The Phoenix: Ashes and Hope

The phoenix must turn into ashes before it can rise again. This symbol of death and rebirth haunts me today. Turning to ashes can happen quickly, by suddenly bursting into flame and drifting to the ground into a pile of white dust. Or, sometimes it can be a slow, smouldering burn that leads to a weakening of the whole until it crumbles, without fanfare, to a heap on the ground. The key thing to remember: the phoenix always rises again.