Ashes to ashes, dust to dust - Lisa
Since the beginning of time, the phrase ashes to ashes, dust to dust has been considered a reminder of the simple circumstances we were created from, and to the humble materials to which we will someday return. It is a symbol of life, and reflector of death. Ironically, this passage is located in the book of Genesis in the bible, the book which covers the creation of the world. The Lord God states in chapter three of Genesis
“By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
“By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
Example 1
In the present, this phrase has been included in many movies, songs, and books, demonstrating the ability of humans to interpret and share such messages with the rest of the world. When NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Spitzer Space Telescope captured a picture of a dusty collapsed star, they titled their article (would you believe it) “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust.” This biblical illusion was a representation of they way this phrase demonstrates ruin and destruction. Even something so massive, and so significant, such as a star, will one day return to the simple ashes and dust from which it was made.
Example 2
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/4/2/25426927/8085364.jpg)
This biblical passage has also been included in many forms of literature. One book, entitled From Ashes and Dust, also reflected the message of the quote. The story documents the struggles of Jews being liberated from concentration camps and stands as a reminder that (diversely from the NASA article) great things can be formed from ruins and dust. In this story, such people and beliefs are redefined and created from the humble
ashes and destruction they were brought to in the concentration camps. They are recreated from the dust they became.
ashes and destruction they were brought to in the concentration camps. They are recreated from the dust they became.
Example 3
The song “Dust to Dust” by The Civil Wars gives a more literal interpretation of the meaning of this passage. In the lyrics, it describes the struggles of being alone, and the difficulties one faces in being demoralized and abandoned to nothing - being reduced to dust.
Example 4
In a different way, artist Sergio Portillo and Michael Butler took the meaning of this passage from Genesis to a whole new level. Their areas of work deal with taking the ashes of a deceased person, mixing them into paints, and composing a commemorative picture for the family of that person. Even though in their professions they understand the pain families feel from the simplistic fact that there loved ones have moved on and returned (in this case literally) to dust, they have found a way to somewhat alleviate the hurt and help others to remember what those ashes once were.