It’s a visceral and visual reminder of that mysterious area – that “thin place” – between life and death, between the secular and the sacred, between any two things that are seen as opposites. The cross – an intersection – is drawn on our 3rd eye chakra. Even though embodied, we can still catch glimpses of glory, glimpses of a larger and more beautiful realm than what our usual experience allows. At another level of understanding, marking the third eye represents the importance of opening up to a higher wisdom than what is typically experienced through the senses and reason. ![]() That’s enough of a reason right there to participate in this religious ritual!īut wait! There’s more! That’s not the whole story – at least not the way I think about it. Remembering that each moment of our our finite lives is precious and to be lived mindfully is a wonderful thing. We come from dust and to dust we shall return. At one level of understanding, I present my forehead to be marked with ashes as a reminder that our embodiment is limited. Each individual participating in this ritual has his or her own take on it. Of course, I can only speak for myself about my reasons. ![]() Why do we engage in this pagan-like behavior? (Yes, this ceremony, like others practiced by many Christians, has pagan roots.) Why do we present our foreheads for this “imposition of ashes?” On Ash Wednesday many of us will have ashes put on our forehead, on our “third eye,” if you will.
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