Connecting to Ma Durga
Dearest,
Welcome to our final week of this deeply activating lunar cycle. We have walked a beautiful path together, awakening the Sacred Feminine within. We began by connecting to the vast, creative ocean of Shakti. From there, we invited in the radiant, holistic abundance of Lakshmi, the Goddess of well-being. Then, we opened our channels to the divine muse, Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom and inspired flow.
Now, we must meet the Goddess who holds the container for all of this.
We have learned how to receive and how to create. But what do we do when our path is blocked? What do we do when fear arises, when our boundaries are threatened, or when a lower energy drains our inspiration?
This is when we call upon the most fiercely compassionate mother of all. This week, we are Invoking Durga: The Goddess of Courage & Protection.
Who is Durga? She is Your Sacred "No."
Durga is often misunderstood in her power. She is the Divine Mother in her most protective form. She is not the energy of aggression or anger; she is the energy of fierce, unwavering, compassionate love.
She is the sacred "no." She is the boundary. She is the primal courage that rises up within you to protect what is sacred. Like your energy, your truth, your family, your time, your creations. She arrives on a lion, holding weapons, not to do battle with the world, but to lovingly destroy the illusions and obstacles (our "demons") that keep you from your own light.
Invoking Durga is not about becoming "harder." It is about claiming the profound strength that allows you to remain "softer" and more open, because you know you have the power to protect your heart.
Integrating the Goddesses: Your Full Feminine Spectrum
This is the beautiful completion of our journey. The Goddesses are not separate. They are three faces of your own divine power:
Lakshmi is your radiant worthiness, the energy of receiving with grace.
Saraswati is your creative inspiration, the energy of expressing with flow.
Durga is your sacred courage, the energy of protecting with love.
You are the abundance of Lakshmi, the wisdom of Saraswati, and the strength of Durga. True embodiment is the sacred dance of knowing when to soften and receive, when to create and express, and when to stand strong in your truth.
Your Practice: A Mantra for Courage
This week’s practice is to connect with the unshakable strength of Durga. This is a mantra you can use anytime you feel your energy being drained, you need to set a boundary, or you are feeling afraid to take your next step.
Find Your Stance: If you can, stand up. If not, just sit tall. Feel your feet on the earth. Feel the strong, clear line of your own spine.
Call Her In: Place a hand on your heart or your solar plexus. Take a deep breath and call her to mind—the protective, powerful, fearless mother who has your back.
Chant Her Mantra: Gently chant Durga’s primary mantra. This mantra is a powerful protector and a remover of obstacles.
“Om Dum Durgayei Namaha”
(Ohm Doom Door-ga-yay Nah-ma-ha)
You can chant it aloud nine times to feel its power, or silently to yourself as a shield of light when you're in a challenging situation.
Feel the resonance of this chant in your body. Feel how it clarifies your energy and strengthens your resolve. This is not the power of striving; it is the power of being. It is your sacred, feminine strength, fully reclaimed.
With love and fierce protection,
Sandra Wilson
For more about Ma Durga and how she manifested in my life make sure to read about Her in the Connecting to the Vedic Goddesses series.