8/7/12

Goddess of the Week: Kali

English: Picture of Hindu Goddess Kali. This p...
English: Picture of Hindu Goddess Kali. This photograph was taken during Kali Puja at Naihati, a town in West Bengal, India. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Heather needs a goddess for creativity, a goddess that will "awaken and embrace" her creative side.  Heather needs the Indian goddess of destruction and creation Kali.

Truth be told, this is one of my favorite goddesses.  She is quite terrifying. Her eyes are the color of blood, she has four arms, her tongue hangs out, and she wears a girdle of severed heads and a necklace of skulls.

Kali destroys the old, which can sort of seem like a drag, but she destroys the old so that she can usher in the new.  Alas, to awaken your creativity, you are going to have to kill something off.  What do you need to kill off? Do you have to kill off a streak of perfectionism? How about the KFCK radio that keeps looping in your brain? How about the errands and obligations in your life? Those are harder. I'm sorry. You may not be able to kill those off. But can you massage them?  A personal coach I know recommends asking yourself "How/So" questions like this: How can I do all the things I need to do so that I can still find time to write/draw/square dance?  How can I earn enough money so that I can afford to rent a studio/Italian villa/Ewan McGregor?  She says that when you parse the world into How/So questions instead of either/or statements the universe sort of rearranges itself for you.  But what a is a How/So question but another way of channeling Kali, another way of telling yourself that to be the creative person you want to be (indeed, that you are) you need to let go of the thing or things that are holding you back? Bottom line: before you can awaken anything, you need to clean out your bed!

Channel this goddess: When feeling stuck creatively, when feeling ennui, when cleaning the garage, when you think you are becoming a hoarder.  Hint: creativity often gets stifled by clutter, which I can say without the smugness of the overly neat but with the experience of the desk clutterer.  

Need a goddess? I got goddesses! Post a comment explaining what you need or want a goddess for. I'll do my best! Promise!  
Enhanced by Zemanta

11 comments:

Olga said...

This is a good one. I think I will hang her picture in my 'create' room.

Mairie said...

A woderful Goddess and a great symbol for creativity - I remember my art tutor telling me to always give my work away (or put it in the bin - Aghh) otherwise it would stifle the new work. Tough going - but it works - mostly...

Desiree said...

I love this goddess and your description of her. What a terrific embodiment of creativity. As I ponder, however, I think she must be responsible for the fashion world.

I love this "how/so" tip--reminds me of cognitive distortions--

Jean Spitzer said...

With art, it is good to destroy the part you are most pleased with. It is how you grow/ create.

Susan Campisi said...

I could definitely use Kali's help. You're right, I can't kill off my errands and obligations but I can massage them. That how/so tip is wonderful. Thanks, Margaret. I know Kali is for Heather, but I'm going to call on her too!

Addey said...

Wonderful goddess of the week. And it is very true that to create something, anything, new you've got to get rid of something old.

Now, to create some time to be creative... how/so?

Ms M said...

Good goddess with good questions. I'll be referring back to this post.

Rois said...

HELP ME Margaret! I need a Goddess.

My Mother is moving in with us for 4-6 months,it's an emergency thing.My Mother and I can't be in the same space for more than a few hours at a time without butting heads.
I need strength to stand my ground,be peaceful and to keep my home life,my home life.

Oh and maybe an extra large bottle of Calgon to take me away as needed.

Unknown said...

I think I have a new favorite goddess...this post was exactly what I needed to hear right now!

And am I the only one that thinks that Kali bears a striking resemblance to Nicki Minaj?

Shell Sherree said...

I'm not sure what I have left to de-clutter, but I'm going to look. And I'm especially interested in the answer to this question you posed: How can I earn enough money so that I can afford to rent a studio/Italian villa/Ewan McGregor?

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh, no, oh Rois. Please give her a goddess quick, Margaret!

HowcanI/soIcan...very useful. How can I clear my desk of the petty junk so I can do some real work? That is my daily big question.