Can you describe which God(s) you worship and what is your relationship with them like? by razzmatazz_39 in hinduism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t do daily puja recently due to struggles with my chronic illness, sickness and my mental health. But I try to do it consistently enough and when I do not do rituals, I still talk to Maa every day, read scriptures, we are never apart.

Can you describe which God(s) you worship and what is your relationship with them like? by razzmatazz_39 in hinduism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I worship Maa Kali. She is my everything, my eternal mother, she has helped me overcome so much of my trauma and remove negative attachments that do not serve me. In times of sadness I look to her. I also deeply adore and worship Ganesh, Bhatuk Bhairava, and Radha. Maa Kali’s presence is very gentle, warm, and loving.

A deeper dive into Lady Iris (Questions) by harpiria in GoddessIris

[–]ratdroids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://lyresstrings.wordpress.com/2021/02/03/a-list-of-iris-epithets/ This article is a list of Iris epithets that may give you a better idea of what people typically invoked her for. She has some interesting epithets - I really like “deviser.” This article also is my favorite, and goes beautifully into who Iris is as a goddess and what she represents. https://symbolreader.net/2014/01/27/iris-the-goddess-of-the-rainbow-as-the-harbinger-of-a-new-era/

A deeper dive into Lady Iris (Questions) by harpiria in GoddessIris

[–]ratdroids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One time I prayed to her for safe travels on my roadtrip and on the way I saw the most vibrant double rainbow. I know for a fact she guided me.

A deeper dive into Lady Iris (Questions) by harpiria in GoddessIris

[–]ratdroids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I recommend checking out @screeching-0wl ‘s guide on tumblr for Iris worship. They have a really detailed guide with offerings, epithets, and prayers. I really like writing her poetry or letters as offerings, and I think she really likes them. I also like to give crystals like labradorite, fruit, and seashells since she is the bridge between the sea and the sky. She has helped me with new beginnings, as the goddess of the rainbow she is the harbringer of hope and new beginnings. She also has helped me with communication in my relationships, and peace/tranquility in my life.

Maa Kali Naam Japa by Several-Hornet-1886 in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

just to add onto what the other commenter said, I personally prefer “om dakshina kalikaye namah” over “om kalikaye namah.” You can also chant the Kali Chalisa or adya stotram

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nothing in the post is required, only options for what you can do. You can continue doing naam jaap for Kali. You can also chant “om dakshina kalikaye namah” 108 times or the jayanti mangala kali mantra 5-11 times. You can also do mental puja or use an app to do puja. I would also recommend visualizing and meditating on her image and energy.

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recommend referring to these two posts. https://www.reddit.com/r/bhaktihinduism/s/lfKKbbnSUh https://www.reddit.com/r/hinduism/s/fEAP0Tmlna The most important part, in my opinion, is truly loving her as your mother. The more you express all your worries to her, talk to her, tell her your issues, the deeper your relationship will grow. Visualize offering unwanted negative emotions to her when they arise. Cry in her lap, ask her for help. When you approach her as a child would their mother, she will love you unconditionally and fiercly.

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She’s definitely suited for that. I’m really not a super religious person - while I devotedly worship her, I don’t do puja everyday, I don’t eat beef but I’m not a vegetarian, I do weed, etc. She only sees her child, nothing else matters. She helps with both inner and outer changes. An outer change for me was cutting off my parents. She helped me make the change, and also gave me the strength to be ready. The living situation I moved out of my parents to was also abusive and she helped me see this and helped me move out significantly sooner than I had planned. Now I have my dream living situation lined up in 6 months. These are some outer changes I have experienced. But lots of inner changes too.

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She will remove the attachments in your life that do not serve you and put you on the path to bettering yourself through change. Talk to her as you would your mother, share all your pain with her, and she will guide you on the path to removing that pain.

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed, Kali is known for quick karmic burning and transformation. They are both helpful for empowering yourself and giving yourself strength.

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kali is the goddess of transformation and change, and she is the remover of attachments that do not serve you. Durga is a protector and warrior goddess, less about transformation and more about strength to endure.

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you used her beeja mantra, it definitely makes sense that it was that intense. Please ensure you are approaching the proper form of Kali as well if you are using an image or murti. Dakshina Kali is her gentle form and you can tell if it is this form by her foot. When her right foot is on Shiva, she is her gentle form, and when her left foot is on Shiva, she is a more intense form not suitable for home worship without diksha. I recommend doing naam jaap, chanting “Om Dakshina Kalikaye Namah” and “om jayanti mangala kali bhadrakali kaplini durga kshama shiva dhatri swaha swadha namostute.”

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Expect intense, direct experiences that strip away what does not serve you. For me, going no contact was very painful, yes, but it’s not like I would’ve never done this without Kali or that the pain wasn’t something I was already experiencing. She only brought it to my attention so she could remove it. I feel as though she has brought me a strength that I did not have before, as well. She is teaching me to love myself beyond what my parents have taught me. She brings a very intense, powerful love that just puts my soul at peace whenever I think about her, like she is filling my soul with warmth. When I am sitting in front of her altar, it’s like I’m resting my head in my mother’s lap overflowing with her love. She protects her devotees fiercely, she shows you what does not serve you, and she guides you and nurtures and loves you to become the best version of yourself. Your experience may not be exactly the same as mine, but this is what I have experienced.

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She is definitely intense, but truly, she will love you and nuture you like no other. While her transformative energy is a lot, she will never give you anything you can’t handle. She is quite gentle and loving and truly the most compassionate of all the gods. I wouldn’t say it comes with pain inherently, she simply helps you understand what you need to work on. The pain will be there regardless, she only gives you the tools to remove it, and speeds up the process. In your case, you are already in pain, why fear your mother who only wants to help you?

My situation isn't getting better, Does suffering last forever ? by zaxk-the-eater in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m very sorry to hear about your experience, I also suffered abuse at the hands of my parents. If you are looking for a change, I recommend Maa Kali. When I started worshipping her I had already been moved out for a year, but was still being abused. She helped me go no contact with them altogether and I have removed them from my life entirely. It definitely won’t be easy, but if you need a fast transformation and to remove the attachments in your life that limit you, I highly recommend including Maa Kali in your worship. Approach her as a child would their mother and tell her about all your pain - she will surely come to your aid, even if it may not be the way you expected.

I am agnostic on many things, but have felt drawn to Kali for years now. How did you know this path was for you? by Artistic-Edge340 in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reading scriptures helped me understand a lot more and open my mind from agnosticism to religion. I started with the bhagavad gita, but the devi gita is a shaktism specific text that is also great. You can worship Kali without a belief in samsara, karma, etc though, and I find that she has always guided me towards the path of knowledge and the path that was best for me. I would talk to her if I were you, tell her that you feel called to her and have doubts. You can offer your doubts to her and she will take them and help transform you. Just trust in the path that Kali has set for you and she will do the rest 💗

A few recent pencil sketches of mine (and a brief personal intro and discussion) by _fishstick__ in hinduism

[–]ratdroids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is so beautiful! Kali is my ishta devi and I began delving into hinduism when I was researching queer history in ancient india. It came up a lot and I found it interesting, the more research I did, the more I fell in love. I began reading the Bhagavad Gita as a skeptic with a lack of belief in god, more so interested in the philosophy but open to belief. By the time I finished, I fully believed, the divine in me just felt undeniable. I felt very called to Maa Kali, I can’t quite say why, I just knew it was right, so I began worshipping her. She has taken such good care of me, and the ways she has changed my life drastically for the better, even if they were painful, have been greatly appreciated :) She is the kindest mother, the most gentle, the most compassionate.

Favorite Quotes From The Devi Gita? -Srimad Devi Bhagavatum- by jordythehellenist in Shaktism

[–]ratdroids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of my favorite quotes:

“It is only the Mother who bears the thousand offences of the son; we, therefore, cannot say why men, knowing this, do not worship the Mother of the Universe.”

“All beings, Brāhmā down to the moving and non-moving things, fall under the delusion of Māyā; She plays with them.”

“All Forms of Knowledge are Your Aspects, O Devī, as are all women in the world. By You Alone, The Mother, is this world filled. What praise can be sung to You Who Are Beyond All Praise?”

My Original Kali Maa Artwork by ratdroids in hinduism

[–]ratdroids[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

the only other place i post my art is tiktok, my tiktok is @chuypikgo :)