This month on #fertilityinspiration lifestyle guidance the shakti energy and warrior goddess Durga has stepped forward. She offers strong guidance focusing on your reproductive health emotionally, physically and environmentally.
The Goddess Durga comes forward to help protect and guide us from conflict and our human tendencies towards anger, deceit, greed (think the 7 deadly sins). This representation of Shakti energy encourages us speak our truth with detachment, wisdom, determination and respect for all.
The Protection card has once more been drawn reminding us to remove ourselves from all negativity and protect ourselves throughout this moon cycle from draining people/media/experiences/toxins. It asks us to cleanse our auras daily and care for the planet/environmental global care.
The final card I drew this month is card 23. Organic foods. I am specifically focusing on the importance of iodine and sea foods this month – fish, sea vegetables, sea algae, shellfish, sea water – their contaminants, seasonal abundance, their benefits and the need for IODINE for reproductive wellbeing . Please click on the link because I have written a separate article.
Yoga poses and connecting with Durga
So let me help you connect with Durga’s strength to build fearlessness and patience (something we all need right now); link our heart with our brain before speaking/acting, enable change; protection, act with courage and clarity, maintain our sense of humour, protect all mankind and the environment from negative energy and vices—arrogance, jealousy, prejudice, ego, hatred, anger, greed and selfishness); eat well but sustainably to protect the planet.
This month I have designed a little ritual/exercise for you to complete and a mindful meditation/visualisation for you to listen to. Download them both and see how the goddess Durga supports you this month. Let us begin with this Durga visualisation. It takes about 20 minutes in total.
Durga: Card 26. New moon card from Creation guidance cards
The Hindu Goddess Durga is known as Warrior Shakti. She is a beautiful warrior goddess who symbolizes the positive energy of feminine energy/power and brings courage, determination and protection. It is believed that she is the combined form of Kali (who I consider adolescent primal Shakti energy who has found her voice; shouts it out but without much thought! Kali is very raw energy/freedom); the Goddess Lakshmi – (love, beauty, kindness and compassion) and finally Saraswati (goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, learning). Durga’s name means fort or “place that is protected”. This amazing painting is by our resident artist Sam Foreman who has designed all the Goddess and moon cards for Creation Fertility Toolkits. You can buy prints of her paintings and gift cards at etsy.com .
When you look at her you see her she is depicted as a warrior woman with 8 arms and riding a lion. Her arms carry weapons/mudras which represent her attributes (and ability to multi-task). When I drew her this month I sensed strength for justice and truth. She holds no fear.
- Sudarshan chakra (spinning disc around the index finger) – In mythology, the spinning disc is described as the most powerful weapon of the cosmos and symbolizes dharma; aka as duty or righteousness.
- Conch symbolizes happiness and the vibration “OM”.
- Sword symbolizes eradication of vices and knowledge. It is time for discernment.
- Bow and arrow symbolizes values. She reminds us when we face difficulties we must walk our talk.
- Lotus Flower symbolizes working towards success with detachment.
- The club is the symbol of Hanuman symbolising devotion and surrender. Whatever we do in life we do with love and trust in the outcome.
- Her Trident/Trishul symbolizes courage to help us face challenges in our life.
- Her mudra hand position enables forgiveness to ourselves and others.
Durga is riding a lion but is sometimes shown riding a tiger. The lion is a symbol of courage; protection and animalistic tendencies (anger, arrogance, selfishness, greed, ego, selfish desires, jealousy, desire to harm others etc.) Her riding it reminds us to control these qualities, so that we are not controlled by them. When you see her riding a tiger it symbolizes unlimited power and protection.
You may wish to download the August new moon pdf and August New Moon Ritual which I discuss within my video NOW. Both help you connect with Durga from an physical; emotional and environmental perspective; helping clarify your focus this moon cycle.
The yoga pose for this month is The Goddess Pose. Donna Gerrard my yoga friend and collaborative on my seasonal on line cleanses offers this lovely 20 minute yoga asana sequence which includes the goddess pose. This will help you connect with Durga energy and support your reproductive wellbeing.
Goddess Pose Step-By-Step
From Mountain pose (Tadasana), turn to face the long edge of your yoga mat and step or hop your feet wide and parallel, approximately 3 feet apart. Turn your toes out and your heels in, creating a 45 degree angle with each foot.
On an exhale, take a deep bend in your knees, moving toward bringing your thighs parallel to the ground and your hips in line with your knees. The knees have a tendency to bow inwards as they bend, so ensure that your knees remain stacked directly over your ankles.
Extend your arms out at shoulder height and bend your elbows to 90 degrees with your palms facing away from you. Spread your fingers wide and draw your shoulder blades into your back.
Keep your core engaged and draw your low ribs into your body. Lengthen your tailbone down toward the ground and keep your shoulders stacked directly over your hips.
Press down evenly through the soles of both feet and remain in the pose for up to 5 deep breaths.
To come out of the pose, extend your legs, lower your arms and step back to Mountain pose.
Tips
Ensure that your knees are pointing in the same direction as your toes to help protect your joints. If necessary, adjust the placement of your feet.
If you have any shoulder injuries or limitations, fold your palms together at heart centre as opposed to extending the arms.
To explore a deeper variation of the pose, try lifting up onto the balls of your feet while keeping your thighs parallel to the floor and your knees over your toes.
Durga and Protection Card 5.
An important card this year. This is it’s 2 appearance (March) despite the oracle cards containing 42 guidance cards. It reminds us to “protect” ourselves and not be drained by outside influences. In this reading it also has a strong connection with protecting the environment. I personally feel a strong connection with Durga here, the sea; pollutants; conservation and sustainability; eating seasonally and with forethought.
It asks:
Are you feeling drained by situations or people or politics?
Are you feeling toxic?
Do you consider and actively protect the environment?
Do you eat seasonally and organic? Make responsible food choices; eating sustainably?
Do you cleanse your aura daily?
What can you do to protect yourself – emotionally, physically and environmentally?
I found this a very interesting card to draw again this month – especially when we have been asked to work with Durga.
Connected words: Who or what is draining you? Protect the environment. Conservation. Sustainable; toxic foods and people/media. Aura cleansing.
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Justine Evans ND, BSc N Med – Fertility Expert & Hormone Alchemist is the founder of Creation Fertility and its products. Justine offers a multi dimensional approach to fertility and hormone health blending Nutritional Therapy with alchemy and yogic philosophy.
Call 07747 133170 to book an appointment with her now