Ganesha

Ganesha is one of the most endearing “Gods” in the Hindu pantheon of gods. Lots of things get attributed to him, but here are two of his titles that I love the best:

• Lord of New Beginnings
• Remover of Obstacles

I don’t know about you, but every stage of my life seems to offer “New Beginnings”, and in India nobody begins any kind of new initiative or enterprise without involving Ganesha somehow. I’m all in on that. New Beginnings are not easy…What’s Ganesha’s hourly rate?!?

And who among us could not use a “Remover of Obstacles”? Please! I want one of those too!! Dude, I have some obstacles that I would like to remove, for sure…

     My Inner Ganesha

I think of “Ganesha energy” as part of myself, part of my own being, or psyche, or however you want to name that. I don’t believe there is a chubby elephant guy out there who’s gonna do all or any of this stuff for me. Calling in the image and story of Ganesha reminds me that the universe has assigned me both of Ganesha’s jobs, AND the resources to do them. I am my own Ganesha.

If I blame you for my circumstances (or Trump, or Mercury Retrograde, or the Board of Trustees, or my Mom for something she did or did not do in 1961), and I wait for the next Obama, or Baby Jesus, or my partner, or some misguided version of the Law of Attraction to remove obstacles for me, be my savior, fight my battles, hoist my banner, or win my Super Bowl, then I’m not taking responsibility for my own experiences, my own life, my own vision.

For me, all of the Hindu Gods are metaphors for aspects of myself, of powers I need to find internally, or in my relationship with the universe. Vishnu, Shiva, Lord Krishna, and all the rest. Light Figures. Inspirations. Reminders that I am enough…

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