Goddesses – Part 3

BY CHIM LI YEN

Isis

Isis, the Egyptian moon goddess of rebirth embodies femininity, motherhood, magic, healing and power. She is often also known as "The One Who Is All", Isis Panthea ("Isis the All Goddess"), and the "Lady of Ten Thousand Names" because she symbolises the ‘complete female’. Unlike other Egyptian goddesses, Isis spent time with her people teaching them home-life skills. Isis was worshipped as the goddess of medicine and wisdom because she taught the skills of reading and agriculture.

Isis’s husband Osiris was killed by her jealous brother Seth. Unable to accept his death, she revived Osiris with her magic and healing abilities. Osiris was brought back to life and together they conceived a son, Horus. The myths of Isis and Osiris caution us about the need for occasional renewal and reconnection in our relationships. She also reminds us to acknowledge and accept the depths of our emotions.

Isis also acts a guide to the Underworld, often portrayed with winged arms outstretched in a protective position. Her protective wings are engraved around Egyptian sarcophaguses as they represent her ability to renew the souls of the dead.

Isis helps with:
- Divine magic and healing
- Feminine strength, power and beauty
- Protection

Kali

Kali is the Dark aspect of the mother goddess. She is the goddess of the ending of cycles, death and transformation which lets go of the old so the new can come in. Her devotees love her despite of her ferocious appearance. Kali is depicted with a string of 50 skulls as a necklace (represents the 50 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet symbolising infinite knowledge), a girdle of severed human hands (represents work and liberation from the cycle of karma) and a protruding tongue (represents her enjoyment of all the world’s flavours). Her husband, Shiva lies prostrate under the feet of Kali. This suggests that Shiva is inert without the power of Kali. Shiva is pure consciousness supporting Kali or Shakti which is form.

Kali only destroys whatever that keeps us in bondage or stops us from achieving our soul’s purpose, the way a mother would protect her children. She is a high-energy personality focused on her mission.

Kali helps with:
- Determination and motivation
- Direction and focus
- Courage
- Transformation

Kuan Yin
The goddess of mercy and compassion, Kuan Yin is one of the most loved throughout the world. Her name means “one who hears the sounds of the world’ – she hears and answers every prayer sent her way. Kuan Yin is a bodhisattva (an enlightened being) with a deep love for humanity that she chose to remain in the human form until everyone on earth becomes enlightened. She is devoted to help us fully reclaim our spiritual gifts, attain enlightenment and reduce world suffering.

Kuan Yin encourages us to practice a life of harmlessness by not adding any suffering to the world and to ease the suffering we can see. Call upon her for healing, forgiveness, compassion, guidance and comfort. Kuan Yin inspires us to realise that we too can achieve the supreme state of mercy and compassion simply by choosing to walk the path.

Kuan Yin helps with:
- Compassion towards self and others
- Spiritual enlightenment and gifts
- Protection especially for women and children
- Grace and beauty

Lakshmi

Lakshmi is a very magical and practical goddess. She comes alive during Deepavali (the Hindu festival of lights) when she is ushered into the homes of her devotees, attempting to secure Her favours for the coming year.

Lakshmi is the moon goddess of prosperity and good fortune bringing blessings of abundance to everyone. She is said to have sprang forth from the milky sea bearing gifts and lotus flowers looking so beautiful that all of the gods wanted her as their wife. Her true mission is to bring eternal happiness to Earth by helping us find fulfilling careers, joy and abundance in our life’s work.

Lakshmi and Ganesha are often depicted in pictures together because they work side by side. It is the Hindu tradition to evoke Ganesha to clear the path to success. Ganesha removes obstacles so Lakshmi can deliver fortune into your life.

Lakshmi helps with:
- Abundance of money, success and happiness
- Peace and well-being
- Space clearing for the home

Mother Mary

Mother Mary is the enduring symbol of feminine divinity. She symbolises the Sacred Feminine which resonates with those who recognize the life force of the Goddess. The Goddess's long lineage is embodied by Mary as pure Maiden accepting her vocation, loving Mother and lifegiver to her child, and comforting Crone receiving him in death.

Mary as Maiden represents the willingness of the soul to take on its full destiny. When called to vocation and service, Mary said yes even though she was filled with fear and doubt. The devoted mother Mary sees only the good in us. She is the sheltering haven of the soul, the sweet well-spring of tenderness, and the source of endless love. Mary as Crone is the grieving mother who held her dying son in her arms. She developed compassion that she is now able to hold the world’s pain in her arms too.

At Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, Nicaragua or Medjugorje – or in your heart of hearts, she makes herself known to the faithful who will hear her. Mary brings forth words of peace, faith and joy.

Mother Mary helps with:
- All issues related to children and fertility
- Healing
- Compassion and love