Today is Ash Wednesday, whose ceremonies mark the start of Lent in Western Christianity. Most years my focus in these posts is on the rite itself, which carries a wealth of symbolism. So if you’d like a reflection on the imposition of ashes, please see here, here, and here. But this year, I’m going to … Continue reading Servants of God: A Reflection of Ash Wednesday 2025
Longtime readers will know that I love the story of the Transfiguration. I come by it honestly, since I studied the theology of light for my Master’s thesis back in the day, a tradition in which this story which seems strange to many becomes a blueprint for Christian spirituality. But the thing about peak religious … Continue reading Up the Mountain and Down Again: A Reflection on Luke 9.28-43
Another Saturday, another look at what has been lighting me up and lighting my way this week. After a week off because of my company, it was lovely to regroup with my mini book club about Wilkie Au and Noreen Cannon Au’s The Discerning Heart (2006). I also enjoyed reading on to this week’s chapter, … Continue reading What’s Lighting Me Up (March 1, 2025)
Today this series on the intersections of Christianity and the Jungian idea of the shadow comes to an end. It’s been a bit disorganized and all over the place, but I do hope it’s been interesting and beneficial. The main idea is simply this: that the stories we tell, including and especially our religious stories, … Continue reading The Christian Shadow: Concluding Thoughts
One of the most famous aspects of Carl Jung’s thought was the idea of archetypes. We can think of archetypes as the stock characters, plots, and tropes that form the basis of our stories and understanding of the world. While these have strong cultural elements (for example, the archetype of the dutiful son is far … Continue reading Archetypes and the Lives of the Saints
Matthew Root 