Kali: She Transforms the Lives of Those Who Honor Her
by Tabby Biddle
Kali, a Hindu goddess, known as the Goddess of Destruction, has always been a bit intimidating to me. With a big sword, skulls as her jewelry adornment, and a dominating position over what looks like a deceased body, you can you imagine why, right?
Kali has often been depicted as destructive, ugly, and violent — almost exactly the opposite of what you might picture for a goddess. However, ever since I started the Goddess Collection of Lotus Blossom Style, women have been asking me to make a Kali design.
Kali is one of those goddesses that I have feared, but have also been completely fascinated by. You know that feeling when something seems dangerous, but you are still drawn to it. A little bit like the feeling one might get when they are ready to jump out of a plane (which I have never done) or off of a cliff into the ocean (which I have in fact done multiple times).
So what is appealing about a Goddess of Destruction? Why would one worship her, honor her or want to wear a shirt with her image? For a long time I have asked myself these questions.
Felice Rhiannon, a yoga colleague and blogger who recently wrote about Kali, described her as the "vibrating, motivating energy of the Universe!" and said, "with her sword she cuts off all that separates us from our true nature.” And with that one single comment from Felice, I finally GOT Kali!
Yoga friends and colleagues had told me in the past that Kali is nurturing, loving, and compassionate, but I did not understand them at the time. With a big sword and a skull necklace, she did not look nurturing and loving to me. But from Felice’s comment I finally understood that Kali is helping us to see our true nature by cutting down the blinds that our ego can sometimes create.
It is amazing to me how one person’s way of describing their experience can completely awaken you to a new understanding of your own experience.
When I launched the Goddess Collection and women were asking me to make a Kali design, I felt scared, unprepared, and overwhelmed. In some ways I was tempted because I knew what power and message she holds, but on the other hand I was not ready to take responsibility for the grandness of my own true nature that Kali could evoke.
After a year of learning more about Kali from other women who have welcomed her with bravery, I feel ready to welcome her, too. Kali as the destroyer is also the Creatrix.
I am happy to report that a Kali design is in the works to be released through Lotus Blossom Style’s Goddess Collection in September.
Tabby Biddle is the founder of Lotus Blossom Style, a yoga lifestyle company on a mission to empower women to blossom into their potential. She lives in Santa Monica, CA. Learn more at lotusblossomstyle.com.