Offering Buddha

Offering Buddha 

9.5 inches tall

painted resin

$42

This beautiful Buddha holding a leaf is perfect for creating a spiritual alter in your home. 
Throughout history people of all beliefs, traditions and cultures have designated a part of their home to display sacred objects.
Often statues of deities were placed on the alter, to inspire the individual  to develop the spiritual qualities it represents within themselves. The effect of the alter would encourage creating peace, happiness, good health and well-being, prosperity, a positive outlook on life and a feeling of connection to the universe and world around us. A Feng Shui alter will include objects that represent the 5 elements ( water, wood, fire, earth, metal) to amplify the intention of harmony and balance. Alters are small sacred spaces in your home that may include meaningful objects such as crystals, candles, shells, photographs, incense burners, feathers, and anything that holds special meaning for you. In certain cultures offerings were made to the images of the deities chosen to be placed on the alter. 
 Information on creating home or outdoor alters, shrines, or sacred spaces is available on the web or in books. 
The most important thing to remember when creating your alter is to personalize it so it reflects who you are, what's symbolic or important to you as an individual.

"Many adorn their sacred place with items that relate to their spirituality and gratefulness. An alter marks a special spot all your own, in your home or out doors, that helps to create an atmosphere of calm within. Prayer and meditation seem natural and comfortable.

An alter can be adorned with fresh flowers, favorite stones, and items that are precious. This helps to create a magical feeling of calm and peace within. 

· A home alter is apart from the mundane, every day, life of your household.

· Your home alter can be placed in your dining room, spare bedroom, anywhere you can visualize it surrounded by light and sacred space.

It is important to know that the best place to have an alter is within yourself. Sacred space is a mental state of being in which you talk to God, your Angels, or a higher power. Atheist’s too, need inner peace, regardless of spiritual belief. This peace within yourself would be your “inner alter.” The  Feng Shui Gypsy www.keen.com

"An altar is defined by its creator. A personal spirit altar can be a practical reminder the important elements of the spiritual journey on an everyday basis, a simple collection of items that makes the creator feel good, or a peaceful area to reflect and rejuvenate.

There are many reasons to create a personal spirit altar. Among them are:
· A peaceful spot designated for prayer, meditation, or contemplative thought;
· A way to direct positive energies into a living space;
· A memorial for a loved one;
· A way to honor the physical elements (air, water, fire, earth, ether);
· A spot to inspire and celebrate creative expressions
· A reminder of personal worth on a journey toward self-acceptance
· A reminder to express daily gratitude or for manifestation

Home altars are common in many cultures worldwide, both modern and ancient. There is no right or wrong way to create an altar and one may take ideas from cultures and times other than the creators, or the creator may choose to choose and arrange items that simply appeal to the individual. The key is to be conscious about what goes on the altar and its arrangement. As long as the items hold significant meaning, even if that meaning is as simple as the beauty or sensuality of the objects.
If you decide to create your personal spirit altar consider your reason for the altar. What is it for, and what does it represent to you? Then choose items that you associate with the significance of the altar. All items do not need to be added at once. It is perfectly acceptable to add items gradually as you discover them, and to change the altar as you see fit. Be sure to visit your altar each day, even for a few moments, and give some focus to its meaning and purpose.
Read more: http://www.lifeblisssolutions.com/build-a-personal-spirit-altar-for-inspiration/#ixzz23xAMupxp

Passion Flower

Feng Shui Thought:

Over the last year I have developed an inspirational relationship with a passion flower plant that was given to me last summer. Although it grew fairly well for being indoors, it didn't produce flowers and I assumed it wasn't getting enough light in  the corner of my bedroom(even though it was near a East facing window.) So when fall came and most of the leaves fell off I cut it way back to a few now almost bare, strands. I figured it would either come back or not As I had never grown a passion flower plant I had no idea what to expect. Plants just didn't seen to thrive in this corner and I had gone through several varieties with no luck. When I lay the Feng Shui Bagua over my house this area is the Knowledge Gua. Oddly this particular corner of my bedroom is also the Knowledge area. When Spring came I was almost prepared to replace the  corner plant stand with a table, bookshelf, statue... anything but plants when to my surprise the passion flower plant started growing. Within a short period of time it had turned into a huge climbing curtain of leafy vines seeking out anything it could curl it's strong tendrils around to climb up the walls across them and weave itself around the curtain rod. I finally had to give up closing the curtain so I wouldn't injure it and simply lowered the blind as best I could at night. I was deeply impressed with it's comeback, and by now there was no room for other plants anyway. Without expectations of anything further, one day I noticed small buds all over the vines.  At first I was too surprised to fully realize how many flowers it would produce if they all opened, but as it sank in I was overcome with joy that this determined plant and not only survived the winter but was actually thriving in a way I could not have imagined. What I learned from this exotic, highly intelligent, other worldly, plant was deeply profound. (Knowledge Gua). What I observed was that when the buds are large enough and begin to open the open very quickly, You could actually sit and watch them open like a time elapse video. They open fully within 12 hours and within 24 hours the close again retreating back into the leafy petals that contain the entire flower. Somewhat like the opening and closing of an umbrella. 24 hours... All that grandeur for a 24 hour life span. What a powerful expression, what a mysterious miracle, what a gift of presence. and then I thought, isn't that just like us as human beings.... a powerful, mysterious, miraculous expression of the divine creative energy of the universe, and here just for a little while walking on this earth. What will you do with this opportunity called Life? How will you express yourself to your fullest? Who will enjoy your presentation of grace and beauty? If no one else then for ourselves, our own personal experience of the miracle of existence. If no one saw the flower open it still would open just as grand.

 The Passion Flower Plant has been flowering for me all Summer. This was one of the last flowers that began opening this morning, and this is what I found when I came home this evening.

Tarot Inspiration:

In the Osho Zen Tarot Deck that I use for my 9 Essential Life area readings. There is a card called 'Courage' It is number 8 of the Major Arcana. 

This card tells that story of surviving vs. thriving. Could be that be your Life story? Our lives may be filled with personal struggles and challenging histories, but remember the stones that at one time challenged the seed now holds the roots of the radiant  flower.

www.osho.com