Shodashi

Ruby red with the divine juice of life, she nourishes the body, mind and soul with vitalizing pleasure, life and joyfulness. Goddess Shodashi restores self-esteem and an awareness of your innate value, especially after a time of painful rejection or disappointment. Through her blessings, the desires of the heart can find fulfilment in new ways. She brings divine energy for the manifestation of wishes. Her presence is an indication of inner power to restore yourself and attract what you need into your life.

Shodashi is the fertile and creative aspect of Lalita Tripura Sundari. Red-colored skin and vibrant with feminine life force, she is the power to actualize desires. In color healing from Hinduism and Buddhism, red is medicine for attraction and magnetism. The appearance of Shodashi in a reading indicates a time when your ability to attract what you want is heightened. You can be relaxed and trusting in your capacity for magnetically drawing all you desire into your world.

In the tantric teachings of Kali Ma, desire is not something to be afraid of, but something that can become part of our spiritual path. The benefits of developing the character traits required for manifesting desire (such as relaxation, trust, enjoyment, delight and bliss, as well as discipline, commitment, determination, focus and a positive attitude) encourage us onward, so we don’t give up before attaining success.

From our successes, we will come to realize that within one desire lies the seed of another. Eventually, the nature of desire is realized as a pathway, rather than about the thing sought. The desire nature can motivate us to attain breakthroughs for the spiritual benefit of all beings. Shodashi teaches that desire can help us live from the heart, honoring what truly lights up our being and being motivated by our passions. This can be beneficial for the spiritual path, rather than a distraction from it.

Her heart is compassionate and her spirit, despite her youth, is truly great. Shodashi encourages young people with big dreams to believe in their abilities and trust their hearts. She also reminds us that age is not necessarily a signifier of wisdom, nor is youthfulness necessarily an indication of a lack thereof. Shodashi encourages us to discern qualities at a deeper level, rather than to make assumptions based on age or appearance. Don’t take things at face value, or go by someone’s words. Look instead at their actions, at what your experience has been, and allow for understanding as to how to proceed to arise from there.

The fulfilment of the heart’s desire can be attained in ways other than what the mind prescribes. Shodashi encourages us to stay open even if certain plans have failed to yield what we had hoped. This is an indication that the Universe has other ways for us to fulfil our heart’s yearning that are likely to be far more beneficial and richer. The heart can perceive the deeper workings of the Divine in all things – even in challenges and difficulties. This is why the heart can trust, even when the mind recoils at what is taking place. The intellect tends to create stories about situations not working out as expected. Such stories are not often accurate, let alone helpful. Shodashi asks us to take care with such misinterpretations of our experiences. She reminds us that when we trust in our heart’s wisdom, rather than what appears to be, we will find the courage and faith to stay true to an extraordinary life path so that we can manifest extraordinary blessings.

Shodashi often arises when the soul needs deep cleansing, particularly of past hurts. Her presence indicates recovery and the reclaiming of dignity after experiences of being judged, betrayed or criticized. If your innate being has been attacked in any way, or if there has been bullying or nastiness directed toward you, Shodashi brings healing and renewal to rise above such mean-spiritedness and lay claim to your beauty and worth. If we have been overly valued for our appearance, then she provides a healing path to clear the confusion and connect us to the real value and beauty of our inner being. Her oracle indicates all manner of beautiful blessings awakening within and being attracted into your life.

Invocation Ritual

Shodashi, red daughter of divine beauty, into your open heart all experiences of disappointment and pain of rejection, judgement and abandonment, betrayal, and even self-hatred, simply dissolve. With your loving encouragement, I release these poisons from my beautiful heart now. I accept your presence, bringing a generous gift of awakening into a loving embrace of my innate beauty, value and worth. You are a fertile garden of creative nourishment. I receive your blessing into my soul and trust in the deep yearnings of my heart to keep me focused on my spiritual growth and personal healing. This leads me toward self-realization for the spiritual benefit of all beings. Jai Ma!

Imagine, visualize, feel or intend that you are receiving a pink lotus blossom blessing. The Goddess turns to face you with a gentle gaze. Her look penetrates through the confusion and instils a sense of quiet unwavering confidence and unconditional self-regard within you. You are enough. You do not need to act in ways that suggest otherwise. You are always being led by the Universe into the sacred fulfilment of your heart. There is no need to grasp or fear. Feel the relief and peace in your heart that this realization brings. Open your hands and receive the lotus, taking it into your heart and letting it remain there by gently folding your hands over your heart. Breathe in and out, this gift of self-love.

You have completed your sacred ritual.