There is no mention of ‘Ash Wednesday’ in the Bible. Moreover, even Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, tossed the ritual out in the 16th century because it was not biblically based.
Incidentally, the purportedly saintly Martin
Luther's biased doctrines were later to become a step towards the Nazi’s Final
Solution.
The apostles never observed ‘Ash Wednesday’.
Hardline evangelical Christians are quick to remind all lesser mortals that
Christians are not commanded to keep it. It was not even officially practiced
until many years after Christ's alleged resurrection.
Ash Wednesday is also identified as the 'Day of
Ashes'. It is understood to have first been observed during the papacy of
Gregory the Great (590-604) and it denotes the first day of Lent.
Get marked or you will be
slaughtered!
Ash Wednesday is however associated with a terrifying and murderously psychotic biblical decree to the faithful. Christian’s, who are devout adherents, believe the Bible to be the unalterable Word of God. Therefore, the following quotes from Ezekiel 9:4-6 (KJV) are especially disturbing.
The last monstrous paragraph would even suit Dr Hannibal Lecter so well.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing,
Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither
have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and
little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark;
and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before
the house.
The strange ash ritual herein can be seen herein as a way to avoid being slaughtered. The alleged Lord’s murderous pronouncement is very clear; i.e. put a mark on your forehead, because if you are a man, women (or even a child) who fails to do so - you will be killed!
So much for a 'loving' god! In view of the above, somewhat comically, Christian's are said to deem this day as a time of repentance and prayer.
Regardless of the usual excuses and wacky false-biblical justification behind this religious eccentricity, the next time you see a pious ash marked devotee just mention the name Ezekiel.
Like so many other non-biblical Christian
customs, Ash Wednesday has Pagan connections.
In ancient Norse mythology, the great World
Tree is a giant ash tree called Yggdrasill, which supports the universe.
Odin, the principal god of the Vikings, hung
himself on Yggdrasil as a sacrificial ordeal. Therein he lost an eye to ravens.
He was nevertheless rewarded with insights and greater knowledge, notably
understanding of the runes.
The Vikings were also described to as the
‘Aescling’ meaning 'Men of Ash'. Ash is used to attract the forces needed for
protection, health and good fortune as well as having links to the sea. Ash is strong and was used for weapon shafts.
Thus, it was important to the Norsemen.
Wednesday is named after Woden/Wodan, the
Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the Norse all father god, Odin. In English, the name
is derived from Old English Wōdnesdæg and Middle English Wednesdei, 'Day of
Woden'. This may naturally reflect early Anglo-Saxon spirituality.
So, ‘Ash
Wednesday’ – is anyone getting the drift yet?
Like the Vikings, the ancient Gaelic peoples
also thought of the ash tree as being protective.
Furthermore, the ash appears as Nion in the
Celtic Ogham alphabet. This is a system also used for prediction. Ash is one of
three trees which were sacred to the Druids and connects the inner self to the
outer worlds.
Ash trees hold countless associations with the
gods, such as: Odin, Uranus, Poseidon,
Thor, Oceanus, Nemesis, Mars, and Gwydion, etc.
Our ancient native Pagan folklore surrounding the ash
is immense. The fact that it links to Woden’s Day is of no coincidence!
See also
March & Easter: What they ‘don’t’ tell you about this festival!
https://pat-regan.blogspot.com/2012/04/march-easter-what-they-dont-tell-you.html
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