When we chant this mantra to Gaṇapati also known as Gaṇeśa the elephant headed God, it is believed that obstacles will be removed from our path, wisdom and success will be granted.
That is why Gaṇeśa is the God of prosperity and new beginnings. He spent his early life on Mount Kailash, a sacred peak in the Himalayas, alongside his parents, Śiva and Pārvatī. As a part of this divine family his role is to unify and balance.
In contrast, I spent my childhood far from a high mountain in the Himalayas. I grew up in a valley in the northern part of Mexico with my parents, dreaming of leaving the valley so I can explore higher places and experience new things. But little did I know that in order to move in life to reach the highest peaks, I must first go through the valleys.
If a peak is there, a valley is bound to be there. They exist in continuous harmony, not as opposites, but as parts of a complete totality.
In nature valleys are fertile ground where we grow our food and where rivers flow. They are places of tremendous growth, and can also represent periods of struggle or setbacks that require a resilient mind.
Transformation takes place in our inner valley, if we are open to the experience. We can emerge stronger and wiser ready for whatever may come up next, into a new beginning.
Remember, the higher the peak, the deeper the valley. You should never feel discouraged when valleys enter your life or you can’t seem to get out of them.
As our teacher Sharon Gannon teaches us, we can make magic by shifting our perception. Can you imagine if you can behave equally to both? Whenever a setback happens, you just accept it; and whenever something blissful happens, you just accept it. Not liking one over the other, with a detached mind, that’s pure magic.
By accepting life’s highs and lows, we find our greatest freedom. By giving ourselves permission to descend into our own depths, we allow ourselves to connect to what we are really feeling. We get in touch with love, pain, sadness, silence, we dance to a different rhythm which has its own beauty.
Through this acceptance we transform arid soil into fertile soil for growth. We unleash our cosmic power, our cosmic vision and we can feel the limitless existence of the ocean of awareness within us. We transform ourselves.
Reflect for a moment on the sensation of being at a peak. Imagine yourself finishing something that took a lot of time and effort from your part, notice how naturally the impulse to celebrate and savor that achievement arises. However, this is just a part of a continuous journey, pause here and observe the whole landscape, the challenges you overcome, the knowledge gained, then celebrate! Take a moment and consciously, perhaps in time, you’ll also enjoy descending to the valley as a new adventure awaits.
The cyclical nature of life brings challenges all the time, in those moments we can take the opportunity to practice what Master Patañjali teaches us in P.Y.S.1.29 “From that (chanting and meditating to God), you refine consciousness, turn inward, dissolve blocks and become aware of the divine within you.”
By chanting mantras and meditating on the Divine, the mind begins to see its predispositions and find the courage to face the challenges. Do not be afraid of anything, become an explorer; you don’t need to leave your house to start, just close your eyes, and dive deeper into the vast unknown.
In my early adulthood I ended up moving out of the valley to the mountains, modest in height compared to the celestial abode of Gaṇeśa. With time, I’ve found that dwelling between the heights and the depths has woven a tapestry of experience that is both complex and beautiful. I’m thankful to Gaṇeśa not only for removing obstacles in my life but also for placing them before me, so I can continuously grow and transform into my Real Self.
