Celebrate Lakshmi, Hindu Goddess of Fertility, Abundance, Prosperity, Beauty, and Health

Thursday, November 6, 7:30PM

Concord location, directions given upon RSVP

$15 newcomer discount, $35 one time exchange

This ritual is for cisgendered women.

Please RSVP to 925-787-9247 or Leilani@DaughtersoftheGoddess.com

http://www.daughtersofthegoddess.com

“Lakshmi (Good Fortune), sometimes called Sri (Prosperity) is the Hindu Goddess of love and beauty.  She brings us Wealth, Love, Beauty, Happiness and Abundance. Lakshmi is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, which means aim or goal. Some of Her other titles include: The Lotus Goddess, Daughter of the Ocean of Milk (Ksirabdhitanaya), Ocean Born (Jaladhija), Lotus (Padma), Lotus Bearer (Padmavati) and Jaganmata (the Mother of the Universe).

Lakshmi’s story begins with Her birth from the churning ocean, riding a Lotus Blossom, bearing gifts and blessings, and bringing renewal to the world.  Shining like a million stars, Lakshmi rode in upon Her Lotus Blossom delighting and dazzling all of the gods with Her radiant beauty. She is a beautiful woman with four hands, sitting on a full-blooming lotus and holding lotus buds – which stand for beauty, purity and fertility.  Gold coins also flow from Her hands.

She is known to be a Goddess of wealth and prosperity in both the spiritual and the material realms.  In India, Her devotees worship Her during Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Small diyas (earthen oil lamps) are lit around the periphery of and inside homes, welcoming Lakshmi in and hoping that She will be comfortable. In West Bengal, She is worshiped during a Full Moon night in Autumn, it is believed that She showers wealth on this night. It is said that She comes on Her mount, the Owl, and takes away the darkness with Her, leaving light and joy with Her devotees.

In Orissa, Gaja Lakshmi Puja is celebrated with much fervor on a Full-Moon day in the month of Aswina (September-October). In some provinces, the Puja or prayer sessions go on for as many as 7-10 days, within the business community, calling for an abundant fiscal year.

As we gather at Her altar, we will ask Lakshmi to bless us with Her characteristics of beauty, grace, abundance, prosperity, love and happiness.

For the Ritual Please wear Gold or Green. For the altar bring pictures and symbols of Lakshmi.   Some of Lakshmi’s symbols include elephants, water, gold coins, and rice. Holly and basil are sacred to Her. Please bring a gold, white, or green candle, your checkbooks and wallets, business plans, and any other financial items that you want action on or would like to have blessed.  Bring something from nature for the altar that you don’t plan to take home, such as a plant, flower, or piece of fruit.

Also, remember to bring a wide mouth jar with a tight fitting lid and loose change and any oils or ingredients you want to add to the money water to help the energy grow and blossom.  In the spirit of giving thanks to the Temple, please bring a tithe of 5 bills (of any denomination) wrapped in a gold cord or ribbon.

If you still have remaining Money Water from a previous ritual, please use the water to bless your front steps, computer, money altar, and the Earth.   Give the remaining money in the jar a good rinse, giving Her thanks and praise for the goodness She has brought to you. Bring the leftover money to the ritual to add to the water or spend it on something special for your magickal practice!

Hail Laksmi!

If you are interested in participating in a ritual or celebration, please help out by doing the following:

Please bring a snack to share (if possible, food of the culture we are celebrating), washable eating utensils (bowl, cup, plate, utensils, etc. In honor of Mother Earth, we do not provide disposable items), a candle (for safety reasons, we highly recommend a candle in a glass container, often called a novena), and pillow or chair to sit on to all rituals. For more information about our rituals please visit our FAQ page.

Please see our current series schedule and check the web page for the specific ritual to see what items to bring and how to prepare yourself. Please take the time to read this, especially if you are a newcomer. New information is added from time to time so even if you feel you have already seen this, it is important to check back in every now and then.”