Our "mask" is the face we show to the world. We have a wardrobe of different masks for different people and situations. Your closet may include masks for job interviews, masks to wear at work, at parties or with family and friends. Some people may be worthy of seeing you without your mask, and some people may never earn that privilege.

Psychology calls this mask the "persona." The mask is a method we use to avoid revealing our true feelings for real or imagined reasons. We may don our masks for personal gain or for protection. We may also use our mask to avoid hurting or offending others.

Merging with our masks can be positive or negative. When the person wearing the confident professional mask actually becomes that person, this is positive. But identifying with a masks that hides true feelings that need an outlet can be negative and harmful to the true self.

Masks appearing in dreams as artificial beings such as aliens or cartoon characters may symbolize that you are pretending to be someone you are not. Ask yourself why and with whom you are wearing the mask. What does the mask say about the message you are sending about yourself to the world?

Are you forcing emotions or pretending to feel something that you no longer feel in a relationship? Are you hiding your feelings? Why? Are you dealing with the feeling that if you revealed your true self, people would turn away from you?

If someone else is wearing the mask, they likewise are hiding their true feelings from you or may be deceiving you in other ways. Take a look at the other symbols in the dream to identify the issue.

Your dream may be telling you to take a look at why you fear revealing your true self or feelings. Perhaps you have outgrown a relationship or career. If you are having difficulty connecting with who you really are, you may want to consider consulting some of the excellent books or tapes currently available. Debbie Ford's "The Secret of the Shadow - The Power of Owning Your Own Story" is one of many excellent tools and is highly recommmended. If you have been struggling with this issue for some time and feel that it is negatively impacting your happiness, you may want to consider talking to a professional.

May all your dreams come true!

Parthena Black is a professional social worker and ordained minister with experience in tarot and runes. For private spiritual counseling and intuitive readings via e-mail, please visit her at oymygoddess.com.

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Dreams and Relationships