Ash Wednesday - A Tarot Spread for Lent

On Ash Wednesday 8 years ago, I created an A Metanoia Tarot Spread for Lent. Ash Wednesday is, as many of you know, the start of the season of Lent. Lent is traditionally a time of spiritual renewal through fasting and repentance. I’m revisiting this post and decided to rewrite it entirely + update the Tarot Spread because my views have shifted since 2017. It’s hard to claim to enter a time of spiritual renewal if we’re holding onto old, outdated beliefs and practices, right?

Go to the Metanoia Tarot Spread for Lent

Spiritual renewal is dependent on “repentance”, a problematic, sin-riddled word. This word was poorly translated from the Greek metanoia which simply means a shift in perspective. But before I share some of my “heretical” thoughts on the true meaning of repentance, let’s take a look at what the Catholic Church says about Ash Wednesday and Lent:

Ash Wednesday – A Catholic Christian View

In this video about the meaning of Ash Wednesday, Father Mike explains that the ashes are not just a reminder of mortality but a call to transformation. Receiving them marks a turning point, an awareness of sin and the need for change. The words spoken—”Remember that you are dust” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel”—capture this. Repentance means both recognising sin and embracing divine love.

Lent mirrors Christ’s 40 days in the desert. It is a time of purification and preparation for Easter. Father Mike, drawing on St. John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body, explains that repentance is not just about sin. It is also about honouring the goodness within. Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving help Catholics detach from distractions and grow closer to God. These practices are not burdens. They transform and guide believers toward their true selves in Christ.

The cross of ashes holds deep meaning. It acknowledges sin but also affirms redemption. Jesus’ sacrifice claims each person as His own. As Father Mike says, Lent is not just about remorse but hope. God does not abandon His people. He works to transform them. This season is a time to return to Him, let His grace shape the heart, and prepare for the joy of Easter.

Lent and the Law of One

For me, Ash Wednesday and Lent are about purification and refocusing on what matters. Metanoia means a deep shift in mind and heart of the kind we see in the Tarot Hanged Man. Yeshua, the Teacher of Righteousness, came to awaken us to our own Christ nature, not burden us with shame. But I do like the ashes and how they remind me of impermanence. This rich symbology reminds us that though the body is dust, we are not our bodies. Lent is but one of the untold memento mori and reminders to realign with the Law of One and walk in harmony with all beings.

I choose to see any season of fasting as being about “freedom from” rather than as a punishment. Overindulgence binds the soul and separates us from those with less. Fasting reminds us that we are all part of the One. When we fast, we remember that we need less of this world and more of the divine. Simplicity brings clarity. Our desires should not rule us. When we fast to draw nearer to God, it deepens our awareness of the sacred and helps us break ego attachments.

Almsgiving is a natural response to this awareness. Letting go of excess creates space to give. Separation from those in need is an illusion. We are all One. Giving restores balance. It is not charity; it is realignment. The symbolism contained in Ash Wednesday helps me remember this truth. For me, it is not a time of mourning or self-flagellation but awakening. Grace is already here and mercy triumphs over judgment. I am simply surrendering to my true nature and returning to Love.