Folklore 101 6 23 2022
Country of Origin: India
The Goddess Kali
Kali, whose name means blackness, is one of the oldest mythological incarnations of the Hindu goddess Durga. Demons once overthrew the world’s equilibrium. Mother Durga was enraged by this tragedy and tore herself apart. Goddess Kali emerged from Durga’s shattered remains. As a result, the Gods rallied around Kali and gave her tools for defeating the demons and their powerful King.
While Kali fought fiercely against the demons, with every drop of blood spilled, more demons emerged. In order to keep the demons from overwhelming the world, Kali drank the blood of her enemies. As a result, she went into a destructive frenzy that only her husband Shiva, the destroyer, could stop. Shiva pretended to be one of the demons before he lay down among their eviscerated corpses. When his wife realized she was stepping on Shiva, she stopped. Kali is depicted sticking her bright red tongue out in amusement at the situation.
The Goddess Kali, in her many aspects, challenges us to look at the world without bias. She is the ultimate partner in Shadow Work – or looking at the actions of our subconscious self. Kali is also the Goddess of Death, Destruction, and Rebirth. These attributes may seem intimidating, however Kali is usually quite compassionate in using these tools to help folks snap out of their fantasies. She is Death, and so she comes to all. Kali also helps us make the best use of our time by accepting our mortality.
This is only a look into the Goddess Kali. I have been working with her since I was a teenager after the death of my father. There are many more resources out there if you’re interested in learning more. Please feel free to reach out to me if you’re looking for more information about the Goddess Kali. Thank you for reading and have a blessed day! – Shining Quill
