Awakening to Kali: The Goddess of Radical Transformation

by Sally Kempton

The sages of Tantra taught that when we follow the path of Shakti, the sacred feminine principle personified by the goddesses of yoga, we awaken the full potential of our own inner energies. Kali, teaches Sally Kempton, may be both the most powerful—and misunderstood—goddess of all.

Kali—her name means “Black One”—is the original Dark Goddess, whose hidden gift is ecstasy. She brings both fierceness and love, destruction and rebirth—and untamed courage and freedom for those willing to fully comprehend and embrace her many gifts. In this e-book, readers are invited to explore teachings, stories, meditations, prayers, poems, mantras, invocations, and rituals to align with this cosmic force of radical transformation.

Program Highlights

Kali as the Mirror of Our Own Inner State Kali the Blood Drinker The Two Faces of the Dark Goddess Kali and the Ego Kali’s Fierce Forms Kali’s Role in Spiritual Liberation Contemplation: The Felt Sense of Kali in Your Life The Tantric Kali: Deity of Heroes The Kali Woman: Archetype of Feminine Power, Sexuality, and Force A Kali Asana Practice A Contemplation on Kali’s Audacity The Shadow Kali Kali as the Inner Voice of Destructive Rage Dialoguing with Kali (a guided practice) Kali as the Human Teacher A Visualization Practice for Offering Your Negative Tendencies to Kali’s Fire Unlocking the Hidden Kali Meditation: Kali as the Great Void

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Hinduism, Goddess, Ebooks, Mythology, Feminism

91 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2014

About the author

Sally Kempton is a widely respected teacher of meditation and spiritual wisdom, known for her capacity to kindle meditative states in others, and to help students work with meditative experience as a framework for practical life-change. A former journalist who wrote for Esquire, New York, and the Village Voice, she has spent over four decades practicing, teaching, and writing on meditation and spiritual philosophy. Sally spent 20 years as a swami in a traditional Vedic order of monks. She was deeply trained in the teachings of Kashmir Shaivism and Vedanta under the guidance of her enlightened teacher, Swami Muktananda.

Sally is the author of the best-selling books "Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga" and of "Meditation for the Love of It,” which Spirituality and Health magazine called “the meditation book your heart wants you to read”. Her audio program, Doorways to the Infinite: The Art and Practice of Tantric Meditation, was released by Sounds True in 2014. She is on the faculty at Esalen and Kripalu, teaches meditation on the websites Glo.com, Gaia.com, and Yogajournal.com, and is a contributing editor at Yoga Journal. Sally teaches online courses and seminars on meditation and spiritual philosophy, and leads retreats and workshops in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Reviews

[Ritu · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I moved from India to the United States, there was a period in my life when I looked back and thought about how little I knew about my own culture. It was also a time when I was really feeling gaps in my own relationship with God/Goddess/the divine and feeling very lost.

I read this book during this time. As someone who grew up in North India, although, of course, I knew of Kali ma (Mother Kali), for me, femininity has been associated with more submissive Goddesses like Sita. Learning more about other Goddesses in the past few years has felt like an opening up to a larger feeling of feminine rage. Kali is an archetypal figure, and as Radical Anger personified, learning about her will give you permission to feel and channel (appropriately) your own healthy anger. Goddesses like Kali show that the feminine is not just nurturing but can also have fiercer aspects.

As a recovering "nice" woman, this was a wonderful, little book for me on many levels. Whether or not you are Hindu or even religious doesn't matter, if the archetypal figure of Kali calls to you, then learning about her might be really helpful for you.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same as chapter on Kali in Awakening Shakti

Chapter two of this book is the same as the chapter on Kali in Awakening Shakti. Spend your money on that book, and forego this one

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with Sally's writing. She has an easy style to read yet knows how to really absorb you in the stories and practices she writes about. I have been amazed by Kali for ages and finally started giving attention to the most powerful female deity there is. Any woman who is just going through the stage of life in which they are in need of rewriting their old patterns should grab this book. I love also how Sally describes all her forms and finally it is not only a visualization of a demonic woman who has an angry face, but you will learn how valuable Kali really is to have at least a bit of her presence in your life. Kali is a total badass and remains my number one goddess.

[Savita Ramsumair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I love how this book portrayed Has Kali is a very loving mother who helps us to reach our true potential in life. Jai Maa Kali!!!

[Edison G.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The divine feminine

Being unfamiliar with Kali I tend to keep her at a distance since her aspect is rather frightening. This book is a good introduction to understanding her more. The first part talks about the divine feminine in general and the second part focuses more on Kali. The book is short but concise. The author helped me see Kali from another perspective. However don’t expect a book about Kali’s mythology. Its more a book of personal experience.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s impossible ever to convey a personal and spiritual experience though Sally Kempton gets as close as possible.

[Darshana Bala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here’s a simple, easy to understand, introductory explanation to the Goddess Kali. It’s written to appeal to the Western hemisphere, so you will not have the depth that is usually found in books written on Kali by practitioners of tantra, or teachers from the goddess lineages.

Things I found helpful:
- visualization and meditations to connect to this form of the Goddess
- practiced and meditations on how to work with Kali’s energy

It’s a nice book to get started with Goddess Kali. It is however important to know that worshipping Kali is not for the faint-hearted. This form of the goddess demands incredible devotion and willingness to be “destroyed”, so that our true forms may come forth in the end.

[Alanna-Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I was looking for today. Plus, the writing is phenomenal, descriptive, illuminating and deep. I
Look forward to reading the entire Awakening Shakti book - especially now that I have learned that I am a sacred feminist!! But today (this month), my greatest need is to learn to invoke Kali’s transformational power through knowledge and experiential practice, and this comprehensive excerpt gave me both.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

As my first book on kali I thought this provided a good introduction, and a fairly quick read. I know folks say it is the same to her other book awakening shakti, which she does reference and recommend you read for a fuller picture. So if you are buying the books, maybe go with that one. However I was just interested in Kali so this was good enough for me.

[Michael Nguyen]

Really enlightening and useful to understanding Kali, the concept and story behind her. The end of the book also goes into the other Goddesses, most interestingly Chinnamasta and Saraswati; the former being the Goddess of the Avant Garde and the Experimental and the latter being a Goddess of Art, Knowledge, Creativity, Music, Wisdom and Counselling. Highly recommend for anyone interested in Kali.

[Megan L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info on Kali

I feel drawn to her and enjoyed reading it. I will read it again. It is true Kali does not play games but she does it from a Mother's loving point of view but she will still knock you on your a$$ if that's what you need. Great book.

[Maria Duta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Was guided to it at a time in my spiritual evolution where I needed Kali's divine loving energy and she didn't disappoint. Beautiful book, lots of insights and tools. Definitely recommend if you're called to it 😊

[Kattie Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable

I was so enlightened by the information provided in book. I have a deep connection with Kali Ma through more then just my anger issues. I hope to feel her power as I continue my shadow work.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing insight into Ma Kali

As a male devotee of Kali for 5 years, I am always learning and growing. I loved the different perspectives on Kali and the deities associated with her energy/essence. This book is a great help to all seekers!

[Surabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cool read. I do think it is catered more to the western world, but it still did well in explaining the story of Kali in a simple and digestible way. I particularly appreciated the meditations and different exercises included through the book.

[Kelly Miess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff on a first read through. Lots of things to return to and further explore.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative! I will revisit this book time and time again to practice the exercises!

[Casia Schreyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected

It was good but not what I expected when I bought it. I enjoyed the myths but there was something about the book that didn't resonate with me.

[Antra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

An excellent opportunity to bring Maa Kali into our hearts and lives by the various ways mentioned in the book.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning more about Kali. Her light and shadow sides and how they show up for me as well as how to call in her energy.

[Ruth Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative 🙏

This was brief but full of interesting information and gave me a much better insight into the amazing Kali and how to work with her energy