Veiled, Hidden

To be veiled or hidden by a hood is to be invisible. (Compare with children who believe they cannot be seen if they cover their heads.) And to be invisible is to be a spirit. This is why those being initiated into mysteries or similar rites are veiled, such as the initiates in the Eleusinian mystery cult, and why beings from "the other side" often appear with a hood. Consequently, this symbol typically carries an element of "timelessness."

A symbolic variation on this theme is to consider the veiled person as dead, who comes to life when the veil is lifted from their face. 

A dream figure may appear veiled if it is "hidden" from consciousness—it represents a secret, something unknown. 

A veiled person separates himself from others; to become veiled in Christian monastic culture is to create an intimate relationship with God, in contrast to the earthly. To hide one's face may suggest a detachment from the collective consciousness, from the rational, and allows for reflection. Additionally, it can serve as protection from gazes and other intrusions. 

According to Buddhism, the world is veiled by maya—we cannot see the world as it truly is without enlightenment.

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