Tag: masks

Peeling Away the Disguise

 

“Every man is a divinity in disguise, a god playing the fool.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Invoke the deity within
behind the mask of human seeming
beyond the face shown each day
Become yourself beyond the judgement
Invoke the will behind the act
revoke the outer tearful clown
and be for the moment ourselves.
— G A Rosenberg

 

We take on so many roles in our life. We are parents, children, employers and employees. We are lovers, friends, neighbours, constituents and more. Our behaviour changes to fit each role and often it may feel as if how we act towards one or more people in our lives does not express who we really our. We are so much more than any of these disguises. If we could peel away those calcified masks we wear we will be amazed at what shines through.
Blessings, G

 

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MasqueMasque by G A Rosenberg

 

Masked RegretMasked Regret by G A Rosenberg

 

Warrior MasqueWarrior Masque by G A Rosenberg

 

The Lazy Mask

 

“We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.”
― Patrick Rothfuss

 

Identity is a slippery thing. We spend so much of our time trying to find an identity, building it out of what we admire in others and what we read along with bits and scraps of what shines through from our real beings. Sometimes we find a label that attracts us. It may be a spiritual, political, sexual or genre affiliation yet it draws us in so much that we attempt to remake ourselves into everything that that label portends. This may be fun for awhile but ultimately we may find that in assuming the mask, that we have lost ourselves. We may find ourselves taking on attitudes that are far from any that we would choose on our own, ones we may have once found abhorrent all in the name of what we would have ourselves become. That’s the problem with taking what I consider a lazy way out. In the long run it may be more arduous and time-consuming to pick and choose what qualities most draw us from all the potential labels and so become our true self but by doing so we drastically lower the risk of getting stuck in a mask that is not ourselves.
Blessings, G

 

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AnimaAnima by G A Rosenberg

 

Wounded HeartThe Wounded Heart by G A Rosenberg

 

Connections – Made and Lost

 

“Invisible connection is stronger than visible. To arrive at the basic structure of things we must go into their darkness.”
— Heraclitus

 

I reach out to your touch
something unspoken pulls back
connection falters

 

Your touch caresses
my back as I rub your feet
Connection is made

 

Something inside me
pulls away from your embrace
connection is lost

 

I touch inner wounds
with my own scarred memories
Connection is real
— G A Rosenberg

 

So many of us hide our shadows and our scars not only from others but ourselves as well. We put on our game faces even with those we love and keep so much buried. What happens then is a connection of masks and many judge the strength of their relationship on how well their personas interrelate without ever going deeper. Since many of us change our personas over the years as life happens, the relationships fall apart because neither one has met the true being of the other. It is only by delving deeper and making ourselves vulnerable that true inner connection can happen even if that means showing the less savoury parts of ourselves. You can always tell when that happens between people as it results in healing and self-knowledge rather than a feeling of holding a telephone to one’s ear long after the other person has hung up their line.
Blessings, G

 

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Landscape AbstractLandscape Abstract by G A Rosenberg

 

Two of LantersTwo of Lanterns by G A Rosenberg

 

Masks

 

“We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.”
― Patrick Rothfuss

 

We become what we pretend to be. This is at once both wonderful and terrifying. It means we have power to recreate ourselves in the image that we want. It also means tho that all too easily we can become trapped in roles that we once needed but have outgrown. If in our past we have been hurt by others, we adopt a mask of being invulnerable. We act callous and indifferent and allow no one to touch us. What happens years later when we meet someone whom we could love? However in order to love we have to make ourselves vulnerable. It seems that damn mask won’t come off. Luckily with work, we can show the vulnerabilities are there, revealing them to those whom we wish to be close to. Oh we still have our mask but by pointing out where the weak parts are, the mask can crumble. It does take work tho and a willingness to overcome fear.
What happens when we aspire spiritually but have lost our way? We have adapted a mask of worldliness that we have become stuck in. Could we adopt the same principle? We meditate and genuinely challenge ourselves to act without masks until we truly have lost them all. This may be the most important work we have ever done in our lives.
Blessings, G

 

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Silent VoiceSilent Voice by G A Rosenberg

 

Fire and Water RipplesFire and Water Spiral by G A Rosenberg

Masks Revealed

 

“Don’t you know that a midnight hour comes when everyone has to take off his mask? Do you think life always lets itself be trifled with? Do you think you can sneak off a little before midnight to escape this?”
― Søren Kierkegaard

 

It’s always midnight somewhere
Past masks ripped off the present moment
leaving us bare in moonlight’s glance
At least my mask looks like my face
the only difference the blemishes
I try to keep hidden
yet why?
those who might care
for any reason but the moment’s sport
will love the man blemish and all
any others would better be concerned
with saving their own faces
I will tear off my mask
or try, it’s tenacious after all
and fear makes for messy spirit gum.
— G A Rosenberg

 

Blessings, G

 

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Masqued ExpressionsMasqued Expressions by G A Rosenberg

 

Crimson StrawCrimson Straw, Violet Mist by G A Rosenberg

Messages Sent and Received

“Our own life has to be our message.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

 

If I stay still and listen
aware of your presence
your words and your being
than I can receive the message of your life.
With each breath and each choice we reveal ourselves
each moment becomes the midnight
where our masks come undone
yet even our masks show the face underneath
after all are they not how we want the world to perceive us?
That says a great deal
Yet how do I choose
the message of my life?
How can I become a clear channel?
Does my life say what I wish it to
or am I just messaging myself?

Blessings, G

 

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Strange Seas at NightStrange Seas At Night by G A Rosenberg

 

FluidFluid by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – September 24 2012

“In most of our human relationships, we spend much of our time reassuring one another that our costumes of identity are on straight.”
― Ram Dass

I see this in others so it reflects back to myself. I fall into this role of I. Not how I am but how I wish to be seen. That changes day by day and person by person, after all few of us are the same with friends as we are with family as we are with strangers. We have our social masks, our seductive masks, our polite and open masks. Some days I get so tired from taking off masks that I forget what my real face looks like at all.
Little by little I have been dropping the masks a bit. Letting my true face breathe. It’s a bit easier when I’m alone but around others it happens more and more naturally..I wonder at times if it is possible to walk around mask less in today’s world. Heck 2000 years ago it could get you crucified or outcast..
People would rather see someone walking around without clothes than without a social identity. After all someone without a mask makes us all that much aware of our own..
Blessings, G

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Spirits in Flight by G A Rosenberg

Rose Cross Mandala by G A Rosenberg