shaktas in the western world

[Guest guest]

I am curious as to how many of members on this board became

interested/joined Shaktism when it seems to be rather rare in the

West.I think this has the potential to be an interesting thread if

any of you would like to participate.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ethel,

Locations for members can be hard to guess, and there isn't

any sort of objective way to measure e-group participation, so as to

statistics on where SS group members are from.....it's hard to say.

 

In any case, with regards to non-virtual groups, it's definitely

true that Shaktism is rare in the West, and Shakta-oriented groups

with Caucasian members are most likely even rarer.

 

If the phenomenon is an interest of yours, you may enjoy

 

_The Goddess Lives in Upstate New York: Breaking Convention and

Making Home at a North American Hindu Temple_

by Corinne G. Dempsey

Oxford University Press, USA (December 15, 2005)

ISBN: 019518730X

 

an engaging study of the Srí Rájarajewari Peetam in Rush, NY.

http://www.srividya.org/

 

On the West coast, the devotees of Devi Mandir in Napa include

(as I understand) both Indian immigrants and Caucasians:

http://www.shreemaa.org/

My favorite "Devi Mandir" book is _Before Becoming This_.

 

I know even less about the Kali Mandir in Laguna Beach; it was

founded by (I believe) Elizabeth Usha Harding; I think she's still

the temple president.

http://www.kalimandir.org/homepage.asp

 

There are also organizations (small, I believe)

that combine Shaktism with Western Esoteric traditions

(especially Wicca or Modern Witchcraft.) For example:

http://www.sharanya.org/

based in San Francisco, offers classes and other gatherings.

 

, "Erotic Ethel"

<retroprecursor wrote:

> I am curious as to how many of members on this board became

> interested/joined Shaktism when it seems to be rather rare in the

> West. [....]