The Human Cohesion Project — 9 Oct 2024

On this seventh day of Navaratri, we invoke Kalaratri, a dark and fierce goddess who symbolises the raw power of nature’s transformative forces. Often depicted with wild hair, riding a donkey, and wielding a sword, Kalaratri represents the destruction of ignorance and the end of illusion. Her name translates to “the night of death” or “the dark night,” but it is not death in the literal sense: it is the dissolution of what no longer serves, a clearing of the old to make way for the new.

Kalaratri’s energy is one of deep, transformative destruction, akin to the wild forces of nature that we witness on our planet today. Yet, as we confront the devastating effects of climate disasters, such as Hurricane Milton, we must understand that these forces are not punishment or vengeance; they are natural phenomena, reminders of the balance and imbalance that exist in our world. Just as the mythical Kalaratri tears down what is false to reveal the truth, nature, too, has ways of reminding us of its power when pushed beyond its limits.

The increasing intensity of hurricanes is a stark example of how human actions have unsettled the balance of nature. The fierce winds and floods remind us of Kalaratri’s lesson: that life is cyclical, and the forces of destruction and creation are intimately intertwined. Kalaratri is not responsible for the storms, but her metaphorical energy echoes in the climate crises we face — a warning to awaken from our illusions and confront the realities of how we interact with the earth.

In Kalaratri, we see the necessity of transformation, the need to let go of old patterns that no longer serve us, whether those are our environmental practices or our social systems. Destruction, in this sense, is not merely loss; it is an invitation to rebuild with greater awareness, to harmonise with the forces of nature rather than attempt to dominate them. Kalaratri’s energy reminds us that darkness is not to be feared, for within it lies the potential for profound renewal.

As we reflect on her today, let us consider how we can transform the way we live on this planet. How can we shift from patterns of destruction to ones of regeneration? How can we embrace the darkness not as an end, but as a necessary part of the cycle that leads to new life?

Shubh Navaratri. May Kalaratri’s fierce grace guide us to confront the truths we must face, and may we emerge from this darkness with renewed clarity and purpose.

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