My first altar of the new year honours Lakshmi, Hindu Goddess of Abundance. She confers wealth and all the good things of life -- everything that money can and cannot buy. The way to honour Lakshmi is to display gratitude and thankfulness for what she has already given us, not to complain about or focus on what we lack.
Her sacred colours of red and gold are reflected in the red satin altar cloth, the white candles wrapped with gold ribbon and the gold (chocolate) coins which surround her. Two tarot cards complete the altar, each one being the Nine of Pentacles, often called the "Plenty Card." The left card is from the Morgan-Greer deck and the right is from the Triumph of Life deck.
A friend gave me this lovely statue of Lakshmi about 12 years ago. She had bought it at an auction, thinking she was buying only one statue but then discovered she had, in fact, bought a case lot of twelve! Talk about abundance! So she had a lot of them to give away, LOL! I wrote a poem about it which you can read here, if you want.
May Lakshmi shower us all with abundance this year and every year!
But don't worry, she is firmly opposed to any spread of Covid-19 abundance, because it is most certainly NOT a good thing of life.
[Photo of Lakshmi Altar © Debra She Who Seeks, January 2021]
hahahaahaha
ReplyDeletethe last image came all of sudden and made me laugh hahaha
how sweet of your friend to give you such lovely gift ,India is neighboring country and there culture is much popular in people of our country through tv shows
fascinating yes kind of :)
blessings ,health peace to you my dear Debra!
Ohhhh I'm all in for this.
ReplyDeleteLove the altar! Lakshmi sounds like my kind of goddess.
And I share her disdain for the virus. What's not to like?
XOXO
Thank you for making me smile:) cat.
ReplyDeleteHello Debra, Is your altar supposed to represent an abundance of gold or an abundance of chocolate?
ReplyDeleteThe difference of perspective is interesting. Lakshmi produces an abundance, so there is always more at the time of need. My Fighting Money God, on the other hand, fights to keep the treasure he has, reflecting a mindset of scarcity.
--Jim
p.s. I especially love today's cartoon!
Love the chuckle at the end. It looks like the goddess of abundance does deliver however, according to your friend’s auction success. Hope the goddess delivers for all of us, Debra. If asking helps, vaccine, please.
ReplyDeleteIf Lakshmi can wash her hands, nobody has an excuse not to do likewise!
ReplyDeletewe SHOULD be grateful for what we have. and we DON'T want COVID-19! I snorted at the cartoon. and the altar is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh nice. Makes me think I should be more proactive with my small alter.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely put together. I am cracking up over the hand washing.
ReplyDeleteImagine the massage that Lakshmi could give!
ReplyDeletePoor Lakshmi. And to think WE’VE been complaining. I'd put some aloe vera on that altar.
ReplyDeleteThat virus cartoon made me giggle. It would be perfect above a sink in a doctor's office or hospital.
ReplyDeleteMust be hard for her during the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. A lot of small business owners around here set up small altars like this, but I've never asked about them because I don't know if that would be considered intrusive, insensitive, or rude. I'm looking forward to learning more about your altars.
ReplyDeleteNow that was a intresting read. I know you mentioned you have many statues. Where do you keep them all? At the end, a over all picture of them all together, would be cool to see I bet.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done, and i love the giggle at the end!
ReplyDeleteLove your altar. I missed this full moon - I saw it as I was going to visit my dad last night... oops. I'll have to put the rest on my calendar.
ReplyDelete@ Mistress Maddie -- I keep about a dozen or so scattered throughout my apartment, but the rest of them are kept in a special wall cabinet. It's crowded but they're safe from breakage and behind glass so I don't have to dust them constantly! That's the problem with collections, isn't it -- where do you keep them all?!?!
ReplyDeleteVery cool altar. And how lucky were you to get a statue for free? Hopefully you'll get an abundance of health this full moon.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of these little altars. And Lakshmi lived up to her reputation at the auction! One of me? Take twelve!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Love the alter and the ending here was perfect!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Debra! I love her and I love the altar! I am still laughing with your cartoon! LOL! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHow happy she looks. And has a toe ring. My daughter has a toe ring that has not been removed since it went on (she says). And she's an executive these days.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your alter. That statue is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe Goddess of Abundance has blessed my body.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very nice alter. I like the colors.
ReplyDeleteI really live the last image :)
I just got my yule altar taken down and haven't yet put up my Imbolc altar. Life doesn't always go my way. But it been good life.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
With that many hands she needs an abundance of soap.
ReplyDeleteLove the dirty look she's giving in the toon. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHaha all those hands to wash! Like we shouldn't complain about our hair, what about Medusa? 😀
ReplyDeleteThe altar is beautiful, and the statue of Lakshmi is exquisite, Debra. Focusing on gratitude and thankfulness is a powerful source for good in one's life. I know I've been showered with the good things in life. Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteI saw that moon lat night..Gorgeous..I hope you stay on Lakshmis' good side..Glad I don'e have all those hand s to wash..I can always count on you for a chuckle..
ReplyDeleteJust finished a novel about India and, thanks to your post, I realize the irony in the name of one of the key characters. Her name is Lakshmi. She was born wealthy, but was married to an idealist who gave up his wealth to work for Indian independence. She never forgave him.
ReplyDeleteI love her and I love this altar.
ReplyDeleteThat last photo really cracked me up. My sentiments exactly!
Very nice. Poor Lakshmi, with all those hands to wash! She can do it!🖖🤲🤝👐🖐💖
ReplyDeleteYou altar is really beautiful. Nice giggles too.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful altar Debra. I love how you explained all of the details and the significance!
ReplyDeleteDebra may you always be blessed with abundance.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Peggy xxx
Handwashing must be a chore
ReplyDeleteI love this 🤩
ReplyDelete