Ash wednesday

so today is ash Wednesday,I remember years ago having the ahes drawn into a cross on my forehead,and today begins the start of fasting for lent.
I was thinking about fasting the other day,I think it is a good thing to fast ones body,not letting it dominate us all the time,today it seems that we always are encouraged to give our body what ever it desires,treat ourselves etc when probably what our body craves is a rest.
a rest from food,or a rest from the internet,the phone,media,people,just to rest and reset.
I think fasting not just from food helps clarity,so I think I will be fasting a little over the 40 days,and trying to be creative,fast from email,fast from thinking critically,being more compassionate,especially to people who have wounded me or that I have imagined have,fasting from impatience especially when watching the news on the TV,maybe I should fast that as well.
if you choose to fast,enjoy the rest!

flowers for a bride

Flowers have a secret, language, they have ancient  symbolism 

this is an excerpt from a Bride's journal and inspirational journey

The lily is often a favorite flower of many royal brides because of its meaning, return of happiness

The Arum represents a coming back to life the resurrection, the water lily or lotus the cycle of life, the lotus grows up from mud into a flower of great beauty, and can be a reminder that just as people go through difficulties that beauty can come through these times.

The lily   rich in symbolism, has trumpet shaped flowers which one can imagine at a wedding would be trumpeting out the sound of joy, a lily is a sweet and fragrant with a strong scent

White and beautiful, exceeding others for whiteness, meaning purity, in it are seven seeds that are the

colour of gold, royalty

A lily is very fruitful, one root may put forth fifty bulbs.

A lily is the tallest of flowers and yet hangs its head down, a beautiful picture of humility.

A lily has many medicinal qualities according to old teaching representing healing

The lily of the valley is a beautiful picture of the king in song of songs

I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley.   songs 2.1

My beloved is gone down into his garden to the bed of spices to feed in the garden and to gather lilies . songs 6.2

 Take a moment to record in these pages some thoughts of what you would like to proclaim through your wedding flowers, perhaps joy, return of happiness, fidelity what is your secret language to your groom.

You could also keep a few petals from the day in this journal as a reminder in years ahead how precious that meaning was to you.

Have a go at drawing your favorite flowers ,as I have done below,I had a dream on my wedding anniversary of a field of white lilies, they were in my wedding bouquet so it was a special message of love to me.

 a return of happiness