Kali

[Zephonith Serpent Woman]

If we learn the language of symbols, we begin to grasp the deeper meanings and how these meanings relate to our everyday reality.

Pagans are often ridiculed and accused of being mentally challenged, misfits and suchlike. We have all probably experienced this at some stage or another, from family members, relatives and other people who just don't get why we choose to have open minds. To the average person who is unfamiliar with Goddess spirituality and Pagan belief systems, though, imagery such as this is frightening, horrific and even as it has been said, demonic in appearance.

Yet if we step back and examine the symbolism, everything becomes clearer. Perhaps these images were deliberately created in order to turn away those whose time for enlightenment has not yet come.The Gorgoneion is another good example of this, as to the devotee the imagery of Medusa blesses while to the ones who only mean harm, the image is frightening.

Kali has four arms which signifies the Androgynous nature of Divinity. Maha-Kali is Maha-Kala; as even Time Himself is consumed by the Great Mother Goddess. 

Kali severs all the demons of illusion, such as anything fear-based - with the sword, and ends all life cycles at the right time by cutting the life-threads or Gunas which run through the lifetime of every living being with scissors of Fate.. The Trident represents the power of the Trimurty, the power of the Goddess as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Kali holds the severed head of the false outer Ego which rules the majority of people nowadays.

The blood symbolism associated with Kali represents the life force or Prana - Dragon's Breath, geomagnetism, telluric energy - whichever term you feel comfortable with using. Blood is symbolic of Prana or the essence of life and the use of this symbolism was inherited by the Christian Religion from the Triple Goddess traditions of old. The body and substance of Spirit is taken by the devotee so that the devotee becomes part of Divinity. The life force is always recycled, pouring itself upon the Earth and renewing itself constantly and thus, no sacrifice is needed by the Great Goddess.

This image is popular in Tantra, which is the ancient art of higher love aimed at raising Kundalini Shasti and reconnecting with the center.

The great thing about Goddess spirituality is that everyone does their own thing and the Goddess appears to us all in different ways. We are all unique, yet we are all part of the Goddess of Nature - which makes us kin.

The message of our Goddess of Many Names is clear. The time has come to reject outdated stereotypes and false ego needs. We should accept that we are all male and female. In essence, we are all bi-sexual-androgynous (reflections of Divinity), and in every lifetime our genders and skin color may change. Knowing this, and that we certainly are going to die, again and again, makes for a life lived without any need for poisons. A life which can be enjoyed and experienced to the fullest!

The biggest lesson I gained from this image was that without illusions such as fear, greed and thinking of oneself(hope); we stop thinking of the self as self and love then takes over.

Blessed Be ~ Namaste