In the spirit of Lent, I’ve been contemplating a mixture of Ash Wednesday language with the imagery of the phoenix. Last week when I was in Iowa, I went to the Ash Wednesday service with my dad. It was my first time at an Ash Wednesday mass since I was in high school. So it was my first time being mature enough to understand the meaning of all the language of mortality and pretty songs about rising from the ashes. Specifically, Ash Wednesday is a little heavy when your mother’s ashes are sitting on your mantel. Just saying.
I’ve always been a fan of phoenix metaphors. In fact, for many years I’ve been in love with the image of a phoenix rising out of music notes-specifically the notes of the first song I wrote. If/ when I get a tattoo that’s what I would want.
I’ve always loved this image because I feel like I’ve been constantly “taking flight” then going back to the “ashes” of some crisis, reforming myself and coming out again. A lot of times music is the thing that helps call me back. That’s another topic altogether.
So I guess the comforting thing as I work thru my “pre-30-saturn-return-internal-board-meeting-of-the-soul” that has been this past year, I find comfort in reminding myself that this is not the first transitional period I’ve gone thru and it won’t be the last. There are many times in life to examine ourselves, fall to pieces a little bit, and then come back wiser and with a new pair of wings. I’m just learning to fly and trust the wind.
Once again the bird
Born of the fire
soars again
New wings have formed
She learns how to use them
Taking flight
Trusting the wind
This is not the first time
She’s been transformed
It won’t be the last
But for now it’s time
To fly
Follow the current
See the beauty
Rise above
And love the world
As she sees it with new eyes
Once more
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