Exploring the tomb stage of the spiritual journey.
In order to become the magnificent butterfly, the caterpillar must first die to the life it has known as a caterpillar and surrender into the chrysalis stage of metamorphosis. So too are we invited at times in our spiritual journeys to die to what we have come to know about ourselves and about our lives and enter into the tomb of spiritual transformation.
This is the stage in which I find myself at this point in my own spiritual journey. I have been invited to enter into the tomb of transformation and into the tomb I have been invited to bring everything I have come to know about myself, about my life, my hopes, dreams, visions, illusions, attachments, false perceptions, fears, etc. etc. etc. Into the tomb I have also been invited to bring everything I think I know about myself and my life. I have been invited to bring all this into the tomb knowing that much of what I bring with me has to die or at least come to an end. This is a challenging time knowing that much of what I have known will now be coming to an end. At the same time, there is great hope knowing that on the other side of the tomb is the promise of new life. As the chrysalis heralds the birth of the butterfly, the tomb heralds the resurrection of a new life, yet to be revealed. As I enter into the tomb, I share with you this poem offered to me by my dear friend, Linda in celebration of what is yet to come:
Skin and sinew, bone and dust
Offering my Emptiness into Hands I trust
Illumine and comfort, receive what is Thine
Bring forth my heart, renewed and aligned.
Into Your cave of Silence I find I have wandered
Layers of illusion, surrender I’ve pondered
Wrap me in your great Love so complete
Oneness we are, deep calls unto deep.
Smoke arises from my funeral pyre
Peace inhabits Your smoke of desire
All that I am, all that I will be
I humble release into all of Thee.
Holy Love asleep in my tomb
Prepares me for rebirth in your Loving womb
Your Arms enlighten me in a sacred embrace
Ashes of mourning into joy filled grace.
copyright 2011 Linda Johnson-Sailer
When have you been invited to enter into the tomb of transformation?
What did you find you needed to shed?
What was the new life you found on the other side?
Lauri Lumby
http://yourspiritualtruth.com
Beautiful poem and so many wisdoms. From ashes comes new life…it has always been the cycle of the seed waiting to birth into fullness.
Entering the tomb of transformation . . . this post reflects where I feel I’m at in life right now myself. At a stage of, as you mentioned, potentially putting some old illusions, attachments and fears to death. Wow- powerful stuff, Lauri. Thank you!
Great metaphor of the tomb. Thanks for giving me many things to ponder.
Wow I could feel chills, the tingleing of nerves reading that poem. Who says that only through physical death can we exit the other side. The stark truth Linda implies from the verses she has written brings you to the cusp of what we need tp do to in this poem. I feel for Laurie, but I also see she embraces what has to come for her, to instill her God given courage that he has given us all.