Today is Ash Wednesday. It is not a holiday I have participated in traditionally, but I have been pondering what it means since I read a post from a friend this morning. That led me down a rabbit hole about ashes in general. The following includes some of my musings.

The Phoenix: Rising from What Was

I have always been fascinated with the symbolism of the phoenix. This mythical bird cyclically regenerates or is otherwise born again and obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. Some legends say it dies in a show of flames and combustion, while others say that it simply burns to death and decomposes before being born again.¹

The phoenix rising from the ashes of what it once was into a new creature is inspiring. There is a scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets that captures this concept:

From Waste to Worth

I was touring a church historic site in October and was reminded how resourceful early settlers were. They didn’t waste anything, including the ashes from wood burned in households. These were taken to asheries to make potash which, in turn, was used to manufacture many products, including soap.

Soap is often used as a metaphor for repentance. Boyd K. Packer quipped, “Repentance, like soap, should be used frequently.”²

I love this story from Joseph F. Smith while he served as a young missionary in Hawaii:

I dreamed [one night] that I was on a journey, and I was impressed that I ought to hurry with all my might, for fear I might be too late. I rushed on my way as fast as I possibly could, and I was only conscious of having just a little bundle, a handkerchief with a small bundle wrapped in it. I did not realize what it was, when I was hurrying as fast as I could; but finally I came to a wonderful mansion. I thought I knew that was my destination. As I passed towards it, as fast as I could, I saw a notice [which read B-A-T-H], ‘Bath.’ I turned aside quickly and went into the bath and washed myself clean. I opened up this little bundle that I had, and there was [some] white, clean [clothing], a thing I had not seen for a long time, because the people I was with did not think very much of making things exceedingly clean. But my [clothing was] clean, and I put [it] on. Then I rushed to what appeared to be a great opening, or door. I knocked and the door opened, and the man who stood there was the Prophet Joseph Smith. He looked at me a little reprovingly, and the first words he said: ‘Joseph, you are late.’ Yet I took confidence and [replied]: ‘Yes, but I am clean—I am clean!‘³

Why Ashes?

Long before Christianity, people in the Bible used ashes to express grief, humility, and turning back to God. Job uttered the phrase: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:6).⁴

Why ashes? Because ash is the remnant of greater things. When something such as wood burns, ash marks the completion of its cycle. No more change can occur; it is the most basic form of its decomposition.

It is fitting, then, that the symbol of ashes often accompanies repentance. Repentance is change: a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world… a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined.⁵

The Conscious Choice to Begin Again

Which brings me to Ash Wednesday. I am inspired by the faithfulness I see in many Christians who participate in Ash Wednesday at the beginning of Lent. I love the symbolism of it–the conscious choice to begin again with honesty, repentance, and renewal. My friend wrote this morning:

Today is Ash Wednesday, and although I’m not Catholic, I have always loved the symbolism of lent and the deeply spiritual significance of this beautiful tradition and act of faith. It is a 40-day season of fasting, prayer, sacrifice, and repentance to come closer God. Our world is deeply divided and hurting. At times, things seem too heavy and too hopeless. I’m using this season to let go of anger, extend more forgiveness, and to heal old wounds. I’m going to lay the burdens I don’t want to carry any longer on His alter. I am heavy laden but He has promised me rest. The Great Physician who can heal the world stands ready to help as we turn to Him.⁶

The Cycle Complete

Repentance is a cycle. Once complete, what remains are the ashes of the natural man⁷, and we are transformed into a sanctified, born again, purified person—a new creature in Christ Jesus.⁸

The phoenix rises because something first turns to ash.

Soap cleans because something was first reduced to ash.

And spiritually, we become new because the natural man is first laid down in ash.

So when I see faithful Christians adorning ashes on their foreheads, I admire the gesture to repent, to change, to leave behind something that distances them from God, and to become better.

Ashes are not the end of the story. They are the beginning.

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Lead image by Elisabeth Jurenka for Unsplash +

1. see Wikipedia, Phoenix
2. Boyd K. Packer, “Washed Clean“, General Conference, April 1997
3. as told by Gordon B. Hinckley in “I Am Clean”, General Conference, April 2007
4. see also Daniel 9:3, Jonah 3:6, Esther 4:1
5. see Bible Dictionary, Repentance
6. Thanks Devan
7. Mosiah 3:19
8. see Bible Dictionary, Conversion