This month, as you may know, we have been focusing on the Sacral Chakra inside my virtual studio and on Youtube. The Sacral Chakra in Sanskrit is known as Svadhisthana, which roughly translated means “dwelling of the self.”

What a beautiful sentiment to think about, especially because the qualities that are represented through our sacral chakra are things like emotional fluidity, joy, pleasure, creativity, passion, and femininity. The deepest and most emotional and personal bits of ourselves I would say, is where we can seek the comfort of being who we truly are…and I love that.

In my last blog post, I spoke about the importance of the divine feminine in each of us, and how we have within us, ingrained in our existence, a mental and energetic patriarchy that we not only can but NEED to overthrow. Why? Not because the masculine is never important. We would likely have a hard time getting things accomplished without the masculine energy…BUT BALANCE between the two is what we are seeking. And as we know, by its definition, patriarchy implies IMBALANCE. And I would say for MOST people out there, we are being ruled by our masculine energy.

So let’s keep diving into not only the Divine Feminine but the GODDESS ARCHETYPE. This is something I have integrated heavily not only into my yoga practice but also into my magickal practices. Let’s dive right in.

What is The Goddess Archetype?

So an archetype is a representation of patterns or similar qualities we often see in a certain type of character or person. When it comes to a GODDESS, what do you think of? Even if you are not familiar with specific characters in actual Pantheons…I am betting many of us would describe a goddess using a lot of the same words: wise, nurturing, fierce, sensual, graceful, powerful, and tenacious.

What other words come to mind for you?

When working with the Goddess Archetype, we are seeking to embody the qualities of this archetype. For me, I love learning about Goddesses that exist in all different mythologies around the world. Either on my mat or off my mat when doing spellwork, I like to call upon the guidance of these specific goddesses as if they are my own personal mentors.

On my mat, I tend to stick with Hindu deities- and this is because in yoga there exist many mantras and even mudras that are dedicated specifically to certain Hindu deities. This happens a little more naturally. When it comes to spell-casting or meditating, I like to call upon different Goddesses based on their stories. Again, many of them represent the same types of qualities, but what feels extra powerful is if you can find a Goddess whose mythological tales relate to what you are trying to accomplish in your practice. Someone whose story speaks to you.

With any type of internal work, whether it is yoga or magick, the more personal the elements that you bring to your practice, the more effective they are as they speak more directly to the True Self.

For example, you may have heard of the Hindu Goddess Kali. According to Sophie Bashford, “Kali sprang from the brow of the Great Goddess Durga, as a divine healing response to deal with the oppressive effects of unconscious masculine domination. Her status as “primordial-Shakti’ [feminine energy], confronts fear-based illusions and sternly upholds the spiritual feminine life-force.” ( You Are A Goddess, Sophie Bashford.)

Knowing this about Kali, if you are working on letting go of ego-feeding attachments, you may chant in her name or simply call on her guidance in your yoga practice. Kali is one of my favorites :)

If you are new to working with the Goddesses, I really recommend giving it a try. First, I will give you a couple of my favorite Goddesses to work with and then give you ideas on incorporating them into your yoga practice. And be sure to let me know which Goddesses you like to work with other than these!

5 Worldly Goddesses To Use In Your Yoga or Magickal Practices

1. Saraswati (Hindu)

   • Saraswati is a goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. She is depicted most often riding a beautiful white swan across the water with four arms, each holding a different symbol of her domain: a book (education), a vina, or Indian lute (music), and a strand of beads or ritual pot (spiritual knowledge).

   • Call upon Saraswati on or off your amt in pursuits such as intellectual enlightenment, or creative endeavors.

2. Áine (CELTIC)

• Áine, the fairy queen of Ireland, is often called upon in tradition to bless a farmer’s crops as she is associated with warmth and nurturing. However, she is also a representation of power and inner strength as there are many stories of her being raped and her taking revenge and justice on her abusers. In one story, she is raped by King Aillil Aulom, a crime that she repays by biting off his ear, making him ineligible to rule. In another story, Gerald, Earl of Desmond, insists she marry him. When she refuses, he rapes her, and she repays him by turning him into a goose.

• Call upon Áine when you need to connect with your own inner strength to overcome traumas or heartaches

3. Gaia (Greek)

• Gaia is the embodiment of Mother Earth. According to Greek mythology, she created all life as well as the mountains, the sea, and the sky. While she is nurturing, she is also wild and raw. Her anger is said to be the cause of earthquakes, a reminder of the power and force of nature.

• Connect with Gaia when you need to feel grounded and empowered by nature.

4. Hecate (Greek)

• Hecate governs over the world of magick and is the gatekeeper of the Underworld. She is the intermediary between the living and the dead and is also sometimes referred to as the Queen of the Crossroads. She is said to be a great protector and a witness to the things that happen in the dark of night. She is sometimes seen with 3 heads, a connection to the triple goddess, representing birth, death, and regeneration.

• Call upon Hecate when you need guidance through the darker moments or protection when you are fearful and she will light the way.

5. Yemoja (Yoruba)

• Yemoja is referred to as the Mother of Water, she rules over the oceans and protects mothers and children. She is a representation of the crescent moon and femininity. She is known for being even-tempered and peaceful, but when angered can cause relentless storms.

• Connect with Yemoja to embody the water element, or to ask her to carry away your worries and stresses. She can also be called upon to help aid in fertility.

This is merely a taste of the Goddesses that exist. If you are drawn to these and want to learn even more, check out these books:

You Are A Goddess by Sophie Bashford

Legendary Ladies by Ann Shen

How To Work With The Goddess Archetype On Your Yoga Mat

1. Asana that target the opening of your hips. Try poses like Warrior 2, Low Lunge, and Malasana.

   The hips are the physical area associated with the Sacral Chakra…and the physical location of our reproductive system. Especially if you identify as a woman, targeting this area can nurture and nourish the feminine within us both physically and energetically.

2. Creative flows and unexpected transitions

   Try moving on your mat and connecting poses you wouldn’t normally connect. Following the same pattern of movement in our physical practice can become predictable and formulaic- very masculine. Try moving in circles on your mat, turning in a different direction, or even venturing off of the predictable rectangle space you usually occupy. This encourages creativity and intuition and connection to your body- all very feminine.

3. Goddess Pose

   Of course, Goddess pose. This big hip opener is the physical embodiment of the goddess archetype. Strike this pose powerfully while breathing intentionally and deeply to bring about a calm and serene ferocity in yourself.

4. Kali Breath

   This is just Lion’s Breath from Goddess pose. Inhale through your nose and as you exhale, open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and bulge your eyes. While you do this call upon the power of Kali Ma to unleash your determination and perseverance. I promise at least 5 rounds of this will have you feeling like a Goddess the rest of the day.'

5. Chanting Mantras

   There are many chants for different deities, but if there is a specific Goddess you are connecting with, seek out resources on their specific mantras. For example Om Shri Mahalaxmi Namah. “I pray to Goddess Lakshmi to destroy all the evil forces around us and bless us with a prosperous and bright future.” You can listen to this chant as a way to start, and eventually chant it for yourself on the mat.

   Try my newest all-level yoga class on Youtube to work with the Sacral Chakra and release your lower back!