Tag: yoga

2025-0108W-0708 Radio East, Austin, TX

I called one of my Cali friends last night and she told me that there were fires LA. I checked in with another Cali friend who lives in Santa Monica and she had evacuated to Orange County. I am still waiting to hear from my brother who is also in LA to SF area now. Sending gratitude to the firefighters in CA and prayers to them and others for their safety during this time.

I’m reminding of Kali (or Kalika), the Hindu goddess of the paradoxical union of destruction and creation. The name ‘Kali’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘kāla’, which means time. Kali is often connected with time, death or destruction, transformation, and liberation. She is also one of the Mahavidyas (“Great Wisdoms”), ten powerful goddesses who represent different aspects of the Divine Feminine. Kali guides devotees to ultimate freedom through wisdom and destruction of the ego. She symbolizes the eternal void and the cyclical nature of life and death.

Image of Kali generated using AI (ChatGPT, 2025-01-08)

Diving Deeper: Here are the ten Mahavidyas, with their aspects of the divine feminine and their symbolism. Which are you feeling most connected with today? In reading through these, I wonder if Bhairavi is perhaps more associated with the Cali fires. In Sanskrit, fiery energy is “tejas”, the inner spiritual fire that drives transformation and enlightenment. Bhairavi represents the impermanence of life. She is a fierce protector of the cosmic order (dharma). She guides us back to spiritual truth when we stray.

• 1. Kali (Time, destruction, liberation) – Destroys ego and ignorance, represents the eternal cycle of life and death.
• 2. Tara (Compassion, guidance, protection) – Savior goddess, guiding through distress and symbolizing ultimate knowledge.
• 3. Tripura Sundari (Beauty, grace, ultimate truth) – Unifies material and spiritual realms, embodies supreme bliss.
• 4. Bhuvaneshwari (The cosmos, space) – Universal womb, goddess of creation and the material world.
• 5. Chinnamasta (Self-sacrifice, courage, transcendence) – Cuts ego and attachment, symbolizes divine bliss and transformation.
• 6. Bhairavi (Wrath, destruction, purification) – Burns away ignorance, represents fiery energy and penance.
• 7. Dhumavati (Widowhood, detachment) – Embodies the void, teaching detachment from material desires.
• 8. Bagalamukhi (Control, stillness, focus) – Paralyzes negativity, silences enemies, and brings mental clarity.
• 9. Matangi (Speech, learning, music) – Represents thought and communication, associated with unconventional paths.
• 10. Kamala (Prosperity, fertility, abundance) – Tantric form of Lakshmi, symbolizes wealth and worldly blessings.