Quote

[sylvari]

"What Jung says is that you should play your role knowing it's not you. It's a different point of view. This requires individuation, separating your ego, your image of yourself, from the social role. This doesn't mean you shouldn't play the social role; it simply means that no matter what you choose to do in life, whether it's to cop out or to cop in, you are playing a role, and don't take it too damn seriously. The persona is merely the mask you are wearing for this game."
 Joseph Campbell

How many of us live through our masks? Oriental thinking says that the role is All. That we need to give up our ego to connect with the Universe. Occidental teaching says the individual is paramount. That the Self is how we connect. Which is it for you? How many masks do you wear? Do they sit comfortably or not? For those who sub - is that yet another mask you put on and take off? Is choosing your role and then becoming it the way to go? Tell me.
    

Comments

[btfulnightmare.livejournal.com]

life has taught me that using masks is a survival skill. When I go to work, I wear a mask, when I hang out with friends, a different mask, different groups of friends sometimes produce different masks. Its gotten to the point I don't know how to seperate me from the masks I wear.

[sylvari.livejournal.com]

That is the trick isn't it? To find the you behind all the masks. My biggest fear is that when all the masks come off the person at my core will be too ugly for anyone to look at. I have to find her first. ANy ideas on how we do that?

[btfulnightmare.livejournal.com]

That is also my fear. I have no idea how to go about seperating them. Although this year the work I hope to be doing at the covening is on playing with your perseption of your self, and letting go of what who you think you are, to get better clarity. When I come back I will share with you what I learned.

[frogs-are-cool.livejournal.com]

hey, I don't have your e-mail, so I am leaving this message here.

Sorry I was so emo before, lots on mind, feeling better now.

[sylvari.livejournal.com]

Ahh dear. You were not that emo. Honest. *hug*

[ustolemyname.livejournal.com]

I dont' open up much anymore and i'm trying to change that and i figure this subject owould be a good chance.

When i was younger i got harrassed and tormented very severely. so much so that now a days i won't do things a lot of other people would without a second thought.

for example my boss sings at work all the time, always trying to get me to also. most people would have a joke of a time singing like crap knowing that your boss or costar is singing worse. i can't, not cuz i can't sing, but because i dont want to open up and leave myself vulnerable to repeat the past.

other examples are flirting. a lot of the people i know have no issues with walking up to a girl and engaging in a casual flirt, i can't even tell someone how i feel even when many people tell me i should. i tell me i should and can't.

so do you think i wear a mask? or a wall?

[sylvari.livejournal.com]

We all wear masks dear. That is how we cope. The mask you are talking about is one of fear. We are all afraid of being hurt. I am not suggesting that you change this right now but it obviously bothers you to wear this mask. Ask yourself these things though-
Where are those people who tormented you?
Are we like those people?
Do you want them to run your life forever?

LIfe is a series of risk. Take a small one. If it works take another.
I will be more than happy to talk to you about this any time hon. You know where to find me.

[raven-nomad.livejournal.com]

Letting go of your masks is probably the hardest thing anyone can ever do. The way I survived childhood was to be a chameleon. One side for home, one for church and one for school. I eventually learned to let some people see me but even today it is hard to let people in. I'm changing that over the last few years.

my me mask

[intoxakat.livejournal.com]

i've thought a lot on this subject actually ... for a long time i was very convinced (frightened) that i had worn so many masks for so long that i had truly lost who was the real me ... the one without the mask ... then i thought, what if there isn't a "real" me and it's always a mask? and that scared the heck out of me until i also realized that i AM my masks ... i am and will always be me ... my masks are me, the masks i choose to wear are chosen by me, when i am alone it's just the alone mask ... when i thought of the masks as truly part of me i realized that they weren't masks at all, they were conscious choices to do and not do things ... by realizing that it was all part of me i realized the immense amount of control i really had

Re: my me mask

[anaquana.livejournal.com]

*points up*

Yeah, what intoxacat said.

There is more that I want to add, but I can't seem to pull the words out of my brain today.

*hugs*

[perseph12.livejournal.com]

This is an interesting post for me to read today. As I adjust to my new job, I think of how I allowed myself to "disappear" into my previous position. I jokingly referred to myself as "the Virgin Queen" because, like Elizabeth I, I was willing to give up my own happiness for a greater purpose. I know that I need to maintain professionalism, but I don't want to cost myself the attributes that set me apart.

I am also struggling with "masks" in my relationships. It seems strange that the interactions where I should be the most open and honest are where I find myself most willing to cover up. I guess it's easy to be afraid of losing what you've already sacrificed so much for, huh?

Thanks for the food for thought :). I hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

[carneillian.livejournal.com]

I love Joseph Campbell!

As for masks...there is one, something about a responsible adult.

I do love Joseph Campbell!