinary days and try to record how often I wear a social mask. Did I say I was fine when I was not? Was this because I didn’t wish to show vulnerability to someone of slight acquaintance? Would I have done so with someone in my closer inner circle? I found moments when disagreeing with opinions when I chose to keep my judgement to myself and use discernment not to enter the argument, or indeed start one. The more I investigated, the more I realised how much I temper my outer performance in the presence of others and how different I am when sitting alone. It is a truly interesting exercise. Try it. Be honest. It is most illuminating. Is life better with or without a mask?
So, the next stage of my investigation naturally took me to wondering if that makes me false or a hypocrite. I don’t think I am especially. We all do it. Then, what would happen if one day I didn’t wear any mask? Am I brave enough? What am I afraid of? Well, my default is being a people pleaser, so my trigger is most probably the fear that people won’t like the raw unmasked me. Who knows, perhaps they might prefer that? We tend to know when someone is being untruthful with us, so an unmasked personality should feel more comfortable to be around. I also found insight from knowing my astrological rising sign. It can be said that this is one of our masks. It is the influence of that astrological body as the sun was rising at the moment of birth. Is this our first mask? I suspect it is, however, you would do better to ask a professional astrologer. My wonderful astrological colleagues on 12Listen would have a better opinion than I.
For my part I am going to spend the rest of the week quietly observing myself and my masks in an endeavour to see how authenitic my life is, and whether I can find a happy balance. I am a Libra – we love balance. Who knows, I might eventually ask: “who was that masked women?” Hi Ho, Silver, away!
Posted 3 days ago by Angel Hands Heal
By Erica Langdon
📞 Erica is a meditation teacher, reiki master, angel intuitive, dragon whisperer and tarot reader on 12Listen.com
Join her for her radio show on 12Radio.com every Thursday at 8am pacific. Breakfast With Erica
📞 Erica is a meditation teacher, reiki master, angel intuitive, dragon whisperer and tarot reader on 12Listen.com
Join her for her radio show on 12Radio.com every Thursday at 8am pacific. Breakfast With Erica
August 22, 2020 at 12:47 pm
Thank you so much for this interesting perspective on masks. I have many a time asked who is that person behind the mask
September 2, 2020 at 2:45 pm
Wonderful thoughts Erica, thank you!