I dedicate March to the Hindu goddess Kali and April to the Greek goddess Aphrodite. I didn’t think that I would be writing about Kali again so soon. Still, as I was dismantling Kali’s altar while contemplating tantric philosophy and practice and then building Aphrodite’s altar, I had a small moment of sudden insight into the similarities between the two goddesses and the flow from March to April. This article is about tantra and how desire links the divine functions of the goddesses of love and creation, Aphrodite and Kali.
What is tantra?
There’s no universally accepted definition of tantra, and there isn’t a single tradition. Tantra refers to ideas and techniques from different sources, including texts, meditations, visualisations, and mantras, that emerged on the Indian subcontinent around 500 BCE in Hinduism and Buddhism.
There are differences between Hinduism and Buddhism and their approaches to tantra. Still, both believe in karma and rebirth, and Hindus and Buddhists work to spiritually liberate themselves (enlightenment) from the cycle of reincarnation through various practices. While Hinduism and Buddhism generally focus on liberation from this world, tantra focuses on liberation in this world.
Hinduism and Buddhism (and other religions) are commonly associated with renunciation and asceticism, particularly regarding desire. In tantra, desire is not seen as a negative force that needs to be repressed, renounced, or eliminated. Instead, it is considered an essential aspect of our human experience that can be used as a tool for spiritual growth. By embracing our desires and channelling them in the right direction, we can attain a higher level of consciousness and a deeper connection with the divine. Further, we don’t have to wait until we’ve figured it all out. According to tantra, we don’t have to wait for enlightenment; we can be goddesses and gods now.
Desire and Kali
The Hindu goddess Kali is a fierce and powerful figure associated with death, destruction, and transformation. She is the “fullness of time” and the preserver of nature. However, she is also a goddess of fertility and sexuality, representing the life-giving and creative aspects of the divine feminine.
In some interpretations of Hindu tantra, Kali is worshipped as a goddess of sexual energy and union. Her consort, Shiva, is pure consciousness, and his energy is steadfast and grounded. Kali is Shakti, the primordial female cosmic energy that moves and animates the universe. Kali is raw and wildly sensual; without her, Shiva is a corpse. Their union creates and sustains the universe.
Through the union of these two energies, tantra practitioners seek to attain a state of unity with the cosmos and connect with the divine. Consequently, tantra is often misunderstood and misinterpreted as a means of fulfilling sexual desires. However, tantra is about connecting with the sacred through the body and embracing all aspects of ourselves, including our sexuality. It is a path of spiritual growth and self-discovery that can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world.
Kali and Aphrodite
While the Hindu goddess Kali and the Greek goddess Aphrodite come from different cultures and traditions, they share a divine function connected to desire and creation.
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of beauty, love, and sexuality. She is generally associated with love and lust, but Aphrodite was also a goddess of marriage, fertility, and procreation. While Aphrodite may be viewed as earthier than the more cosmic Kali, she fulfils a similar role: the world would be desolate and lifeless without her.
Tantra emphasises the importance of embracing all aspects of ourselves, including our desires, emotions, and physical sensations. It teaches us to let go of shame and guilt and to embrace our true selves without judgment. This process of self-acceptance and self-love is essential in working with Aphrodite. It requires discovering, uncovering, and healing, so I call Aphrodite my goddess of love and shadows. Like Kali, Aphrodite can force us to face our illusions and strip them away.
Conclusion
Rather than renouncing the body, tantra encourages us to embrace and channel desire positively for spiritual growth. Many of us still struggle with the lifelong conditioning we’ve received around body shame. Both Kali and Aphrodite can teach us valuable lessons about self-love and acceptance. With her fierce and unapologetic presence, Kali can inspire us to embrace all aspects of ourselves, even the darker and more challenging ones. With her (mostly) gentle and nurturing energy, Aphrodite can remind us to show ourselves (and others) kindness and compassion. They both offer the transformative power and the creative force that brings joy and new life into the world.
