Season of Silence
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust
Wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
and those who hold her fast are called happy.
Proverbs 3:17-18
Wisdom is acquired through full immersion in the waves of life with all its ebbs and flows. Ascetic practices like prayer, fasting and service strengthen our union with the Beloved, so that we’re able to navigate life’s waters more skillfully. We exist to get lost in the beauty of creation but without time to reflect and process, we stray further from the joy of presence and intention. These moments of pause are intended to realign our will with God’s will for our lives. Nurturing our connection with Source through contemplation prepares us to integrate the wisdom we’ve received. Slow seasons are opportunities to release distractions and embrace our oneness with all of creation.Â
Until you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.
Genesis 3:19
Advent and Lent are slow seasons in the Christian tradition. Since the fourth century, Christians have honored the weeks before Christmas and Easter as periods of reflection and preparation for Christ’s birth and resurrection. In harmony with nature’s rhythms, Lent allows us to enter into the darkness one last time, before we are reborn in the spring. On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, we commemorate our relationship with the earth and reflect on our mortality. We remember we are dust, and that we will return to dust. This marks the beginning of our cocoon process, on the other side we will emerge transformed by divine grace and love.
For love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
Song of Songs 8:6
Since antiquity, Lenten traditions have been a diverse reflection of Christian communities. At their core, Lenten practices invite us to release something in our lives that is hindering our relationship with Source. If you’d like to participate remember that fasting is a private act of devotion. This act of surrender is intimate and doesn’t need to be visible to others, so be honest and choose something that you know will have a significant impact. Keep in mind that the point of Lent is to feel challenged. This process reminds us that we’re not alone and that we can trust Source to guide us through those challenges. With this in mind, if we break our commitment, we recommit and try again.
An important, but overlooked, aspect of Lenten fasting is replacing what you’ve released with activities that bring you closer to the Beloved. Historically, this has included prayer and acts of service. What you choose to incorporate should be a reflection of your love for Source. Life giving activities like dancing, painting and writing poetry become prayer when they’re done with the intention to connect with God. We commit ourselves to these changes for forty days and on Easter we celebrate our completion of this ancient rite of purification.
It was my pleasure.
Enjoyed the insights.