Myths & Mahavidyas:

Exploring Tantra through the Lens of the Goddess

Dates: October 6th- Nov 3rd. (4 week series) Please note that we will skip Sunday, Oct 27th!

Sundays 5:30-7pm

“Archetype is an enormous force that we are susceptible to feeling, seeing, sensing, hearing; but it’s representable as itself because it’s beyond our ability to capture the universe, horizon-to-horizon. Representations are what we can understand.”

-Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Jungian analyst

Join us as we explore the power of Tantra through myth, guided yoga, meditation & contemplative practices designed to unveil each aspect of the goddess within ourselves.

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The Mahavidya (Sanskrit: Mahā: great, vidyā: wisdom) are a group of ten Tantric goddesses. Often under a variety of names, this group spans divergent religious traditions including Saivism, Vaishnavism, and Vajrayana Buddhism. Each goddess is distinct in her own characteristics and stories, as such, each represents a unique aspect of creation. They are in this sense also to be regarded as Vidyas: different approaches to knowledge.

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Storytelling is a tool for integration of our lived experience. Stories touch something deep within us and allow us to pull back the layers of our own experience, to better understand ourselves and our own lives. In sharing & reflection, speaking our story can often connect us with a new perspective of ourselves. Putting words to the immensity of experience helps to contextualize, process, and move forward. Our stories, our connections are powerful.

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On the one hand, each Goddess is a personification, with real stories connected to her essence, teaching lessons that are relatable through the human experience. On the other hand, she is direct experience. She is felt energy, a part of the vast web of experience of which we are intricately & intimately part. The stories are archetypes. Each character in each story is part of us.

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Each session will last 2 hours, and will include an introduction to each deity, followed by a complete practice including asana, mantras/invocation, pranayama and/or meditation. We’ll close the session in a collaborative group study, discussing the meaning behind the myths, traits of the goddess, and possible mode of application in daily life.

Pricing: $108 for folks who sign up for all 4 and $33 for individual session drop ins