Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the run up to Easter. 40 days of remembering the life, teaching and death of Jesus Christ, 40 representing the numbers of days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by the devil. As I reimagine my Christian faith I am drawn to what the ash symbolises for me today.

A hollow fallen ancient oak with soil and leaves at the base.

Ash as Ritual

I first encountered this practice as a child, who was raised non religiously, in my Catholic primary school. I didn’t understand what it was all about then, but I did enjoy the quiet ritual of that service, one I was able to join in with as a non-catholic. The ritual symbolises death, repentance and mourning as we follow Jesus’ last days before he was crucified. Ritual is still significant to me today and as a non-church goer, rethinking Christian, I am wondering how I can draw this ritual to support my life today as I continue to follow the teachings of Jesus.

Ashes = choose love

Repentance means to change direction, to move away from things that cause harm and damage to self, others or the earth. It require a movement towards love and kindness, that can bring about a better world for all people, not just some people.

Ashes = All life is sacred

Ashes reminds me that I belong to the earth, as all life does and I am to live in harmony with her. That all life is sacred and one life is not more valuable because of where they live, what they look like, the job they hold or the money they earn. Jesus treated all people with kindness, love and dignity, especially the oppressed and he called out injustice.

Ashes = Humility

In the book of Genesis, in the Bible, it says, “dust shall return to dust”. The Latin word for the Earth is ‘Humus’, this is the root of the word “human” and the word “humility”.

“Humility is openness to new learning combined with a balanced and accurate assessment of our contributions, including our strengths, imperfections, and opportunities for growth.” Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

“Humility is just as much the opposite of self-abasement as it is of self-exaltation. To be humble is not to make comparisons. Secure in its reality, the self is neither better nor worse, bigger nor smaller, than anything else in the universe.” Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings

Humility is a beautiful, gentle, powerful and profound quality, that allows others to be who there without harming others. Humility doesn’t need to take over, show off, bully, lie or manipulate because it is comfortable and content. Jesus’ humility was on display when he washed his disciples feet at the last supper, a job traditionally done by the lowest ranked person in the room.

A simple Ritual for Ash Wednesday:

Find a space outside, a place that is quiet for a moment of reflection.

Pick up some soil/ash/dust into your hands, feel it and consider:

Q: Are there ways I am consciously or unconsciously causing harm to myself, others or the earth? How can I turn towards a more loveing response or action in these areas? What might that look like?

Q: Set a simple intention in one or two of these areas, to practice over the next 40 days.

Q: What do you need to be able to do this? What permissions to you need to give yourself?

Now take the soil, a place some on your forehead or on your skin…

Pause and acknowledge that your life and being is sacred…

Pause and acknowledge that all life and being is sacred…

Acknowledge a strength you bring into the world…

Acknowledge a limitation you struggle with…

Pause and extend compassion, love and acceptance to yourself in both in your strength and struggle…

Pause and extend compassion, love and acceptance to someone else in your life in their strength and struggle…

Give thanks for the life of Jesus, who modelled a way of love, seeing the sacred in all things and true humility.

Ash Wednesday - Humus, Human, Humility.

The cross & death of Jesus, faith shifting perspectives…

St David “do the little things.”