Navratri Continues

 Navratri continues tonight with the visit of Lakshmi. 

The word navratri means nine nights; These nights are broken up into sets of three, and during each set we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti (the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us) - first the Goddesses Durga, then Lakshmi, and then Saraswati.

Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace. Tonight we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Lakshmi, the Goddess of success.

2021 rangoli

Agenda Today:

1. Morning meditation and mantra 

2. Read "The Antidote"

3. Start a new project

4. Make a new rangoli design
5. Add to my altar

1. Morning meditation and mantra:

During Navratri, Hindus work on their vyavhaar (behaviour) and acharan (character). For these next three days I honor the constructive aspect of the Mother - after Durga has destroyed the old structure of my personality, a constructive process can begin. 

The word Lakshmi comes from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning aim or goal. Laksmi is a beautiful golden woman with four arms, sitting on a fully bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud. Cascades of gold coins flow from her hands, indicating her offering of prosperity. She bestows spiritual and material wealth, good food, health, happiness, and the growth and unfolding of whatever is life-enhancing.

On each morning of Navratri I light a small white candle. For these next three mornings I meditate on my inner life-giving force of creativity. I ask -

What part of me do I ask Lakshmi to heal and nourish? What is the wealth I wish for?

What are the life-enhancing qualities and habits that I wish to cultivate in the days ahead? 

I picture this Mother spirit sitting on the blossom of my heart, gently opening it to accept love and happiness into my life. 

I continue to focus on my image of Lakshmi and chant- (You might want to chant along with someone who knows how. Many YouTube versions exist, and my favorite is here.)

• Om - the primordial sound 
• Shreem -  from which beauty and feminine energy emanates
• Ma-ha - great 
• Lak-shma-yai - goddess of wealth
• Na-ma-ha - I pray.

2. Read "The Antidote":

I'm just starting this book by Oliver Burkeman (2012), with the subtitle, Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. I hope that I can get a handle on some reasonable practices to help me out of this quagmire of negativity.

The first chapter is a rambling introduction that makes the point that positive thinking (and all the trappings of New Thought, such as affirmations and positive visualization) can actually be damaging, because you can pin your hopes on unrealistic expectations. Modern psychology experiments have also shown that if we only visualize the best outcomes we are less motivated to work towards changes that will bring about the best outcome, because it causes us to relax - as if we've already succeeded. We need to stop chasing and clinging to positivity so intently and have a subtler approach.

3. Start a new project:

At the Waxing Moon, when the moon increases in size, we might feel it's energetic influence of growth and expansion. The Waxing Moon encourages us to build momentum, start new projects, and take concrete steps toward our goals. (I have noticed a quickening of energy for my home projects, and I even made a detailed checklist of tasks.)

Today, though, I'm thinking about something new. I'm starting two new projects today:

1. A study of sneaky optimism (First step: List the components)
2. Making concrete stepping stones (First step: clear space and set out supplies)

4. Make a new rangoli design:

Rangolis are rice flour designs, made on the floor or a metal plate. At Navratri a new design might be made each day, with dots, squares, flowers, birds, and so on- each one designed to welcome the spirit of the Goddess; this one shows Lakshmi's feet.

5. Add to my altar:

I added a bowl of coins from around the world, to remind me of the nurturing quality of the Shakti.