"The highest form of spiritual practice is self-observation without self-criticism." – Swami Kripalu
This quote from Swami Kripalu is one of my favorites. It encapsulates the essence of what the journey of yoga is all about. It is a journey into ourselves. It is a long, and sometimes arduous journey, full of great joy and many sorrows, but it is, I think, always a worthy adventure.
Can you pause now in your day? Take a moment with me?...
Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Observe the breath moving in and out of your body. Make the offering of this mantra to your self:
In this moment I breathe, in this moment I am perfect. At all times, in every way possible, I have everything I need.
As you move into your evening keep these phrases in mind, and take some time to contemplate the words of Bapuji (Swami Kripalu). How can you move along this great adventure of life making it an inquiry of self-observation, without entering into the harshness of self-criticism?
I would love to hear the ways that you do this! Leave a comment, or drop me a line.
My mom called me the other night. She gets together with this awesome group of women who have the most incredible parties. Their big one is in June, and it’s called Estrofest…it’s quite an extravaganza. Anyway, they are having a “Goddess Party” this weekend and she, and my sis-in-law, were asking for some ideas for goddesses. I was just going to email them, but then I thought, hey, this is a great post…
So, before the concept of “God” started leaning toward the patriarchal, bearded grandfather concept that dominates many religions today, the goddess, in her many forms, reigned supreme. This is a vast and fascinating subject, and the archetypes represented in the pantheons of goddesses across cultures and millennia have a lot to offer to us. They show up in our dream minds, and inform our ordinary waking states. We can recognize some aspect of all of them in ourselves, and it can be helpful to contemplate them when we need a little support cultivating the energy or ideas that they represent in our own life.
Here are a few goddesses that come first to my mind in this autumn season:
Demeter: The Greek Goddess of Agriculture. Her name means, “barley mother” and “earth mother”; she is a fertility goddess, and is often shown with a stalk of corn or grain, a torch, and a crown. She helps women harmonize with the ebb and flow of their life cycles. Her daughter, Persephone, was carried away in a notoriously bad relationship with Hades, god of the underworld. Demeter was so grief stricken that she caused the world to ebb into winter and to stay in that state of death until Persephone was returned, albeit for only part of the year (hence, the seasonal cycle.)
Hestia: Greek Goddess of Hearth and Home Hestia represents purity, sincerity, sanctity and safety. She is responsible for the wholesomeness of a warm meal and a cozy hearth. We bring her energy into our lives when we express the “domestic goddess” inside of us.
Now, if you are looking for a goddess with energy a little less tame, meet a few of my favorites:
She symbolizes strength, valor and protection. The Hindu gods called her forth with a “breath of fire” when they found they could not defeat the Buffalo Demon, Mahisasura, who threatened the world. She rides on a lion in a sacred trance, brandishing a weapon given to her by the gods in each of her eight arms (click the link above for more on her weapons.) She is the slayer of evil, and is also referred to as "Triyambake" meaning the three eyed Goddess. The left eye represents desire (the moon), the right eye represents action (the sun), and the central eye knowledge (fire).
Here is kirtan (a sacred chant) to Durga
Lilith: Hebrew Goddess of Personal Power and Sexual Appetite Take a walk on the wild side ladies. When God made Lilith (the first Eve) for Adam, and she told him, “I will not lie beneath you”, and he gave her the old “well, I won’t lie beneath YOU because you should always be in the inferior position…”, Lilith said, “Ah, no you din’it!”…or something like that. Anyway, Lilith doesn’t take any shit, so if you feel like you need to pull a little of that power into your aura, she’s ya’ girlfriend. Lilith is all about freedom of choice; she makes her own rules, and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. She is also a sensual seductress, tempting men to follow her for her own pleasure’s sake. So, have at it ladies. YOu may also want to check out Lilith Magazine.
White Buffalo Calf Woman: Lakota Goddess of Peace This sacred woman of supernatural origin gave the Lakota their "Seven Sacred Rituals". She is the ultimate role model for woman as facilitator, leader, healer and bringer of peace. You know the “Peace Pipe’? Yep, that was all her. The peace pipe was used in rituals within a sacred circle; it was passed from person to person so each could share their truth, and understanding and unity could be brought to the group. I love her because her way to peace and understanding is decidedly feminine, based in communication and tolerance.
Saraswati: Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Arts Saraswati is my patron saint, so to speak. I just love her. She dresses in white, and holds a mala (prayer beads) and a palm leaf scroll, indicating knowledge. Saraswati usually rides a swan or a peacock, while playing music on a veena. She is the mother of the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India. She is identified with the Saraswati River and it’s nourishing and purifying aspects. She is the consort of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Saraswati Puja (celebration) is coming up in October, if you have a Hindu temple in your town, try to go, they are amazing rituals and celebrations.
None of these great goddesses resonating with you? Here are a few more to ponder:
