Ganesh and the Venus de Willendorf

I have a model of Ganesh beside my bed. Ganesh is the Hindu diety known as the Remover of Obstacles, and the Lord of Beginnings. My sister brought him back from India for me.

She has a felted model of the Venus de Willendorf that I made for her many years ago. The Venus de Willendorf dates back to 24000 - 22000 BCE and is a woman of size and power, although the orginal relic found was only 4" high. She has large breasts and a belly and big powerful thighs. She is beautiful.

Wherever my sister goes, so goes she. I have many, many pictures of the little felted woman of Willendorf on hotel beds, windowsills, and desks as she travels the world with my sister. When I get the picture via facebook I know that my sister has safely arrived at her destination.

There is a something in the fact that my talisman is made of heavy brass, and hers of felted wool. There is something about the fact the hers travels the world with her, and mine stays put beside my bed.

So every night, and every morning I see Ganesh. The Remover of Obstacles, and I am trying to hear what he is saying to me. Remove the obstacles and begin.

Remove the obstacles and begin. The obstacles of fear, and sadness. The obstacles of worry and melancholy. The obstacles of sore feet and blood disorders. The obstacles of procrastination and inaction.

So, Ganesh, I am listening. And, somewhere in the valley, for that is where she is right now, the woman of Willendorf is listening.

With these two on my side I know it will be alright in the end.

If it's not alright, then it is not the end.

doing what I should

A young man told me something on Christmas Day that has stuck with me. "If you think you should do something, then do it. Don't procrastinate, or ignore it, it is your spirit telling you what to do." I take it to mean if I think, "I should go for a swim", or "I should wash the bedding", or "I should clean out the fridge", then I should go do it. At the end of the day I will have done something that will ultimately make me happier with myself, and my surroundings.

So, I have been listening to that still small voice. Worrying about doing something, or putting off doing something takes alot of mental energy. Just doing alot of these kinds of things doesn't take as much energy as putting it off does.

So since Christmas day I have done dishes, laundry, washed bedding, blocked a shawl, gone to church, made a phone call, and made a salad. I did these things as I found myself thinking "I should....". Writing this blog is an answer to an I should. So is defrosting the downstairs fridge. So was turning off the TV last night. So is asking questions. So is answering them.

I don't go in much for new year's resolutions, but I think I will work on this one for awhile.

I have been thinking that I have been stuck for the last six months. Partly because I am laid up with plantar fasciitis, but partly because of fear of the future. I think that maybe what my husband and I are suffering from is "Failure to Launch". Or maybe it is fear of failure. Whatever. I think I have to do something.