Finding Ganesha at Sarina’s

I first started learning about Ganesha at Sarina’s. In Hindu tradition, Ganesha stands as the remover of obstacles and the lord of new beginnings. His powerful presence is seen as a guardian and a holder of wisdom, someone who opens paths and clears away the unseen barriers we often face. His elephant head on a human body has always struck me—how it symbolizes the bridge between human and animal, as well as the physical and spiritual realms.

As I wandered through the shop, my eyes were immediately drawn to the iridescent shimmer of a labradorite Ganesha sitting quietly on one of the shelves. The way the stone shifted colors, flashing blues, greens, and sometimes a hint of gold, felt almost alive. It was as if the Ganesh figure was revealing different layers of itself each time I looked. One moment it was calm and grounded, the next full of mystical light. That shifting, captivating glow reminded me of how beginnings often feel: uncertain, ever-changing, but full of potential.

One of the workers shared something that astonished me—that the direction Ganesha faces matters. I hadn’t realized there were “right” and “wrong” ways to place him, but I was open to the idea. Ganesha facing East is said to invite spiritual growth, drawing in the wisdom and energy of the sunrise. A North-facing Ganesha is connected to prosperity, success, and good fortune. But placing him facing South is linked to stagnation and heavy energy, something to avoid if you want movement and clarity in your life.

Learning all of this made me look at the labradorite Ganesha differently. It wasn’t just a beautiful carving anymore, rather, it felt like a guide. When I see the colors shift across his form, I think about the obstacles in my own life, and how they can sometimes feel like immovable walls. But Ganesha’s energy reminds me that every wall has a door, every heavy moment can be lightened, and every ending can become a new beginning.

I ended up finding a Ganesh necklace, and when I wear it, it rests right over my heart chakra. There’s something powerful about feeling him there. It feels like his presence is not only clearing the paths in front of me but also softening what I carry inside.

In that way, the Ganesha at Sarina’s wasn’t just a figure on a shelf. It became a mirror for my own journey, reminding me to keep opening, keep beginning, and to trust that even the unseen obstacles are already on their way to being cleared.

Author: Angelo Arnold