Un~Masking The Mask

Masks or the art of mask making had never called to me~

From my experience they had signified a sense of hiding, deceit, an attempt at confusion.
~the Masked Man
~Mask of Zorro
~Master of the Masque

None of these concepts appealed to me as I had spent my life attempting to see through, see behind the invisible to the eye masks, worn by people everyday. I understand now that I had been longing to see truly, soul to soul with another; not something society in general longs for in most areas of the ‘civilized’ world.

Why would one be drawn to masking I often queried ~ I later learned that therapeutically  people may feel safer when ‘masked’ to explore, to bring into awareness, to show to the world more of their inner self, both the light and the darker aspects of their deeper nature. And of course for many they may be fun.

Still this didn’t call to me.  Curious, I went to Wikipedia:

A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, concealment, performance, or amusement. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer’s body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing.

Then one Saturday morning, having completed  2 weeks in the Expressive Arts Therapy course I walked into the soothing quiet of the light filled studio at the Haliburton School of the Arts. My classmate friends and teachers were gone and the familiar creative haven of ‘becomingness’ beckoned me forth. 

Materials for sculpting, painting, beading, wire work, moulding, mixed media, mobiles, sound making all lay before me in a wondrous pattern of possibilities.

I had come to paint.

Intuitive art was my ‘thing’~ my returned passion, my source form of expression.

I had come to paint.

Perusing the artistic array with assured gait, I walked over and chose beads, feathers, paints, brushes, a form, other additives and moved to my workspace. 

Shortly thereafter, all the while working and listening deeply within, I stared down as

my SPIRITUAL WARRIOR gazed up at me.

I had made a MASK~!

It was then I understood. I had spent my life imploring, questing, calling out for answers, the energy, the grace to UNMASK myself, layer after layer after layer~ 

I had had no desire to add yet another MASK of any kind ~

In yet,  from the depths of my inner knowing my SoulPower Mask emerged before me.

‘Linda, I AM your truth.
I have been waiting all your life for you to come home.
I am your integrated, aligned essence: Now, let the gift of your truth shine, so that it may invite others to do the same.

A few months later, a new restlessness began to stir within me. I had to find a certain piece of prose kept for years. Lying in my filing cabinet, I finally uncovered the writing below.

Its message had been subconsciously guiding me, calling me back home to my authentic self, all along.

DAILY AFFIRMATION FOR YOUR PATH OF EMPOWERMENT

I am a new warrior of spirit
I exist in a world of sacred balance
I balance with one foot in the physical world of material substance
And one foot in the dimensions of spirit and sacred life
My course is set by my ally~ the winds of time.

Mother Earth gives me life force~
The life blood of my sacred body
The plants give me nourishment and healing
As I ride the wind horse of my intent
My sacred warrior’s transport of buoyant joy~
Into a new and unknown world of harmony

I am truly a new warrior
An androgynous spirit being of light
My weapons are the shield of awareness
The symbols of ancient truth and the sacred giveaway
Like the angels that surround me
Few see me for who I really am

I do commerce in the world
I raise my family. I live a life dedicated to freedom
I immerse myself in the physical world
So that one day I can give it up
Because I can give up only something that I truly have

People learn from me through example
Because of the integrity of my own life and spirit
I move into the world with confidence and wisdom
I am always open and learning tools of knowledge
And I share these tools with my sisters and my brothers

I am a warrior of the light
And I live the integrity of that truth with great care
From a center within myself that is pure goodness~
The embodiment of the peaceful soul

I walk with confidence
The path of heart and personal power~

Anonymous

What mask might be loosening for you?

If you lifted this mask off how would your world change ?

How would revealing more of your true self gift our world?

Blessings and gentle strength to you~

Linda

At times I sense the butterfly
Breathing, arising in me
Lifting, flying so high
Gloriously free

Then no apparent warning
Plunging
Plummeted
Earthbound
Caterpillar like, I plod
Grounded
Existence
My daily chore

Then ~ P p p ..pu..pul…pulsing

Wonderously, to begin again

Mystical fluttering ascent
Ancient evolutionary soul call
Beckoning me forth once more~

                                                                                            ~flow journalling

 Celebrating  the ‘ grounded…in…flightedness’  of  life ~ 

Since the beginning of recordable history, whether in written, artistic or story telling form, there have been numerous references made to the ending of the world: the much prophesied date of 2012.  Many accounts are shrouded in doom and disaster indicating the possible ending of us as a species and or, of the earth itself.

I personally believe as quantum physics tells us, that through our more conscious and loving choices we are collectively shaping the outcome of our future in positive ways.

Whether one chooses to name this shifting of consciousness as Ascension, Evolution, Soul Growth, or Doom and Destruction, it all rings with a similar energy. Like it or not, wherever we look, we see evidence today of disillusion of the old and slowly the emergence of the new connecting us in very creative ways to each other, our environment and to our universe.

Gift of a Micro Level Miracle for Us All

Last summer, I entered the portal of another’s sacred world; the witnessing became indelibley etched in my awareness.  Later the raw prose flowed onto my page…… 

Late at night, sheltered upon my porch amidst a tumultuous storm, I noticed a black speck suspended in mid air between two frail cedar branches.  In spite of the drenching rain, the black dot had huddled into an elliptical orb, swaying upon her web at the whim of the torrential winds: minutiae in the midst of maelstrom. 

I watched in awe, believing the outcome would culminate in the destruction of her fragile, magical home.  Arising early the next morning, I incredulously spied Miss Sophia Spider, now so named for the Divine Goddess she was, busily recreating her tattered habitat strand by strand, unaware of the larger reality surrounding her, from which I watched in reverent awe.

Miss Sophia Spider~

most glorious one ~

teach me to rebuild ~

to sense the strengthened tendrils,

amidst tattered remnants, waving in the wind.  

Share your vision knowing,

melding that which together belongs ~

 letting go of all that no longer matters or even fits. 

Guide me to trust the ebb and flow 

instinctively encrypted within your soul ~

sustaining first oneself and then for the greater good of all.

 Attune me to simply living, living simply~

divining the essential gem,

that I too may focus ~ create and recreate my world. 

Brush upon my heart,

 the canvas of my life

your wisdom, colour, music to guide me in life’s dance.

In harmony with the universe ~ art of weaving that creates ~

Breathe with me your magic

leaving space ~ trusting new will take its place.

What I most treasure from Miss Sophia’s teachings is the fact that she accessed all her own answers; her resourcefulness, courage and know how were  instinctively there for her.

Everything she required, including the very material with which she recreated her world, was already within her own being.~! 

PROFOUND BEYOND WORDS

What today’s metaphysicians are telling us, often reads something like this:

JONATHAN CAINER ASTROLOGER ~ Sept. 14, 15th, 2009~

Dear Jonathan,
When political parties have opposing views, one may support a new idea while another rejects it. But sometimes, a way can be found for both parties to support it, albeit for different reasons. Do astrological oppositions work like that? Is there anything that Saturn and Uranus can now agree on? Erik

Dear Erik,
Saturn stands for all that’s structured, established, traditional and restricted. Uranus governs spontaneity, innovation, invention and liberty. If there’s one cause they have in common, it’s the need for people, all over the world, to consider what kind of future they want to create.

A very good question; one we can all ask ourselves.

WHAT KIND OF FUTURE DO I WANT TO CREATE ?

WHEN DO I CHOOSE TO BEGIN ?

Miss Sophia knew all her answers.

May we be as wise: after all, Miss Sophia is the Goddess of Wisdom in us all.

Blessings ….as we move into the new together

Linda

Time To Make Time For The New~

If you have been feeling challenged, cranky, exhausted lately, and perhaps now feeling somewhat like my furry Angel friend here:

MODELLING EXTREME SELF CARE

 
….know that you are not alone. 

In many ways the universe is inviting us to open up and let go of those things that are no longer serve our best interests; not always does this seem our choice at the time. People and situations may no longer match who we are vibrationally, or that of whom we are soon becoming.

Astrologers tell us that eclipses are a natural ‘housecleaning’ phenomenon that  open a portal or space in the universe, so that we may ‘toss’ the old and by our willingness, positive belief and action, move into creating something brand new for ourselves.

For me, in the last few weeks, work hours disappeared, the power steering hoses in my car rusted out and needed to be replaced, my furry Angel Cat friend became unwell and a course I was anticipating needed to be cancelled, due to a personal crisis in the instructor’s life.

Throughout this challenging time, I was able to stay grounded and in the knowing that all would work itself out, in time.  I stayed connected to my favorite touchstone saying, offered to me by my colleague friend, Sonia:

‘I have no idea how all of this will work out. My job is to follow my spirit and God ( Source, the Universe, insert your own word here )  is looking after the HOW~~~’

Also during this time, creative new ideas and opportunities I was able to incorporate into my work opened up for me; several relationships deepened, wonderful family connections happened, supportive new  friends arrived and the miracle of ‘found money’ assisted me on my journey.

Transforming times like these remind me of one of my favourite pieces of prose, from my childhood: 

HALFWAY DOWN

Halfway down the stairs
Is a stair
Where I sit.
There isn’t any
Other stair
Quite like
It.
I’m not at the bottom,
I’m not at the top;
So this is the stair
Where I always
Stop.

Halfway up the stairs
Isn’t up,
And isn’t down.
It isn’t in the nursery,
It isn’t in the town.
And all sort of funny thoughts
Run round my head:
“It isn’t really
Anywhere!
It’s somewhere else
Instead!”

A.A Milne

Today offers a very real opening in the ethers, to pause in the ‘ SOMEWHERE ELSE INSTEAD’, to walk out of the fear and shift to one’s perception to a positive outlook. It is also a powerful time to write out a New Moon Wish list, noting those things you choose to create. The key to manifesting  is found in the intensity of feeling, the trueness of ones heart’s desire that sends the affirmation forward.

Whether through prayer, meditation, intention or dreaming this is a powerful time to send your new CREATIVE SOUL PRINT out to the universe, to be supported by all that is.

P.S. You may wish to check out your favourite astrologers for more info on where the Eclipse falls in your chart and this amazing opportunity to let go of old paradigms.

Cosmic Blessings to you all~
Linda

005

Learning to love yourself, is the beginning of a life long romance.

Oscar Wilde