Lenten Roses

Dear Luna of the Heart, my very own Dream Wisdom, Holy Darkness between wake and wake, show me The Way. Light the path through the wilderness with your glowing wand of truth. Allow me to see the Round Face of God brought to me in moments, in riddles, in adventures abundant. Bring to me what I need to know, for tonight, that food of knowledge and deep knowing only your Mother Eye knows. And carry me safely into the morning sun, as with gratitude I wake into your holy sunshine ways.

Creator of all, universe of the soul, thank you for my breath and for my creative spirit. Guide me through synchronicity, through darkness, through mystery when I struggle on my path. Soothe my ego and support my soul. Allow me to rest in your bounty and remind me I am loved and I am love. Bring me closer to you even as I resist, show me your creation face and fuel me for my journey to become closer to myself, closer to you.

Altars were known to be sacred places of sacrifice, places where blood of animals were shed for the appeasement of gods and goddesses. It was a way of evening the score and to correct wrongs. When I grew up, the alter was The Great Untouchable. I remember going up to the alter for the first time during my Catholic confirmation classes. They showed me where consecration happened, upon a holy stone underneath the simple bleach-white linen overlay. It was stunning to me that something so simple as a cloth and some words would be so powerful as to change water into wine. Stunning, then confusing, then, eventually, just plain crazy. It took me years to find a theological explanation of sacrifice that somewhat made sense to me. I knew that I was not a sinner, despite my catholic background. I didn’t believe in sin, per se; I believed in injustice based out of brokenness. I knew this because I have seen brokennness heal and justice served. The Jesus I knew had little to say about personal s...