Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom, prudence, and salvation, is also known as The Lord of Obstacles. It is believed that since he can either create or remove obstacles, he must be acknowledged before beginning any new enterprise.
Elephants are dear to me, and there definitely seems an element of connection to ancient wisdom. Elephants have long been revered and associated with royalty. And it’s no suprise to me than an elephant-headed god would be invoked to remove obstacles. That seems in perfect keeping with the power of elephants.
I have a lovely little wooden Ganesh in my hallway that I pass countless times each day as I head up or down the stairs. And while I don’t embrace Ganesh in the religious sense, I do like his presence there. I like to take the time to stop for a moment on my first trip downstairs each morning. It’s a little ritual reminder that each day begins anew and is filled with opportunities. I ask that I remain open and receptive to continued opportunities that reveal my true Heart-of-Spirit. And that I take responsibility and make choices that move to peace and balance.