Hello Steve, 
 
One more excerpt about Ash Wednesday and the marking of foreheads 
from http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/ash_wed.htm 
 
 Q: Is there another significance to the ashes? 
 
 A: Yes.  They also symbolize death and so remind us of our mortality. 
 Thus when the priest uses his thumb to sign one of the faithful with  
 the ashes, he says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust  
 thou shalt return," which is modeled after God's address to Adam  
 (Genesis 3:19; cf. Job 34:15, Psalms 90:3, 104:29, Ecclesiastes 3:20).   
 
 This also echoes the words at a burial, "Ashes to ashes; dust to dust,"  
 which is based on God's words to Adam in Genesis 3 and Abraham's  
 confession, "I am nothing but dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27).  It is  
 thus a reminder of our mortality and our need to repent before this  
 life is over and we face our Judge. 
 
 
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust... 
 
That's reflected in the tale of the golem, which is where this little 
journey started.  We ventured off into an exploration of the mark of 
the beast, marks upon foreheads, numbers or marks needed to buy or  
sell, and even contemplated the nature of a city that sits upon  
peoples, nations, multitudes and tongues.  A city which represents  
confusion, deception and mystery.  A city which represents belief 
in falsehoods.  In future posts, I'd like to focus on how truth  
brings an end to confusion, mystery and belief in falsehoods, just 
as the revelation at the end of a good mystery novel dispels false  
beliefs about who the real perpetrator(s) are, etc.   
 
I'd also like to focus on two other subjects in future posts. 
One area involves the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the building  
of temples.  The other subject is related to the first and it 
involves geometric shapes, primarily that of the cube.   
 
 
Marnie 
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