| Consider the everyday uses of the veil: some | | | | Wearing a veil over our true selves blurs the truth of |
| cultures use it to hide the faces of women, some | | | | who we are. If the veil is intentionally placed, it can |
| use it to tantalize, thinly draping the body so that | | | | be used to control perception by others to avoid |
| only an outline can be seen The veil is a transition, as | | | | awareness of your actions and intentions before it is |
| when a groom lifts the veil of the bride to take her | | | | time for them to be revealed. The veil can also |
| from a single woman into a new life as a wife, or | | | | unintentionally serve to make communication difficult |
| between one room and another. | | | | by preventing others from understanding what you |
| These mundane representations serve to symbolize | | | | are doing and why. |
| the implications of the mystical and occult, where the | | | | A veil that grows over time as a result of |
| veil stands for limitations of awareness that prevent | | | | misconceptions, lack of will, and refusal to see one's |
| human beings from directly perceiving divine realities. | | | | self clearly hinders accurate assessment of the self |
| Exemplifying this concept is the famous veil from | | | | and stunts the individual's personal and spiritual |
| ancient Israel, the Veil of the Sanctuary, said to | | | | growth. The veil is also the transitional screen |
| separate the room where the Ark of the Covenant, | | | | between the light and the shadow self. Everyone has |
| a vessel of God, was kept from the rest of King | | | | a shadow self. The dark side is only thinly veiled in |
| Solomon's temple. According to the Book of Exodus, | | | | some and thickly veiled in others. It provides a |
| it was purple, scarlet, and blue. These colors are | | | | balance within us and needs to be acknowledged and |
| symbolic of the crown chakra, allowing divine | | | | addressed in a healthy way. When out of balance, |
| connection to Spirit (purple), the root chakra, the | | | | these aspects of dark and light present in identifiable |
| base of the source or Kundalini energy (scarlet), and | | | | ways. |
| the throat chakra, the center of communication | | | | Those tending toward the shadow self most likely |
| (blue). The Books of Mark and Luke indicate that the | | | | cloak themselves in a thick veil to hide their dark |
| Veil of the Sanctuary tore when Jesus was crucified. | | | | intentions in order to be more effective at |
| The barrier between the physical and the spirit planes | | | | manipulating others. Those who tend toward the light |
| which separated God from humanity had been | | | | do not feel a strong need to hide behind a veil, as |
| broken, the boundary had been transcended, and so | | | | their projected self is sincere. At the same time, |
| the Veil tore. | | | | these individuals need to acknowledge the existence |
| In mythology, the goddess Ishtar is allowed to pass | | | | of their shadow self rather than ignore, suppress, or |
| from the world of the living to the underworld, but | | | | let it out only under the most stressful circumstances. |
| must remove an article of clothing at each of the | | | | These individuals also may be prone to judging |
| seven gates, this being one possible origin of the | | | | others. Without awareness and recognition of the |
| story for the Dance of the Seven Veils. The gradual | | | | darkness we all possess, no matter how minimal, a |
| peeling away is symbolic of the necessary steps to | | | | tendency toward anxiety and/or depression may |
| reveal one's true nature, a shedding of external | | | | develop. Ultimately, the lack of self-knowledge is the |
| layers to uncover the essence of the individual to | | | | most devastating result. |
| have a clear understanding of the self and to be | | | | The veil masks the characteristics of those who are |
| closer to Spirit. It represents the transition essential | | | | self-serving and seek to survive in a way that |
| to transform from one state to the next as one | | | | deceives others. The veil also comes down when |
| grows personally and spiritually. | | | | there is an emotional trauma and the psyche seeks |
| The Veil as the filmy barrier between the world of | | | | to deal with the powerful emotions the situation |
| the physical and that of the spirit varies in density | | | | conjures. This energy pulls the curtain down on the |
| depending on the time of year and the individual's | | | | person's natural way of being and clouds the mind. It |
| ability to see the spirit world. For those with psychic | | | | tarnishes the auric field and dulls the senses. In a |
| ability, the view is still shrouded in fog, yet accessible | | | | way, this is a protective mechanism for the |
| a good amount of the time. For those without the | | | | traumatized person to be able to withstand the |
| gift of second sight, the Veil is thick and | | | | physical and emotional injury. At the same time, to |
| impenetrable. The spirit world is not available to one | | | | look through the veil of sorrow or grief affords a |
| such as this. During certain times of the year - | | | | spotty view of the world. Clarity comes when the |
| autumn and Halloween in particular - the Veil is | | | | emotional disruption is once again balanced. |
| thinnest and is the best time for divination. Those | | | | The Veil is an etheric shield that is draped across our |
| who are able to access the Veil have experienced it | | | | energy bodies, as well as between the world of life |
| as a place of silence, calm, and peace. All that is | | | | and the spirit realm. The Veil clouds, distorts, and |
| outside of the Veil is motion, noise, and desire. To be | | | | hides, yet when used to best advantage, the Veil |
| in the Veil is to be both separate from the physical | | | | can provide insight, protection, and concealment. |
| world and a part of the oneness of Spirit. | | | | ©Diane Wing. All Rights Reserved. |