The Mahashakti vs. Just Another Deity

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if I realize that everything I do is Kali then casting a spell is her will.

Who is to say that she is not the reason I'm casting the spell in the first

place.

Aside from that, I really don't know a lot about her mythology in India, I only

know what she has shown me. One of the things is that, being her daughter, I

should take control of myself and be a powerful woman. In so being a powerful

woman Kali manifests through me.

 

I love learning about Indian culture, but I believe that religious groups in

India do not have a franchise over Kali any more than the Pope has a franchise

over Mary (or Britney Spears for that matter ;0) )

Sarinajodyrrr <jodyrrr > wrote:

I think you misunderstood the intent of my post, Sarina.I'm not arguing for the

neo-pagan view, I'm trying to makeit clear that neo-pagans have Kali wrong, at

least in termsof Her mythology and iconography as it exists in Her homeculture

in India.For instance, you call in Kali when you are casting a spell.What are

you casting a spell for? If Kali as the Mahashaktiis the cause of everything

that happens, why would you wantto change that, or why would you even try?The

point I'm trying to make is that for a true shakta, asthe practice is defined

in India, casting a spell is one ofthe most trivial and petty actions one can

take. It is theopposite of the act of surrender to attempt to wield

influenceover the material plane in this way, especially given the fact that

Ma's got it all under control

already.In other words, casting spells and Kali have as much to do with one

another as the Pope has with Britney Spears,in my opinion.Of course, everyone

is free to do whatever they want withwhatever they believe. Kali as a cultural

phenomenon hasgot a lot of traction in the West as a result of the neo-pagan

fascination with Her. I'm only trying to make it clear that their "uses" for

Kali have practically nothingto do with Kali as She exists in India, in terms

of themythology and iconography which evolved there.--jody.--- In

Kali_Ma, sarina Helton <forestowl2> wrote:> I don't really

know how anyone else views Kali, I only know what > she has shown to me. If

"neo-pagans" feel that they need to make > a formal call to Kali to focus their

intent than that is what theyneed to do. > To each their own worship and

growth. > I

personally feel that when I am casting a spell, or drawing downthe moon, or

anything else similary that I happen to do, It helps meto focus by making a

formal invatation to Kali. I know she is alwayseverywhere, but for

concentration sake I call her, or put her picturein front of me when I

meditate. It simply gives me focus.> > Just to clairfy, I didn't get on a

particular religious right. I thought I was getting on a Kali

group. Sorry If Imisunderstood.> > Sarina> <jodyrrr> wrote:> There's a

common misconception in American Neo-paganism> that Kali is a deity one can

call in to help complete> certain tasks. While the intellectual conceit may

help> one to establish a belief in their imagined power, the fact > is that

Kali as envisioned by the neo-pagans has very little> to do with Kali as

envisioned by

shaktas.> > To a shakta, Kali is everything. There are no other deities> to

call in, and there is no reason to call Her in, as She> has already got all the

bases covered.> > Asking Kali to do something for you is like asking the sky> to

remain blue. Everything is getting done by Her already.> To a shakta, there is

only one thing a sincere devotee can> ever ask of Her, and that is for complete

and total surrender> to Her. This is already the state of all apparent beings>

as it stands, yet there is the possibility of an experience> of this in the

form of a shakta's devotion.> > Ramakrishna said to never ask Ma for anything

except more> devotion. He used the example of a kitten as an illustration> of

this. He pointed out that all a kitten has to do is go> "mew, mew."

Everything that they need is taken care of out> of this

simple request. They don't have to ask for more power,> or a romantic partner,

or a better job, or world peace. All> of that kitten's needs are handled by

their simple request to > their mother. Furthermore, the kitten knows that its

mother> is much better qualified to make decisions about which wants> and needs

are to be fulfilled, and which aren't, despite what> the kitten may or may not

want for itself.> > As apparent individuals, we have many wants and needs we

are> trying to get met. But if we are to consider ourselves > true shaktas, as

the practice has evolved in India, there is > only one thing we should ever ask

of Ma, and that is to be drawn > as close to Her as possible. All other wants

and needs pale into> utter insignificance in the light of the experience of

true> devotion to Kali, one that comes only after one has thrown> away any and

all ideas of personal power, magic, and the > manipulation of the material plane

by the casting of spells.> > --jody.> > > Sponsor> >

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