11/25/09

Goddess of the Week: Devi

Durga, the MotherImage by premasagar via Flickr

You want a life of blue skies and applesauce? Get a goldfish. Want decades of heartache and anxiety? Try having children. Sure, motherhood has its moments, but they are mini-armistices interspersed between frantic days and exhausted nights. You can try doing this work without a goddess, but you can make margaritas without alcohol too. They question is, why?

There are many fabulous mother goddesses, but for mothers feeling as stretched out as a cheap bra, I'd recommend the Hindu goddess Devi. Devi actually evolved from last week's goddess, Shakti, and she is a composite of the goddesses, Parvati, Durga and Kali. She takes the form of each depending on the need. As Parvati, she's a loving mother and wife. She embodies infinite patience and kindness. As Durga, she's a warrior goddess; she's tough but just, except when she gets really pissed off and Kali pops out of her head and starts spilling blood (but only the blood of demons and annoying drivers who give you mean looks when they think you're taking too long to pull out a parking space -- like they even know how much time it takes to strap kids into car seats and collapse a double stroller. Damn them. They totally deserve a few minutes in a dark alley with Kali.)

As a great three-in-one goddess, Devi understands that there is no need to be a hero. A hero thinks he can do everything by himself, but that's why heroes get beaten up by monsters, stranded on desert islands or frozen to death in blizzards. Why be a hero when you can be a goddess? Devi says don't even try to do it alone. Let your goddess sisters help you. In fact, you can even let your minor gods help you. They won't know when to pop out of your head and kill demons like the goddesses. The minor gods are often surprisingly dense when it comes to reading goddess minds, or even body language or verbal cues. They're just sometimes stupid that way. But minor gods are often very willing. They just need direction. That being said, if you must do it alone, know this, you have everything inside you that you need. You are what you need. After all, you're a goddess.

Channel this goddess: when juggling life's demands, especially those involving motherhood, when you feel like you have to be everything to everyone, and when you are feeling insecure about what you can actually do.

Coppertop: This goddess is for you. I hope you like her.

Need a goddess: I am at your beck and call! Leave a message in the comments section and I'll see what I can find.

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14 comments:

Rois said...

I think Devi is your best goddess yet.Lord knows I put her to good use.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rois

Joanne said...

I like the different sides to her, a nice representation of mothers! I think she's shown up in my days from time to time.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, peace and happiness to you!

Petrea Burchard said...

"Mini-armistices interspersed between frantic days and exhausted nights." So my mother was telling me the truth.

I remember Kali from "Help!"

Margaret said...

Rois: I bet you do put her to good use, but I bet Kali hardly ever pops out of your head.

Joanne: I like how she has the angry mother side. We try to hide that one in our society, but moms get made -- especially at people who mess with their kids. You wouldn't believe the number of six year old I have actually despised.

Petrea: Your mother was right. Poor Kali, so misunderstood, and those four Liverpool whippersnappers certainly didn't help much. (My kids love that movie.)

Desiree said...

Devi is the original superwoman!

Maria said...

There are many faces of a woman; on the navratri (9 nights) before the actual Durga Puja, the goddess takes a different form every day, a different look and name. Tara and Kali are the two fiercer ones. I must learn to read Hindi a bit better so I can read those fascinating articles which appear in the Hindi newspapers on that time. Some of them have a write up on each avatar each day. We just celebrated Navratri here about a month or so back but we'll be having her back again before spring - it's a bi-annual festival.I find all this information fascinating!

Shell Sherree said...

I think all mothers are amazing, so thank you for providing another Goddess to fortify them, Margaret.

kayogi said...

A wise person once said to me "You are only as happy as your unhappiest child."

Enough said. We all need Devi at some time....

Anonymous said...

I'm with you on this...why would anyone bother with non alcoholic margaritas? Cactus Cooler with salt on the rim.

Hope your holiday hit all the high notes. We had a Costco pie with cool whip. I know...your envious

Anonymous said...

I've known lots of those minor gods.

Cafe Pasadena said...

Yeah, is there an All Purpose Goddess who can do it all?

Watson said...

I love Devi! she is the "whole woman"

Coppertop said...

I like this tough, strong goddess who knows she can't be a superwoman - that she needs help from others.

My husband is exactly the "minor god"!!!

You pegged it perfectly.

Deborah Thomas said...

Thanks, Margaret. You have had quite a knack recently for speaking very directly to my goddess needs! I have been trying to function in Devi territory for the past month and this gives me a much clearer idea of where the power is. Thanks for the directions.