Unmasking

Halloween always asks us to look at the masks we wear. I once had a wonderful

time making a mask. It was just a paper plate with 2 eye-holes cut out. I began with

joy decorating the face of the mask with jewels and rainbows and glitter etc. And

something in me said “turn the mask over”… What is on the other side of this

beautiful face that you have made? What does all that glitter hide? And I began

pasting words I cut out of magazines listing the kinds of things that are on the “other

side” of the mask I present to the world. I found this side MUCH more engaging to

work on. Tiny words of things in myself I don’t like others to see. The back side of

the mask was crammed with words! I didn’t make it to show to anyone else – but I

certainly showed myself to myself! You might try it.

Or you might just ponder what are the tiny ways that you “armor yourself” from life?

What do you use to protect your own vulnerability? Whether it is a mask or a suit of

armor, you put it on for good reason – what are the advantages of living behind your

mask? What is the danger of wearing a suit of armor? Is there anything you are

trying to escape? No real need to peel the mask off unless it seems like it might be a

good experiment for you! I am always reminded that it is most often people’s

vulnerabilities that draw me to them – not their masks!

Here is a poem of mine about Halloween and also about hiding;

All Hallows Eve

Even death puts on a costume

at the end of October.

The whole world sheds its beauty,

gets down to the bones of things.

It’s Halloween, when kids

practice trying on death,

laughing at what haunts them.

They eat ghosts, grow wax fangs,

sprout fairy wings.

We know the truth

but we need this annual chance

to stop running from our fears,

lift the veil, see life hiding from us,

tricking us, begging

for a sweet response.