Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Sacred Feminine

One of the fruits born of North Star Country was the Women's Rights Movement in Seneca Falls in 1848. At the time it was ambitious, audacious, unique and more. Since then the seed planted there has spread to many corners of the world, as countries have worked to bring about equality. How women are treated relative to men has become a key barometer in gauging a society (see
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions.) It should be noted that before the Women's Rights Movement women in the Haudenosaunee culture had enormous power; they are considered a matrilineal society.

In the last year or so I have gotten back to a more rigorous program of spiritual exercises--meditation, visualization, yoga, reading sacred texts...... Last week I began reading a book, and contemplating certain sections by the noted Vendanta (Hindu) mystic Adi Shankara (788 to 821.) He is credited with reviving Advaita Vedanta (all is Brahman((non dualism) at a time Tantra (energy, chakra, kundalini) was surging. Interesting the book Sri Saudaraya Lahari--the Descent is the worship of the Goddess Sri Devi.

The version I have is by the Bihar School and was interpreted by Swami Sayasangananda Sarawati. I am a big fan of both and strongly encourage people to read and buy books by the Bihar School--they are exceptional. You can search their archived Yoga Magazine, outstanding and informative.

In my reading today Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati noted that India once had a matrilineal society:
"Shakti (feminine) is the name given to the root matrix of creation. Shakti is raw potential energy, which has the power to manifest or create. The virgin power of Mother Nature manifests into the seas mountains, skies and planets....The earliest traditions of humanity were matriarchal, not patriarchal. Gradually as man became a social animal this began to change...Gradually women were subjugated and relegated to lesser and the men became the head of the family. Despite this, the matriarchal system is still alive today in some parts of India, and whorshippers of Shakti abound throughout the world."

Shakti, Shakti

The world is turning and its back towards the sacred feminine.

No comments: