More About Goddesses: Publication Announcement

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More About Goddesses: Publication Announcement

My latest eBook is a collection of my columns, More About Goddesses, all together in one place.  The collection also includes new columns that have never appeared here and won't be published on the blog (as well as most of those that have appeared here up to July 2013). So you are getting both new and old content, highly readable, convenient, and an interesting collection of these essays that gets a large amount of traffic on this blog.  Included also are several of my poems with Goddess themes.

These are essays about Goddesses, their stories, traditions, and histories.  If you enjoy Goddess motifs, themes, and implications of the Goddess for personal development, you will enjoy the essays contained in this collection.

Because of its availability as an eBook (first, as an Amazon Kindle Edition, with other ePub editions coming soon to all the usual places), this book will no doubt be discovered by some readers who are seeing these columns for the very first time. All are welcome, as an appreciation of the message and compassion of the Goddess couldn't be more needed than it is today. Thanks for supporting my work, I appreciate YOU!~~TK

NOTE: No worries, future More About Goddesses columns will continue to appear in this blog on a regular basis. Those columns will not be updated to appear in this edition of the eBook, but in future volumes. Volume One includes columns up until July 2013 with some additional columns that only appear in the eBook.

(About the cover image:  from the remnant of the Aphrodite temple in Aphrodisias, Turkey).

From MY Heart to Yours: The Wandering Poet Goes Home

Dear Readers, Friends, and Family:

It is not often that one comes before others without any pretensions, decorum or poetic words; with just a message straight from my heart to yours. Some of you might not have known this, or might be surprised to hear it, but for over two years I have been away from my homeland, my kids, my job, and my family and friends there.  At first, I have traversed foreign lands here in China. Anyway I am happy to report I will be returning home some time in the next three or four months.

I certainly appreciate every one who has stopped by here on this blog since 2008 from all over the world. (Before this blog I wrote poetry for three years on MySpace and there was quite a few of the same readers who used to visit my poetry there that have come here). I appreciate all the comments, and those that have read my words here, or purchased my books.  Thank you so much. While I was gone from home I visited places and abodes of the Goddess in China and elsewhere, (there will be even more More About Goddesses columns about some of those places), I drafted numerous poems here on this blog, and finished five poetry collections, three were published since I have been away from home, and I have had my share of adventures. But to be in a foreign land, is not the heartland of home.

From my heart to yours, I appreciate you all so much, but it is time for this poet to go back home.  To my kids, and my family, and my friends  back home, I have missed you all so very much.  You have no idea.  I have daily longed to see the hills of home, and the freedoms my homeland has to offer.  But I want to reassure my readers that my poems will continue just as they happened before I ever left home and will keep on happening after I return.

My sense of dedication to my art and poetic word that burns and flows in my heart cannot ever be stopped or silenced. I struggle, arms linked with those that are downtrodden, oppressed, and remain unfree. I long for women to be treated properly all over the world, and for the world to recognize the folly of unbridled patriarchy. I will not stop writing here and in my future collections.  But it is time to go home.... and that will be happening very soon. Thank you for your prayers and support which makes it all happen.

Namaste, and bless you so much,  THANK YOU SO MUCH, Tim Kavi

Update:  Indeed I was able to return home, and this was accomplished on August 30th, 2013.  What a happy reunion to see family, kids, and homeland again!  Thank you for all the support, prayers, and assistance from everyone who has aided in this big transition.  Namaste! T.K

More About Goddesses: The Greek Goddess Artemis (New Essay)

More About Goddesses: Artemis, Greek Goddess of the Hunt

By Tim Kavi

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her bow and arrows that she would carry were made by Cyclopes and Hephaestus. She is depicted as goddess of the hunt, wild animals and many cities also worshiped her as the goddess of fertility. Artemis is often depicted with the moon above her head and was frequently depicted as being close with Selene, the goddess of the moon. More often she would be depicted as roaming the mountain forests with her nymphs by her side in search of panthers, stags, hinds and lions. In later myths she would assist these animals by protecting their overall well-being while fighting to ensure their safety.

Artemis is also seen as the goddess of chastity. Legend has it that when she was three years old, Artemis asked Zeus to provide her with eternal virginity. All of her close companions were virgins, and she would punish any man who attempted to harm the purity of herself or her companions. In one legend, Actaeon came upon Artemis and her nymphs bathing naked in a pool, and when she saw him watching Artemis transformed him into a stag and sent her hounds after him. She was also known to use her bow to kill those who were known to rape women, including Orion.

Because Artemis was born before her brother Apollo, her mother gifted her the island of Ortygia as thanks for helping her mother to cross the strait of Delos to give birth to Apollo. This legend made Artemis an idol to women going through childbirth. Some cities depicted her as a goddess and protector to those in the midst of  the hunt, a mass of contradictions as she brought sudden death alongside the birth of a new life. Because her twin brother was seen as a healing god, many would pray to Artemis for assistance in the healing of gout, rabies or leprosy in hopes that she would appeal to Apollo on their behalf.

These and other legends of Artemis would be honored with lively festivals. Festivals were held throughout Orthia, Brauron, Brauronia and most notably Sparta. As women became of age and reached puberty they would be initiated into the cult of Artemis, although they would be required to leave this cult once they became married. Artemis was not against the realm of marriage, but she chose to be surrounded by those who were pure, so those who chose to engage in marital acts would be required to return her paraphernalia as they took on this new role.

Updated Photo, Poet's Afterword--About the Photo: Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, stands confidently in a moonlit forest clearing, her silver bow held loosely in her hand. Her attire is simple and practical, befitting a huntress. Nearby stands Persephone, the goddess of springtime and queen of the Underworld, holding a bouquet of vibrant wildflowers, a gentle smile gracing her lips. The scene subtly contrasts Artemis's wild, untamed nature with Persephone's softer, more nurturing presence.~~TK

More About Goddesses: Athena, Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War (Essay)

Athena – Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War 

by Tim Kavi

The Greek goddess Athena, often portrayed as full of mercy, strong, and fair, skill and endeavor,  is also considered the goddess of heroes and the heroic journey.  Also viewed as a representative of Divine Intelligence, and as a goddess of warfare, she was considered the patron goddess of Athens.  According to legend, she had quite an unusual birth. Her father, Zeus, ate his first wife, Metis, because he feared when she became pregnant that she had in her womb the son that was prophesied to usurp him of his own throne. This caused him a great headache, worse than any other, and to be rid of it he let another god open up his head. At this moment, it is said that Athena sprang forth from the forehead of Zeus and she was fully clothed in the attire of war.

So, it was not the son he feared that came out – rather his beautiful, full grown daughter Athena, already dressed in full golden body armor that was “born”. Athena became Zeus’ favorite child, motherless as she was. She was the only one that he told his secret of where to find his lightning bolts, plus she was trusted to guard his magic shield.

Generally, Athena is seen with a spear in her hand, and her helmet of gold tipped to show her beauty. Although she was dressed for battle, she was much more known for her job as diplomat, judge and mediator. People knew her for her fair and compassionate decisions. Stories also tell of how she helped many other gods, goddesses and heroes out when they were faced with a great problem that seemed impossible.

She was probably the start to the first independent woman. Referred to as a virgin, she was not swayed by Aphrodite, and she stayed independent of all of the responsibilities of marriage and being a mother. You did not hear of romance or marriage in Athena’s story.

In Roman mythology, she is known as Minerva, and according to Plato she is also prefigured by the Egyptian goddess, Neith.

Poet's Note:  Later, this post was reprinted as a Foreword in a 2013 edition of 'Athena Queen of the Air' by John Ruskin.  The book has much more additional material about the Goddess Athena. I hope that readers of both resources--don't mind that this entry remains here on my blog. You can get the Kindle eBook: 'Athena: Queen of the Air' by clicking here.

More About Goddesses: Parvati, Goddess of Love and Devotion (Essay)

Parvati, Goddess of Love and Devotion

by Tim Kavi

Also known as the daughter of the mountain, the goddess Parvati’s story might indeed be one of the most interesting of goddesses. She was born out of need as the gods need the assistance of the God Shiva. Shiva, however, had holed himself up in a mountain cave of the Himalayas, doing nothing but meditating and performing tapas to mourn the loss of his first love. His heat and energy grew and grew, and he became full of knowledge.

So the goddess Shakti went into his cave, some stories say appearing as a serpent and coiled herself around Shiva to draw out his energy and power so he would father a child, as the gods knew that only a child born of Shiva would be powerful enough to help them. Shakti than birthed herself into the goddess Parvati and her main goal was to win Shiva’s affections.

Even as a child she was deeply in love with him and went to his cave every day to sweep and decorate it with flowers. Shiva, however, never once noticed her, and could not be brought out of his mediations. So she invoked the help of Priti and Rati, who changed the cave into a thing of beauty, and then brought the lord of desire, Kama, to Shiva, but Shiva destroyed him by shooting flames from his third eye.

Having lost the lord of desire, the gods were hopeless of what to do with Shiva. Parvati then took off to go to the woods with nothing, not even clothing, to meditate and learn tapas, until her strength grew to that of Shiva’s and he took notice of her finally and took her as his wife, which also restored Kama back to life.

Other Tim Kavi Content About Parvati: Parvati is mentioned on my blog in at least two additional places. In my poem: Goddess of the Lake and another 'More About Goddesses' Column about Durga Mahadevi .  Enjoy! ~~TK

More About Goddesses: Kwan Yin--The Compassionate Goddess (Essay)

The Goddess Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Compassion

by Tim Kavi

 

With her origins still being debated over, we can at least attest that Kwan means to inquire deeply and that Yin means to cry. This goddess is shown in many forms, but they all show her unique compassion and mercy. Many times you can see Kwan Yin as a slender woman in flowing white robes carrying a white lotus in her left hand which is a representation of purity and the ideal of womanhood. She might also be seen wearing ornaments to show her stature, or without them to show how modest she is.

Kwan Yin is also known as a “bringer of children”. Because of this, many images of her can be seen in homes and temples. In these instances, a large white veil will be covering her whole body and she could be seated on a lotus, rather than carrying one. Instead, a child will be in her arms, or the child will be seated near her. Sometimes you can see her with several children at once, which she is then known to be the “white-robed honored one”.

 Many times you will see Kwan Yin with several hands, heads and eyes, plus a thousand arms. In the palms of each of her hands there will sometimes be an eye. This symbolizes her as the omnipresent “Divine Mother” being able to see in all directions at once and therefore all the problems of humanity. In this image she reaches out to everyone with her extreme compassion and mercy to help console all. Her name is also spelled Quan Yin, or Kuan Yin, and some scholars say that she is foreshadowed by, or is identical to an earlier deity named Avalokitasvara.

More About Goddesses: Saraswati--The Artistic Goddess (Essay)

More About Goddesses: 

Saraswati – The Artistic Goddess

by Tim Kavi

For every Indian artist, the goddess Saraswati is a major influence. To them, all art – old and new – starts with Saraswati. She is the Hindu goddess of music, knowledge and creative arts and is also known as Vak Devi, or the goddess of speech.

Originally from the creation of the goddess that Brahma fashioned after himself of whom half was woman and half was man. The woman part of this goddess was called Gayatri, but later she became known by several other names, one of them being Saraswati.

She appears always in all white and usually is seen riding atop a swan, but sometimes can be seen on a peacock instead. She plays music on a veena, and holds in her hands a mala, or prayer beads, and palm leaf scroll to show knowledge.

Indian students take the power of Saraswati very seriously, and a daily mantra can be recited to supposedly improve their concentration, memory and power in their studies. They regularly worship Saraswati in hopes to do well on their tests, as well. There is a temple, Vilma Vashi, which is solely dedicated to Saraswati.

In yoga, Saraswati is represented as the neutral channel in a trio that also includes the lunar energy channel which symbolizes the river Ganga and the solar energy channel which represents the river and the Yamuna goddess. Then the upward flow of the Kundalini goes straight through the central channel, Saraswati, to pierce the chakras and bring liberation. This convergence is called Triveni Sangam and takes place near Allahabad.

In summary, general aspects of the Goddess Saraswati includes her status as the wife (consort) of Lord Brahma and the fact that it is she that possesses the powers of speech, wisdom and learning. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning; mind, intellect, alertness and ego. 

Often, she has sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus (a symbol of true knowledge) in the second. With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on the violin (veena).  She is also often dressed in white ( a sign of purity) and rides on a white goose (swan). Regardless of how you view her, and in what manifestation, surely the Goddess Saraswati is one of the most interesting Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon.

Emerging Goddess: On Reviews; The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Essay).

Emerging Goddess: On Reviews; The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Essay)

by Tim Kavi

Dear Readers:

I am happy to report that my recent book 'Emerging Goddess' is getting reviews (mostly good ones).  While a poet is always thankful for being read, it is always nice to get more good reviews than bad ones.  While negative reviews can tell us something about the work itself, sometimes truly bad reviews seem more than a critique. Some really seem personal, jealous, or on some vendetta (the ugly reviews).  To those reviewers, I cannot imagine what is going through their minds.  It is plain that they have missed the intended message of my work. 


It is interesting too that some of those ugly reviewers often cannot be found elsewhere on the Net, their purchase of the book is not verified by the seller at the website where they have posted, and they have little to say that shows they have actually read poems from the work. 

I hope that potential readers and readers of my work will not base their decisions just upon reviews,  but will engage with the material and make up their own minds.  I hope you read my books (and my blog here) with an open mind and an open heart.  I seldom ask my readers anything, when it comes to reading my work, but I will say this:  when reading my work; consider the heart of the message and the following questions.  Is there a true path to peace? Is love needed in the world?  Is there a path to the Goddess, even if along some narrow ridge, and if there is, isn't She needed in this war torn world?  That is what my work is about.

The heart of the message in my work is all about love, peace, freedom, empowerment, and it is never about hate.  


My work about the Goddess is not about poetic style, form, or whether the words fit certain poetic meter. These are spiritual love poems.  Really, they are devotional utterances that celebrate love and the Goddess; wherever She is found.

So I welcome and respect the rights of all reviewers good and bad (and even ugly). I will continue writing, as to not do so, is not to follow the path.  For my path is not chosen, but burns in me, with a calling that demands a response.


There will be more Goddess books by Tim Kavi.  In other later collections, will be other themes and more traditional poetic styles. However,  it is in these works about the Goddess that lies the message that is closest to my heart, and a message from my heart;  to love, to be loved, to make a difference for peace in the world.  It is my message of love to the world.  If it calls you to do anything, it invites you to love fully from your discovered human heart.


It is a human heart that can still be found if you but look, even in the age of mechanized dulling of the senses and technological overload; it is a message of affirmation to bring confirmation, to come into your own empowered sense of self with other, and to love each other.


So, I am glad to get your comments, responses, and reviews. So keep them coming; good, bad, or ugly. To the ugly reviewers, I wonder about you, if there is some sort of misunderstanding, and why the hate,  but respect your rights to say anything. To the bad reviewers, I will closely look at what you said. To the good reviewers, I am honored you are moved.  Thank you to all of you sincerely.  Blessings to you and prayers for all. 

In conclusion, I wish to say that my devotional love "poems" do not ignore a mystical experience.  Rather, they are saturated with it.  Ultimately these are love poems that celebrate a divine sense of love and confirmation, but are also the utterances of love between persons.  What lasting good is a love without both components?  My hope though, is the attempt to reveal a fully empowered love, a love based on two souls; souls encountering each other in deep love.  Yes, my Goddess poems refer to love between persons as well as a sense of the transcendent, but if you see only the physical aspects, you are missing something.


Thank you for reading.  I am lucky and blessed to be read, and wish you all the best that life and love can bring.--TK

   

So read the book for yourselves:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006FVKNT6

Here's all the reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Goddess-ebook/product-reviews/B006FVKNT6/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1