KALI, THE GODDESS OF TRANSFORMATION

A month or so ago I started posting sneak peaks into my a new collection of Mandala and Yantra mosaics that I'm developing. If you've read any of my previous posts you know that I'm a ceramic artist specializing in tile and this has been my livelihood for about 25 years.

Most of my work over the years has been commissioned, but during the last decade I more and more seem to be creating collections of tile designs that can be reproduced, what I call "production tile". There are notable advantages to creating production work - it's not as creatively or physically demanding since I design it once and then my team can help me make it again and again, also the price point is lower for the customer and lastly, it's safer for a customer to point to what they want rather than to hire me to create something specific for them. All in all, I've found that I like a certain amount of production work in my creative life for the above reasons but also because the meditative quality of these tasks allows my mind to rest and they are fertile times for new ideas to bubble up. If you're interested in seeing more of my work, here is another one of my production collections: https://steemit.com/art/@natureofbeing/connecting-nature-line-and-form-redefining-mosaic

This new collection of Mandalas is particularly exciting for me and my team since it requires the discipline of working with ancient and powerful geometries and using mantra as we work. We love the effect of this work within our own personal development, plus knowing that a richly beneficial energy will be experienced by anyone in the presence of these Mandalas makes the whole endeavor so much better.

A yantra is a type of mandala, and in Sanskrit literally means a tool for self-realization. It is a kind of map of the self and a transcript of the universe. If you would like more information about Yantras and the Sri Yantra, see my post from last fall, and last week on the DURGA YANTRA.

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KALI, the Goddess of Transformation brings the courage to overcome all fears. Transforming the ignorance of fears into the light of truth, Kali destroys that which is not true for you, allowing your new reality to reveal itself to you.

(description by Sarah Tomlinson)

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As with all Yantras, the geometry is very exacting and has to be executed using a very specific method. Below is the KALI Yantra drawing along with the palette I was working out for this piece:

Before making this Yantra all my associations with Kali were hearsay and I thought of her as a sort of scary energy associated with death, blood, pain, and destruction. But in making this Yantra I discovered how yes she is hugely powerful, but always for your benefit! Sometimes old habits, ways of thinking need to be destroyed and fears need to be faced, but the rich process and the sweet results were altogether a pleasant surprise.

Here it is cut in clay. The different shades of gray are the clay in various stages of drying:

My intention for my process of working with this Yantra was to transform my relationship with money, with earning, with prosperity. And sure enough I began to see my limited self-worth and the underlying helplessness I've always felt but honestly hadn't really seen. Somehow despite working my ass off since I was 11, I've never felt that I had much of a say in whether I made money or not, that it wasn't in my control. I didn't feel powerful enough to affect this part of my life and this has bred a palpable despair around my finances.

Not only did I see all of this, but I was able to shed much of it and get glimpses what it feels like to be free of this difficulty. I'm still in the process of this and am likely to be for awhile, but there is a new kind of enjoyment and empowerment I feel within my relationship to money and making money and this makes all the difference.

I took the liberty of adding flowers to the imagery of this Yantra because firstly I love carving and making 3/d leaves and flowers and secondly because the process of making and carving these made feel more tangibly my appreciation for the gifts of this Yantra's energy.

May Kali bring you her gifts with sweetness and power!

Many thanks for supporting my blog and as always I love your comments! Stay tuned for a Sri Yantra this coming week.