Kali, Goddess of the Month (October)

I always had this special affinity for Kali, the Hindu Goddess of Death and the ending of Time. In India Kali is depicted as a Mother, consort of Shiva. Kali's name means "black one" or "time." Her name means death. She is the opposite of Shiva, He is of Eternity, and She is the End. In the Western part of the world we always liked to see Her in Her destructive form. Although She is more than just destructive, She can be maternal.

Kali is usually depicted with four arms, each one carrying something important. In one a sword, in another a head of a demon, in the other two is holding sacred symbols holding them out to Her worshippers. In Western thought, Kali is seen as just a destructive force, but she can be motherly and beautiful. In one myth, in Kali was in a frenzy, Her consort Shiva could only calm Her down by transforming into a baby and crying. Kali raced to Him and held the Shiva baby in Her arms. Black is a very interesting color, it is the absent of color. Black is the color of night, the eternity close to the stars; Kali is truly the end. She is the end all vessel in which all must go back to Her. Her tongue, is something to new to my Western mind. This depiction of a Death Goddess makes me think that the sticking out the tongue is to show Her true nature; Her very soul. She is dancing on Her Lover, so I assume it is an apology.

I like to see Her in Her Mother aspect, as a protecter. She is the Ending Force.

In my life had asked this Mother Goddess for support....I had gone through a rough patch with a boyfriend. I was still in High School and so I was a young Witch-ling. I didn't know what I was doing half the time, so the basic street smarts was erased from my head. This guy was not the right guy, was gross, and weird, his whole presence scared the hell out of me. I was pretty scared, when he called. Finally,I told my sister and she helped me break it off. Even after he kept calling me and I was scared that he would try something, so I asked Kali to banish him away from me. I have never seen him again.

This a wonderful time to get to know this Hindu Goddess, I really feel like I don't know Her enough. This is a time of endings, Samhain is coming, a Holy Day about death. Death doesn't have to be the end of life, it can be an end to a relationship, a job, a bad habit. Lest not encourage frivolous asking, and spell-casting on such a Goddess, She is of Hindu descent, I feel that I do not know enough to ask Her anymore favors.