The Gods are not meant to enslave the mind, they are powerful uplifting symbols to focus the mind upon. Try this experiment. Here are 2 words, “Gun? and “ ambience?. Which word creates a more powerful impression in your mind. Probably the word “gun.’ It is a thing. It is an object with observable qualities. Like the world around you. “Gun’ also symbolizes something for you. Perhaps it symbolizes violence, or your grandfather who used to shoot guns with you when you were a kid.
The point being, the mind uses symbols and creates deep connections through them. It is much easier for the mind to relate to a powerful relevant symbol than to an abstraction like  “Ambience? or “God.? Even if you know what the word means, it does not conjure up much of an image or emotion in you.

the term â??worshipâ?? in the West conjures up images of people cowering in fear on one knee begging mercy from some wrathful entity that my strike us down if we do not behave. It smacks of surrendering our knowledge and power to remote intangible forces from some archaic past or proposed future. It seems devoid of reason. A sort of mental enslavement for those too weak to stand and face â??reality.â??
But Deity worship is not meant to be and should not be that way at all. Simply stated, worship should affirm experience. Once the deeper layers of being start becoming revealed, guidance and support is needed. Worship is that type of support.

One of the most beautiful yet misunderstood parts of Yoga and Hinduism are the Deities and their Worship. They are a large part of the shared culture of Yoga and Hinduism. They influence all facets of Hindu and Yogic culture. Weeklong festivals like the annual Navratri, (literally the â??9 nightsâ??) â??The Divine Mother Festivalâ?? bring India to a standstill every year as do other holy days. Pujas (ceremonial offerings) are performed daily to bring luck, success, peace into the lives of most Hindus and All Yoga Ashrams. The Gods represent the eternal forces of good that we aspire to and in worshipping them we are worshipping the divine in us.

Monday Pisces (Uttara Bhadra) Moon|Jupiter | Saturn (11th tithi Ekadashi - Rudra, Fasting, Spiritual practies). The Moon in Pisces today i sbetween Rahu and Venus, bringing a dreaminess and unfocused nature. The Jupiter/Venus exchange will be highlighted as we seek to merge our individual desires with the cosmic will and relax into the mystic and abstract nature of life. Yet rahu will still be churning our mind for a good portion of the day, bringing some stress related our intangible fears related ot sociability and other people. It is the 11th lunar day, related to fasting and Lord Siva - a good day to reduce food intake and do some extra meditation. Saturn is the lord of this nakshatra, giving determined effort and consistency today. IN general there is a high capacity for escapism through indulgences today, so be careful with that.. moderation in food intake and consumables especially.