June 17th, 2019: Full Moon in sidereal Sagittarius,
nakshatra: Mula
Today we are experiencing the energy of the full moon happening
in the nakshatra (constellation) of Mula in the sidereal sign of Sagittarius. We
are currently living in times with a high potential for exponential evolution,
growth and transformation. Mula is represented by Goddess Kali. The story of
Kali reveals several allegories and metaphors.
Sumbha & Nisumbha were two brothers who sought to
conquer the three worlds (Kāmaloka/world of desire, Rūpaloka/world of form
& Arūpaloka/world of formlessness) through severe penance. Chanda &
Munda, two lesser forms of asuras came across Parvati, wife of Shiva (maiden
form) and were enchanted by her beauty. They took the news of Parvati’s beauty
to Sumbha who was immediately grappled by the desire to conquer Parvati and her
beauty. Sumbha and Nisumbha had Brahma’s boon of protection against men and
demons but not against goddesses. So, in his quest for Parvati, Sumbha sends the
demon Sugriva and then Dhroomalochana followed by Chand and Mund. Parvati intercepts
the advances towards her all the while changing and transforming herself. She emerges as Durga and transforms as ChaMund-eshwari
after slaying the duo Chand and Mund. Sumbha then deploys Raktabija (Rakta=Blood;
Bija=seed) who had Brahma’s boon of cloning himself when his blood drops hit
the earth – which made it impossible to destroy him. To meet the challenge of
the fight against Raktabija, from Durga’s eyebrows emerges Kali (the dark one.
The form that is left behind is called Gouri, the fair one). As Kali begins
slaying the many clones of Raktabija, she drinks his blood to prevent it from falling
on the earth, wears the cut clone-hands around her naked body as skirt and
wears the cut clone-heads around her naked torso as a garland. Eventually
Nisumbha & then Sumbha are slayed too.
Kali becomes drunk on the blood and the immense energy she
has moved through. There are various endings to this story. According to Tantric
traditions, after slaying the demons, Kali dances in trance and ecstasy; she
creates rhythm by the stomping of her feet; her long unbound hair creates
movement of the wind as she dances; her dance creates a pulse and a rhythm in Universe.
So ecstatic is her dance that Shiva dances the tandav (the scared dance) in
tandem with her which culminates in them making love with Shiva in a corpse (Shava
= dead body) position & Kali infusing new life into him. It is at this
moment when Parvati, who started off as the student of tantra with Shiva
becomes his equal & then supersedes him. Kali becomes the female embodiment
of time (=Kala).
The puritan, patriarchal version of the end (doesn’t
resonate with me) which came around the time of colonial rule in India, is that
after slaying all the demons, Kali goes into a frenzy and dances across the
Universe, threatening to destroy it. Shiva then lays himself under Kali which embarrasses
her and she calms down.
Why is this story so relevant now? Saturn and the south node
of the moon, Ketu are in Sagittarius, very close to the Full Moon in the axis
of Mula (Sagittarius, deity: Kali) and Ardra (Gemini, deity: Rudra, a form of
Shiva associated with destruction of the animalistic nature). Rahu, the north
node of the moon, Sun, Mars and Mercury are all in Gemini bringing a lot of
focus on the Mula-Ardra /Sagitarrius-Gemini axis. The two nodes of the moon are
the physical points where the orbit of Earth around the Sun and the orbit of
Moon around the Earth intersect. These points get illuminated during the
eclipses (the next one being on July 2nd, 2019). The nodes are unintegrated
parts of our psyche and subconscious that the soul is seeking to evolve. The Mula-Ardra
axis is also where the galactic plane is located. The nodes in this axis now have
opened up portals through which immense change and transformation are set in
motion, as I write this.
Kali is associated with the underworld or the underbelly of
the Universe; creating the opportunity to unearth the deep truth and lies that
rule our lives. Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter is related to our higher
principles and teachings – which is brought into focus by the microscopic
lenses of Ketu and Saturn. Gemini is related to individual learning and
interests through Mercury’s discernment, curiosity and questioning. There is
immense potential now to bring focus and attention on your already existing systems
– whether religious, spiritual, political, personal & others – question it,
uproot it if it doesn’t serve you anymore and create the new.
It is easier to see this in world events now. The themes of
masculine-feminine power-struggle in the collective consciousness and the individual
consciousness is very evident. The rigid, often violent masculine forces in the
world are being scrutinized and the feminist, me-too movement as well got a lot
of backlash. I love watching ‘ The Patriot Act’ by Hasan Minhaj on Netflix
because it brings to surface several social and political issues of our times –
oil, immigration, large scale corruptions and scandals in Malaysia, India &
Brazil, civil rights & capitalism, censorship in China, political dictators
and tyrants across the globe & student loans amongst others. It is evident
that the times we are living in calls for each one of us to be awake & woke;
not live passively in oblivion.
The important allegory from the above story to remember is
that as we struggle in this life – struggle because of our resistance; because of
our false quest for truth; because of our quest for worldly fame, power &
prestige (seen in the spiritual communities as well); we are challenged to rise
above the noise and tap into the rhythms of the Universe – just like Parvati
transformed into Durga, Chamunda and Kali to become the pulse of the Universe.
If your tapas (penance), sadhana (practice) and devotion is for anything else,
struggle and suffering is inevitable.
In the spiritual seeking communities, I often come across people
who are enamored by the transformative Kali energy and mindlessly invoke her without
really understanding the depths of her power. The word ‘transformation’ is used
frivolously without focus and intention. I feel that we are very blessed to be
presented with the current alignment in the cosmos right now. Saturn-Ketu in
Sagittarius and Rahu-Mars-Sun-Mercury in Gemini gives the necessary restlessness,
focus, drive, discipline & courage, inner power & apt discernment to
embark on a journey to truly transform ourselves and by extension, the world. Yes of course it may feel like you are dying
at times; yes of course, you’ll be grappled with immense fear; yes of course, you’ll
feel a level of angst like never before – the most transformational times of
our lives do feel like that; yes of course, you’re are required to surrender
and trust like never before – Are you ready for it?
I start & end my morning meditation with this simple
mantra to align myself with the cosmic powers:
Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya | Take me from the untrue to the
eternal truth
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya | Take me from darkness to eternal light
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya | Take me from death (fear of) to eternal bliss
Saha Naav[au]-Avatu | Together may we Move (towards our
higher learnings, the Teacher (circumstances / Guru) and the Student (me)),
Saha Nau Bhunaktu | Together may we Relish (the
fruits of our hard work towards higher principles),
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai | Together
may we implement (our learnings) with focus/concentration/ vigor / vitality,
Tejasvi Naav[au]-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai | May the higher learnings
fill us with the Brilliance (of Understanding, leading to divine
wisdom); May it Not give rise to Hostility (due to lack of
Understanding),
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
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Image credit: http://shiva-parvati.blogspot.com/2016/08/why-does-goddess-kali-stand-on-lord.html
