My Year of Hopefulness - Everything You Need is in Your Hands

This morning on the subway I was reading the most recent issue of Yoga Journal. Every month they feature a short daily meditation article about a mantra, and this month its about empowerment.

Sanskrit:

"Karagre vasate Lakshmi

Kara-madhye Saraswati

Kara-mule sthita Gauri

Prabhate kara-darshanam"

English:

"On the tip of my fingers is prosperity and abundance (goddess Lakshmi);

In the middle of my hand is eloquence and learning (goddess Saraswati);

At the base of my hand is divine power (goddess Gauri or Parvati).

In the morning, a vision of energy in my hands."

I'm always looking at people's hands - they tell you a lot about their lives. What they do for a living, how well they take care of themselves, how they spend their time. They show us the kind of life someone has led.

For the past week, I've felt overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness. I've felt fortunate beyond measure, as if everything I ever wanted for my life is within easy reach. The appearance of this prayer, this call to action, said everything I have been feeling in 10 Sanskrit words.

We spend so much time looking out, looking for signs that we're on the right track, going in the right direction. Really all we need to do is look as far as our own two hands and realize that there is enough power and grace within us to make the possible certain.

The photo above was taken by Paule Seux for National Geographic. It was taken in Kashmir, India.