Nakedness and Nudity in Symbolism and Mythology

The bare Truth; The naked Truth; Nothing to hide; What are
you covering up?; Reveal yourself; The Truth has been exposed.

Naked! It is the way we come into this world. Pure...innocent...
sincere...uninhibited...vulnerable...we have nothing to hide.
We enter our Current Incarnation as a spiritually gifted but
materialistically naive Traveler who is full of excitement, curiosity
and joy.

At the moment we enter this material realm our only Memories are
those of the peaceful and calm Garden of Eden we just departed.
We are devoid of, and unaware of, all of the false trappings, bindings,
expectations and obligations that a materialistic society is all too
anxious to drape upon us.

Then, slowly and methodically, society distances us from the realm
of pure spirit in order to bind and cover us with all of the woes of the
material realm.

This entrance of ours into the world of materialism serves as an
excellent metaphor for nakedness and nudity in Symbolism,
artwork, and mythology. For nakedness and nudity are Symbolic
of purity, innocence, freedom, Truth, Wisdom and Harmony;
which, when we come to think about it, are all really one and the
same virtue.

As nakedness and nudity are a Symbolic reflection of "what is
true", or "what is revealed", they are portrayed as a feminine
aspect of nature.

With these thoughts in mind, let us now explore the Symbolism
of nakedness and nudity.

When we view artwork or read mythological tales of Paradise, we
find that nakedness is the "fashion of the day" in this nostalgic,
innocent and beckoning realm. For Paradise reminds us of the
Golden Age when mankind lived in Harmony with all of Nature
and the burden of clothing was unnecessary.

When we contemplate Paradise, our Thoughts are lifted to the
purity and refinement of higher consciousness. We wistfully
ascend to a realm of integrity, openness, simplicity and plenitude.
In this realm, where all of our needs are provided for, we are
clothed only by pure air...the Aether...the Divine life force...
eternal Truth. Paradisaical nakedness is Symbolic of unconfined
and uninhibited Freedom. For, as clothing represents "something
to hide", "restrictiveness" or the "wear and tear" associated with
temporal Time, we have no need for it in the realm of Paradise.

When we encounter an image of a naked figure floating freely
above the ground, this is a reminder that while Truth and Harmony
make themselves available to all of us here on earth they are not
material essences, but Divine Principles, which transcend the
worldly and mundane.

Truth, Harmony, and all of the other virtues associated with
Symbolic nakedness belong to the eternal spiritual realm and
are willingly bestowed upon all of us in the material realm who
wish to include them in our lives. In this instance, nakedness
also Symbolizes the higher mind, the uncluttered mind, the
unbiased mind, the Unattached Observer and the enlightened
mind which sees things as they truly are.

This same image of a naked figure floating above the ground
is also a Symbol for ascension. To ascend is to achieve
enlightenment; to rise above and beyond the earthly plane.
Ascension occurs when we finally cast off all of the earthly
clothing - the bondages of materialism and the
trappings of illusion - which has been heaped upon us. It is the
sublime moment when our spirit purely, innocently and nakedly
returns to the Paradisaical Unity from whence it originally came.

Partial nudity is a Symbolic way to express the Esoteric. It tells
us that there are still hidden and secret teachings contained
within that which has already been revealed. It represents the
timeless Lessons which lie behind the Idol, curtain, or Veil.
It is the Wisdom behind the parable, metaphor or myth. It is
the hidden Truth contained behind an image or story; a Truth
which can only be recognized by the worthy and well-qualified
Initiate.

Society, through its many organizations and factions, makes a
great effort to Indoctrinate the masses to clothe themselves in
masks, costumes, garments, attitudes, behaviors and makeups
of all sorts in order to either conform, appease or deceive. And
the result for so many people is that they have completely
forgotten who they truly are and their life is nothing but one big
Masquerade.

For it is not our clothing - our physical wrappings or pretty
packaging - that determines who we truly are; it is our true
nakedness, our Inner Beauty, which lies beneath our outer
trappings that determines our spiritual worth.

To be Symbolically naked is to be free from Sin. It is to be
free from the Guilt, Threats and Obligations heaped upon us
by society. It is to be free from false Indoctrinations. It is the
discarding of the constrictive trappings of fickle man-made
demands so that we can freely bask within, and openly
absorb, the unrestrictive and uncontaminated purity of
Divine Light and Divine Law.

For, while corruption. lies, treachery and deception operate
beneath multiple layers of cover in the dark - fearful of showing
themselves - Truth walks naked in the light, showing itself to all
who are prepared to gaze directly upon it.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2014

Masquerade(The Masks We Wear)

"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade.
Masquerade! Hide your face,
so the world will never find you."
- "Masquerade" lyrics,
from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera"

We live in a polyester society; a cosmetic and fabricated land
teeming with deceptive Appearances and false Perceptions.

In this land of artificiality and materialism we are constantly being
bombarded with ads, commercials, and Opinions of self-serving
"experts" as to what we should buy, what we should wear, how
we should present ourselves to the public, how we should think,
how we should speak, and how we should act.

This process of Indoctrination, constantly being heaped upon the
masses by way of ads, commercials, Opinions, and "guilt trips",
strips away from the unwary, the gullible, and the greedy their
individuality, their freedom, and their peace-of-mind.

Those of us who bite into the shiny and attractive lures of these
mass-marketing Indoctrinations often suffer a great peril from the
hidden hook which lies well concealed behind the attractive lure
we find ourselves biting into.

With these thoughts in mind, let us now look at some of the
Masquerades, or Masks, that dominate the world in which we live.

The Mask of Possessions:

We drive through neighborhoods of large, attractive, and relatively
new homes with well-manicured lawns.  These neighborhoods
seem to be just about everywhere. We see late-model and
expensive cars and SUV's parked in the driveways and we
instinctively say to ourselves, "Wow, aren't those people lucky
to be living in such a beautiful house, in such a beautiful
neighborhood, and driving such beautiful cars. I wish I had their
lifestyle."

But how do we know that these people are really "lucky"? How
do we know what is going on within the walls of these beautiful
and expensive homes with the late-model vehicles parked in the
driveways? For, in Truth, a great many of these homes are
occupied by husbands and wives who are heavily overburdened
due to the mortgages, loans, and credit card debt that was
required to create this false facade, this Masquerade, of perceived
wealth.

Under such conditions spouses argue, drift apart, and ultimately
get divorces. Children find their lives torn to shreds. And the parents,
who were once loving couples, find their youthful dreams shattered
as all they have to show for their perceived affluence is decades of
debt which may never be fully repaid.

How many of us know families and couples whose lives have
been destroyed because of this all-too-common scenario?

Ads, commercials, and "guilt trips" are aimed at Indoctrinating
us that this is the kind of lifestyle we "deserve" and should
pursue...even if we cannot afford it.

There is a big difference between having safe, secure, and
comfortable housing versus unaffordable extravagance.

There is also a big difference between having safe and reliable
transportation versus flaunting the latest "power car" to our
friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

The Mask of Appearance:

There is nothing wrong with "putting our best foot forward"; of
presenting ourselves in an attractive and healthy manner. For
personal care, along with the way we feel and Act, is important
to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

The problem arises when we attempt to use our outer appearances
to Deceive either ourselves or others. For external features can
only camouflage, not hide or change, the person we truly are
once we remove our Mask of Appearance.

Those who rely solely on the Mask of Appearance present
themselves with an air of artificiality. In other words, they are
artificial people. And, as like attracts like, these artificial people
end up attracting other artificial people; with each one forever
wondering why their relationships constantly meet disastrous
ends.

For when we present ourselves as someone who we are not, we
can only attract those other people who are also presenting
themselves as someone they are not. This is the Law of like
attracting like.

Those who depend entirely on a Mask of Appearance and
abandon the pursuit of mental and spiritual substance find
themselves, first slowly and then more quickly, drawn into a
powerful whirlpool from which they ultimately cannot escape.

They are eventually drawn down into the lowest realms of
artificial society which languishes at the bottom of this whirlpool
where, eventually, no cosmetics, surgery, or latest fashion can
cover-up what they have allowed themselves to Become.

However, the Law of like-attracts-like works in both directions.
Therefore, the pure, robust features and warm inner glow of
someone whose honesty, sincerity, and Inner Beauty radiates
warmth, contentment, and friendliness to every person he, or she,
encounters, will attract those similar types of persons into their life.

The Mask of Intelligence:

This is the Mask we wear when we gossip, complain, pontificate
(pass personal judgement), or spout common and unfounded
Opinions in order to be accepted into a social group; or in order
to attempt to impress others at a social gathering.

Of the above mentioned behaviors, perhaps the Mask of Opinion
is the behavior we most often see displayed at parties and social
gatherings.

In its simplest and most basic form we put on our Mask of
Intelligence whenever we act as boastful "experts" while in the
company of friends and acquaintances; or when we are at parties
and other social gatherings.

The Mask of Intelligence is a way of showing to others how much
we think we know, or how much more informed we have become,
by listening to some political speech or some self-serving "expert"
who appeared on last night's news.

Those who engage themselves in conversations while wearing a
Mask of Intelligence do so in order to "impress" others that the
vast sum of all they think they know is also the vast sum of what
everyone else who is involved in the conversation also thinks they
know.

The reasoning here is that we must be up to date on the news,
of course, if we expect to be accepted into the crowd who
proclaims themselves to be "in the know".

And although no problems are solved, no solutions have been
created, nothing positive has been discussed, and those who
involved in these conversations end up more befuddled, confused,
and angry than they were at the start, it does make for "good
conversation".

Conclusion:

Avoiding other people's masks:

We are all social animals. And because of this we must always
be Aware of the trap-doors that society, along with our fellow man,
is constantly constructing beneath the feet of the unwary, the
gullible, and the greedy.

Those who are Aware of these trap-doors, these Masquerades,
are better able to sidestep them. Those who are unaware find
themselves constantly falling into them.

Avoiding using masks for ourselves:

A fisherman uses the correct lure to catch the kind of fish he, or
she, is after. A hunter uses a proper decoy to bag his, or her, game.

What kind of lure, or Mask, are we using? Are we using the lure of
Sincerity and Honesty to attract Sincere and Honest people? Or,
are we using a Mask of Artificiality to attract other artificial people?

If we look the same, talk the same, and act the same as most
other people, what makes us different and special?...Nothing!

We only shine when we allow our true inner-self to show itself to
the world.

There is no one so attractive, and no one who shines the brightest
from their inner glow, as a Sincere, Honest, and caring Spirit who
is not trying to hide or camouflage who they Truly are. These are
the rare individuals whose Inner Beauty is the only lure they require
to attract other similar, and truly radiant, Spirits.

See also: "Beauty (Inner Beauty vs. Outer Beauty)" along with
"Appearances and Perceptions"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

Beauty (Inner Beauty vs. Outer Beauty)

 "A thing of beauty is a joy forever;
its loveliness increases;
it will never pass into nothingness."
- John Keats

"Beauty is not in the face;
beauty is a light in the heart."
- Kahlil Gibran

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Simply put, Beauty can be
different things to different people. There are probably as many
ways to judge Beauty as there are people in the world.

However, if we were to categorize beauty, we would eventually
come to the conclusion that there are basically two kinds of
Beauty: Outer Beauty and Inner Beauty.

Outer Beauty: In the strictest sense Outer Beauty is a type
of physical appearance, based solely upon external features,
which society has conditioned us to accept as being desirable,
fashionable, reliable, and trustworthy.

Some people are born with the natural features of Outer Beauty
while others find that it is necessary to create this outer
Appearance, to some degree. For most people, Outer Beauty is
easily created by means of a temporary camouflage of creams,
scents, ointments, styles, and various kinds of outer wrappings.

And although each one of us is entitled to look and feel as
attractive as we Choose, it is important to also understand that
Outer Beauty, by itself, is only one minuscule aspect of our
Divine Nature. If we rely upon Outer Beauty alone when we
present ourselves to others, this amounts to nothing more than
creating a false and temporary illusion of who we truly are.

Furthermore, those who rely upon the Appearance of Outer Beauty
alone in their interpersonal relationships, usually have very little, if
anything else, to bring into their relationships. And once their
temporary and fleeting illusion of Outer Beauty finally vanishes,
their unfulfilled and limited true character is all that they have left.

Inner Beauty: While Outer Beauty is but a temporary and
fleeting illusion, Inner Beauty is an Untarnishable and permanent
Truth. It is the purest expression of Beauty that the soul has to
offer.

And while Outer Beauty can be used to gain instant and temporary
gratification in the physical realm, Inner Beauty is Spiritual Magic
which enables the person who possesses it to enjoy permanent
contentment in all realms: physical, mental, and spiritual.

Inner Beauty is a warm and hypnotic "glow" which radiates from a
magical ember that burns deep within the person who possesses
it. Inner Beauty is a Divine Essence which cannot be manufactured.
And, it is amazing how Inner Beauty can make an "average looking"
person radiate with a magnetic glow and a heart-stopping presence.
It is a permanent Quality which makes this individual interesting,
desirable, trustworthy, and welcome.

Persons who possess Inner Beauty have positive and forward-
looking personalities. They are well-read and have a wide variety of
interests. These individuals are genuinely polite in their interactions
with others and harbor an Awareness, Insight, Intuition, Empathy,
and Radiance not found in the average person. In other words, this
person has a sincere interest in life.

When we encounter someone who possesses Inner Beauty, Time
seems to stand still as we gaze in wonder at this special person who
is standing before us. The sparkle in their eyes and their soft,
sincere, and innocent smile remind us of someone who is looking at
all things, and all people, with the same wonder, enthusiasm,
curiosity, and interest that we see in The Face Of A Child.

And just as Outer Beauty can be manufactured from without,
Inner Beauty can be created from within. The big difference
between these two is that while Outer Beauty is temporary and
fleeting, Inner Beauty is permanent and radiant.

So, how do we create Inner Beauty within ourselves?

The ember of Inner Beauty is lighted and stoked by a genuine
interest in Self-Instruction and Self-Improvement. These are the
same disciplines which were embraced by the Ancient Initiate.
Self-Instruction enables us to become well-read, well-informed,
and Aware. Self-Improvement is the cultivation, development, and
harvesting of our Inner Spiritual Self.

In closing, it is important to remember that we have been sent
into our Current Incarnation to experience this realm both
physically and Spiritually. Therefore, although it is important to
cultivate our Inner Beauty, thereby expanding our Inner Temple,
it is also important to respect, appreciate, and maintain, the
Outer Beauty of our Outer Temple. In doing so, we enable
ourselves to enjoy our Current Incarnation to its fullest
material and Spiritual measure.

(See also: "Appearances and Perceptions" and
"Masquerade - The Masks We Wear")

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011