Greetings, Gifted Reader!
How are you handling your life these days? Are your night dreams helping you to maneuver this often complicated path we’ve been thrust upon by Karma? Or, perhaps you find that meditation provides you with the answers you seek.
Meditation doesn’t have to be some lengthy, formal ritual, you know. If a few minutes in silence helps you to focus and solve your problems, you can certainly call that meditation.
Included in the advice I give to people seeking answers to questions through Metaphysics (Astrology, Tarot) is to meditate in front of an altar space. In turn, I’m often asked to describe what should be a part of that space.
To begin with, everything depends on the type of person you are.
Some people are into traditional religions, others are agnostic. Some people are tied into their own cultural heritages, while others seem to embrace rituals that are not handed down by their own ancestors.
So, first identify those beliefs that are most important to you. For me, personally, it’s a mix of Japanese Shinto and West African Ifa. Therefore, I like to place objects from both religions onto my altar space.
My first sacred space is near my front door. There, I place a coconut representing Papa Legba (see last blog entry), he of 21 paths and communicator to other Ifa deities. Next to Legba (or Ellegua in Santeria) is the Legba (Rada) card from the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot deck (see ad below). New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, and I’ve read that the Fon of Dahomey ended up there, as well as in Haiti.
Next to Papa Legba is a framed photograph of Japanese actor Fukuyama Masaharu in costume playing Sakamoto Ryoma in the current NHK taiga drama, Ryomaden. Ryoma was a merchant-class samurai who rose to prominence when he helped topple the Tokugawa Shogunate in order to unite Japan and rid it of its class system. Okay, so Ryoma is not quite Shinto, but he seems like the perfect communications helper to Legba as he is a major hero in Japan. Remember, whatever works for you is what you need. If looking at a picture of an actor playing Ryoma (with a samurai sword) evokes a sense of power for me—let’s say, I’m fighting a particular legal battle, for instance—then, that’s fine.
Besides my door altar, I also have a meditation space where I do my work. Since I like bright colors like neon pink and turquoise--which would suggest the deity Oshun, although my spirit mama is Oya whose color is purple—I use a cloth in those particular shades. However, when I want to bring Oya to me, I use a purple cloth and 9 eggplants, or plums. But be careful if you’re calling Oya. She is the goddess of sudden storms, and I’ve experienced her unexpected lightning and thunder in the past.
If you’re the peaceful type, you’ll want to use neutral or pastel colors. If you need something more electric, by all means choose red and black for Chango or purple for his wife, Oya. Everything depends on the type of energy you want to draw to yourself. It may be meditation, but sometimes meditation requires action and in those times, you should attempt to attract something strong.
Add whatever objects to your altar that you think will help you focus on your problem. If you recall, Astrologer Linda Goodman put photos of troubled loved ones on top of purple plates. If you know someone who needs your help, put their picture on your altar along with your wishes for them written down. If it’s about love or money, add 7 oranges or tangerines, or 7 pieces of pumpkin drizzled in honey.
Again, whatever resonates with you is what will work for you. If you have a traditional religious background, definitely decorate your altar space accordingly. Is there a particular figure like Buddha or Krishna that makes sense for you? What are the special candles, flowers, foods, or incenses that they like? Use your intuition and try different arrangements if one of them doesn’t work.
Once you have your altar the way you like it, simply sit in front of it (on the floor is best), breathe deeply and close your eyes. Go to the part of your mind that is still, yet focused, and ask for the resolution of a particular problem. Stay in this state as long as you need—usually half an hour or less. When you “awaken”, you should have your answer. Or, more likely, the answer will awaken you.
Good fortune to you, and drop me a line to let me know how it worked out.
Above are photos of me at a New Orleans café, in front of the House of Voodoo in the French Quarter, and at Marie Laveau’s mausoleum at Saint Louis Cemetery #1 with a friend.
Until next we meet, remember to friend us on Facebook and like The Urban Goddess. Lest you forget, we also have T*zing t-shirts for you at http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing
Leaving you with good luck, light and love;
Gypsy Stars
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