I believe we all have spirit guides, the 3 strongest symbolic guides for me, have been the Light (in fact a cross of light in the midnight sky, around the Full Moon) the Hindu deity Ganesh and an antique mirror featuring a water sprite/maiden.

At a time when the world seemed on the verge of destruction, I saw the light! Literally a cross of light.. in the sky, around what was then just passing a Full Moon. Equi-distant rays of light, with the beam of light pointing down to earth longer than the other 3 rays. It was the early hours of saturday morning, about 4am. The war in Iraq had broken out 2 days prior..media was gloomy and foreboding, thoughts became low and more low, at a time when much about my own world had shifted. A brave step was needed.. it came, not immediately. I had to undergo several trials, my kids, my ex-husband, his new partner, a new partner for me who 'flickered' on and off like a lighthouse, finances, city teenagers.. phew!! it's passed, all that's passed (I'm not there so am consciously cutting any etheric threads to that time, no need to say more about the trials!).

I turned to the internet to find about that light, I did not know where else to go. The account of this light had brought scepticism, but I really don't care. What other people think doesn't control me, or you. The awareness that came forward now, with a search, became the biggest thing I've acheived in my life (I've not been one to let the grass grown under-foot).  Cyber space selling in what so many people felt would 'never work'. I trusted, I had nothing to fear, nothing.. but there was much I had to learn to appreciate. I learned to bless much in life, especially rain.. we do so curse it, not realizing how essential that rain really is. All the while that rain was nurturing my garden, obstacles were being cleared and the light in my heart continued to shine, through much adversity. That light gave me hope and it came to shine brighter on the things that were working for me.

The trials, well no point me by-passing them and pretending they did not exist. They did! But I came to see that when we perceive something as an obstacle, it becomes just that. I love elephants, I love all creatures, but something strond came through about the message that elephants portrayed in the Hindu story of Ganesh, also called Ganeshi, Ganesha. Human with the head of an elephant, the ancient tale of this reverred energy had his head replaced with the head of an elephant after some woeful tale (google Ganesh for more info.) Basic info. is that he is revered each day on rising, where thanks are given for the obstacles that will be cleared. Now if you think about this, ok no guy can have an elephants head! but his mind can be like one! The head is shown as an elephant's because there is a symbolism, or allegory.. a story.  In the case of Ganesh the strength & protection that is needed to break through a barrier is symbolized by both the grandness of size and the tough exterior. For me it was an image that served the purpose of keeping my mind strong. Check out the astrological alignment for around the time of the Full Moon in March 2003, I wondered if that was connected.. I saw another cross! Look here:

I can see the same cross shape in the astrological alignment for that time. The cross in the Cosmos was made from left to right between
Venus/Uranus  and  Moon/Libra   

and from top to bottom
Sagittarius /Pluto and Saturn/Gemini 

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but there sure was a lot to be praying for! One search for meaning explained the cross of light as 'the power of prayer'. I can go with that and went with the force that felt peaceful, as much as I could with the occasional days of ma dragon helping to clear space too with the dross and drama of teenage kids. I built my garden as a sanctuary, away from chaos of family life and often drawing inspiration, courage and joy from it.

The most profound way I saw a vision of Ganesh was in the way the passionflower in my garden, became entwined with ivy, so that the space between them became part occupied by what, to me, looked like an elephants trunk (I took a photograph, it's on my 'about me' page). Some people don't see this, that's fine.. I see things because I know that I have a good imagination, as well as heaps of creative energy. I do my best to always serve.. myself and others, in integrity first and foremost, with determination the supporting energy. In this, what I have learned about Ganesh has lent to my own levels of faith.

Sometimes I sell Indian Arts & Antiques, for my friend David Edmonds, so expect to see Ganesh featuring here. Ganesh incense (and Lakshmi) always available, as well as murthi and wall hangings (ask if you don't see them). When I took the first lot of photographs from Dave's showroom, the Antique Art Deco style  mirror with Water Maiden/Sprite, from the Calcutta Roxy was the first shot through the camera lense! It's on sale here in my shop www.stores.ebay.co.uk/isharmony come and see it ! I'm sure you'll agree to the exquisiteness of the artists handi-work in gold, silver and black paint.  For me the Water Sprite says 'each time a thought comes that takes you off-track, I'll wash it away' ; ) She holds a water-spraying tool, which has water spurting forth from it (wonders if there is also a phallic connection here).

Maybe some think spirit guides do not exist, I respect all belief, but all I can say is that if they don't, it must be my positive attitude that enables me to be in this moment and say:  I got through the portal! ;)

I am bright, positive, optimistic and like the sun I bounce back