Here at the shop, we work with goddess energy daily – from Persephone, to Grandmother Spider, to Oshun – so we wanted to introduce you to goddesses across many pantheons with this new series Honoring the Goddess, starting with the beloved Lakshmi, who is foundational to the Earth Magick vision.

In the Hindu faith, the goddess Lakshmi (Laxmi) is known as a bringer of wealth, good fortune and prosperity, representing purity and beauty. She is the consort and shakti of Vishnu, one of the principle Hindu deities, and is a good friend of Ganesh.

As you can imagine, her energy is welcome in most lives – who would not want to bask in her blessings of abundance? At the shop, we call on her to bring prosperity and good fortune to all – not just ourselves, but every single person who walks through our doors and beyond.

First, let us share her story.

The Rebirth of Lakshmi

Long ago, the world was in turmoil. The Earth was plagued with demons, and the gods fought vehemently against them, with Indra, the warrior god, spearheading the mission. With Lakshmi in his ranks, he felt sure of his success; until one day, he dishonored her with his arrogance.

A sage offered Indra a sacred gift: a garland of flowers, a display of beauty, purity and good fortune. Indra cast the gift to the ground, thinking himself better than this generous offering. This upset Lakshmi, and she disappeared into the Milky Ocean for many years.

In her absence, the world and war fell into chaos. Without her blessing, the Earth and gods alike suffered greatly. The people became greedy and self-possessed, and not once did they make an offering to the gods. Because of their selfishness, the gods began to weaken – across many pantheons, it is believed that offerings and belief give the gods power – giving the demons the upper hand.

At this time, Indra turned to Vishnu, who you may remember is Lakshmi's counterpart, and asked how to regain the blessings from the goddess. Vishnu instructed him to churn the great Milky Ocean, and the goddess may return, along with other gifts that may help them succeed, including the elixir of life and other mystical blessings.

The gods worked together, and they churned the ocean for 1,000 years with no result; until finally, rising up from the depths on a blossoming lotus, Lakshmi reappeared and gave her blessing.

Given that Lakshmi does not bestow her blessing upon the greedy or selfish, it could be that it took the gods 1,000 years to become selfless in their efforts – putting their individuality aside and seeking refuge for the world rather than selfishly hoping to gain something for themselves from her presence.

Establishing a Connection

Much like fostering a new relationship in the physical realm, connecting with a goddess takes time and dedication. You cannot expect a goddess to bestow blessings on you without first introducing yourself, establishing a commonality, and otherwise getting to know each other. I personally find old-world goddesses to be easier to connect to on an energetic level because they are exuberant to be thought of and honored.

There are many ways to connect to energetic beings, so instead of listing them all, I will go through the methods I personally used – and continue to use – to cultivate my relationship with Lakshmi.

1. Music and Dance

There are many songs out there dedicated to gods and goddesses of many cultures. As far as Lakshmi is concerned, one song stands out above the rest for me: "Lakshmi" by Marti Nikko, DJ Drez and others.

When I was first founding my relationship with the goddess, I would put this song on and dance around my house and the shop while tidying, laying altars or lighting incense. This song has quite the potent mantra for Lakshmi, which brings me to my next point:

2. Singing Mantras

In the song, they chant: "Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Maha Lakshmi Namaha," an ancient mantra calling out to Lakshmi. While this song is a great start to your work with Lakshmi's mantra, I have found it potent to work on your own personal way to call out to her.

In a different tempo and pitch, my personal version is "Om Hreem Shreem, Maha Lakshmi," with special emphasis on "shreem" and her name, "Lakshmi." Often I will start my day with a brief meditation, envisioning her blessings surrounding myself and others, and I close the meditation with this chant. I also find myself, in the same pitch, saying "Lakshmi brings us fortune, aum," especially when I am in the store.

3. Shedding Selfishness for Selflessness

As mentioned above, Lakshmi does not respond well to acts of the self-obsessed. If she ditched a fellow god for being arrogant during an all-out war, you better bet she will ignore a greedy human. Lakshmi is not a "get rich quick" scheme. Her energy is about enhancing prosperity for everyone, not just for adding a few zeros to your bank account balance. If you find that you are not getting the results you are hoping for, check in with your intentions and revise them as needed.

4. Imbibing and Meditation

A crucial part of welcoming the Lakshmi energy into my life (and therefore the lives around me) was finding the Lakshmi's Golden Lotus tea from Hanami Tea. It contains a blend of ingredients to evoke the energy of Lakshmi, including lemon peel, osmanthus flower, goji berries, calendula petals and lotus stamens, yielding a sunflower-colored brew with strong and refreshing lemony notes.

I drank this tea for many weeks in personal ceremony, meditating on its effects and calling out to her, sharing my intentions, and ultimately, I think, befriending her. 

Is this tea necessary in establishing your relationship? Absolutely not, but this is what worked for me, and I will stand behind it indefinitely. I am drawn to tea ceremony in tandem with meditation, but it is important for each person to follow their own path to connection. However, I think that deep reflection, meditation, and somehow calling her in is absolutely necessary before proceeding. Once you have made the effort to introduce yourself in some way, I think the next step is laying the offering.

Creating Her Altar

Lakshmi is partial to aesthetic, and not just on the superficial level. She prefers beauty if it vibrates on a high level. She prefers tidiness because clutter is dissonant. She is compelled by sweet taste and aroma because it is fulfilling to the soul.

Keeping these things in mind, you may further invite the goddess into your space by laying an altar for her. Imagine that you are having her over as a houseguest – she would need somewhere to relax and refresh, so you must create it for her (and keep it tidy and beautiful).

Traditionally, it is said that when you are making offerings to her, it is important for you to be facing either North, East, or Northeast, so when you are selecting the space for her altar, whip out your smartphone and use the compass to orient yourself properly. This is not a total necessity if you cannot manage it, but it is always a good rule of thumb to respect the traditions you are paying tribute to.

Before we jump into a list of potent altar items, it is important to note that her partner Vishnu should also be present in your space. As they are two parts of a whole, Lakshmi will not stay for long if Vishnu is not near. A clear solution is to invite them both, to ensure that Lakshmi will make herself at home.

Once you have the groundwork laid, here are some recommendations for offering, but always remember to follow your own intuition:

• Statue, plaque or image of the goddess Lakshmi (as well as Vishnu)
• Objects in red, green, gold, hot pink
• Lotus flowers or seeds
• Roses in her colors
• Stones in her colors
• Stones for prosperity
• Peacock feathers
• Currency (we use Feng Shui coins and a dollar bill marked #7)
• Honey
• Tea (we use dried Golden Lotus tea in her offering bowl, and sprinkle some in a cup of water as well)
• Sweet fruits
• Candles
• Sweet-smelling incense

It is also helpful to determine what objects are already sacred to you, and include a few of those for her as well. Be sure to check in with the space daily, clearing away anything that looks withered or otherwise "used" or spoiled. If you have not been getting the intended results, take everything off, clean it with a besom or clean cloth, and rearrange it intuitively.

Basking in Her Light

It is important to be grateful for any and all blessings bestowed once Lakshmi is called in. As I said above, she lost faith in her ally during a world war, so her presence should not ever be taken for granted lest she may lose faith in you as well.

On the flip side, it is also important not to be discouraged if you feel you cannot reach her at times. There are many people who pay worship to her every day, so that must be respected.

All in all, the most important thing is gratitude. Be grateful that you are in her graces, and she will continue to support selfless will with blessings of prosperity, good fortune and beauty of all kinds.

Sources:  BBC (Reference for origin story)

External Photo Credits:  Top Icon, Rebirth, Offering