Rituals of transformation may be considered basic expressions of human nature. Evidence for this extends back to the Paleolithic era cave painting find at Les Trois Freres, France. There, the image of a man disguised as an animal suggests the early use of masks to gain access to the realm of spirits. Mortuary rituals, the final transformation, often include masks. This use may, by extension, be seen as a function of ancestor worship.
People interpret non-verbal meaning from the facial cast.
By recapitulating and exaggerating features of the face, masks become powerful vehicles for the expression of what Jungian psychology terms persona. Wearing a ritual mask animates a new persona, transforming the participant into the being invoked- deity, demon, animal totem, or ancestor. Masking rituals present myth as real life interactive experience, both concealing and revealing. Located just north of San Francisco, the Sausalito flea market was a legendary institution for over two decades. It was a magical gathering place, where throngs of people came to buy and sell objects from all over the world.