Goddess of the Month ~ Maya

Maya ~ We are all one

To celebrate October, the month of Halloween in which we adorn ourselves with costumes and masks, we take a closer look at the Goddess Maya. In Indian religions, Maya has multiple meanings centered around the concept of illusion. She is the principal deity that manifests and perpetuates the illusion of being separate from one another, as well as, the unparalleled force that can remove that veil, allowing us to experience our limitlessness and the deep connection that binds us all. Seeing others as separate, we are able to minimize, scrutinize and otherwise judge their worth. When we go beyond the veil of judgment, we see that others are indeed a reflection of Self, and we can develop a sense of compassion and an understanding that our essence is boundless and true. We realize that our happiness is intimately intertwined with the happiness of others.

Goddessence Maya

Inviting Maya into the Modern Goddess’ World:

Actions Steps:

1) Have you ever found yourself tangled in a web of a social drama, or talking about others to their detriment? Have you been jealous of another’s accomplishments or secretly plotted against a co-worker? Instead of getting caught up in form, competition, and other ego-driven drama, stop and forgive yourself, forgive the others and remember that what caused the problem is not truth, but fear-based illusion. All anyone really wants is to be loved and accepted, and when you replace the illusion and fear with love and forgiveness you create a peaceful reality worth living.

2) Our material possessions are a blessing when we are in appreciation of them, but, they can also be a burden if we become a slave to them or value them too much. Have you ever been in a position in which you have noticed that material possessions appear to have taken on more importance than people or relationships? This is often witnessed as partnerships end or family estates are divided. Practice detaching from material items. Look at them simply for what they are, forms to be enjoyed for a period of time. Any sentimentality that is attached is not inherent in our possessions, but applied to them by us. Appreciate your possessions and the physical forms that are an important aspect of life, but be realistic about the value a material item has. Relationships and the spirit of people are what remain long after we have passed from physical form. Value and nurture what is real.
This became really apparent to me as I started to make plans to move cross-county. Leaving a house I loved and packing up only what I really needed, brought to my attention how much excess I had in my life. Releasing my attachments to objects and possessions allowed me to see I was holding on to the past and not allowing space for new opportunities and relationships to come into my life.

Affirmation:

I look beyond the illusion of individual forms and see the beautiful reality that we are all one.

Meditation:

Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and focus on your breathe. Relax. Let your breath slow down and slowly bring your in breath to equal proportion to your out breathe. Allow yourself time to relax. When you are ready, bring to your minds eye someone you are challenged by, someone who upsets you in some way. Remain calm and breathe. Do not place any judgment on that which upsets you about this person. In your quiet, calm state, reflect on their unsettling actions and ponder if there is any connection to the way you are behaving which may be in another situation or area in your life. Are there characteristics that this person is displaying to you which is over dramatizing the way you are treating another? Often times people mirror to us those qualities we wish to change in ourselves. This may take time to ‘see’ the connection. Allow yourself time to see the mirror being presented to you without casting judgment on yourself or others. Once you have determined the connection, no matter how small, give thanks to that person for providing you with self-awareness and better understanding. Then, take this time to forgive yourself for any past doings. They are just that, in the past and have no bearing on the present or future unless you choose to carry them with you. Feel the great sense of peace and calm that comes with the knowing we are all one, we are all connected.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwrgDwr2QAc[/youtube]

BONUS Meditation:

The following mantra meditation is from The Grateful Goddess CD, Awaken Your Goddess Within, which is available as a CD or as an MP3 download through our store site at www.thegratefulgoddess.com.  On the CD, Ayurvedic practioner, Juliet Trnka, leads us through mantra meditations from the goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kali and Maya. Listen to the following Maya mantra meditation daily during the month of October as we seek to lift the veil and see beyond illusion.