Kimberly Simon

“She’s also showing us a deeper truth about spiritual life: that if we’re willing to make the necessary sacrifices, we can have it all. We can have enlightenment and intimacy together. We can know our transcendent bliss-self, and we can realize that bliss in passionate relationship. The secret Parvati shows us is that the relational form of self-realization requires just as much conscious effort as to realize the transcendent self. Both paths begin with self-cultivation. Parvati has realized that she can’t “have” Shiva unless she cultivates in herself the qualities of stillness, stamina, and devotion. To embody love requires absolute commitment, radical courage, and rigorous self-cleansing. The great desire has to be separated from smaller desires and tested in its own fire.”
― Sally Kempton, Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga

“She is also the power behind spiritual awakening, the inner force that unleashes spiritual power within the human body in the form of kundalini. And she is a guardian: beautiful, queenly, and fierce. Paintings of Durga show her with flowing hair, a red sari, bangles, necklaces, a crown—and eight arms bristling with weapons. Durga carries a spear, a mace, a discus, a bow, and a sword—as well as a conch (representing creative sound), a lotus (symbolizing fertility), and a rosary (symbolizing prayer). In one version of her origin, she appears as a divine female warrior, brought into manifestation by the male gods to save them from the buffalo demon, Mahisha. The assembled gods, furious and powerless over a demon who couldn’t be conquered, sent forth their anger as a mass of light and power. Their combined strength coalesced into the form of a radiantly beautiful woman who filled every direction with her light. Her face was formed by Shiva; her hair came from Yama, the god of death; her arms were given by Vishnu. Shiva gave her his trident, Vishnu his discus, Vayu—the wind god—offered his bow and arrow. The mountain god, Himalaya, gave her the lion for her mount. Durga set forth to battle the demon for the sake of the world, armed and protected by all the powers of the divine masculine.1 As a world protector, Durga’s fierceness arises out of her uniquely potent compassion. She is the deity to call on when you’re”
― Sally Kempton, Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga

“Shiva and Parvati symbolize the moment when we get spiritually naked”
― Sally Kempton, Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga

“Other Names for Parvati: Gauri (gow-ree)—The Fair One Minakshi (mee-nak-shee)—She with Eyes Like Slender Fishes Shive (shi-vey)—Feminine form of Shiva Girija (gi-ri-jah)—Daughter of the Mountain Uma (oo-mah)—Maiden Haimavati (hai-muh-vah-tee)—She Who Belongs to the Mountain King Himavat”
― Sally Kempton, Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga