One More Sunflower

I just couldn't resist.

Peeks Around 23*

Peeks Around 23* is the second Buddha to find a home. This is Meditating Buddha with a Begging Bowl. I still don't know the significance behind the hand positions, etc... and need a good resource. The internet is not helping with this one.

So this Buddha is maybe brass or copper and I'm guessing that the color is some sort of patina. The little table this sits on gets used a lot and it moves around depending on space and need. My bff Lisa found this table and two matching but smaller ones. And each table fit underneath the other. I don't know what happened with the other two but I got this one. It has followed me through something like 8 moves. Maybe more. And it's not the most stable thing, although I think Shawn may have done something to it to make it a little more sturdy. It's also painted gold and has some sort of damask type of pattern on it.

This past summer it was in the living room. Once the plants came in Big Buddha had to move and the table had to move into our bedroom. There was stuff from the Big Buddha altar that needed a home so I decided to make a small altar in the bedroom for the winter. This new meditating Buddha is perfect for it. He's in the photo with his buddy Ganesha, a Buddha candle from Soaring Spirit Yoga studio, a shiva lingam stone, a couple of crystals and some other stones. It's exuding some really great energy.

And ultimately there was a lesson learned from this altar that I didn't realize until this very moment. When the plants first came in for the winter I was bummed about having to move Big Buddha and losing the space. There was a hard attachment to the way things were and I was having a hard time letting go of that, even though I knew it was coming. And attachment only causes suffering. The end result of the change that I didn't want, is a beautiful altar with amazing energy that I see every. single. day. Not such a bad change after all.

My Mala*

This is the first mala I made, the one I learned with. It's not perfect and that's ok. After I made this mala, I made another for myself and one for Lisa and one for Melissa. The malas are awesome. The smooth, roundness of the beads as you touch them and the energy from the gem stones and the charms make them so sacred. It really is hard to stop touching them.

This mala is made from carnelian beads. Carnelian reminds us to be in the present moment. It vitalizes the physical, mental and emotional bodies and aligns the physical and etheric bodies. It also enhances attunement with the inner self.

The charm is Ganesha. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles. I have started a new 40 day cycle which includes meditating with this mala and calling upon Ganesha to remove the obstacles in the way of my goals. I touch each bead and mentally recite the mantra, Om Gaum Ganapatayeh Namaha. Hopefully this will help with the mental obstacles that don't want me to not drink caffeine for the 40 days!

Ganesha*

I'm working on a photography project for my home away from home, the wonderful Pure Prana Yoga Studio, www.pureprana.com. They are redesigning their website and are in need of photos. So over the next few weeks I'll be shooting the studio and different classes. So far it has been a fabulous experience. Just watching people in the moment, moving, breathing and capturing that energy and peace.

Today I got some photos of the awesome Ganesha statue in the large studio. It's about 6 feet tall and carved out of wood. It's an amazing piece of art. But beyond that, it's Ganesha, remover of obstacles. Call on Ganesha when you need to remove the obstacles standing in your way of joy and bliss. It works.