[3]Allow me to tell you about my long lost ishta.
![[3]](http://www.aypsite.com/plus-forum/Smileys/akyhne/heart.gif "Heart")
As a mere babe I was gifted a stuffed elephant from a great auntie. As I was unable to say 'elephant' it became known as Ellie. For the first six years of my life Ellie was my constant companion; he was my first 'show & tell' in kindergarten. As I grew, I grew away from Ellie, who became no more than a guardian of my pillow, a knick-knack on a shelf; by the time I had become a teenager, he had disappeared altogether.
Fast forward thirty-six years. Two years after the death of my father, my mother decided to downsize, sell the house and move to a retirement community. As the house was is a desirable neighborhood, my wife and I decided to sell our house and buy my childhood home. My parents had a hard time throwing anything out, and it took months to empty out the basement and all the storage areas. Lo and behold, behind a chimney stack that ran through an upstairs closet, I found my old companion Ellie.
Ellie had not aged well: he was blind and stained, and his head wobbled about on his frail neck. I gave him a bleach bath and petitioned my wife to give him some eyes. From her button stash, I chose two black textured buttons and, just for fun, a multicolored one for his third eye. I tucked Ellie into a cloth drawstring bag and stored him in my sock drawer.
Fast forward three more years, to last year when I discovered AYP and started meditation. I decided to usurp an underutilized nook on the top floor for a meditation space, set up a yoga mat and bolster, hang my chakra and Buddist prayer flags and set up an alter for all my yoga talismans. Soon after, my asana teacher told our class the story of Lord Ganesha, the devoted son of Parvati and deity created by her to be the gatekeeper at the muladharah chakra; the shield to protect the divine secret from unripe minds. I realized I had my very own Lord Ganesha, and promoted him from guarding my socks to lord over my yoga nook.
A few weeks ago, in the midst of an energetic meditation, the image of my Ellie Ganesha flashed into my mind, followed immediately by the sensation of love spilling from my chest like a lava flow. My reaction startled me so much I passed on samyama and went directly into rest, all the while feeling the hallowed presence of Ellie Ganesha over my right shoulder. After rest, I turned and gathered Ellie into my arms and nestled him like a newborn. As soon as my face pressed against his, I fell into a kundalini coma, an energy state so intense it stole my breath and sent my heart rate into overdrive. I held on to Ellie and we ride that wave together until it runs it's course; his mottled cotton flesh absorbing my tears of joy. For you see, it was not Ellie that was lost and blind all those years; it was I.
![[/\]](http://www.aypsite.com/plus-forum/Smileys/akyhne/namaste.gif "Namaste (guru in you)")
I have instructed my wife that when my time comes, Ellie Ganesha is to accompany me into the crematory fire so we will be together for eternity.
If you wish to see [3]Ellie Ganesha[3], click on my profile picture!
