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| Lord Ganesha image found on Google images www.astrogems.com |
Ganesha The Remover of All Obastacles
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Author's Note:
I chose this reading because I love this guy, Ganesha! This is a very new experience for me, as I am not familiar with reading comic books at all, much less one from another culture. So, I am going to move out of my comfort zone of doing the same thing and do something brand new! I will be drawing from two comic books to tell this one story about star-crossed lovers who get a little help from the remover of all obstacles.
In the comic book version of Ganesha the remover of all obstacles, the story involves the creation of Ganesha by his mother and the drama it causes for his parents and how he gets an elephant's head. The comic book version of the Star-Crossed Lovers is about a young man who goes to study with a Guru to learn the art of being brought back to life after death. He falls in love with the Guru's daughter and they have an affair. But once the young man learns the art he leaves and breaks the young lady's heart, but she gets over it.
I am choosing to create the setting of the story to be in a city I used to live in Sedona, Arizona, and I used to work at the Center for the New Age store. I also know a famous bronze artist there. I have changed most of the names to protect the actual people. I am including many photos in echo of a comic book theme that uses so many illustrations to fill in the ideas that words do not express.
In the comic book version of Ganesha the remover of all obstacles, the story involves the creation of Ganesha by his mother and the drama it causes for his parents and how he gets an elephant's head. The comic book version of the Star-Crossed Lovers is about a young man who goes to study with a Guru to learn the art of being brought back to life after death. He falls in love with the Guru's daughter and they have an affair. But once the young man learns the art he leaves and breaks the young lady's heart, but she gets over it.
I am choosing to create the setting of the story to be in a city I used to live in Sedona, Arizona, and I used to work at the Center for the New Age store. I also know a famous bronze artist there. I have changed most of the names to protect the actual people. I am including many photos in echo of a comic book theme that uses so many illustrations to fill in the ideas that words do not express.
Summer Love
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| Sedona, Arizona www.visitarizona.com |
Jay loved his job at the local farmer's market in the colorful little desert southwest town of Sedona. He had recently moved to Sedona, Arizona to work with John, a master artisan of bronze sculptures as a student aiming to learn from the best. Jay had to work at the farmer's market to support himself while he was in town.
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| Jay at the farmer's market image found |
He worked by day and practiced sculpting at night at John's studio.
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| Sedona, Arizona Studio/Gallery at HozHo Plaza www.jamesmuir.comwww.jamesmuir.com |
He first met Elisse while at work at the farmer's market. Jay was working at the booth selling fresh organic prickly pear cactus jelly and raw desert honey. Elisse was out running errands and stopped at the market to grab a quick wheatgrass to get a boost of energy.
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| Wheatgrass image bjpersonalsolutions.com |
Elisse felt a shock of energy that had nothing at all to do with the wheat grass. When her eyes locked with Jay's at the market it was as if the fates had brought together the binary set of magnets. She felt her cheeks flush and she smiled and then went on her way to getting her list of chores done.
Jay could not shake the feeling he got from the beautiful stranger he exchanged a special smile and moment with. He felt rather smitten, but who knows if they would even see each other again. Sedona is a resort town where people come and go.
Jay was sure his face was betraying him and showing his lack of knowledge and in addition, a bit of skepticism. "Wow, this is new. Okay, thank you." Jay took the bowl and set it down in front of the bronze of the deity.
Jay could not shake the feeling he got from the beautiful stranger he exchanged a special smile and moment with. He felt rather smitten, but who knows if they would even see each other again. Sedona is a resort town where people come and go.
Later that evening after his shift at the market and before the night session at the studio Jay had to go grab some dinner. He enjoyed a salad on the patio at the trendy Oak Creek Brewery at Tlaquapaque and then began his leisurely walk to the studio. On his way he stopped at a store. The bright colors of the mural caught his attention, so he decided to go in.
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| Center for the New Age image found on Pinterest |
Jay went into the store and in the entryway stood a six foot tall statue of the Hindu god Ganesha. The statue was made of bronze. It was strange for Jay to see an elephant's head on a human body as he was unfamiliar with the backstory.
Jay was greeted by a store employee welcoming him to the store and he took the opportunity to ask about the statue.
The beautiful young lady named Carla answered," The elephant-headed deity is the son of Parvati, who is the wife of god Shiva. His name is Ganesha and he is the remover of all obstacles. Something tells me that you could use some of his help." She smiled and laughed her blue eyes twinkled.
"It is that obvious, huh?" Jay chuckled and smiled. He was of course thinking again of the lady he had an exchange with earlier that day. Jay thought to himself, "Ganesha, help a guy out to find his girl. That is the obstacle I face today."
Carla brought Jay a fresh bowl of milk to offer to the statue. "Here, this is what Ganesha likes to drink. If you want him to help you, offer him some milk."
Jay was sure his face was betraying him and showing his lack of knowledge and in addition, a bit of skepticism. "Wow, this is new. Okay, thank you." Jay took the bowl and set it down in front of the bronze of the deity.
Bowl of coconut milk for Ganesha
image found
Jay looked for a bit around the store. It was interesting. There were books, jewelry, crystals, clothing, candles, psychic readers and aura photos. It was not really his thing, but he was glad he stopped in and he went on his way to the studio up the road a ways.
When Jay arrived at the studio he was astounded to see Elisse. The girl from the farmer's market earlier. 'Man, that Hindu deity Ganesha really works fast," Jay thought to himself. As it turns out, Elisse was John's daughter. John was the master artisan of the bronze sculpting and owned the studio. Elisse had been gone on a business trip and had returned just the day before.
Jay and Elisse worked together over a summer creating the wax statue that is made before pouring the bronze cast. It was a small piece of art, but it was a symbol of perfection to the star-crossed lovers. Jay and Elisse fell passionately in love that summer. With art, with each other, with life.
The Arizona desert heat dancing on the red sandstone rock can really bring out the primal forces in people. It starts with a buzzing in your soul. You want to hike to the tallest red butte and meditate under a full moon in a drum circle. You want to drink wheatgrass and have your fortune told. You begin to believe in soul mates, destiny, and the magic of the gods. Every day is like a day in paradise.
But alas, all good things must end, right? It would appear to be the case for the young star-crossed lovers. The thing about being star-crossed is that it doesn't last. It always ends in tragedy. The summer drew to a close and so did the love affair for the two young artists. Jay had to return home. He really had a great time that summer. He grew in so many ways as a human in so many new directions.
When he thought about his future, Elisse was just not in the picture. Jay had a psychic reader tell him all about how their souls unite in each lifetime to teach each other lessons but it is not a relationship meant for mundane life. So he said his goodbyes to John and Elisse. They were sad to see him go. But that is Sedona for you- people come and go.
John, Elisse's father, was glad to see his daughter so happy and accomplished. He was also very impressed with the young apprentice's work. Jay showed amazing talent and great progress in such short time.
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Osho Zen Tarot Deck
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www.bluelightlady.com
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word count 986 note 269
