“Exiting the Tomb… Celebrating New Life!”
Sunday, April 17th 10:30 AM
Color a Symbolic Image of Your Resurrection
The Jewish Holy Day of Passover is about overcoming and liberation and the Christian Holy Day of Easter is about the awakening and transformation of consciousness. These holy days are celebrated during the season of spring, a time of renewal and the blossoming of new life that follows the bareness and the bitterness of winter.
During the service on Sunday, April 10th, I discussed the metaphysical meaning of the crucifixion, the tomb, and the resurrection as the interplay of shadow and light aspects within and as the symbolic stages of our spiritual growth process.
The crucifixion represents the painful endings in our lives. Entering the tomb or the void is a necessary stage we are asked to experience after significant endings in our lives. According to Unity Minister and author, Robert Brumet, “The Void is a rite of passage in which the initiate encounters his/her transformational power, but first must face the dark side of himself/herself. The void is a period when we shed the husks of our old self in order to become more of who we truly are.”
The stage of the void requires resilience, determination, strength, self-compassion, and faith to endure the process of relinquishing self-limiting beliefs and behaviors that are familiar yet contribute to our pain and suffering. Frequently, individuals are tempted to bypass this uncomfortable stage and erroneously believe their suffering can be alleviated by changing the physical circumstances of their lives without doing the inner spiritual work of reflection, acceptance, and letting go.
During the service on April 10th, I also invited each one of you to courageously identify and be willing to bless and relinquish through the practices of prayer, meditation, and self-compassion one of the following:
- An inner war you are experiencing
- A self-limiting belief that you are willing to shed
- An unhealthy behavior you are willing to shed
During your practice of reflection, acceptance, and release, I invite you to uncover the blessing offered by your personal inner struggles and conflict and become aware of the transformative power it offers you. It is your teacher and is an invitation to step into a more expansive expression of your Divine Nature.
In preparation for our Sunday service on April 17th, I have attached coloring pages of images that represent the dance between the dark and the light aspects we experience on the journey of spiritual awakening and transformation.
I invite you to choose one to color. The image you choose will be a symbol of what you are shedding and the transformation you are claiming for yourself.
You will be given an opportunity to share your image and its symbolism during the service and again during fellowship.
Let us come together to celebrate the courage, strength, resilience, and transformational power we each possess.
Let us rejoice in the promise and celebration of new life!
Love, and Light,
Rev. Angela
