Group Painting from "Petals From Lakshmi's Garland" Class, Feb. 23, 2008
Maha Kali Chant
PRAYERS AND PROSE TO THE GODDESS*
Grant me the grace of seeing this
day.
Grant me the grace of seeing.
Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer
by J. Phillip Newell
Every day, every night
that I praise the Goddess,
I know shall safe:
I shall not be chased,
I shall not be caught,
I shall not be harmed.
Fire, sun and moon
cannot burn me. Not
lake nor stream nor sea
can drown me. Fairy
Arrow cannot pierce me.
I am safe, safe, safe,
singing her praises.
The Shield of Brigid, Irish prayer
The famous prayer was reputed to protect those who spoke it fervently from all evil. Originally an invocation to the goddess Brigid, it was later addressed to the saint who took her place and whose feast day, February 2, was the old Celtic feast of the goddess. Called Imbolc in earlier times, it became known as Candlemas, a feast of light celebrating the time when winter's sway over this world was loosened, and spring at last beckoned.
The innovation was a shield against natural calamities as well as unnatural ones. For thousands of years the Irish prayed to the goddess, and then to the goddess-turned-saint, always asking for the same thing: to live out their lives in peace and plenty. Today we hope for more than just a good crop and no epidemics, good weather for harvest, and nothing to cripple our children. But is this not all we could hope for: enough to nourish us, both spiritually and physically, and people around us who love us?
| There is in ancient literature perhaps no more inspiring passage about the goddess than this one, spoken by Isis Panthea -- Isis the all-Goddess -- to her servant Lucius. Having mocked the goddess as a youth, Lucius was turned into a donkey, in which form he endured many tests and adventures. Those tests were intended to guide him back to a more reverent and tender relationship to the goddess, who had loved and cared for him throughout. Our lives, too, are full of tests. We can rail and complain that the universe treats us unkindly, or we can humbly accept the challenges we are offered, recognizing that they offer us opportunities to learn and grow. And when we are able to accept her challenges, we find that Isis the all-goddess is there to help us meet them. |
The spirit of the valley never dies.
It is called the mysterious feminine.
Where the valley forks is the gateway
to all the mysteries of woman.
That place where the valley forks
is called the root of heaven and earth.
We can only dimly see this place,
this root of mystery, the spirit of the valley.
Yet we can never exhaust its strength.
Chinese Tao te Ching
There is a power in this world that we often fail to see. The power of the goddess, we can call it, or the power of the feminine, or the power of womanhood. In daily life -- in the halls of power, on the front pages of newspapers, even in the family -- this power is often invisible or subjugated. Yet it is always there, flowing through the world like a great river. Without it, not a single flower would ever set fruit, not a single child would ever be born. It is inexhaustible. It is everywhere at once. It is incomprehensibly and inexpressibly great.
This is the force and the power that stirs in every woman. Even when life seems to go against her, every woman partakes of the spirit of the valley, the power of the quintessential feminine. Chinese philosophy honors that spirit as part of the Tao, the great wisdom. We can do no better.
Beneath the buzz of this world is the deep hum of the greater world. Beneath the strain and difficulty of your self is the calm and strength of the greater self. Within you, there is a source of the eternal. Within you, there is the root of the transcendent. Even in times of great activity or great change, you can touch the gentleness of peace within yourself. Even when you are lonely, you can find solace within. There is, within you, all that you need.
*Thank you, Sonja, for these lovely offerings.
|
Ananda Vithiyiludente, a Kirtan One day long ago, my soul was dancing in
delight through the path of bliss. At that time, all of the inner foes, such
as attraction and aversion ran away The Divine Mother of the universe caressed my head with bright, gentle hands. I stood respectfully with my head bowed and I told Divine Mother that my life is dedicated to her. Today, I tremble with bliss recollecting what Mother said, O pure consciousness, the embodiment of Truth, I will heed your words! From that day onwards, I was unable to perceive anything as different or separate From my own inner self, everything was a single unity. Merging with the Divine Mother, all other enjoyments fell away. To remove the sorrows of humanity there are profound truths. “My darling child, leaving all other works; come to Me, you are always Mine.” |