From The Power of AND:

“We don’t wear just one mask. We keep a whole wardrobe of them, some polished for work, some sweet for family, some armored for ex-lovers or strangers. Each mask is crafted by the ego with breathtaking skill, because its single job is to protect the part of us that still believes it is unlovable, broken, or shameful.”

"First, we must recognize the masks that form naturally. They are protective layers shaped by the ego in its innocent role of survivor. These are not enemies but adaptations born of necessity, veiling our deeper essence to shield it from harm."

“Second, this recognition calls for the gentle yet wavering light of awareness to enter.  Just as a seed buried in the dark soil instinctively senses the pull toward the sun and yearns to emerge into its full beauty, so too does our authentic self stir within us.”

“In this process, we honor both the protective masks that once served us AND the deeper truth waiting to bloom. As above, so below. As within, so without. The outer shedding mirrors the inner emergence. Through conscious choice and compassionate presence, we allow the transformation process to unfold, step by step, until the full flower of our beings stands in the light.”