How To Create A Solstice Altar for the Goddess Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Prosperity in both the physical and spiritual realms. She is pure magic. To invite Lakshmi into your heart is to invite love, beauty, and abundance in all ways. It has been said that if you chant the Lakshmi mantra 108 times a day for an entire moon cycle, lots of luck in money, health, and love will be yours.

I like to practice the mantra for 44 consecutive days. All you need is a 108 bead mala. If you skip a day, you have to start over to reap the full benefits. Here are some best practices:

• Place a barrier between yourself and the ground - mantras by nature are destabilizing • we need the destabilization to effect change because transformation does not happen from a stable place • since the Earth is so stabilizing, it’s ideal to keep a barrier between you • socks if your feet are touching the ground • a yoga mat if you are sitting • etc

• Set the same intention clearly before you begin each day

• Chant the mantra 108 times per day with (or without) your mala beads

• Treat your mala with reverence and respect – you are charging it! • so, never let your mala touch the ground • don’t submerge it in water • don’t use/wear it in the bathroom • never allow anyone else to handle it • the index finger is said to de-charge mala beads so do your best not to handle the mala with your index finger, I use my middle finger and my thumb •

• Create a magical SUMMER altar where you sit down to chant your mantra daily • decorate it with elements that will connect you to the energy of high vibe abundance and your intention • Lakshmi loves gold and shades of yellow and orange • you can offer Lakshmi Ma - jewelry, fruit, flowers, sacred smoke, sweets of all kinds, and anything else you feel called to gift her • keep it simple – it should be a place of beauty that makes you feel really good • tend to your altar daily by dusting, maybe changing up the flowers, and communicating with Lakshmi Ma, your angels and allies

I love the ritual of making an altar and I’d LOVE to see yours. Tag @smudged.co on Instagram and share your summer altar with me. xo, Neelou