Goddess Travel: Where in the World?
As a Goddess-centric Witch, I am always looking for new ways to connect with the myriad of global goddesses. Even though I know that I can have powerful relationships with different goddesses from the comfort of my home, I’ve also got a bit of a travel bug, so when I am wandering in new places, I try to hold myself open to spiritual experience and divine intervention. Sometimes, though, I only realize how magical the experience was after the fact. I'll be exploring these different experiences and goddesses on this blog.
Passing on Abundance
This weekend, I led a goddess-centric workshop at my local new age store. Although I’ve been working with goddess for over a decade and writing and participating in rituals for about half that time, I’d never led a class with strangers. The opportunity popped up unexpectedly because of my book Goddess Spells for Busy Girls, and in the years since I penned the book, I’ve realized to trust that it knows what it wants, so when I was invited to present, I embraced the unexpected abundance and said yes.
I had a wonderful time sharing four of my favorite goddesses with the lovely workshop participants, and, in the spirit of abundance that typifies the work I do related to my little pink book, I wanted to share one of the meditations I wrote for this weekend with you. It’s a Lakshmi meditation, and since abundance is on my mind (and since we’re turning the tide to Beltane this week), I hope you’ll enjoy this journey.
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Close your eyes and find a comfortable seat. If there are any stressors or worries in your mind that you brought into this room, release them now with a loving exhale. Breathe in fresh, clear energy, and exhale anything weighing you down.
Notice the way you are supported by the earth.
Sink deeper, feeling your sit bones rooting down, drawing energy up, into your body, up your spine, and, finally, feeling that energy reach the back of your neck…your forehead….the crown of your head.
Gradually, bring your awareness to your breath. Are you breathing through your nose? Are you breathing through your mouth? Notice and be aware, but don’t try to change your breath right now. Just notice each inhale, and notice each exhale.
On your next exhale, release any tension that may be lingering in your body. Inhale slowly through your nose, counting to three in your mind as you breathe. One. Two. Three. Exhale deliberately through your nose. One. Two. Three. Again. Inhale one two three. Exhale one two three.
Once more. Inhale one two three. Exhale one two three.
You are standing beside an algae covered pond. Lilly pads dot the surface of the water, and here and there, white and pink lotus blossoms push through the sludge toward the sunlight. Nearby, a frog is singing. The sun that kisses your cheeks is warm and bright, and you tip your head back for a moment, reveling in the springtime beauty.
As you look around the green, swamp water, you notice a small island sitting some distance away from the shore. There is something about the island that intrigues you, and you realize that you desperately want to go there. At first, you consider wading into the water, but then your eyes spot a small boat on the shore.
Carefully, stepping through the reeds, you get into the boat. Golden oars appear in your hands, and you set your course on the small island. It didn’t look that far away from the shore, but you row and row and row for a long time, longer than you expected, and by the time you reach the island, your arms are weary and your shoulders are starting to feel sore.
The boat bumps against a single dock, and as you leap out of the boat and tie it up, you realize that the small island is much, much larger than it looked from the shore. Beautiful flowering plants are everywhere, and the air smells like the sweetest perfume.
Trees that are draped in all kinds of glistening, fresh fruit line a path that leads away from the water’s edge, and you reach for any fruit that you want as you walk away from your boat. Despite the trees, the island is bright and full of light, and your weariness melts away as you walk, munching on delicious fruit and enjoying the many sights and smells of the island.
Suddenly, you come to a clearing, and you notice a pair of swans sitting together, their necks crossed in an elegant heart shape. You slow down, but a beautiful voice calls out, “Don’t be afraid! Come and sit.”
You shift your gaze and realize that a woman is reclining on a velvet couch beside the swans. Inky black hair cascades over her shoulders, and her rich, almond eyes meet your gaze. She laughs again, extending a slender wrist covered in gold bangles. “Come and sit with me,” she offers.
You realize that the beautiful lady is Lakshmi, and you bow your head to her in greeting. She sits up, making room on the couch for you, and you sit down beside her.
“Now,” she says with a smile, “what have you come to ask me?”
Ask her whatever it is that you desire. Listen to all she has to say.
When you are finished with your conversation, Lakshmi leans forward and kisses your forehead, at the spot between your brows. “Hold out your hands,” she commands, and you do. She drops a treasure into your up-stretched palms, and you thank her from the bottom of your heart.
Her laughter follows you as you make your way back through the flowers and the fruit trees to your little boat. The golden oars have disappeared, but when you sit down on the boat, it begins to drift back toward the shore where you came from. You enjoy the ride, and very soon, you are stepping back on dry land.
You turn to face the island one more time, and you wave to it, bidding farewell to Lakshmi and her beautiful birds.
Gradually, the lily pads and lotus blossoms that dot the water begin to fade away, and you begin to become aware that you are sitting here, in your body, in this time and space. Gently bring your awareness back to your breath, inhaling and exhaling with slow deliberation. As you deepen your breath, become even more aware of your body, noticing the way the earth is supporting you, noticing the way your sit bones are rooted into the ground, noticing the gentle flow of energy that is traveling up and down your spine.
When you are ready, you may open your eyes.
***
Namaste and bright blessings, dear ones!
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