October Gathering: Selene- Goddess of the Moon

Selene/Luna
Goddess Gathering
October 16th, 6:30pm

It is not possible to talk about the powers of the moon goddess Selene without discussing the powers associated with the goddess of the moon in many ancient cultures. Many of them have characteristics in common with each other, especially with Selene or as she is also known, Luna.

Selene was the ancient Greek goddess of the moon. Though there are many mentions of Selene in poetry from the Athenian era, it is obvious that her worship was mostly confined to common folk by the time writers like Hesiod and Aristophanes talked about her. Selene is said to be one of the Titans, the gods who came before the 12 Olympians. Her father was was Hyperion and her mother Theia. She was the sister of Helios, the Etruscan sun god, and Eos, the goddess of the dawn.

The Romans called her Luna, and we know of at least two temples to Luna in Ancient Rome. In later years, Selene became associated with Artemis just as her counterpart Luna became associated with Diana, and the aspect of the virgin moon goddess assumed the powers of the moon goddess Selene.

The powers of the moon goddess Selene were derived from her association with the moon. In ancient times, the sun and the moon were often equally powerful deities. The moon was most often depicted as a goddess because the moon appeared to become pregnant and give birth to a new moon each month. As the goddess of the moon, Selene was the patron of the feminine. She was believed to have the power to ease childbirth and inspire love. Selene also was believed to have the power to mask reality and, conversely, to pierce illusion.

Among other powers of the moon goddess Selene awakens intuition and spark psychic visions. This most likely stems from the association of night and the moon with dreams. That association may also be why Selene is often considered to be the patron of solutions, which often come to people in dreams when the subconscious mind has a chance to process information that has not been consciously acknowledged.

Selene is often depicted as a young woman with a pale face and a shining halo in the shape of a crescent moon. She is nearly always clothed in a flowing white robe, and sometimes has long white wings. She sometimes drives a chariot pulled by pale white or silver horses, or by a pair of white bulls. Other times, she is depicted riding a white bull through the night sky. She can be distinguished from depictions of the other moon goddesses because her face and form are usually depicted as rounder and more feminine.

Selene is sometimes thought to be just another name for Artemis, but this is not true. She is one of three faces of the triple goddess who is seen in the waxing and waning moon. The powers of the moon goddess Selene are at their fullest during the full and dark of the moon (new moon), which were times of the monthly cycle sacred to her worship.

Selena says...
Come into the night, and allow my soft glow to soften your hard edges. Reveal yourself to yourself and at this time, only to yourself. This is your time to go within to find deep, deep peace. When you can look at yourself in the mirror and simultaneously know that you are both beautiful and ugly, you will know my power. When you know that these thoughts are all illusions and wax and wane just as I do, then you will know the peace and serenity of floating in a boat on a full moon night with not a care in the world. When you can look on your life and accept and know that all of it has been serving you, bringing you to your greatness and that your pivotal point of power is TODAY, RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW, then you will know what true love is. The truth will be revealed to you.

Find this place within and then find it out in nature. Find your power place and go to it often. It may be the beach or a park or a pond or your porch. Make it YOUR sacred space. And go there not only during the day, but see this place from all angles under the light of the moon. See the different perspectives and do not be afraid to examine the dark side of the moon. Open up your psychic, intuitive channels and learn to trust your higher self. Allow yourself to connect regularly to your soul and your spirit by sitting in my illumination.

Drink water that is infused with my reflected light. Place a crystal decanter of purified water on a mirror and sit it out under the dark of the moon to create something new in your life, use my fullness to let something go!

Full Moon – October 4, 06:10
Last Quarter – October 11, 08:56
New Moon – October 18, 05:33
First Quarter – October 26, 00:42

Full Moon Names and Meanings

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes fromNew England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. Here is the Farmers Almanac's list of the full Moon names.

• Full Wolf Moon - January Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January's full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.

• Full Snow Moon - February Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February's full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.

• Full Worm Moon - March As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.

• Full Pink Moon - April This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month's celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

• Full Flower Moon - May In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon.

• Full Strawberry Moon - June This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!

• The Full Buck Moon - July July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon.

• Full Grain Moon - August The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes

and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.

• Full Corn Moon - September This full moon's name is attributed to Native Americans because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested. Most often, the September full moon is actually the Harvest Moon.

• Full Harvest Moon - October This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering.

• Full Beaver Moon - November This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.

• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

Selene's Affirmations

I am filled with luminous energy.

I am a beautiful being of Light.

My entire being is divine, as is all that is.

I am a mysterious creature.

My thoughts and feeling are indicators of my state of mind.

I honor the cycles and rhythm of my body as my energies wax and wane as the moon.

I am open to the fullness of the moon and allow her to help me release that which does not serve.

I am open to the newness of the moon and allow her to help me in my new beginning.

I go within where I can commune with my soul in stillness.

I am willing to accept my own darkness with compassion and love.

September Gathering: Mary Magdalene

September 18th, Friday 6:30pm

Join us for this sacred gathering to honor the Goddess energies that are available for us to work with. This month we are working with Mary Magdalene, the quintessential feminine spiritual healer, metaphysician and minister.

MAGDALENE'S POWER
Mary Magdalene is perhaps one of the most enigmatic women in the world. At once she evokes thoughts of the devoted, loving favored disciple of Christ and the prostitute whom Jesus drove seven devils out of. No matter what you might believe, due to the information that has been placed into the mass consciousness both of these thoughts tend to come to mind when you say her name. This begs the question, why? Why is her story so shrouded in mystery and filled with contradictions, missing texts and innuendo? And in that word "mystery" perhaps we may begin to track the answer.

The Gospel of Mary is an apocryphal book discovered in 1896 in a fifth-century papyrus codex. The most complete text of the Gospel of Mary is contained in Berolinensis 8502, but even so, it is missing six manuscript pages at the beginning of the document and four manuscript pages in the middle. As such, the narrative begins in the middle of a scene, leaving the setting and circumstances unclear. Theologian Karen King believes, however, that references to the death of the Savior and the commissioning scene later in the narrative indicate the setting in the first section of the text is a post resurrection appearance of the Savior.

As the narrative opens, the Savior is engaged in dialogue with his disciples, answering their questions on the nature of matter and the nature of sin. At the end of the discussion, the Savior departs leaving the disciples distraught and anxious. According to the story, Mary speaks up with words of comfort and encouragement. Then Peter asks Mary to share with them any special teaching she received from the Savior, “Peter said to Mary, ‘Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of the women. Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember - which you know (but) we do not, nor have we heard them.’” Mary responds to Peter’s request by recounting a conversation she had with the Savior about visions.

"(Mary) said, ‘I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to him, ‘Lord, I saw you today in a vision.’ He answered and said to me: “Blessed are you, that you did not waver at the sight of me. For where the mind is, there is the treasure.’ I said to him, ‘So now, Lord, does a person who sees a vision see it through the soul or through the spirit?’

In the conversation, the Savior teaches that the inner self is composed of soul, spirit, and mind, and visions are seen and understood in the mind. Then the text breaks off and the next four pages are missing. When the narrative resumes, Mary is no longer recalling her discussion with the Savior. She is instead recounting the revelation given to her in her vision. The revelation describes an ascent of a soul, which as it passes on its way to its final rest, engages in dialogue with four powers that try to stop it.

Her vision does not meet with universal approval:

"But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, 'Say what you think concerning what she said. For I do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are of other ideas.'"

"Peter also opposed her in regard to these matters and asked them about the Savior. 'Did he then speak secretly with a woman, in preference to us, and not openly? Are we to turn back and all listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?'"

However Levi defends Mary and quells Peter's attack on her. In the text, Peter appears to be offended by the discovery that Jesus selected Mary above the other disciples to interpret his teachings.

Scholars do not always agree which of the Marys in the New Testament is the central character of the Gospel of Mary. Arguments in favor of Mary Magdalene are based on her status as a known disciple of Jesus, the tradition of being the first witness of his resurrection, and her appearance in other early Christian writings. She is mentioned as accompanying Jesus on his journeys (Luke 8:2) and is listed in the Gospel of Matthew as being present at his crucifixion (27:56). In the Gospel of John, she is recorded as the first witness of Jesus' resurrection (John 20:14-16); (Mark 16:9 later manuscripts).

De Boer compares her role in other non-canonical texts, noting "in the Gospel of Mary it is Peter who is opposed to Mary’s words, because she is a woman. Peter has the same role in the Gospel of Thomas and in Pistis Sophia. In Pistis Sophia the Mary concerned is identified as Mary Magdalene." The final scene in the Gospel of Mary may also provide evidence that Mary is indeed Mary Magdalene. Levi, in his defense of Mary and her teaching, tells Peter "Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why he loved her more than us." In the Gospel of Philip, a similar statement is made about Mary Magdalene.

So, let's assume for a moment that through all the cross referencing of these ancient texts (sort of helps you understand the importance of journaling, doesn't it!) that at the very least Mary Magdalene is the disciple of Christ, was with him when he died and witnessed his resurrection. But, what if he did give her special teachings and her function as a disciple went beyond telling stories and speaking to the masses as the other disciples. What if Mary's role was a little different? What if she was a mystical healer, who could see energy and receive visions from other dimensions? What if Mary was a cross dimensional, metaphysical healer in human form? What if Mary was a shaman or medicine woman?

Even if you have no belief in any of this as actually happening, there is a great deal of information to receive from the life of Mary. She embodied the hidden, mysterious element of humanity called, woman. She used the mind to heal and she could see energy. These are the skills of any spiritual healer. And once again in yet another ancient text by the Master Healer himself, Jesus Christ, we are given information about the power of our mind and therefore our thoughts.

If divine masculine energy is the backing of the human will, and the divine feminine energy is what gives it form...it seems to me that there isn't much that one can do on earth without these two forces working in tandem. When we break the two apart, we are left with a mystery. We are left with raw life force power with no focus, only overwhelming power and the glory of God is no where and everywhere all at once. And perhaps this is the very mystery we are meant to solve, to work out way back to wholeness. Perhaps this is how we are to evolve, for when we ask why, we are as seekers.

So, as we continue to track the mystery and we understand the power of mind, the absolute key to manifestion, does it not seem a little odd, that if thoughts become things and Jesus Christ was the embodiment of the divine son of God, Holy Spirit and master healer that his divine union would not have created divine union for him in the manifested world by virtue of the law of equanimity, "as above, so below"? If the mind is the petri dish, and the gateway to the field of pure potential then wouldn't it be impossible not to manifest every single thing your heart desires? Why would someone as powerful in the mind, as focused of intent as Christ for healing, happiness and wholeness want to block this unstoppable force of manifestation? It does not make sense. And this is why Mary Magdalene isn't going anywhere.

Mary is the embodiment of the divine feminine force within us all. She takes the mystery and gives it form. She is the creator. He is the spark, the will. Together, they co-create what manifests first in the mind. She claims the human gift of sight and embellishes it to go beyond the physical. She is not afraid of the unseen and for this she is richly rewarded with the re-unification of what she holds most dear. She helps us to find what we have been separated from. She helps us bring down what is in the heavens of our mind, to earth.

What if it's all just a big game of hide and seek and this is the tournament of all tournaments? Or more like the treasure hunt of all time. Mary Magdalene, the mysterious one, show us your mysteries and lead us to the treasures. We are seeking the riches of our soul in the recesses of our mind and we ask to be made whole.

MAGDALENE'S AFFIRMATIONS
I am the embodiment of the divine feminine.
I see across the veils of my mind.
I open myself to the full power of being human.
I allow myself to receive the Light.
I am purified by the Light.
I receive the gift of second sight.
I see the unmanifested world.
I trust in the Light of God.
I accept the will of God into my life.
I see the wisdom and the perfection in the will of God.
I surrender to Love.
I am a devoted disciple for the Love of Man.
I love myself unconditionally.
I am open to communication with my Guides and Guardians.
I am a spiritual healer.
I am grounded and free.
I annoint my body with sacred oils and cherish this vessel.
My body is a holy temple.
I am the divine union of masculine and feminine energies.

MAGDALENE'S SYMBOLOGY
Sacred Oils and balms, Alabaster, Red, water, ritual washing, purification rituals

The Shadow Effect

August Gathering: Pallas Athena

August 21st, Friday 6:30pm

Join us for this sacred gathering to honor the Goddess energies that are available for us to work with. This month we are working with Pallas Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Arts and Strength.

ATHENA'S POWER
The modern day Athena is the truly capable wise-woman, multi-tasker, career juggler, devoted mother, dedicated spouse/partner, loyal friend, and community leader. To the outside world she appears to have it all together. Yet, Athena can, as life moves forward, find herself lost to her own true identity. She may have never (or since childhood) focused on just who she really is without all those titles. This is not to say that she doesn’t derive a great deal of satisfaction from her conquests. Her bravery in going after what she wants is stellar and she does achieve great things. But sometimes this paints Athena into a corner…..the corner of her own accomplishments! Conversely enough, all this greatness can actually get in the way of Athena truly coming to know and expressing herself from her core.

Athena is a force to be reckoned with, strong, wise and capable. Yet, this can become at times a façade of strength that creates a well of loneliness within her soul. Athena-inspired women know no fear, or at least that's the face they present to the world. Rest assured, Athena;s can be tough, independent, clever and resourceful women. However, the soul call, now that the skills of strength and wisdom have been honed, is to go back and take adventure in the exploration of her weaknesses. For it is often in her very “weaknesses” that the seeds of her true greatness lies dormant. Athena needs to learn how to trust her incredible strength, enough to become truly vulnerable. For in fact, it takes great strength to reveal such tenderness. And it is this display of tenderness that will balance her outer shell of perfection and bring her into her own.

Athena is truly the last step for the Goddess becoming in each of us. She has proven that she can succeed. She has the strength, the wisdom and the courage. Now all she has to do is trust it and let go! Dare to fail! Dare to feel foolish! Dare to make a mistake! Understand that mistakes are actually a part of every creation and are always a pivotal point to even more successful outcomes. Athena reminds us to open up to our softer side. She reminds to kick-butt and take names.....WITH LOVE. She wants us to know that we are creator Goddesses and that we are the embodiment of the divine feminine!

ATHENA’S MESSAGE
FIND YOUR VOICE
Athena empowers you to surmount fears, giving you the freedom to explore your independent, clever and resourceful side. Invoke Athena to "find your voice" and overcome self-expression obstacles. Communicative energy forms a healing power that facilitates the reconnection of body, emotions, feelings and psychic energy. Effective communication not only leads to positive outcomes for your projects, but the ‘true you’ is honored whenever you express your honest feelings instead of voicing what you expect others want to hear. It is your responsibility to make yourself known.

According to the Goddess Goddess herself, Anita Ryan-Revel creatrix of the amazing website, Goddess.com.au, if Athena is speaking to you, it is likely you are adept at "conquering" the difficulties in your life - one by one, each time you conquer another difficulty, you feel on top of the world. But, ask yourself why you are entering cycles of seemingly impossible tasks, only to surmount them then search out more. The rush that achievement brings may be providing you with an endorphin surge that is addictive - you may be compelled to seek out bigger and better challenges to sustain your habit. If this sounds familiar, you may be presenting a strong and courageous face to the world, but really you're drawing on your strength rather than devoting time to exploring your weaknesses. It's time to unclutter your life of all the issues dragging you down - the lower you are dragged down the harder you have to fight to get back on top. And while fighting for what you want is sometimes necessary, it is important to recognize that it may be equally appropriate to "get out of our own way". There are two modes of creation, through building up and cutting away. It may be time to balance the two and bring more peace into our lives.

ATHENA SAYS…
Pick up your sword and declare battle against the clutter in your life, both internal and external. There is as much satisfaction to be found in simplicity as there is in resolving complexity. If you have clothes in your wardrobe you haven't worn in a year, give them away. If you have books on your shelf that you know you are not going to read again, pass them on. What junk is lurking in your drawers that you haven't used (or even laid eyes on)? Throw it out! Toss out sticky bottles of who-knows-what at the back of your fridge - fill it instead with fresh fruit, and top up with water ready for the Summer. Spring clean your immediate environment, and feel how much lighter you feel!

Now, is the time to use that “can do” attitude to bring about a lightening of your own load and releasing what is not necessary in your life or what may be bringing you down energetically. Aside from the space clearing which can certainly open the doorway to a floodgate of new energy, there may be a need for an attitude adjustment. Remember, the answers do not lie in other people, places or things, but in your own internal beliefs and attitudes which may be creating a drain on your energies. Athena, in her eternal wisdom, is asking you to go inside and spring clean your own heart and mind. Use some of that awesome wisdom and strength for your own edification. This is what will clear the way for right action. This is the difference between funding your will and controlling and forcing. It is a relinquishing of the need to control and the drive for perfection in order to allow and trust that in the care and feeding of your soul, all else that is right and good will flow.

ATHENA AFFIRMATIONS
I totally accept myself, just as I am, right here and right now
I let go of perfection
I am beautiful and radiant
I am the embodiment of the Goddess
I am healthy and happy
I am welcoming peace
I allow myself to be quiet and still everyday
I feel absolutely supercharged
Today is my chance to be healthy
I honor the strength of my body and move with grace and ease
My vital energy resurfaces naturally
I enjoy the foods that are good for me

SYMBOLOGY

ATHENA TOTEMS
Athena is often pictured with sword, shield, an owl and/or Nike, the Goddess of Victory. Nike, in the modern world is associated with the famous slogan “Just do it”! She is the perfect companion to Athena, as this is the true secret to Athena’s success…she is a doer – a mover and a shaker and a masterful creator of her world! Other names for Athena are Pallas Athena (Greek), Minerva (Roman) and Sulis (Celtic).

GEMSTONES
Moonstone, lapis lazuli, dark aquamarine, selenite

ORIGINS OF ATHENA

Greece
Zeus' favorite daughter, Athena was the beautiful warrior Goddess who stood guard over the ancient city of Athens. A goddess in whose honor was made an entire city, as well as temples and statues, not the least of which was the Parthenon. The most celebrated statue of the warrior Athena was that of the Parthenon, the work of Phidias. The Goddess, standing, wore a long chiton; her head was helmeted, her breast covered with the aegis (body plate with head of Medusa), her right hand rested against a spear and in her left hand she held a winged Victory (Nike-goddess of victory).

In addition to her undisputed supreme qualities of wisdom, intelligence and warrior prowess, she was adopted as the patron of the arts and craftspeople of Athens, and her brave swordsmanship made her an inspiration to the military forces. Athena's grace and intelligence and wisdom were underlying qualities to her immense courage and strength.

Athena's functions are many: she is venerated among the great divinities for her qualities of warrior-Goddess, Goddess of the arts of peace and Goddess of prudent intelligence. To Athena the warrior - her oldest manifestation - belong the epithets Promachos ('who fights in the foremost ranks') and Alalcomeneis ('who repulses the enemy'). She is the protectress of towns and the guardian of acropolises. The pacific Athena protects various industries. She is preeminently the Ergane, or working woman, and is the patron of architects and sculptors, as well as of spinners and weavers. The olive tree owed to her its fruit. Her wisdom, which earned her the epithet Pronoia (the Foreseeing), made her the counselor-Goddess (Boulaia) and the Goddess of the Assembly (Agoraia). Athena's emblem is the owl. She is often depicted as well with sword, shield, aegis, serpent, armor, helmet and at times Nike, the goddess of victory.

There are two stories pertaining to Athena which may have earned her the misnomer of being considered a "man's goddess". The stories respectively of Arachne and Medusa (the Gorgon), depict Athena striking both of these women with horrible curses which contribute to their demise. An interesting way to interpreted these stories (and others) is to recognize that archetypally Athena may be reminding us to accept the parts of ourselves which we deem to be our weaknesses and that potentially by eradicating them instead of integrating them we may be contributing to our own demise metaphorically speaking. It could also be relating to our need to support other women in our life and to accept their support, as well as to more fully embrace the divine feminine inside of ourselves.

Rome
Minerva, the Roman virgin goddess of warriors, poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, crafts, and the inventor of music, was equated with the Greek Athena. She is the daughter of Jupiter (whose Greek counterpart is Zeus), and in much the same way as Athena, sprang as a adult from her father's head wearing armor and bearing weapons. Minerva is usually depicted wearing a coat of chain mail and a helmet, and carrying a spear. As Minerva Medica she is the patroness of physicians. She is thought to be of Etruscan origin, as the goddess Menrva or Menerva. As her Greek counterpart, Minerva has 2 symbols, the olive tree and the owl.

Celtic
In Celtic lore Athena/Minerva's equivalent is Sulis. Sulis was a goddess of healing who ruled over the remarkable hot spring beside the river Avon near Bath (Aquae Sulis). She was not only a water deity, but her name Sulis is obviously linked with the sun, probably related to the heat of the waters. Thus she represents 2 of the elements, water and fire. Her association with Minerva may have related with the craft of healing. According to mythologists, the shrine of Sulis Minerva at Bath provides a superb example of the hybridization of Roman and Celtic religious beliefs and practices of the times.

July Gathering: Kali Maa

July 17th, Friday 6:30pm

Join us for this sacred gathering to honor the Goddess energies that are available for us to work with. This month we are working with the Mother Goddess Kali Maa, the divine, compassionate liberator.

Kali comes from the Sanskrit root word Kal which means time. There is nothing that escapes the all-consuming march of time and Kali can help you step out of time to heal and empower your life. In Tibetan Buddhism Her counterpart is male with the name Kala. Mother Kali is the most misunderstood of the Hindu goddesses. The Encyclopedia Britannica is grossly mistaken in the following quote, "Major Hindu goddess whose iconography, cult, and mythology commonly associate her with death, sexuality, violence, and, paradoxically in some of her later historical appearances, motherly love."

It is partly correct to say Kali is a goddess of death as She brings the death of the ego as the illusory self-centered view of reality. Nowhere in the Hindu stories is She seen killing anything but demons nor is She associated specifically with the process of human dying like the Hindu god Yama (who really is the god of death). It is true that both Kali and Shiva are said to inhabit cremation grounds and devotees often go to these places to meditate. This is not to worship death but rather it is to overcome the I-am-the-body idea by reinforcing the awareness that the body is a temporary condition. Shiva and Kali are said to inhabit these places because it is our attachment to the body that gives rise to the ego. Shiva and Kali grant liberation by removing the illusion of the ego. Thus we are the eternal I AM and not simply the body.

Of all the forms of Devi, She is the most compassionate because She provides moksha or liberation to Her children. She is the counterpart of Shiva the destroyer. They are the destroyers of unreality. The ego sees Mother Kali and trembles with fear because the ego sees in Her its own eventual demise. A person who is attached to his or her ego will not be receptive to Mother Kali and she will appear in a fearsome form. A mature soul who engages in spiritual practice to remove the illusion of the ego sees Mother Kali as very sweet, affectionate, and overflowing with incomprehensible love for Her children.

Kali is the Kundalini energy that paralyses the attachments produced by the solar and lunar currents. This attachment causes fear of death. In the ignorant ones she creates fear, while for others Kali removes the avidya (ignorance) that makes us fear death, the basic insecurity of the First Chakra , a fear rooted in the brain stem or primitive brain.

In her fierce form, Ma Kali wears a garland of skulls and a skirt of dismembered arms because the ego arises out of identification with the body. In truth we are beings of spirit and not flesh. So liberation can only proceed when our attachment to the body ends. Thus the garland and skirt are trophies worn by Her to symbolize having liberated Her children from attachment to the limited body. She holds a sword and a freshly severed head dripping blood. As the story goes, this represents a great battle in which she destroyed the demon Raktabija. Her black skin represents the womb of the quantum unmanifest from which all of creation arises and into which all of creation will eventually dissolve. She is depicted as standing on Shiva who lays beneath Her with white skin (in contrast to Her black or sometimes dark blue skin). He has a blissful detached look. Shiva represents pure formless awareness sat-chit-ananda (being-consciousness-bliss) while She represents "form" eternally supported by the substratum of pure awareness.

The notion that Kali Maa is the goddess of death, sex and violence is simply utter nonsense. She is the goddess of enlightenment or liberation and what she destroys is ignorance and the over-inflated ego, nothing more. This may well include addictions and attachments. She is the quintessential Power Mother.

According to Hindu mythology we are now in Kali-Yuga being the fourth stage of the cosmic time frame. In this kali Yuga only Kali and Ganesh are the two divine forces which can effectively protect you against all evil forces. Invoking their power and bringing it forth from within ourselves is undoubtedly our final panacea.

The Upanishad quotes: "kalou kali vinayaka"
That is the reason why this Yuga is being called as "KALI-YUGA" i.e.,the Kali-Age,
the period ruled by Mother Kali. The Eternal Kali has the absolute control of the time element
governed by the cosmic belt. She is beyond Yugas and Vedas (sacred knowledge). Words are not sufficient to describe this divinity. We need not ask anything.She knows our need. Mother Kali will bless the devotees with all the benefits sheerly by focusing upon and honoring her.
Kali brings:
1) All around success.
2) Abundant wealth.
3) Recovery from fear, misery and total ruin.
4) Complete destruction of enemies & evil forces.
5) Mental peace and ultimate salvation.


Click here to work with Mother Kali's Yantra and to learn more about working with Yantras.

When: July 17th, Friday 6:30pm
Where: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., Unit 1, Ft. Myers, Fl 33907
Cost: $10
Call: Renee at 239-560-6314 to RSVP
(Please bring any old magazines, greeting cards, imagery or cutouts that you may have.)

Down the Rabbit Hole:
Kali Ma & Super Massive Black Holes
Mother's MultiplicityKali Desktop Wallpaper
Kali Mantra Audio
Shri Maa

How To Work with Yantra's

Yantra: Vedic Power Symbols
(Image: Kali's Yantra)

Yantra literally means "instrument". A Yantra is a geometric design acting as a highly efficient tool for contemplation, concentration and meditation. Yantras carry spiritual significance, and point the user to higher levels of consciousness.

The Yantra provides a focal point that is a window into the absolute. When the mind is concentrated on a single, simple object (in this case a Yantra), the mental chatter ceases. Eventually, the object is dropped when the mind can remain empty and silent without help. In the most advanced phases, it is possible to attain union with God by the geometric visualization of a Yantra.

At the basis of Yantra operation is something called "shape energy" or "form energy". The idea is that every shape emits a very specific frequency and energy pattern. Examples of old believes in shape energy are the Yantras and mandalas of eastern philosophies, the star of David, the five pointed star (pentagon), the Christian cross, the pyramids and so on. Certain 'powers' are ascribed to the various shapes. Some have 'evil' or negative energies and some 'good' or positive energies, but in Yantra Yoga only the benefic and harmonious energies are used.

When one focuses on a Yantra, his mind is atomatically "tuned in" by resonance into the specific form energy of that Yantra. The process of resonance is then maintained and amplified. The Yantra acts only as a "tune in" mechanism or a doorway. The subtle energy does not come from the Yantra itself, but from the macrocosm.

Basically Yantras are secret keys for establishing resonance with the benefic energies of the macrocosm. Very often the Yantras can put us in contact with extremely elevated energies and entities, being of invaluable help on the spiritual path.

Kali Maa Mula Mantra: Om Hring Shring Kring Parameswari Kalike Svaha

Source: About.com/Hinduism
By Horia Cristescu & Dan Bozaru

What is the Divine Femine?

I have been actively celebrating, studying and seeking the Divine Feminine principle for several years and it has been one of the most empowering and inspiring things I have done. I feel that this path has led me to a deeper understanding of who I am as a woman, but more than that, it has opened my eyes to see how vital the opposing forces of masculine and feminine energies are in our life. They ARE the driving force of creation.

When we take the personal energies and romantic notions out of our perceptions of these forces it allows us to gain a whole new perspective on yin/yang, masculine/feminine, active/passive, projective/receptive, light/dark, and finally man/woman. And we begin to understand how one simply could not exist without the other. Of course this nugget of truth is modeled for us in the most poignant way in the creation of our children.

The acceptance of both of these energies with equal importance is something most of us have a good deal of resistance to. Mostly because we have emotional baggage and biases lurking in our psyche that we have attached to one or the other. And so it is very, very important to our deepest happiness and fulfillment to look into that resistance and see how this may in fact be keeping us from ourselves.

The lock and key symbology is everywhere, even within our own bodies. The Divine Feminine and Masculine are no less important to the grand scheme of things. Coming into oneness with both the masculine and feminine energies within ourselves and all around us opens the gateways to our highest levels of creativity, passion, love and abundance in all things. Understanding how to weave these energies together is where the fun begins.

If you're interested in exploring this topic, please post!