Don't we all have times in our lives when it feels like we are blocked at every turn? Those times when you feel like you can't seem to get ahead or to where you want to be? The mantra I have chosen for February is the mantra to Ganesha. Ganesha, or sometimes Ganesh is said to be the remover of obstacles, he is the deity for the earth element, and the son of Shiva.
Ganesh is said to be the son of Shiva the destroyer and Parvati (It is said that Parvati saw Shiva in his ecstatic dance once reaching enlightenment and was awe struck and then copied his actions. He was so moved by her devotion that he fell in love and took her as his consort.) So Shiva was leaving to go out and destroy as he did, and Parvati was quite upset when he wen to to leave what with leaving her with their newborn alone. Shiva said "don't you worry I will put an enchantment on our son so that he will protect you from any harm". Off he went. Some time goes by LIKE YEARS, and shiva comes home to find a young man blocking his entrance into his home. So Shiva cuts off his head. Needless to say Parvati is NOT HAPPY. To try and make amends Shiva goes out to the forest and cuts off the head of the first animal he sees, which is an elephant. He returns home and attaches that to his son's body. And that is how Ganesh gets his elephant head.
It is said that when you chant to Ganesh with an obstacle in mind it will be removed, but Ganesh is a bit of a funny character with a wild sense of humour (he rides a mouse, so you can imagine what kind of guy has a giant elephant head and rides a mouse) and your obstacle may be removed but not in the way you were expecting. Ganesh loves sweets too. I get that. Ganesh is said to be wise and intelligent and is the deity responsible for math and science, letters and learning. He is the deity that represents the earth element so when you are feeling untethered, anxious or antsy, Ganesh is your guy.
So you can chant to Ganesh offering up your obstacle. But I like to think of it as a calling forth of those traits that are within ourselves that are similar to Ganesha. So when I chant to Ganesha I call forth that part of me that is a creative problem solver. I remember my own love of learning (and sweets). I bring forward the idea of grounded in my actions, feeling safe. I hope for cake for dessert. When my anxiety is on high alert I repeat his seed syllable in my head "gam gam gam gam".
This is our mantra for this month. I invite you to call forth those traits in you.
OM GAM GANAPATAYE NAMAHA
Here is me chanting for 108 repetitions. I change tune a couple times, made the mistake of sitting cross legged on the floor in jeans... as I was losing feeling in my feet Ganesha came to me and said "UNCROSS YOUR LEGS STUPID. " So then that obstacle was removed...😏
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