You have expressed here beautifully and eloquently the sense of "ashes work." The ash man or ash woman passes through a kind of humiliation, but this is done in the root sense of that word, "humus" that is "rich and fertile earth." The work is a grounding and a connection to that which has died and composted and which provides a ground for new life. It is also the source of our word "human." We are beings of earth, mythically made from clay, so "humiliation" is a return to our rightful place as human beings. I believe this is related to the way in which some indigenous American peoples refer to humans as "surface beings" that is ones who walk on the face of the earth and between worlds.
The "sack cloth and ashes" of the bible was meant to return an individual to his "humility" to remind the hubristic one of his place as a creature of clay.
It has occurred to me that there may be a further connection to be explored in the ash lads or ash lasses of Northern European myth, and that is to the ash tree. In Norse myth, the ash is the world tree. It is upon this tree that Odin is bound and it is on the ash that he sacrifices one eye to gain a deeper wisdom. The Ash-person, may also be connected to the great roots and soaring celestial crown of the world tree in this way.
I look forward to bringing the rest of the story to the circle.
This is wonderful, Walton. Thanks for the kind words and the additional threads to explore. The association with the ash tree is something I have also considered. Marvellous. I look forward to sitting with you in circle again this weekend.
Dear Asher,
You have expressed here beautifully and eloquently the sense of "ashes work." The ash man or ash woman passes through a kind of humiliation, but this is done in the root sense of that word, "humus" that is "rich and fertile earth." The work is a grounding and a connection to that which has died and composted and which provides a ground for new life. It is also the source of our word "human." We are beings of earth, mythically made from clay, so "humiliation" is a return to our rightful place as human beings. I believe this is related to the way in which some indigenous American peoples refer to humans as "surface beings" that is ones who walk on the face of the earth and between worlds.
The "sack cloth and ashes" of the bible was meant to return an individual to his "humility" to remind the hubristic one of his place as a creature of clay.
It has occurred to me that there may be a further connection to be explored in the ash lads or ash lasses of Northern European myth, and that is to the ash tree. In Norse myth, the ash is the world tree. It is upon this tree that Odin is bound and it is on the ash that he sacrifices one eye to gain a deeper wisdom. The Ash-person, may also be connected to the great roots and soaring celestial crown of the world tree in this way.
I look forward to bringing the rest of the story to the circle.
All the Best,
Walton
This is wonderful, Walton. Thanks for the kind words and the additional threads to explore. The association with the ash tree is something I have also considered. Marvellous. I look forward to sitting with you in circle again this weekend.