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The Veil

©Diane Wing, 2008

Consider the everyday uses of the veil:  some cultures use it to hide the faces of women, some use it to tantalize, thinly draping the body so that only an outline can be seen The veil is a transition, as when a groom lifts the veil of the bride to take her from a single woman into a new life as a wife, or between one room and another. 

 These mundane representations serve to symbolize the implications of the mystical and occult, where the veil stands for limitations of awareness that prevent human beings from directly perceiving divine realities.  Exemplifying this concept is the famous veil from ancient Israel, the Veil of the Sanctuary, said to separate the room where the Ark of the Covenant, a vessel of God, was kept from the rest of King Solomon’s temple.  According to the Book of Exodus, it was purple, scarlet, and blue.  These colors are symbolic of the crown chakra, allowing divine connection to Spirit (purple), the root chakra, the base of the source or Kundalini energy (scarlet), and the throat chakra, the center of communication (blue).  The Books of Mark and Luke indicate that the Veil of the Sanctuary tore when Jesus was crucified.   The barrier between the physical and the spirit planes which separated God from humanity had been broken, the boundary had been transcended, and so the Veil tore.

 In mythology, the goddess Ishtar is allowed to pass from the world of the living to the underworld, but must remove an article of clothing at each of the seven gates, this being one possible origin of the story for the Dance of the Seven Veils.  The gradual peeling away is symbolic of the necessary steps to reveal one’s true nature, a shedding of external layers to uncover the essence of the individual to have a clear understanding of the self and to be closer to Spirit.  It represents the transition essential to transform from one state to the next as one grows personally and spiritually.

The Veil as the filmy barrier between the world of the physical and that of the spirit varies in density depending on the time of year and the individual’s ability to see the spirit world.  For those with psychic ability, the view is still shrouded in fog, yet accessible a good amount of the time.  For those without the gift of second sight, the Veil is thick and impenetrable.  The spirit world is not available to one such as this.  During certain times of the year – autumn and Halloween in particular – the Veil is thinnest and is the best time for divination.  Those who are able to access the Veil have experienced it as a place of silence, calm, and peace.  All that is outside of the Veil is motion, noise, and desire.  To be in the Veil is to be both separate from the physical world and a part of the oneness of Spirit.

 Wearing a veil over our true selves blurs the truth of who we are.  If the veil is intentionally placed, it can be used to control perception by others to avoid awareness of your actions and intentions before it is time for them to be revealed.  The veil can also unintentionally serve to make communication difficult by preventing others from understanding what you are doing and why. 

A veil that grows over time as a result of misconceptions, lack of will, and refusal to see one’s self clearly hinders accurate assessment of the self and stunts the individual’s personal and spiritual growth.  The veil is also the transitional screen between the light and the shadow self.  Everyone has a shadow self.  The dark side is only thinly veiled in some and thickly veiled in others.  It provides a balance within us and needs to be acknowledged and addressed in a healthy way.    When out of balance, these aspects of dark and light present in identifiable ways.

 Those tending toward the shadow self most likely cloak themselves in a thick veil to hide their dark intentions in order to be more effective at manipulating others.  Those who tend toward the light do not feel a strong need to hide behind a veil, as their projected self is sincere.  At the same time, these individuals need to acknowledge the existence of their shadow self rather than ignore, suppress, or let it out only under the most stressful circumstances.  These individuals also may be prone to judging others.  Without awareness and recognition of the darkness we all possess, no matter how minimal, a tendency toward anxiety and/or depression may develop.  Ultimately, the lack of self-knowledge is the most devastating result. 

 The veil masks the characteristics of those who are self-serving and seek to survive in a way that deceives others.  The veil also comes down when there is an emotional trauma and the psyche seeks to deal with the powerful emotions the situation conjures.  This energy pulls the curtain down on the person’s natural way of being and clouds the mind.  It tarnishes the auric field and dulls the senses. In a way, this is a protective mechanism for the traumatized person to be able to withstand the physical and emotional injury.  At the same time, to look through the veil of sorrow or grief affords a spotty view of the world.  Clarity comes when the emotional disruption is once again balanced.

 The Veil is an etheric shield that is draped across our energy bodies, as well as between the world of life and the spirit realm.  The Veil clouds, distorts, and hides, yet when used to best advantage, the Veil can provide insight, protection, and concealment. 

 As you consider this information ask yourself the following:  

• Do you tend to hide yourself from others or do you tend to be open?  What are your intentions as you use one or the other strategy?
• If you are open, can you think of circumstances when it may be best to veil your thoughts and intentions to provide a bit more protection for yourself?
• Can you share an experience you’ve had when the veil was lifted and you were able to transition to the next level of development as a result?

 Your thoughts and feedback are welcomed and encouraged! 

 Many blessings,

Diane Wing