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Soulful
Love
October 2001 |
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by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway |
Every month, the "Romance
Reverend" shares her sage insights on relationships
and getting ready for soulful love! Send your
questions to RomanceRev@SoulfulLiving.com.
Getting to Know "Lakshmi"
the Goddess of Good Fortune
You Are Never Truly Alone
I used to be an ardent feminist, a woman who could
"do it all." I have in recent years been
"looking" for my true love, but not going
crazy about it. I was always very comfortable on my own.
After what happened to our nation on September 11, I am
panicked about being a woman alone in the world. I feel
unsafe and unsupported – and I feel ashamed of those
feelings. Am I losing it?
-- Liz, Philadelphia, PA
Dear Liz,
No, you are not losing it. In the wake of the
tragedies that have rocked our nation, many single women
have been expressing a deep sense of sadness about
"being alone." In a world that seems
increasingly more dangerous every day, even the
strongest, most successful women may feel a sense of
uneasiness at being in the world without a mate. This is
a perfectly normal response to this completely abnormal
situation we are all faced with. When we feel confident
and good about life -- even if we feel a sense of
aloneness -- we also feel strength and find the ability
to go on. But when we feel threatened, it is completely
natural to want "protection" and there is
nothing wrong with wishing that there were someone to
share the pain and evolution of these times with. We are
all susceptible to the fear of being on our own, and
anyone who is listening to the news is likely to be
traumatized to some extent.
Don’t be hard on yourself. For many women, the
terror we have all been exposed to by the events of
September 11 is simply highlighting the fact that they
want partners in life -- not to protect them from the
Huns, but to stand with them, side by side, facing the
world together. This is not at all a non-feminist desire…
it is a natural evolution.
Obviously, a huge cosmic bolt of lightening has hit
us all. Things will now transform rapidly in our world.
I believe the changing times may actually accelerate the
appearance of some of those soul mates who have yet to
show, and it may also help people to see potential mates
through a different, more spiritually attuned set of
eyes. For example, before September 11, you may have
been searching for and waiting for the "perfect
mate," and now, perhaps you will place you focus on
"creating the perfect relationship."
Whether it looks like it now, or not… this is a
good time for love. We all feel more vulnerable, and
hearts are more open. Maybe your soul mate has just been
waiting to be able to get through that door, the one
that has been protecting your heart. Maybe this is the
very impetus that your soul needed in order to open to
the soul mate that will stand by your side.
It is important to note, however, that Safety does
not really lie in the big strong arms of a
beloved soul mate … those arms are a nice place to be…
but there is also a soulful connection to self, to
community, and to God, Goddess, All there is that can
uplift you and help you stay centered and connected to
the natural universe. When you feel
"connected," fear and worries about safety do
not overwhelm you. I personally believe that our
connection to one another and to the divine – however
we see or experience it – is our safe haven in these
times of not knowing what is next.
© Copyright 2001
Reverend Laurie Sue Brockway All Rights
Reserved.
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Getting To Know The Goddess Of Good
Fortune
In the months ahead, as our country recovers, we will
too – on many levels and in many ways. Many soulful
singles will come together with other soulful singles
and become soulful couples. And many people will find
strength in their own being, in bonding with friends and
community, and in their connection to spirit. I believe
that it is very empowering for all of us to have a
spiritual partner. For many women, our cosmic connection
is a divine female who looks like us offers a sense of
courage, of hope, of power.
In honor of this issue celebrating the Divine
Feminine, I want to introduce you to a very special
Goddess who will be featured in my book A Goddess Is
A Girl’s Best Friend, due out next fall. She’s
magical, and practical. Her mate is a God and her best
friend, a guy. She is a living Goddess, worshipped
around the world. In these times of challenge as in all
times of challenge, she can be a comfort and and a
healer; she brings a sense of greater fortune to come
even in the darkest moments. She’s been doing this for
thousands of years.
Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Good Fortune and
Beauty. She represents and is seen as the
personification of abundance, prosperity, wealth,
well-being and harmony. She is actively worshiped daily
by millions of Hindus, and interfaith practitioners of
Goddess spirituality, around the globe. Because of her
popularity she is considered a universal Goddess.
Lakshmi has one of the most colorful creation myths
of all the deities in the Hindu pantheon. It is said
Goddess Lakshmi was born, fully-grown, on a pink lotus
that rose from the milky sea. She was immediately
be-decked, be-jeweled and worshipped by the Gods and
Sages. They prayed that she would come to their abodes,
and to their worlds, for they believed that where
Lakshmi is you will also find riches and fulfillment.
Three millennia later, long after her story was first
told, she comes alive in homes and temples everywhere.
"Believers" of all faiths trust that praying
to the Goddess of Fortune brings all things good to
life. As the symbol of all things fortunate, she is a
highly sought after and beloved female deity.
Lakshmi, like many Hindu deities, is often pictured
as a beautiful Indian woman with big dark eyes and with
four arms. Clad in sari, in a form that is very feminine
and full, she sits or stands on her lotus throne. She
usually has two lotuses, in either of her back hands.
Her front arms offer blessings and what are known as
"boons" or favors from the God/desses. Her
ability to enhance your good fortune is in life is
symbolized by the gold coins that you see pouring from
her hands back into the ocean of life!
If you need help with finances, a job, success,
happiness and love, Lakshmi is a Goddess you can turn
to. It is the Hindu tradition to evoke the Lord of
Obstacles, Ganesha, to clear the path of anything in the
way of fortune. Ganesha removes obstacles so Lakshmi can
deliver fortune into your life. To evoke Ganesha it can
be as simple as chanting or praying: "Om Ganesha,
Om Ganesha, Om Ganesha."
Lakshmi and Ganesha are cohorts, who often work side
by side. This is indicated by the frequency with which
you see their icons and pictures together. Lakshmi's
mate, however, is the God Vishnu -- known as the Great
Preserver, who comes to earth in the form of important
avatars, such as Krishna.
In the culture from which Lakshmi hails, she is
treated with great reverence and devotion. In the United
States, it is very easy for anyone to attend, or even
sponsor (request) a Lakshmi Puja, which is a form of
formal worship to the Goddess.
Anyone of any faith can have a Hindu priest perform a
puja at a temple or private home. You can also attend
what is usually called a Sri MahaLaxmi or Sri
MahaLakshmi (meaning Mother Lakshmi) abishekam, which is
the sacred purification and washing of the Goddess with
milk, yogurt, honey and more. Prayers are uttered
repeatedly during a Lakshmi worship service and
devotional songs are sung.
It is believed that those who pay attention to the
Goddess of Good Fortune every day develop a clear
channel of communication with her. You may also want to
view this as simply focusing energy on that which you
are choosing to create in your life.
Lakshmi exists in a dimension far beyond our human
struggles and sadness. From where she sits on her Sacred
Lotus, she can guide us to greater fortune, deeper love
relationships and more joy. She can guide us from
darkness, into the light. In fact, if you allow Lakshmi
to be present in your life, you just might find she
elevates you to a higher state of being and living. And
in that state you will find The Goddess Within, and know
that you can create anything!
Lakshmi is an appropriate Goddess to call upon in
these times of challenge and change. She is a nurturer
and protectress, a Mother of the Universe. And she is a
creatress who can help us all rebuild our lives and our
consciousness with the mindset of Good Fortune and Love.
The Romance Reverend’s Ritual To Evoke
Lakshmi
Since you may not get to attend
a Hindu worship service to honor the Goddess, it is
important that you know Lakshmi can hear your prayers
from wherever you may be.
To evoke the energy of good fortune, you can light a
pink or green candle in Lakshmi's honor. Think for a
moment about what good fortune means to you. Perhaps you
may find that good fortune begins with a sense of peace
and well-being within and has little to do with material
goods or money. Or maybe you have a financial issue
which, once resolved, will make you feel more fortunate.
Although you can certainly pray to win the lottery, you
may find more immediate results if you pray for whatever
cash is needed to meet your financial obligations and
whatever support you need to make your most heartfelt
dreams come alive. Evoke Ganesh by repeating "Om
Ganesh" three times. Then ask the Goddess for her
help. Petition her as you would any deity or simply
declare what you need and choose it in the moment.
In these challenging times, you can also pray to her
for peace and well-being for all. Good Fortune on all
levels is her domain.
Lakshmi’s Sacred Holidays in October 2001
Navaratri: The Goddess Lakshmi is celebrated in
image, song, worship and prayer this month during the
sacred Hindu holiday honoring The Mother, called
Navaratri. This nine day celebration also honors the
Goddesses Durga and Saraswati, (and in some locals
Goddesses Kali and Parvati), from October 17 through
October 26. Lakshmi’s special days of honor are
October 20 through October 22. For more information: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/8175/
Deepavali: Worshippers around the world clean
their homes spotless and light oil lamps to invite the
Goddess to their abode on this holiday. The celebration
lasts for several days and she is honored in all day
pujas on Deepavali day, November 14. For more
information: http://www.sholay.com/stories/2000/october/26102000.htm
May MahaLakshmi Assist You In Making Dreams Come
True!
What good fortune would you like The Goddess Lakshmi to bring you?
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Read
Reverend Laurie Sue's Current Column
Read
Reverend Laurie Sue's Past Columns:
September
2001 "Can’t Hurry Love… It Will Happen In its Right
Moment"
August
2001 "Family Rituals Help Us Grow into Loving
Beings"
July
2001 - "Dreams Warn It's Time to Own Your Own
Power"
June
2001 - "A Fun Visual of Your Perfect Romance"
May
2001 - "Someday Your Mystical Soul Mate Will
Come"
April
2001 - "Enjoy the Merriment and Fun of An Ancient
Love Holiday"
March
2001 - "Nourish Yourself on a Date for One"
February
2001 - "Get Ready for Soulful Love"
Reverend Laurie Sue Brockway is an author,
teacher and contemporary clergy person who specializes
in matters of the heart and soul. As an ordained
interfaith minister and non-denominational wedding
officiant, it is her honor to regularly marry couples in
love.
Prior to becoming a minister she enjoyed a successful
and colorful 20 years in media as a widely published
journalist, editor and author of several books on
relationships and romance—as well as being a noted
spokesperson on those topics. She was editor-in-chief of
two national magazines and several regional
publications, and her articles have been published
around the world and in many newspapers and national
magazines, such as the NY Daily News, The
Washington Post, Women’s News, New Woman,
Ladies’ Home Journal and Child.
She evolved years of specialized reporting in the field
of male-female relationship dynamics into a more
spiritual pursuit that led her to train to be an
interfaith minister, and then establish her wedding
ministry along with a number of popular relationship
enhancement programs. Her wedding ministry is based in
New York.
She is also dedicated to bringing about a deeper
awareness and understanding of the Divine Feminine. As a
graduate of The New Seminary in NYC, the world’s
premier seminary for interfaith ministers, she was
educated and trained in the tenants, spiritual practice
and worship of many faiths. She became a specialist in
the feminine aspects of God in all the world’s
religions. Today, she is widely recognized as a
minister, teacher and scribe specializing in women’s
spirituality and The Divine Feminine from an interfaith
and all-inclusive perspective. She is on the
board of directors of World Light Fellowship, heading up
their Feminine Faces of God programs, and is
Founder of Our Mother’s House, a cyber ministry at www.OurMothersHouse.org.
Long devoted to helping women access the
"Goddess Within," she is currently working on
two books that bring the wisdom of ancient archetypes to
modern women. Her newest book, A Goddess Is a Girl’s
Best Friend, is due out in Fall 2002.
To be placed on a mailing list for information
about A Goddess Is A Girl’s Best Friend: OurMothersHouse@aol.com
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