I have never been to the far East. A fear of large spiders and ‘deli beli’ drove me in tamer directions.
Passing people’s houses in deepest Dorset and seeing a many-armed goddess statue in the drive it seemed incongrous and pretentious. A bit of self reflection later and I can see I was envious, but the jealousy melts away as I learn more about the Eastern religions.
Judgemental?– yes I had been… presuming all the elephant-headed statuary were just souvenirs proudly proclaiming their owners are big travellers.
I mean maybe a few are, but in general it’s an expression of an interest in far east religion and philosophy. Years ago I bought some buddha cushions from The Range purely because I loved the pattern – now I am digging below the surface and love what I find.
That elephant-headed god is Ganesha a Hindu god mostly known for removing obstacles from your path! How immediate and specific is that? In these days especially, I would say we all have some obstacles we need removed!
Closer to my heart is Gwanyin – in Chinese mythology she is the goddess of mercy. Gwan Yin is often called on in times of uncertainty, despair and fear and in the recent past my voice has cried to her too.
So now my driveway has a buddha statue on it! Gifted by my husband and son as, although they do not follow me in these interests, they are wise men who like to please me!

by Jo Green, a former allotmenteer, forager, amateur herbalist, pickler and
jam maker who squeezed her allotment greenery into her tiny garden