Prayer power

The first week of May I bought one of those miniature orchids that fill the entranceways of Trader Joe stores: $6.95 for magenta. It had two stalks, half of each's flowers already in bloom, the remaining buds fat enough to pop. I gave it six weeks, just about the time I'd have fresh flowers from my own garden.

Orchids need moisture so this one provided the perfect opportunity every morning to give away the small water/tea offering ritually made the morning before to Mahakala, the protector and remover of obstacles. Ever since one of Rinpoche's lamas told me five years back that honoring Mahakala this way would help me, I have faithfully put water from the tea kettle into an espresso mug that I put in front of Mahakala's picture on my shrine while invoking his name, followed by three loud claps. The air expelled in that sound of two hands meeting represents at least for me the obstacles Mahakala can remove. And I have to say, I've noticed he has removed quite a few. Some sailing has been astonishingly smooth.

So, every morning new water and the next morning a spritz for the orchid. I don't really know how long these industrially raised mini orchids stuffed into tiny pots are supposed to last. I've always assumed the blooms would burst, be beautiful, fall and that would be that. We're talking maybe six weeks, eight on the outside.

It's understatement that I was startled to discover this orchid had two blooms and a new bud on October 30 when I needed to throw it away. It wasn't ready to be canned. It was stubbornly going to live past the Day of the Dead. 

The same spooky longevity happened to the last orchid I watered with Mahakala's blessed water.  It's two stems dropped all their white blooms one by one over a period of three months and as I was lifting it toward the trash, I noticed three new buds trying to swell on those embarrasingly naked stems.  So I pushed that plant into the hands of someone who needed good luck and did the same with relentlessly beautiful orchid. Who knew prayer is reallly Miracle-Gro? I am now a firm fan of the positive energy it releases. I need my life to bloom so I'm keeping at it every day.  Om shri Mahakala yaksha betali hung zsa!