I can always tell when Ganesha has been working in my life. sometimes It is because I have had this lifelong dream of an elephant flying into my life when I am in a space of struggle, wrapping its trunk around me, flying me into the heavens, setting me on a cloud and leaving me there to rest while it flew off into the universe. Later, it would come back, and fly me back to a transformed setting where all obstacles had been removed and the path was clear for a new beginning.
It was last June, when my friend Elizabeth posted a picture of Ganesha on my Facebook wall for my birthday that I came to an understanding of who this elephant was and the role s/he played in my life. Ganesha is a Hindi deity known as the Remover of Obstacles and the Creator of New Beginnings.
Normally, I have had these Ganesha moments when I was struggling with something emotionally or in some sort of physical danger. Then I would have this dream and when I awoke, I had clarity. This week was different. I was not consciously struggling with anything emotionally and did not feel as if I was in any kind of physical danger. Ganesha, however, knew it was time to remove some obstacles from my life. This week was filled with opportunities for me to move to a higher place of praise and understanding in my own journey.
I have been leaving my Ashram. My home for the last several years, the last two in particular, in particular has become my personal Ashram. When I lost my paratransit services, going places became an obstacle. I realized I could see my home as either a jail cell or an Ashram. I chose to make it my personal Ashram and I have been praying, meditating, studying, and living in my Ashram. This week has been filled with guidance from the Infinite that it is time for me to venture out of my Ashram and move beyond the internal obstacles that had led me to and kept me in my Ashram
It began with my being invited to attend a poetry reading where for the first time in over two years I spoke publicly. I shared my poetry in front of a small and intimate crowd. It set in motion the creation of an open mic space at our bimonthly potlucks here by one of our regular attendees. Tomorrow, I am leaving again and going to learn about using the Tibetan singing bowls. I am excited about that as Zoe bought me one as a gift a few months ago, so now I will learn how to use it with others and myself.
As I have been thinking about all this, I began formulating a poem to give thanks to my spirit guide, Ganesha.
Ganesha
Renovation, Creation
Removing, Cleansing, Creating
Freedom from, Freedom to become
Me
In doing so, I can hear the little girl inside me singing
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine,
let it shine.