AUGUST
श्री — ŚRĪ
Living in Beauty, Grace and Blessing
ŚRĪ: Living in Beauty, Grace and Blessing
Śrī means beauty, radiance, grace, blessing, abundance and auspiciousness. It’s the Divine splendour expressed through life in all it's beauty and fullness.
Beauty is a spiritual quality because it reflects the Divine within creation and within us. Śrī is this sacred beauty expressed as radiance, grace, blessing, abundance and auspiciousness. Through sādhanā, we connect more deeply with our own energy, cultivate more vitality and deepen our relationship with God, allowing this beauty to become visible through our presence, expression and the way we live.
When prana is nourished and able to move freely, the body feels more alive, the mind becomes calm and our natural radiance begins to sine through. Śrī is experienced through this fullness of life, through the beauty we see in everything, the blessings we receive and the beauty we create through the way we live.
This month we cultivate Śrī through practices that activate Pran vayu, support the movement of vyana vayu, calm the nervous system and awaken the heart. Through our body, our breath, mantra, meditation and devotional practice, we invite { Śrī } beauty, grace and blessing to become a natural expression of our being.
This month is an invitation to live more beautifully, receive life as a blessing and allow your open, luminous heart to be your guiding force in the world.
BEAUTY IS A SPIRITUAL QUALITY
Real beauty begins within. It is the beauty of the inner being that creates our true beauty.
Love, devotion, purity, depth, compassion and wisdom are qualities of the heart. As these qualities are cultivated, they shape our presence, our words, our actions and the way we move through the world. Inner beauty becomes something others can feel through our energy, the way we treat people and the way we live.
The Bible says: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves” (1 Peter 3:3-5)
This tell us that beauty is connected with the inner self and the qualities of the spirit. The verse speaks about adorning ourselves inwardly through faith, gentleness, devotion and goodness.
These qualities are cultivated through our sadhana and connecting to the Divine each day. Every moment of devotion deepens our relationship with God. Each time we practice we deepen the relationship to our self and Self. Every time we practice we are shaping the inner being. Over time, these Holy qualities of beauty become part of our presence.
This is why the verse describes inner beauty as unfading. It’s always evolving through our spiritual practice and our relationship with God. It continues to deepen throughout life as we grow and mature.
The Bhagavad Gita also teaches:
“Whatever is beautiful, glorious or powerful springs from but a spark of My splendour.” (Sloka 10.41)
Here, Krishna teaches that beauty carries the splendour of the Divine. The beauty of a flower, the radiance of the sun, the power of the ocean, the kindess of a human heart, all arise from the same Divine source.
Beauty becomes a way of recognising God within creation. When we acknowledge something beautiful, we are seeing an expression of the Creator. When beauty fills us with awe, gratitude or love, it draws our awareness towards the Divine presence within life.
The physical body is part of this sacred expression. We honour it, nourish it and care for it as the vessel through which we practice, serve, create and experience life. Inner beauty needs the right conditions to flourish and bloom. Prana brings vitality and radiance to the body. Devotion directs our energy towards God. Purpose gives our energy a direction for expression. Daily sādhanā strengthens the qualities we want to embody.
This is the essence of Śrī. Beauty is a quality our being takes on through the life we live, the love we cultivate, the devotion we embody and our relationship with God.
Through practice, the inner being becomes nourished, radiant and full of life. This beauty is then expressed through our presence, our actions and the way we live.
CONNECTING TO TO ŚRĪ LAKṢMĪ
Lakshmi is the goddess of beauty, prosperity, abundance, good fortune and auspiciousness. Her name is closely connected with Śrī, radiance, splendour, grace and blessing.
Lakshmi represents the forces that allow life to flourish. Her abundance includes nourishment, health, fertility, wisdom, generosity, spiritual wellbeing and wealth.
She is often shown seated or standing upon a lotus, holding lotus flowers in her hands. The lotus represents purity, spiritual growth and beauty unfolding from within. Her open hands express blessing, generosity and the giving of abundance. In some images, elephants surround her and pour water over her. This form is known as Gaja Lakshmi and is associated with fertility, majesty, prosperity and life-giving rain.
Lakshmi is traditionally honoured through prayer, mantra and offerings made with devotion. Flowers, incense and a lamp are offered before her image or murti (statue). Each offering is an expression of reverence and gratitude towards the Divine Goddess.
A simple mantra used to honour Lakshmi is:
OṀ ŚRĪṀ MAHĀLAKṢMYAI NAMAḤ
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
This means:
I bow to Mahālakṣmī, the Divine presence of beauty, abundance, prosperity and auspiciousness.
You can chant this mantra 108 times using a mala as a devotional practice and a way of invoking her qualities.
(In the Supporting Practices section, you will find a complete arati procedure for Lakshmi Puja, a devotional ritual of honouring and inviting Śrī Lakshmi through prayer, mantra and offering.
A Prayer of Divine Blessing
Holy Mother, Heavenly Father,
fill our hearts with Your love and our lives with Your beauty.
Nourish us with Your grace, awaken the Divine light within us,
and help us recognise Your blessings in all of creation.
May this practice make us radiant in body, pure in heart
and devoted in all that we do.
May our lives become a beautiful offering to You.
{Amen, OM}
Cultivating Inner Beauty
A sun-hatha, heart-centred practice to culivate Pran Vayu, awaken beauty at the heart. Through a complete practice of asana, pranayama, mantra and meditation, we create a radiant body for Sri to be expressed through. During this pracrice we use the mantra YAṂ. Which is the bija mantra associated with Anahata, the heart chakra. A bija mantra is a seed sound used to awaken and direct energy within the subtle body.
Practice everyday throughout the month. Use the sadhana checklist as your guide.
Supporting Practices
Lakshmi Puja
Lakshmi Puja is a devotional practice for honouring Sri Lakshmi and asking for her blessings of beauty, grace, abundance and auspiciousness. Through mantra, prayer and offering, we welcome her presence and blessings into our lives.
You may practice this daily in the morning, or before beginning your main sādhanā.
This can be with a murti (statue) or image of Laksmhi.
Start by sanctifying water (purifying, making it holy)
Mantra to sanctify the water:
Gaṅge ca yamune caiva godāvari sarasvati | narmade sindhu kāveri jale'smin saṃnidhiṃ kuru
“May water from the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmadam Sindhu, and Kaveri kindly be present.”
First clean your right hand by pouring a few drops of the sanctified water into it from a copper cup, with a spoon. The right hand should be cleaned again after offering each article. Ring a bell with the left hand while offering articles with the right hand. Offered articles should not be placed back on the arati tray with the unoffered items.
Incense, ghee lamp, water, cloth, and flowers are offered by circling them clockwise toward the given parts of the deity’s body. As you offer these items, ring the bell in your left hand and chant the respective mantras followed by the words, "sri mahalakshmi namah".
(Please note, this can all be done mentally if you are worshipping photos or don’t have all items available)
Incense should be circled:
4 times to the deity’s feet
2 times to their navel
7 times to their whole body
etam dhūpam samarpayāmi sri mahalakshmi namah
Ghee lamp should be circled:
4 times to the deity’s feet
2 times to their navel
3 times to their face
7 times to their whole body
etam dīpam samarpayāmi sri mahalakshmi namah
Water in a conch shell is offered:
7 times over their head
idam jalam samarpayāmi sri mahalakshmi namah
A plain piece of cloth or handkerchief is offered:
4 times to the deity’s feet
2 times to their navel
3 times to their face
7 times to their whole body
idam vastram samarpayāmi sri mahalakshmi namah
Flowers on a plate are offered:
4 times to the deity’s feet
etani puspani samarpayami sri mahalakshmi namah
Cāmara should be fanned up and down, chanting:
etam cāmaram samarpayami sri mahalakshmi namah
Peacock fan should be fanned up and down, chanting:
etam vyajanam samarpayami sri mahalakshmi namah
You may finish off with a prayer of your own and begin your practice or day.
Chandra Bhedana
This is a calming pranayama used to settle the nervous system and support rest. Practice it whenever the main practice feels too activating, or when you need to restore balance afterward.
Having a calmn, rested nervous system supports our natural radiance and is an important part of cultivating our inner beauty!
Beauty Journal
Use this journal throughout August to notice beauty, recognise your blessings, reflect on what brings you closer to God and become more aware of how you are creating beauty through the way you live.
Your Monthly Oracle Message
The Authenticity card represents living in alignment with your true self. It calls you to embrace your uniqueness, honor your values, and act with integrity in all that you do. Authenticity is about self-acceptance and standing confidently in who you are without fear of judgment. When you embody authenticity, you radiate a magnetic truth that inspires others to do the same.
Reflective Practice:
In what areas of your life are you not fully expressing your true self? What would it feel like to embrace your authenticity without fear or hesitation?
Practical Exercise:
Take a few moments to sit quietly and reflect on your values and passions. Write down three things that genuinely make you feel like your truest self. Then, choose one small action you can take today to honor that part of yourself—whether it’s through words, choices, or how you show up in the world. Let this practice serve as a step toward living in alignment with your authentic self.
A playlist to carry the essence of Śrī into your day. Intended for moments outside of practice, to accompany journaling or any space where you feel inspired (not during your main practice).
You're invited to reach out anytime throughout the month with questions or reflections related to your practice. I'm here to support you on your journey toward inner radiance and growth.
