Her Head on Shivas Neck: The Power of the Dark Divine Feminine
The symbolism of Kali Ma and the Power of The Dark Divine Feminine face of God
“Ultimately your skull also will hang on her Mala one day, because she is time, she is Mahakali, and because of that time is always dancing away never stopping, isn’t it?”
-Sadguru.
When I think of the face of the dark divine feminine, one such Goddess, in particular, comes to mind: Kali Ma, the fierce Hindu warrior Goddess of death, destruction, and doomsday.
One of the most powerful and highly revered (and feared) of all Gods and Goddesses, Kali represents the void, time, and space (for she is time).
She sits on the throne next to (or on the neck of ) her masculine consort Shiva, the supreme God of destruction and rebirth.
Kali was born out of the sheer rage and bloodthirst of Durga, when defeating the Demon Mahishasura, signifying the uncontrollable Fury and power of a woman’s wrath if left uncontrolled.
Kali is pure Shakti; the feminine Aspect of the ultimate Divine, and Shiva is the masculine aspect of the same source.
The Dark Mother
Mother Goddess Worship has been around since the beginning of time itself. Just like other Deities, the face of Kali has changed over the years, yet her essence remains the same.
Kali’s nature makes her a common face of the Dark Mother and Goddess worship.
Although standing in a lane of her own, Kali can be likened to other Dark Goddesses such as Lilith, Tiamat, Sekhmet, Oya, and Hecate because of her vigor, power, and destructive, yet motherly nature.
The Dark Mothers do not adhere to our typical understanding of motherly love. The role of the Darker aspect of the Divine Feminine is the destruction of all illusions and false ego.
Some common words used to describe the dark Goddesses are :
Death Destruction
Renewal/ rebirth
Primordial/Chaos
Exotic/Sexual/ sensual
Intense /Dangerous
Frightening/Deadly
Transformative/Warrior
Rage /Powerful
For all old things must fade for the new to enter, and what remains staggering, must be destroyed.
We seek the face of the dark mother when we are in desperate need of freedom and change.
When we find ourselves trapped in the same old cycles in the space-time continuum, stuck in old, outdated paradigms, or trapped in illusion, we may call out to the dark mothers… and they will answer.
But behold, they are coming quickly!
BE WARNED
Intense changes come with working with dark mothers.
You will not avoid hardship and challenges, rather they will all hit you at once for you to face them head-on and overcome them quickly.
These energies will destroy everything in your life that does not serve you (including you), but out of the ashes will come a brand-new soul.
The Symbolism of Mahakali
The word Kali stems from the root word Kal- which means time.
The word Kali also means “she who is black”.
So, Kali is she who is black, and she is time. Kali is Nirvana and the great void because her nature is as one who is beyond all limitations of the Universe.
Kali wears a Mala of severed heads and a skirt of skulls. In her left hand, a sword and a severed head represent the destruction of all ignorance and liberation from all earthly illusion.
With an outward tongue, untamed hair, and a wild gaze, Kali depicts the unpredictability and chaotic freedom of nature.
She, who dances on the neck of Siva.
The uncanny image of Maha Kali dancing on Shiva represents another aspect of nature, the untamable and sometimes violent aspect.
You cannot control nature.
The willingness and humility of Shiva as he lies down, looking up at his wife lovingly as she dances upon his neck shows that even a powerful and mighty God such as Shiva himself must submit to the laws of Nature and the Divine feminine force of creation.
For without her (Shakti) there will be no him (Shiva).
The Power of the Divine Feminine and the Function of the Dark Divine Feminine
Without the divine Mother, nothing exists.
The Sacred Masculine is expansive, but the Divine feminine is creative- she creates from herself and provides the sacred masculine the space to expand upon what has been created.
The Sacred Union of the Masculine and Feminine principal births Divinity.
When the two come together as one, the Divine source fully emerges.
One cannot live without the other, both the divine feminine and the sacred masculine principles need each other for full balance, unity, harmony, and survival.
Despite the truth of Divine Union, within the spiritual hierarchy, the feminine face of God plays a far more active role in the cultivation of existence.
We All bow to the Divine Mother
Just as a child cannot be born without the womb and vessel of the mother, reality cannot exist without the primordial womb of our spiritual mother.
The Dark Divine Feminine
The dark Divine feminine is the shadow aspect of Mother. Just as we all have shadow traits, The divine source also, has its shadow aspect.
The dark mother represents all things hidden.
What are you afraid of?
What have you pushed to the back of your subconscious mind?
What are your darkest sexual perversions?
Mother sees it all.
The dark mothers will force you to explore your darkest natures. All of your subconscious and conscious perversions, anger, and frustrations will come to the surface, and you will be forced to deal with them whether you are ready or not.
When Kali Ma and the other dark mothers come into your life
Change is inevitable, and so is time.
Kali ma represents both change and time.
Kali will come into your life when she senses the stagnation of your past traumas, and with her sword, she will cut away at everything that does not serve you.
When Kali enters your life, shadow work is soon to follow.
The mothers will cause you to question everything you thought you knew about yourself.
The dark mothers do not embody the typical soft, gentle, submissive role society puts on women: They are fierce, warrior-like, outspoken, and sexually expressive.
The cycles of life are time birth, change, destruction, death, and rebirth. When you desire something enough, you will make the necessary changes to make that happen.
The dark mothers remind us of our own inner strength, power, and wisdom. When we work with dark mothers, we become dissatisfied with old stagnant energy and outdated beliefs.
The Current of Kali Ma is all for massive change and progression.
Kali and the rest of the Dark Mothers want to see the collective world grow and evolve. The mothers do not like adhering to any outdated patriarchal or religious standards and will fight to shut these systems down.
These Goddesses help you unlock the deeper contents of the subconscious mind so that you may understand yourself and the world around you.
The Divine feminine has always been a powerful force in creation. Where there is the Dark Divine feminine, there is liberation, change, power, and the Goddess Kali Ma.